Death in Winter and the TNG Relaunch

[RonG]

Hi all,

after reading all TNGR novels before moving on to Destiny (Best..TrekLit...Ever BTW), I thought a bit about DiW and its place on the TNGR series. While it does feature the post-NEM TNG setting, I personally believe that it should not be considered a part of the Relaunch per se, but rather a NEM "epilogue" retroactively inserted as part of the Relaunch. The Relaunch IMO begins with another novel entirely - which I'll get to later.

By the way, this post does not reflect my view on DiW's quality. I found it to be a nice little novel in its own right, just not one of MJF's (or TNG's) best.. Now, returning to the thread topic:

First, at the time of DiW's original publication (2005), the TNGR was still being developed (with Resistance published in 2007). I don't know if DiW was planned as the first of the TNGR, but at the time, it fell more in line with the NEM "fallout" books - Titan: Taking Wing and Articles of the Federation, when considering its major emphasis on the post-Shinzon Romulan Empire (including a glimpse into the "origin" of Shinzon himself)

Second, as I see it, the TNGR novels primarily revolve around Picard's new crew and missions - all missing from DiW, as the Enterprise is still in drydock... While the novel does advance Picard and Crusher's relationship, I don't see this as a "subplot" carrying over to the TNGR, but rather as the final part of their relationship, as established on the show, movies and novels pre-NEM. Their relationship post-DiW is taken for granted, as it were, being a fresh start.

Last, I think that while Resistance should be recognized as the "official" start of the TNGR, there is a novel I believe should be read before - the "zero" issue, if you take a cue form comics: CLB's The Buried Age.

Again, not to get into a review (though I found it to be a great book), I found this novel to be the perfect "introduction" to Picard (his character, values, personality, etc), as he would play THE central role in the following TNGR novels, but also serve as he perfect bridge to the "new" TNG, by giving us the (untold) genesis of "old" TNG.

Other facts which IMO support this claim are the novel's publication date (directly before Resistance), Q cameo and the direct alluding to a central plot point in Q&A.

Thoughts? Comments?

 

[DarKush]

I disagree. I think the Picard/Crusher relationship is more than a subplot. It was a defining moment for both characters that has forever altered them, with the subsequent marriage and imminent childbirth. That has been a major part of the other TNG-R stories.

I also suspect that the Romulan storyline (Donatra v. Tal'Aura) will continue to play out in the TNG-R and Titan stories.

I think DiW should be considered the beginning of the TNG-R.

 

[RonG]

While the novel does advance Picard and Crusher's relationship, I don't see this as a "subplot" carrying over to the TNGR, but rather as the final part of their relationship, as established on the show, movies and novels pre-NEM. Their relationship post-DiW is taken for granted, as it were, being a fresh start.

I disagree. I think the Picard/Crusher relationship is more than a subplot. It was a defining moment for both characters that has forever altered them

I see that we're in agreement, actually . I see the end of DiW (in regards to Picard and Crusher's relationship) as either their "Happily Ever After" ending or the culmination of their relationship along the years (and I found it to be quite fitting for this to happen in a MJF novel co-starring Greyhorse and Joseph, seeing as MJF was the author of the Stargazer series).

I think that their status-quo at the start of Resistance and all that follows (up to and including Destiny) signifies an all-new chapter in their lives - as part of the relaunched TNG.

I also suspect that the Romulan storyline (Donatra v. Tal'Aura) will continue to play out in the TNG-R and Titan stories.

I think that this will actually play more along the lines of Cardassia's situation post-Dominion War, until such a time when an epic enough story can be developed.. something along the line of an all-out civil war which will drag Vulcan (and by extension, the UFP) in the middle...

 

[BryanSorensen]

i actually disagree there with you guys there. I think DIW was a great 1st book in the relaunch because it introduced the next step in the lives of the TNG crew that stayed around.

The whole Picard/Crusher romance starting in this book is a perfect example of the new direction the writers began to take in the lives of the characters. While the replacement crew members werent primary in the novel, i think that the focus on Picard and Crusher was right on becuase they are sorta the backbone of the entire senior staff.

I am not taking anything away from Geordi or Worf, but I have always felt that Picards the head of the table, and Crushers on the other end with all the other senior staff in the middle making one big happy family. I thought this was a perfect way to start the next phase in the lives of the USS Enteprise E senior staff

 

[William Leisner]

Hi all,

after reading all TNGR novels before moving on to Destiny (Best..TrekLit...Ever BTW), I thought a bit about DiW and its place on the TNGR series. While it does feature the post-NEM TNG setting, I personally believe that it should not be considered a part of the Relaunch per se, but rather a NEM "epilogue" retroactively inserted as part of the Relaunch. The Relaunch IMO begins with another novel entirely - which I'll get to later.

Well... given that "TNG Relaunch" has never been an official or semi-official designation for any of the books, and given that Margaret has actually said she doesn't care for the term "TNG Relaunch" ... and given that you can't really "retroactively" place a book where it had been since its inception...

Yeah, sounds good to me!

 

[BrotherBenny]

Well... given that "TNG Relaunch" has never been an official or semi-official designation for any of the books, and given that Margaret has actually said she doesn't care for the term "TNG Relaunch" ... and given that you can't really "retroactively" place a book where it had been since its inception...

Yeah, sounds good to me!

What would you call the series of books that takes place post-NEM, after the "end" of the adventures of the TNG crew? If it isn't a relaunch then it's the continuing misadvenures, which doesn't have the same kind of ring to it.

 

[DarKush]

Ron G,

Respectfully I don't think we do agree. The Picard-Crusher romance that was begun/reignited in DiW was the first chapter in that new story, not the end of it.

 

[RonG]

Gonna have to agree to disagree, then

I still think that DiW is the capstone to Picard and Crusher's on/off, will they\won't they relationship, with Resistance actually showing us the "next step" of the actual relationship (and of course subsequent novels taking it from there).

Slightly veering "off topic" , even if we can't agree on DiW's "placement", I have not read any comments as to The Buried Age's place in the TNG-R.

comments?

 

[William Leisner]

What would you call the series of books that takes place post-NEM, after the "end" of the adventures of the TNG crew? If it isn't a relaunch then it's the continuing misadvenures, which doesn't have the same kind of ring to it.

I call them the TNG post-NEM series. (I was thinking of calling them "Harold," but that name's been taken.)

And let me pose this question: had there been a fifth TNG film, with Riker and Troi absent and B4 sitting drooling in the corner of the bridge... would you claim NEM was the end of TNG's adventures?

 

[21Spike65]

I do think that The Buried Age makes a great lead-in to Q&A, but that is just one book of the so-called "TNG Relaunch." Other than that, it has little to no connection to Resistance, Before Dishonor, Greater Than the Sum, or Destiny. (I realize there were references in Greater Than the Sum, but the two stories themselves were not really related.) I don't see it as really being included as part (or Book 0) of the "TNG Relaunch" for that reason. The development of Picard in The Buried Age works to show us how he got to the man we saw walk on the bridge in "Encounter at Farpoint." The Picard of the "TNG Relaunch" has 16 years of development from this point. I think The Buried Age works better as a Stargazer finale and TNG series prelude than as a beginning to the "TNG Relaunch."

And I kind of like your comic book reference, but I would use Resistance as "Book One" and Death in Winter as "Book Zero."

 

[KRAD]

B4 sitting drooling in the corner of the bridge...

Great, now I'm going to be tortured by the question of whether or not androids drool. Thanks a lot, Leisner!

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

B4 sitting drooling in the corner of the bridge...

Great, now I'm going to be tortured by the question of whether or not androids drool. Thanks a lot, Leisner!

Androids drool...on electric sheep.

 

[William Leisner]

B4 sitting drooling in the corner of the bridge...

Great, now I'm going to be tortured by the question of whether or not androids drool. Thanks a lot, Leisner!

My gift to you. Merry Christmas!

 

[Christopher]

Slightly veering "off topic" , even if we can't agree on DiW's "placement", I have not read any comments as to The Buried Age's place in the TNG-R.

I know I'm just the guy who wrote it, but I think of TBA as a TNG prequel. It's basically the retroactive "origin story" for the TNG crew, kinda like how the new ST movie is a retroactive origin story (of sorts) for the TOS crew.

There's also the fact that TBA was edited by Marco and the TNG post-NEM novels are edited by Margaret. So they aren't really linked projects.


As for Death in Winter, I think of it as a transitional book or an interlude between the pre-NEM novels and the post-NEM novels.

 

[BrotherBenny]

What would you call the series of books that takes place post-NEM, after the "end" of the adventures of the TNG crew? If it isn't a relaunch then it's the continuing misadvenures, which doesn't have the same kind of ring to it.

I call them the TNG post-NEM series. (I was thinking of calling them "Harold," but that name's been taken.)

And let me pose this question: had there been a fifth TNG film, with Riker and Troi absent and B4 sitting drooling in the corner of the bridge... would you claim NEM was the end of TNG's adventures?

No, I would say it was the TNG Continuing Adventures. The TNG crew were not realistic for staying together for so long. That doesn't happen, so it would be the continuing adventures. I'm just glad that Pocket hasn't shoehorned both the E-E and Titan into the same books like PAD has with NF, he should have an NF spin-off with the Trident and have Shelby make cameos in both Star Trek: New Frontier and Star Trek: The Other Ship.

 

[Christopher]

...and Star Trek: The Other Ship.

But... but that would be... TOS! I'm so confused!

 

[DarKush]

Gonna have to agree to disagree, then

I still think that DiW is the capstone to Picard and Crusher's on/off, will they\won't they relationship, with Resistance actually showing us the "next step" of the actual relationship (and of course subsequent novels taking it from there).

Slightly veering "off topic" , even if we can't agree on DiW's "placement", I have not read any comments as to The Buried Age's place in the TNG-R.

comments?

Sorry Ron G, but I haven't read The Buried Age yet. It's one of the many Trek books, along with the Cardassian Occupation novels, and Fearful Symmetry that are collecting dust on my bookshelf.

 

[RonG]

Gonna have to agree to disagree, then

I still think that DiW is the capstone to Picard and Crusher's on/off, will they\won't they relationship, with Resistance actually showing us the "next step" of the actual relationship (and of course subsequent novels taking it from there).

Slightly veering "off topic" , even if we can't agree on DiW's "placement", I have not read any comments as to The Buried Age's place in the TNG-R.

comments?

Sorry Ron G, but I haven't read The Buried Age yet. It's one of the many Trek books, along with the Cardassian Occupation novels, and Fearful Symmetry that are collecting dust on my bookshelf.

while the Terok Nor trilogy and Fearful Symmetry are great books in their own right, I wholeheartedly recommend reading The Buried Age. CLB has totally captured the essence of "new life and new civilizations" (as can be plainly seen in his other books)

 

[BryanSorensen]

If I am not mistaken, The Buried Age says on the cover its a tale of the lost era, so Chris would be right in calling it a prequel, since it takes place entirely before Picard even steps foot on the Enterprise. I read it;a fantastic tale and a great way to look at Picard before he appeared in Encounter at Farfoint.

 

[Sci]

...and Star Trek: The Other Ship.

But... but that would be... TOS! I'm so confused!

How about OTiYAFSN?

Star Trek: Our Title is Yet Another Frickin' Ship's Name?