Epic Trek novels.. and those not so epic..

[RonG]

My favorite Trek novels are usually those one can call "epic" – large scale, sweeping tales of struggle or as Wikipedia describes: "..Epics are majestic depictions and capture impressive struggles, such as stories of war, adventures, and other efforts of great scope and size over long periods of time." (from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epic_(story))​

Not *all* my favorite Trek novels fall under this classification, but are great works in themselves of course (such as A Stitch in Time, Crucible trilogy, Articles of the Federation and more), but most of them surely do:
Destiny trilogy, Millennium trilogy, Unity, The Art of the Impossible, The Serpents among the Ruins, Q-Squared and others…​

I've been thinking about Trek novels (or multi-novel stories) that set out to tell these epic-scale stories (or were hyped as such) and came up with these:
- Genesis Wave
- Maximum Warp
- The Devil's Heart​

I was wondering what others think about these novels and about the TrekLit epic- the ones that succeed and the ones that fall short..​

 

[BillJ]

My favorite Trek novels are usually those one can call "epic" – large scale, sweeping tales of struggle or as Wikipedia describes: "..Epics are majestic depictions and capture impressive struggles, such as stories of war, adventures, and other efforts of great scope and size over long periods of time." (from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epic_(story))​

Not *all* my favorite Trek novels fall under this classification, but are great works in themselves of course (such as A Stitch in Time, Crucible trilogy, Articles of the Federation and more), but most of them surely do:
Destiny trilogy, Millennium trilogy, Unity, The Art of the Impossible, The Serpents among the Ruins, Q-Squared and others…​

I've been thinking about Trek novels (or multi-novel stories) that set out to tell these epic-scale stories (or were hyped as such) and came up with these:
- Genesis Wave
- Maximum Warp
- The Devil's Heart​

I was wondering what others think about these novels and about the TrekLit epic- the ones that succeed and the ones that fall short..​

Federation

 

[RonG]

What about Federation, BillJ?

what did you think of it? was it *Epic* or didn't it work for you?

I originally thought it was one of the most epic trek novels ever.. re-reading after a few years (and after having been spoiled by Trek offerings in the last decade), I liked it a lot less TBH..

 

[Allyn Gibson]

I've been thinking about Trek novels (or multi-novel stories) that set out to tell these epic-scale stories (or were hyped as such) and came up with these:
- Genesis Wave
- Maximum Warp
- The Devil's Heart​

I don't think The Devil's Heart gets much notice, and that's unfortunate. It truly is a questing epic tale, and I've always thought it hearkened back to the Grail Quest. (In fact, I wrote a "missing" chapter of The Devil's Heart many years ago that revealed that the Iconian artifact was, in fact, the Grail.) But there are also elements of The Lord of the Rings, such as the corrupting nature of the artifact (such as what it does to Picard's mental state). It's one of my favorites.

 

[captcalhoun]

Prime Directive is pretty damn epic.

 

[RoJoHen]

Prime Directive is pretty damn epic.

I've read it. I don't remember anything about it other than it being epic and awesome. Same with Federation.

Another that I would say that I'm going to call "emotionally epic" is Sarek.

 

[Saul]

Shatner's Books.

 

[JD]

I'd say Soul Key was actually pretty epic, when it came to the events in the MU.

 

[Balok's Head]

When I saw the title to this thread I was going to say The Devil's Heart, but you already bet me to it.

I loved those short storys of all the people who had come into conctact with the Heart over the years. Very interesting.

Thats a book I would read again.

I also really loved Probe. Epic.

 

[Myasishchev]

Probe was pretty epic. Man, I haven't read that in years.

 

[Thrawn]

Hm. Devil's Heart sounds pretty good, now that you all mention it.

 

[D Man]

One of my favorite Trek novels and one I'd certainly call epic is The Buried Age which basically has it all...awesomely galaxy-sweeping.

 

[RonG]

what about the novels that were *hyped as* or *should have been* epic (see my OP), but were simply.. not?

what is it that makes a Trek novel epic in your opinion?

 

[ronny]

The two epic novels coming to mind right now are Crucible: McCoy by David R. George III and Terok Nor: Day of Vipers by James Swallow. Probably because I had both of my copies signed by the cover artist, John Picacio, last night. And I only bothered to have them signed to because I not only loved both books, but the covers themselves.

Besides that coincidence though, when I think of epic those are two books that are at the top of my list.

 

[Claudia]

Second the vote for Crucible: McCoy - I think it can't get much more epic...

 

[Scout101]

Imzadi comes to mind

 

[Joel_Kirk]

The Errand of Fury books....(Epic in scale, action, pace, characters). Of course the Destiny novels are also epic in scale...

Star Trek: Recovery, which I'm nearly done with now, seems pretty epic..

 

[STR]

Shatner's Books.

Definately. You can expect TWO things from a Shatner book.

1) Kirk is getting laid at some time during the book.

2) Something huge is going to happen. Entire planets blowing up is the very least you can expect.

If you want to compare Borg creation/destruction tales, I don't think the Destriny trilogy is nearly as good as The Return. Having said that, I haven't read Shatner's book in 10 years, so my judgement may have changed.

 

[Thrawn]

If you want to compare Borg creation/destruction tales, I don't think the Destriny trilogy is nearly as good as The Return.

Yeah.... no. Not at all. No no no. M-mm. Nuh-uh. Nooooo.

 

[RonG]

though The Return is on of the better Shatnerverse novels IMO, it has *nothing* on Destiny.

In fact, the Shanterverse novels are (again IMO) *hyped* as epic, but most of the time are over the top, hero-worshipping and outlandish, in a bad sort of way

I remember enjoying Ashes of Eden, raising a brow but still enjoying The Return and Avenger, moving uncomfortably in my chair whil reading the Mirror Universe trilogy, and cringing at Captain's Peril, Blood and Glory...