What's a good stand alone novel featuring Data?

Discussion in 'Trek Literature' started by Freman, Apr 3, 2011.

  1. Freman

    Freman Fleet Captain Fleet Captain

    Joined:
    Jul 21, 2001
    Location:
    Kenora, Ontario, Canada
    My girlfriend is a huge Data fan, and I've just introduced her to the world of Trek lit. Her birthday is coming up and for one of her presents, I'd like to find her a Data-centric novel.

    Can anybody think of one?
     
  2. Lonemagpie

    Lonemagpie Writer Admiral

    Joined:
    Jan 31, 2007
    Location:
    Yorkshire
    Immortal Coil

    it is full of continuity, but done in such a way that it's a bonus to those familiar with it, and not detrimental to those who aren't.
     
  3. Greg Cox

    Greg Cox Admiral Premium Member

    Joined:
    May 12, 2004
    Location:
    Lancaster, PA
    Another vote for IMMORTAL COIL.
     
  4. William Leisner

    William Leisner Scribbler Rear Admiral

    Joined:
    Aug 17, 2003
    Location:
    Minneapolis, MN
    Or you could go way back and get her a copy of METAMORPHOSIS. Though it's been forever since I read this, and I have no idea how it'll read all these years later.
     
  5. Christopher

    Christopher Writer Admiral

    Joined:
    Mar 15, 2001
    Although Metamorphosis isn't quite a standalone, since in some respects it's a sequel to Survivors by the same author. It brings back guest characters from that book and makes reference to its events. And Survivors is a pretty strong Data story too (though it's mainly a Tasha Yar novel), allowing for the fact that both novels were written before the show retconned Data as being incapable of emotion, so their portrayal of him may seem odd for readers today. Anyway, I think if you get one, you should get the other too for the full experience.
     
  6. Therin of Andor

    Therin of Andor Admiral Moderator

    Joined:
    Jun 30, 2004
    Location:
    New Therin Park, Andor (via Australia)
    "Immortal Coil" is wonderful, although when some TNG-only readers found out how much continuity came from TOS they got very angry. I still think it works extremely well as a standalone.

    I loved "Metamorphosis" but, again, it made some fans very angry. Fans are funny like that. I does have some follow up with original characters from "Survivors", the early novel that ties into "Skin of Evil" at its conclusion.
     
  7. shanejayell

    shanejayell Captain Captain

    Joined:
    Feb 4, 2009
    Location:
    BC, Canada
    Agreed. Plus, it has anime references!
     
  8. F. King Daniel

    F. King Daniel Fleet Admiral Admiral

    Joined:
    Nov 5, 2008
    Location:
    A type 13 planet in it's final stage
    Another vote for Metamorphosis. Although re-using some characters from Survivors, you don't need to have read that first. I didn't, and I didn't feel I missed anything.
     
  9. Starbreaker

    Starbreaker Fleet Admiral Admiral

    Joined:
    Feb 19, 2001
    Location:
    Birmingham, AL
    I enjoyed Metamorphosis. I didn't even know it used the same characters from Survivors.
     
  10. DigificWriter

    DigificWriter Vice Admiral Admiral

    Joined:
    May 20, 2001
    Location:
    West Haven, UT, USA
    I'm going to mention Double Helix: Infection; it's not solely a Data novel, but I really like the role he plays in it and the things that it says about his friendship with and possible romantic attraction towards Tasha (as set up in The Naked Now).
     
  11. Freman

    Freman Fleet Captain Fleet Captain

    Joined:
    Jul 21, 2001
    Location:
    Kenora, Ontario, Canada
    Thanks for all the suggestions. I actually have Metamorphosis sitting in front of me. I've had it since it came out.

    I'll look into seeing if I can find the other ones mentioned.
     
  12. William Leisner

    William Leisner Scribbler Rear Admiral

    Joined:
    Aug 17, 2003
    Location:
    Minneapolis, MN
    I don't think I was aware of that, either.
     
  13. JD

    JD Fleet Admiral Admiral

    Joined:
    Jul 22, 2004
    Location:
    Arizona, USA
    I'm putting in another vote for Immortal Coil. I just read it last year, and found it to be amazing. It is one of my favorite books, and one of the best Data stories in any medium.
    I would love to see Rhea McAdams pop up again somewhere, she was a great character and I would love to know what she's been up to since the events of the book.
    I can't remember, was she actually a Starfleet Officer, or did they just fake all of her background before she came aboard the Enterprise? It's been a few months since I read the book so I don't really remember her whole backstory.
     
  14. Snaploud

    Snaploud Admiral Admiral

    Joined:
    Jul 5, 2001
    Location:
    Rhode Island, USA
    Metamorphosis and Immoral Coil are certainly well worth reading. You don't need to read Survivors.
     
  15. Christopher

    Christopher Writer Admiral

    Joined:
    Mar 15, 2001
    Maybe not for continuity alone, but it's certainly just as worthwhile as Metamorphosis, if not better. Frankly I'm startled that so many people haven't read Survivors. It was one of the most popular and important of the early TNG novels, because it was the definitive Tasha Yar novel, at least until "Legacy" came along and contradicted aspects of it (though you could still kinda make it fit if you assumed that "New Paris" was a local name for Turkana IV). And as I said, it's a pretty major Data story too, even if Data's the secondary focus after Tasha.

    So I'm not saying that if you skip Survivors, you couldn't understand Metamorphosis. I'm saying that if you only read Metamorphosis, you're missing out on an equally worthwhile book in Survivors.
     
    haddie moonfall likes this.
  16. Thrawn

    Thrawn Rear Admiral Premium Member

    Joined:
    Jun 15, 2008
    Location:
    Washington, DC
    I've never read any of the three of them. Should definitely make sure those are on my list...
     
  17. Stevil2001

    Stevil2001 Vice Admiral Admiral

    Joined:
    Dec 7, 2001
    Christopher is right. Survivors is totally rad.
     
  18. Smitty

    Smitty Lieutenant Commander Red Shirt

    Joined:
    May 30, 2006
    Location:
    Dallas/Fort Worth, TX
    Thanks for the input Christopher! Having not read metamorphisis yet I will certainly include survivors with it.
     
  19. Peak

    Peak Fleet Captain Fleet Captain

    Joined:
    Dec 26, 2002
    Location:
    Sweden
    Survivors is excellent. One of the few early TNG-novels that still holds up today, imho (That one and Strike Zone are the only two, I think). It may help that it focuses on Tasha (who didn't had time to get fleshed out so much that there was a lot of contradictions later). I though Metamorphosis was ok. It works better as a continuation of the superior Survivors than a standalone novel. If I'm not mistaken, Metamorposis was the first TNG Giant Novel.
     
  20. Christopher

    Christopher Writer Admiral

    Joined:
    Mar 15, 2001
    You are not mistaken.