Next Titan novel announced

[Jedi_Master]

^ But that's sort of the point, I don't think anyone outright "hates" what he's done...it's just become mediocre Trek, and when you read his earlier colaborative works, then it's just depressing to think that one of the better Trek writers is now putting out such comparative garbage...

Hate is a strong word, but I will NOT buy any more Martin books unless it is a collaboration, they are just not worth it to me because I've come to expect a book that I won't enjoy and its not worth it for the few good nuggets. You call his solo stuff "mediocre" and "garbage" but think it isn't a big deal but I think it is. On Amazon I've read people publish reviews saying they rarely read Trek novels then they pick up Romulan War or Seize the Fire and it bores them so much they won't pick up a trek novel again. Maybe in the 90s when there were many regular trek titles you could afford a few poor contributions but with limited releases now, a bad apple could spoil the whole barrel. A fan gets a bad taste and decides not to read any other books. These books consistantly having the same flaws could impact the reputation of all of trek lit and cool the enthusiasm of fans to buy more books.

Correct. Although I am certain that TrekLit will keep on rolling, there are fewer choices than in recent memory. So when an author in the past produced a less than stellar book well there were three or four other ones out there to buy that month. Now entire storylines are in the hands of single authors, and few books are released each year. So now "mediocre" novels stand out, and inconsistency on the part of authors stands out.

Consumers are more fickle than ever, and Treklit is the ONLY place where people can find new stories and the ONLY place (currently) where those same new stories can attract new fans. As a Trek fan, and a book fan, it is frustrating when mediocre novels hit the marketplace, and even more frustrating when authors can put out sub - par work over a long period of time and still be allowed to write more new material.

The Titan series has been a bright spot in Treklit - along with the SUPERB Voyager series. I will wait to pass judgment on the new Titan novel written by Mr. Martin, but I am not too excited by the prospect of my least favorite Trek author writing a novel in one of my favorite series.

 

[Cybersnark]

For every reader of ST books that doesn't like his work, there is one or more that does.

And indeed, isn't one of the whole points of Trek the idea that everyone's perspective is equally valid?

Perhaps the best thing would be to put Martin on his own subseries, where his writing style could give it a distinctive voice. I really liked the exploration of Coalition and Gorn politics/culture/xenophobia in TRW and StF --maybe he could spin off a series of xenopolitical potboilers (I wouldn't mind seeing his take on Bajor/Cardassia, or the Typhon Pact's internal machinations, or the expansion of the Khitomer Alliance, etc).

 

[Christopher]

And indeed, isn't one of the whole points of Trek the idea that everyone's perspective is equally valid?

Well, I wouldn't go that far; it's not trying to argue that, say, Hitler's perspective or Pol Pot's was valid. Rather, it's saying that a different perspective isn't automatically wrong just because it's different from your own; that there are certainly points of view that are wrong, but there can be many distinct ones that are valid, at least for the people who hold them. And one point of view that's consistently wrong is the refusal to even consider other points of view.

 

[Allyn Gibson]

And indeed, isn't one of the whole points of Trek the idea that everyone's perspective is equally valid?

Well, I wouldn't go that far; it's not trying to argue that, say, Hitler's perspective or Pol Pot's was valid. Rather, it's saying that a different perspective isn't automatically wrong just because it's different from your own; that there are certainly points of view that are wrong, but there can be many distinct ones that are valid, at least for the people who hold them. And one point of view that's consistently wrong is the refusal to even consider other points of view.

Dude! Christopher Godwinized the thread!

Let's lock it up and go home.

 

[xortex]

Lowering the quality of something is like depriving someone of food, water and oxygen, It just makes them want it that much more while never ever getting it, only promised it. Like Chinese food that tastes like cardboard. They're playing it tight to the vest because of JJ's uncertainty and yanking our chain like Jabba the Hut did with Lea.

 

[Therin of Andor]

Lowering the quality of something

Pocket Books is deliberately lowering the quality of Star Trek novels so we'll crave them more?

JJ's "uncertainty"? What was so uncertain about box office success, critical acclaim and (a majority of) fannish acceptance?

 

[Relayer1]

Correct. Although I am certain that TrekLit will keep on rolling, there are fewer choices than in recent memory. So when an author in the past produced a less than stellar book well there were three or four other ones out there to buy that month. Now entire storylines are in the hands of single authors, and few books are released each year. So now "mediocre" novels stand out, and inconsistency on the part of authors stands out.

You would think so wouldn't you, but that's not necessarily the case. IMHO, in the old days of multiple stand alones and dodgy multi series 'linked' titles that all put the toys back in the box at the end, the majority of the novels were at best ''mediocre''.

It took the relaunch to get me back into Treklit, the overall quality is much higher thesedays.

 

[Edit_XYZ]

It took the relaunch to get me back into Treklit, the overall quality is much higher thesedays.

Higher than in the 'old days'? Maybe, maybe not. Debatable.

But the quality of the star trek lit line these days decreased from what it was ~4-5 years ago.
There are a few bright points, yes - but also plenty of low-quality books, abandoned plot-lines, ad-hoc devlopments with no preparation (in cases where there should be foreshadowing/preparation), etc.

 

[xortex]

Lowering the quality of something

Pocket Books is deliberately lowering the quality of Star Trek novels so we'll crave them more?

JJ's "uncertainty"? What was so uncertain about box office success, critical acclaim and (a majority of) fannish acceptance?

Uncertainty about the best way to make the most money, hence the delay of the nu-trek novels.

Australia is the last place to wake up in the morning. Isn't it?

 

[captcalhoun]

no, it's one of the first. You Fail Geography For Ever.

 

[JD]

Lowering the quality of something

Pocket Books is deliberately lowering the quality of Star Trek novels so we'll crave them more?

JJ's "uncertainty"? What was so uncertain about box office success, critical acclaim and (a majority of) fannish acceptance?

Uncertainty about the best way to make the most money, hence the delay of the nu-trek novels.

I don't see where uncertainty about how to make money has anything to do with it. From what little we've heard it seems to me that they're more concerned with keeping things creatively consistent.

 

[JB2005]

Lowering the quality of something is like depriving someone of food, water and oxygen, It just makes them want it that much more while never ever getting it

No it isn't. Lowering the quality of something which is a luxury makes them find a better luxury...

Like Chinese food that tastes like cardboard.

No...you're eating the box...

They're playing it tight to the vest because of JJ's uncertainty and yanking our chain like Jabba the Hut did with Lea.

What are they playing tight to the vest?

Lowering the quality of something

Pocket Books is deliberately lowering the quality of Star Trek novels so we'll crave them more?

JJ's "uncertainty"? What was so uncertain about box office success, critical acclaim and (a majority of) fannish acceptance?

Uncertainty about the best way to make the most money, hence the delay of the nu-trek novels.

Australia is the last place to wake up in the morning. Isn't it?

No, unsurprisingly, Therin is quite a few steps ahead of you...

And as mentioned above, uncertainty is not the best way to make money. The best way to make money is to provide goods and services which receive a high level of demand...

 

[xortex]

Lowering the quality of something is like depriving someone of food, water and oxygen, It just makes them want it that much more while never ever getting it

No it isn't. Lowering the quality of something which is a luxury makes them find a better luxury...

Like Chinese food that tastes like cardboard.

No...you're eating the box...



What are they playing tight to the vest?

Pocket Books is deliberately lowering the quality of Star Trek novels so we'll crave them more?

JJ's "uncertainty"? What was so uncertain about box office success, critical acclaim and (a majority of) fannish acceptance?

Uncertainty about the best way to make the most money, hence the delay of the nu-trek novels.

Australia is the last place to wake up in the morning. Isn't it?

No, unsurprisingly, Therin is quite a few steps ahead of you...

And as mentioned above, uncertainty is not the best way to make money. The best way to make money is to provide goods and services which receive a high level of demand...

The problem with that is that nobody knows what they want until they get it if they ever do. Let them eat cake was not antoinette's policy prior to getting her head cut off.

 

[JB2005]

Lowering the quality of something is like depriving someone of food, water and oxygen, It just makes them want it that much more while never ever getting it

No it isn't. Lowering the quality of something which is a luxury makes them find a better luxury...



No...you're eating the box...



What are they playing tight to the vest?

Uncertainty about the best way to make the most money, hence the delay of the nu-trek novels.

Australia is the last place to wake up in the morning. Isn't it?

No, unsurprisingly, Therin is quite a few steps ahead of you...

And as mentioned above, uncertainty is not the best way to make money. The best way to make money is to provide goods and services which receive a high level of demand...

The problem with that is that nobody knows what they want until they get it if they ever do.

Except you were saying that people want food, water, star trek etc...so they clearly do know...

Let them eat cake was not antoinette's policy prior to getting her head cut off.

It was never anyone's policy, it was an untrue assertion made against her by her enemies...and has nothing to do with anything...

 

[Kertrats47]

The solicitation cover for this novel has been released. Obviously, not the final version:

http://i.imgur.com/ZV7vo.jpg

 

[Fer]

The solicitation cover for this novel has been released. Obviously, not the final version:

http://i.imgur.com/ZV7vo.jpg

It's very nice for a very non-story specific cover. I don't normally like "floating head and a starship" covers, but for some reason this one works for me.

It's probably just a place-holder so I doubt they'll keep it, but if they do, I just hope they switch the Enterprise to the Titan.

 

[JD]

It's ok. Definitely like the covers for DRGIII's books better.

 

[Julio Angel Ortiz]

The solicitation cover for this novel has been released. Obviously, not the final version:

http://i.imgur.com/ZV7vo.jpg

It's very nice for a very non-story specific cover. I don't normally like "floating head and a starship" covers, but for some reason this one works for me.

It's probably just a place-holder so I doubt they'll keep it, but if they do, I just hope they switch the Enterprise to the Titan.

I hope so too. For all the money and time they spent on the contest for having Titan designed, it's a shame it's only been on one cover so far (at least, for the US editions).

ETA: I do like that shot of Riker, and the cover works for me too (as long as they replace the Enterprise with Titan).

 

[OverlordSpock]

I hope that, while the details may (and probably will) change, the overall concept stays the same. I greatly enjoyed the overall cover design for the first several Titan novels and didn't like when the last few didn't follow that theme. It's nice to see it back here.

 

[ATimson]

I hope that, while the details may (and probably will) change, the overall concept stays the same. I greatly enjoyed the overall cover design for the first several Titan novels and didn't like when the last few didn't follow that theme. It's nice to see it back here.

Which ones didn't use it, besides Sieze the Fire? (Destiny doesn't count, it's not a "pure Titan" novel.)