Essential Star Trek Novels That Even Non-Trekkers Should Read

Discussion in 'Trek Literature' started by JWolf, Dec 10, 2012.

  1. Markonian

    Markonian Fleet Admiral Moderator

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    It is not a novel but its TrekLit. Furthermore, it is written in-universe (aren't the novels as well?), therefore it is not a 'mere' manual. And it is not uncommon to have two threads, one before and one upon the books release, if I remember correctly. In addition, the established thread is more about the physical book, not so much about the content, characters, spoilers. :vulcan:
     
  2. Ian Keldon

    Ian Keldon Fleet Captain

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    My list:

    The Galactic Whirlpool (David Gerrald)

    Rihannsu series by Diane Duane plus The Wounded Sky and Spock's World

    The Final Reflection (John Ford)

    The entire Vanguard series (various)

    Vendetta (Peter David)

    Imzadi (both books) (Peter David)

    Dark Mirror (Diane Duane)

    Articles of the Federation (Keith R A DeCandido)

    A Singular Destiny (Keith R A DeCandido)

    Losing the Peace (William Leisner)

    A Burning House (Keith R A DeCandido)

    The Typhon Pact series (various)
     
  3. Brefugee

    Brefugee No longer living the Irish dream. Premium Member

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    As I've said in another thread in relation to this, you could always create the review thread. Nothing's stopping you and it's not one posters personal monopoly.
     
  4. BillJ

    BillJ The King of Kings Premium Member

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    Not a very good list with Gulliver's Fugitives, Once Burned and the Destiny trilogy missing.

    And how did The Captain's Daughter get picked over Forged in Fire?
     
  5. Paris

    Paris Commodore Commodore

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    How did they miss DRG3's Serpents Among the Ruins?! Craziness!
     
  6. Deano2099

    Deano2099 Commander Red Shirt

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    I'd imagine the fairly innocuous explanation for this is that the writer stopped reading Trek Lit around 10 years ago, but used to be quite into it and so pitched the article anyway.
     
  7. Garrovick

    Garrovick Commander Red Shirt

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    I'd include The Wounded Sky by Diane Duane on that list for sure. Also Yesterday's Son by A.C. Crispin.
     
  8. ronny

    ronny Fleet Captain Fleet Captain

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    I like what the author the article has to say about Peter David in a review of David's prequal to After Earth.

    The complete story is at http://io9.com/5967572/how-did-huma...-exclusive-look-at-peter-davids-prequel-story

    Trek writers Michael Jan Friedman and Robert Greenberger are also involved in the project.
     
  9. Allyn Gibson

    Allyn Gibson Vice Admiral Admiral

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    There's a comic book that's out now from Dynamite Entertainment -- After Earth: Innocence. Friedman and Greenberger cowrote it, and it takes place before the film.
     
  10. Christopher

    Christopher Writer Admiral

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    It's worth noting that David, Greenberger, and Friedman are not only writing tie-ins for the film, but wrote a bible for the overall After Earth universe, which the film's script was revised to take into account.
     
  11. JD

    JD Fleet Admiral Admiral

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    Very cool.
    As for the list, there are definitely a lot of more recent books I would have included in there. With the biggest being Serpents Among the Ruins, The Art of The Impossible, Orion's Hounds, and Destiny.
     
  12. Sci

    Sci Fleet Admiral Admiral

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    I would say that that list should include at least a few of the following books published since 2001:

    The Lost Era: Serpents Among the Ruins by David R. George III
    Star Trek: Destiny by David Mack
    Star Trek: Articles of the Federation by Keith R.A. DeCandido
    Deep Space Nine: The Never-Ending Sacrifice by Una McCormack
    Vanguard: Reap the Whirlwind by David Mack
    Voyager: Full Circle by Kirsten Beyer
    S.C.E.: Wildfire by David Mack
    Titan: Orion's Hounds by Christopher L. Bennett
     
  13. Quimby

    Quimby Lieutenant Red Shirt

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    How could they have left Crucible: McCoy: Provenance of Shadows off that list? It s basically an Alternate History Novel rather than a Star Trek Novel (and a great read).
     
  14. zarkon

    zarkon Captain Captain

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    Well I doubt the author's read the entireity of the 600+ trek novels floating about

    And even then tastes vary. I personally don't like some of the most feted trek books herebout.

    Which is fine, different strokes for different folk
     
  15. JoeZhang

    JoeZhang Vice Admiral Admiral

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    Let's face it - the real point of such polls is to get hits and you do that by publishing a list that will cause a debate, it's a publishing trick as old as the hills.
     
  16. TiberiusMaximus

    TiberiusMaximus Fleet Captain Fleet Captain

    Spock Must Die is a good read, but I don't see how or why it would be appealing to non-Trek fans.

    The Entropy Effect is my favorite Trek novel, I've read it several times and I love it more every time.

    Planet of Judgment wasn't all that great, mostly because I found the aliens annoying.

    My Enemy, My Ally is great, as is the rest of the Rihannsu series.

    The First Adventure was fun too, even though it wasn't quite the crew we're used to.

    I haven't read the rest. I tried How Much For Just The Planet but I didn't like it.
     
  17. Christopher

    Christopher Writer Admiral

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    It's by James Blish, a very important and well-regarded science fiction author. There are lots of Blish fans who aren't Trek fans.


    I think it's the second-best of the Bantams, trailing The Galactic Whirlpool.
     
  18. Spike730

    Spike730 Captain Captain

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    "Uhura's Song" should definately be on that list.
     
  19. bullethead

    bullethead Fleet Captain Fleet Captain

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    I get the feeling that most of these novels were chosen because they're pretty much standalone works that feature little to no references to other pieces of Trek lit and not too much show continuity stuff. Those kinds of things tend to throw newbies for a loop, so it makes sense to not have them in the books that made it to the list.
     
  20. TiberiusMaximus

    TiberiusMaximus Fleet Captain Fleet Captain

    Oh. That makes sense.

    I didn't hate it, I just...I don't know, I didn't "feel" it like I "feel" the TrekLit I like.

    I totally agree.