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A new dive in the Trek books universe

curson

Lieutenant Commander
Red Shirt
Hello there.
I've been on a reasonably long (let's say almost eternal) hiatus from any Star Trek novel for a while, and I'd like to dive back into it, just because I feel the need to ;) You probably know that craving for Star Trek things too.
Anyhow.
I don't know where, or better, with what to start. I have no idea of how the actual Star Trek books panorama looks like, and thus I don't know what would be best to pick up as a first read. I've heard a lot about the TITAN series, which seems to be well written (although I've to admit Riker is not exactly my fav character ever...) and enjoyable, but I'm obviously looking out for advices.

So, what would you suggest? :shifty:
Thanks in advance.
 
What series do you like? Vanguard is based in the TOS era and is a great read. Voyager just got a new relaunch with Full Circle. All hell has broken loose in TNG Destiny Trilogy!
 
What series do you like? Vanguard is based in the TOS era and is a great read. Voyager just got a new relaunch with Full Circle. All hell has broken loose in TNG Destiny Trilogy!

DS9 Post Fiction with Twist of Faith!!!
And S.C.E/CoE
These two have covered the major series pretty well, but there are also several others like SCE/Corps of Engineers: an e-book series focusing on a ship belonging to the Starfleet Corps of Engineers (they stopped releasing new e-books last year, but they've been releasing the series in the form of trade paperbacks collecting 6-8 of the e-book stories), IKS Gorkon/Klingon Empire: a series focusing on the crew of a Klingon starship (it changed titles with the relase of the last book), and Lost Era: covers the period between the prolouge of Generations and TNG (there's a pretty good chance this series is over, but there is a possabilty that at least one more could come out). Here's links for the series mentioned up thread, Vanguard, Titan, DS9-Post Finale, Destiny.
 
I'd go for stand-alone stories to begin with, to get familiar with the new authors (depending on how long you've been out). I've found the first Myriad Universes book to be very good.
 
Did you watch "Star Trek:Nemesis"? If so, I can refer you to an in-the- following-order list from there, both long version and short version. If you're really serious about getting re-involved in Trek Literature, you definitely need such a list, because recent in-universe events are beginning to tie a lot of things together and lead up to some big upcoming changes, and if you don't follow a certain chronological order you will still enjoy the books, but you will get a "what-the-frack?" sensation when one book refers to events in another that you may not have read. The authors, which cooperate with each other very well, do a good job of presenting things in sort of a "last time, in the Trek literary universe..." way in a few paragraphs, but to get the full effect and feel in-the-know, follow the list order. Off the top of my head I can't think of the full and in-order long and short lists, but I'm sure someone will post them, and I'll try to remember to get back to this when I have it down and give titles and authors and chronological order if someone hasn't beaten me to it.

For the short, short list, the wanna-get-up-to-speed-right-now list, see the last paragraph.

If you're not really hep on the Next Generation crew, I highly recommend both of the Myriad Universe trade paperbacks, each of which has three roughly 150-page stories that take place in alternate universes, kind of a "What If?" of Trek, like (to simplify, and in no particular order) "What if Spock had died as a child and Kirk had to go through TOS and the first few movie adventures with a different first officer?", and "What if Khan had won the Eugenics Wars?, as well as "What if Voyager was crippled and forced to remain in the Delta Quadrant?" If you dig those two books, a third Myriad Universe release will be coming out "soon".

The Vanguard series takes place during the Original Series timeframe and is up to, what, 3-4 books by now? Help me out, people. I own three of the books, but sad to say I have not taken the time to read them yet, but hear they are very, very good.

The Titan series, I can say, is exceptional. They are up to five books now and keep getting better. This series chronicles the adventures of Will Riker and Deanna Troi and assorted characters on the Starship Titan, the command given to Riker after "Star Trek:Nemesis".

There are several Starfleet Corps of Engineers, or SCE for short, but not sure how many books in the series thus far. I have only read the first two, but they're pretty good.

The New Frontier series is up to some sixteen or seventeen books by now and isn't too bad. Again, own most of them, have only read the first six. So many books, so little time.

If Voyager was your thing, the relaunch order is "Homecoming", followed by "The Farther Shore", then "Spirit Walk 1 and 2", and ending thus far with "Full Circle". Reading "Full Circle" alone will catch you up with Voyager, but involves many of the events described in the earlier books, as well as involvement in the "Destiny" trilogy, which encompassed the entire Trek literary universe.

If you were into DS9, there is a whole passel of books there, nearly too numerous to mention.

The "Destiny" trilogy just recently came out in the last six months or so, and fully resolves the Borg issue (people, don't start...). If you follow the list, you will enjoy "Destiny" better, but you can start with "Destiny", then read "A Singular Destiny", "Voyager:Full Circle" and "Titan:Over A Torrent Sea" and be up to date, just six books, but that is the short, short list, and while you'll dig it, you will experience confusion from time to time. For a fuller and more enjoyable Trek literary experience, I'd have to recommend at least the short list, and preferably the long list (if anything else, to improve the authors' royalties as well:)).

Hope this helps.
 
If you just want a great read and something to get your feet wet, read Mere Anarchy. TOS not your thing? You can use the suggestions above, or just browse your local library/bookstore and pick something that looks interesting. It's hard to go too wrong, especially with books of the last decade or so.
 
The greatest dive in the Trek books universe is this seedy place on Harkoum beneath the abandoned refinery where the fumes alone will leave you blind, never mind the drinks, which has the benefit of preventing you from seeing how filthy the walls--and patrons--are.

Fictitiously yours, Trent Roman
 
Wow guys, thank you for the bunch of informations.
I'll pay a visit to Forbidden Planet as soon as I'm back from my next trip in Japan, and see what is available there.

I like all the series, even if probably TOS is not top of the list as a favourite. I've hear well about the SCE/Corps of Engineers series, but afaik is just in e-book format right? That would be a big minus at the moment, as I am still without an e-book reader and I hate reading on the laptop.

Anyway, you've got me enough to think and choose from.
Thanks!
 
FYI, the majority of SCE/CoE is in print form right now as well as eBook form. At least the first 56 entries in the series are in paperback or trade paperback collections. KRAD or somebody will correct me if I'm wrong.
 
FYI, the majority of SCE/CoE is in print form right now as well as eBook form.

That a nice info, 'cause actually it's one of the series that intrigues me the most.
My geek side is suffering not having an e-book reader, but my bank account is already in enough pain as it is :P Anyway, if it's available in printing too, I'll get some and check out if it suites me.
 
Starfleet Corps of Enginners books in print include:

In mass market paperback under the title Star Trek: S.C.E.:
Have Tech, Will Travel
Miracle Workers
Some Assembly Required
No Surrender
Foundations
Wildfire
Breakdowns


In trade paperback under the title Star Trek: Corps of Engineers:
Aftermath
Grand Designs
Creative Couplings
Wounds
 
Most people probably wouldn't recommend it since it is a crossover event between established booklines, but I got back into Trek books after a similar hiatus with the Destiny trilogy. There were new characters I wasn't familiar with, but everything I NEEDED to know, the author wrote in to the story. I never found myself confused, and the drama of the series was compelling enough to kick me in to reading again, and with excitement.

So, if you want to jump back in with a bang, go with Destiny. If you'd rather have a good starting point storywise, the other suggestions in this thread would also be excellent.
 
I think at the moment I've made up my mind about starting with something from Starfleet: Corps of Enginners, but I don't mind crossovers or strange "ideas", if they're well done and well carried out, so I might go for DESTINY too.

On a slightly different hand, I once met on the vast sea of the intertubes a website with a browsable collection of Star Trek Books, like an encyclopedia to know where a series started, ISBNs, and so forth... it appears though that I manage to lose the link somewhere, does anyone remember anything like that? ;)
 
Hello there.
I've been on a reasonably long (let's say almost eternal) hiatus from any Star Trek novel for a while, and I'd like to dive back into it, just because I feel the need to ;) You probably know that craving for Star Trek things too.
Anyhow.
I don't know where, or better, with what to start. I have no idea of how the actual Star Trek books panorama looks like, and thus I don't know what would be best to pick up as a first read. I've heard a lot about the TITAN series, which seems to be well written (although I've to admit Riker is not exactly my fav character ever...) and enjoyable, but I'm obviously looking out for advices.

So, what would you suggest? :shifty:
Thanks in advance.

For the 24th Century, I'd say the last three books of the TNG: A Time To... series, followed by Articles of the Federation, and then branch off wherever you like. At that point the TNG-R, the Titan series, as well as the Voyager-R are all in line in the 2380's. The SCE books as well as well as the IKS Gorkon/Klingon books and the DS9-R books are all around the same time period (2376-2377), and other than a few tidbits in Destiny and A Singular Destiny, none of these series are really spoiled. For TOS, try Mere Anarchy (6 ebook series recently printed), and the amazing Vanguard series, which at this point, is only 4 books old with a fifth on the way at the end of the year. Enjoy :)
 
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