After Vanguard - what to read next?

[RonG]

Hi all,

I recently finished the amazing final VAN entry, Storming Heaven, and I find myself with a newfound TOS "itch" (thank you, Mr Mack ).

I'm wondering what to (re) read next, as I'm inclined towards a Trek novel showcasing somewhat darker / "heavier" themes, something with a bit of an edge.

Any recommendations?

 

[Patrick O'Brien]

Have you read Cast No Shadow by James Swallow? It is a must read set after the events in Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Contry.
I also recently read Star Trek: That Which Divides by Dayton Ward. It is A TOS book and a good read.

 

[ryan123450]

Not sure if this is what you're looking for but how about the Rihanssu series?

 

[Sho]

I'm wondering what to (re) read next, as I'm inclined towards a Trek novel showcasing somewhat darker / "heavier" themes, something with a bit of an edge.

Barbara Hambly's Crossroad fits that bill, being a TOS novel with a somewhat more sober tone than is usually associated with the era and with characters hailing from and shaped by very dark circumstances. I read it twice many years apart, and it's held up well and is very thought-provoking. It's dark and heavy with purpose, not for the chic of it.

 

[Christopher]

Section 31: Cloak by S. D. Perry is kind of dark, I think. Prime Directive by Judith & Garfield Reeves-Stevens has some very dark/heavy aspects, given that it's a novel involving a global nuclear war on an alien world. And there's some fairly dark stuff in Dreeams of the Raven by Carmen Carter.

 

[MatthiasRussell]

If you want something good to follow VAN, I would recommend "That Which Divides" as well. Simply because it is set in the same era and written by Dayton Ward.

For something with an "edge", I also recommend "Zero Sum Game" which is a great espionage story starring Bashir and Ezri by David Mack.

 

[JD]

Have you read the Mirror Universe, or Myriad Universes books? Both series get pretty dark at times.

 

[RonG]

Thanks for the sugestions, everyone

I'm not looking for a new novel specifically, just something to revisit. I've read most os the novels mentioned, and they're all great picks.

This also reminds me to get That Which Divides

 

[RonG]

In addition to the suggestions you guys provided, I also thought about re-reading the New Earth miniseries, which offers another fresh look at Star Trek (movie era).

Any opinions on it? I dont think i've ever read it completely.

 

[RonG]

No takers at all?

Is New Earth *that* frowned upon?

 

[Thrawn]

It's pretty bad. Or at least incredibly repetitive and not exactly the "fresh look" you're expecting. Books 2, 4, and 5 are all essentially identical, and 3 goes on foreeeeeever. 1 and 6 I thought were pretty good, but I generally like Diane Carey, and opinions on her vary a lot.

 

[Yevetha]

Have you read Ex Machina?

 

[RonG]

Ex Machina is another favorite.

the first CLB novel AFAIK, and IMO his best (at least right up there with the first DTI novel - I haven't read the new one)

 

[RonG]

Another novel with an interesting "spin" on Early Trek is The Children of Kings.

While at first I'd thought of this as "just" a TOS novel with other names, the more I (re)read it, I saw a darker and to me a more realistic side of Trek.

I know it's not strictly in Continuity (and IIRC that was a deliberate effort by the author), but I would have liked to revisit this version of Pike's Enterprise.