Any other books similar to Collision Course?

[lizlovestrek]

Hi, so recently I read one of Mr. Shatner's novels Star Trek: The Academy—Collision Course and enjoyed it so I was hoping to find out if there were any other books like it that are worth reading, with younger Kirk and Spock but not reboot versions? Any help is appreciated.

 

[Therin of Andor]

Hi, so recently I read one of Mr. Shatner's novels Star Trek: The Academy—Collision Course and enjoyed it so I was hoping to find out if there were any other books like it that are worth reading, with younger Kirk and Spock but not reboot versions? Any help is appreciated.

Definitely!

Diane Carey's "Final Frontier" is mostly about Kirk's father and the Aprils, but plenty of flashback hints about Jim's rebellious nature, IIRC. "Best Destiny" is often hated, seemingly, but the young, pre-TOS Kirk in that one is also quite consistent with the Bad Robot film.

"The Janus Gate: Past Prologue" has a lot of timeslip action regarding young Jim and Tarsus IV, but different to some of "Best Destiny" and an "Enterprise Logs" short story, "Though Hell Should Bar the Way".

Also try the YA "Starfleet Academy" novel, "Cadet Kirk".

I highly recommend the "My Brother's Keeper" trilogy, which cover Kirk's assignments leading up to TOS.

For early Spock, try "Crisis on Vulcan" (set before Spock enters the Academy), "Aftershock" and "Cadet Kirk", all YA "Starfleet Academy" novels.

He's 19 in the Pike novel, "Vulcan's Glory".

 

[Avro Arrow]

Hmm... interesting question!

Best Destiny by Diane Carey has young Kirk (16 years old, IIRC). It's been so long since I read it, though, that I don't remember how good it is. (Sorry.)

Other than that, the only ones I recall are the three TOS Starfleet Academy books, but note that they are YA books. The titles were: Crisis on Vulcan by Brad & Barbara Strickland, Aftershock by John Vornholt, and Cadet Kirk by Diane Carey. (Thanks, MA! ) I've never read these ones, myself.

That's all I can think of myself at the moment, but I'm sure others will be along to mention the ones I've missed. Well, The Final Reflection by John M. Ford has a young Spock in it (7 yo, IIRC), but it's more of a cameo in one scene. Great book, though!

EDIT: Ninja'd by Therin!

 

[lizlovestrek]

Thank you both for the recs, I'll check them out

 

[F. King Daniel]

Hi, so recently I read one of Mr. Shatner's novels Star Trek: The Academy—Collision Course and enjoyed it so I was hoping to find out if there were any other books like it that are worth reading, with younger Kirk and Spock but not reboot versions? Any help is appreciated.

Not a younger K&S, but the rest of the Shatner/Reeves-Stevens Trek novels share a similar over-the-top actiony tone.

Incidentally, I read this right after seeing the first reboot movie, and thought it better fitted those versions of the characters than the TOS originals. It's a shame the sequel never materialized.

 

[tomswift2002]

You should also check out the three "Captain's" books by Shatner and the Reeves-Stevens, as there are flashbacks to a week or two after Kirk had assumed command of the Enterprise (I believe the flashbacks occur before "Where No Man Has Gone Before").

Plus you should check out the Brother's Keeper trilogy by Michael Jan Friedman from 1999. The framing story for the trilogy occurs just after WNMHGB with Kirk remembering his Academy days and his times aboard the Republic, Constitution and Enterprise with Gary Mitchell.