Best Star Trek author?

[snakespeare]

Well, there was LOT's of cross-polination between FASA's game and the novels during that era. The sourcebooks of that game have been held up by many, including a few of the writers (Mr. Bennet) being one, as good reference material.

I never had much familiarity with FASA's stuff. I guess maybe you're referring to my use of information from their ST IV sourcebook for various alien species, but I don't think I'm the first to do that.

Yeah, I saw that on your web site, I believe. Sorry about mispelling your name again, btw. I shall be treated to the gnawing of a thousand rabid tribbles for it.



And no, you aren't. The FASA stuff was GOOD, and for awhile, was a big part of Trek fandom. Because much of the movie era, it, SFB, the books, as well as the movies and TOS, were all we had. It wouldn't suprise me if several of the writers didn't refer to them at one point or another.

The FASA stuff was out there before we ever had internet or things like memory alpha and memory beta. The FASA Trek writers did their homework. Still, I wouldn't call any of them "better" writers than any the novelists.

 

[Mysterion]

Well, there was LOT's of cross-polination between FASA's game and the novels during that era. The sourcebooks of that game have been held up by many, including a few of the writers (Mr. Bennet) being one, as good reference material.

In particular, you can point to John Ford whose The Final Reflection drew quite a bit from the FASA gama supplement The Klingons. Or vice-versa. I believe, IIRC, Ford wrote much of the FASA supplement, so mayhaps it shouldn't be a surprise that they share a lot of the same outlook on Klingons.

 

[KRAD]

Ford wrote the Klingon material for FASA, and then incorporated it into The Final Reflection.

 

[Mysterion]

^^^^^
Thanks for clarifying my vague memory, Sir.

 

[Dukhat]

Ford wrote the Klingon material for FASA, and then incorporated it into The Final Reflection.

I'm glad John Ford finally came up in this discussion. All I have to say is if you've never read "The Final Reflection," read it NOW. Buy it on Amazon, eBay, whatever, but get it and read it. It's probably one of the best Trek novels ever written, and the only one (besides Andrew Robinson's "A Stitch in Time") that actually made me cry. And I'm a 37 year old guy.

 

[Therin of Andor]

the only one (besides Andrew Robinson's "A Stitch in Time") that actually made me cry. And I'm a 37 year old guy.

If we're talking tears, that'd be the ending of "New Frontier: Stone and Anvil" (Peter David) and the funeral scene in "Andor: Paradigm" (Heather Jarman).

 

[stonester1]

Star Fleet Battles is a wargame, and it's intended to look at TOS from that perspective. Don't go in expecting all the non-combat aspects of Trek, because that's simply not what it deals with. It is intended to be a combat simulator, using the original Star Trek Technical Manual as a starting point. Which it does, going into excrutiating detail about these ships, how they fly and how they fight.

That's my point. What's it doing in a "best author" thread? "Excruciating detail" about tech? Yep. Ick.

Stephen V Cole? Sorry, never noticed his name before, even though I have many RPG manuals.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_V._Cole

"Never noticed his name"? Then you clearly have never played Star Fleet Battles.

And I bring up his name because, unlike most of the other Star Trek gaming efforts, his name, his AUTHORSHIP, has been the guy steering this game over three decades. It's been his vision, his efforts. His real world background is in military intelligence, and the military and technical aspects of his background both inform the game.

It might not be your cup of tea, but if the game has lasted three decades, it's clearly somebody's.

Yes, he IS one of my favorite Trek authors. THAT is what this is doing here.

 

[stonester1]

Ford wrote the Klingon material for FASA, and then incorporated it into The Final Reflection.

I'm glad John Ford finally came up in this discussion. All I have to say is if you've never read "The Final Reflection," read it NOW. Buy it on Amazon, eBay, whatever, but get it and read it. It's probably one of the best Trek novels ever written, and the only one (besides Andrew Robinson's "A Stitch in Time") that actually made me cry. And I'm a 37 year old guy.

Exactly. That one is a MUST READ.

 

[Nerys Ghemor]

the only one (besides Andrew Robinson's "A Stitch in Time") that actually made me cry. And I'm a 37 year old guy.

If we're talking tears, that'd be the ending of "New Frontier: Stone and Anvil" (Peter David) and the funeral scene in "Andor: Paradigm" (Heather Jarman).

The Wounded Sky brings me near tears.

For me, the death at the end of Day of the Viper also made me choke up, big time.

Spoiler: Day of the Vipers

I mean Bennek's death, and the destruction of the Oralian relics with him.

 

[stonester1]

WS did that for me, too.

 

[Therin of Andor]

"Never noticed his name"? Then you clearly have never played Star Fleet Battles.

As I said, I've bought some of the game manuals, but their war-mongering take on the ST universe was not to my tastes.

his AUTHORSHIP, has been the guy steering this game over three decades. It's been his vision, his efforts. His real world background is in military intelligence, and the military and technical aspects of his background both inform the game.

Which is almost impossible to compare to regular ST fiction.

Yes, he IS one of my favorite Trek authors. THAT is what this is doing here.

It's my understanding that RPGs present a set-up, and some vague directions, but the bulk of the game would be impromptu dialogue by the players. I can't see how it's a comparable medium to regular fiction. Wouldn't he be more like the director of a movie?

 

[Kirsten Beyer]

I'm both amazed and moved to see my name included here and there among these other fabulous authors. Thanks, guys, for brightening some very long days.

Best,
Kirsten

 

[Therin of Andor]

I'm both amazed and moved to see my name included here and there among these other fabulous authors.

Kirsten, I meant to add this before, in my post about books that move the reader to tears:

Yesterday, I had to race out the door for a train into the city - and I couldn't find my copy of the latest "Titan" book, which I'm halfway through. I ended up grabbing "Full Circle" instead, but then only got the chance to read the Prologue - but what a prologue! It was so moving.

Knowing what will happen halfway through is one thing, but the way you addressed it in the prologue was unexpected - and excellent!

Now I have two good ST novels on the go at the same time. So frustrating! But thank you!

 

[stonester1]

[.


It's my understanding that RPGs present a set-up, and some vague directions, but the bulk of the game would be impromptu dialogue by the players. I can't see how it's a comparable medium to regular fiction. Wouldn't he be more like the director of a movie?

Well, for one thing, SFB is not an RPG and has nothing to do with FASA's efforts. It's its own deal.

Second, the thread is about authors of books. We are talking about books about the TrekU. I felt no need to stick strictly with novels. I've mentioned some novel writers who I'm fans of and why, I'll mention more later. But I decided to bring this into the mix, because I really enjoy it, find i worth mentioning, and they ARE books, about Trek.

Just, as you say, more participatory in their purpose than a standard novel.

 

[Therin of Andor]

Well, for one thing, SFB is not an RPG and has nothing to do with FASA's efforts. It's its own deal.

Sure, but every time I call "Star Fleet Battles" a war game, someone PMs to correct me. I'm aware that SFB was around long before the term RPG.

And I've compared numerous SFB manuals to FASA and LUG.

Second, the thread is about authors of books. We are talking about books about the TrekU.

Very, very tedious books. Sorry, but they are.

 

[stonester1]

Sure, but every time I call "Star Fleet Battles" a war game, someone PMs to correct me. I'm aware that SFB was around long before the term RPG.

Don't know why they are correcting you when you call SFB a wargame, because that's exactly what it is.

Very, very tedious books. Sorry, but they are.

Well...that's your opinion. I'll admit they certainly aren't everyone's cup of tea. If you don't enjoy pouring over operations manuals of technology, you probably won't enjoy these.

But I enjoy some of that, and certainly enjoy these. I love the level of detail and authenticity that Cole brings to them. If you are looking to read a rollicking adventure, that's not what they are there for. They are there to create a detailed rules system for operating and fighting starships in the TrekU.

IF that's one's sort of thing (and it is for plenty of fans), then this will hit that spot.

 

[Nerys Ghemor]

WS did that for me, too.

Yeah, the ending (in my head) even has this wonderful, grand soundtrack that goes with it...that for once, is actually consistent in my head! While the actual music I hear in my own mind is something that I believe I wrote myself, this is the closest I've ever heard to it:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v2wRfFPYRxM

But those were more happy tears, tears of being moved by beauty.

The death in Day of the Vipers, though...that was more of a shock, a feeling of this horrible tragedy that just left me reeling at the loss that came in a totally, completely unexpected way.

 

[Geoff Thorne]

I think Geoff Thorne and William Leisner could be on the list if they have a chance to write more.

Jaime Costas
c/o Simon & Schuster
1230 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10020

heh.

message in a bottle.

 

[seigezunt]

Who wrote Vulcan Love Slave?

 

[A J]

I was away from TrekLit for about 10 years, so I'm not as current as most folks here.

However, I credit Christopher Bennett's Ex Machina and David R. George III's Crucible series (especially Provenance of Shadows) with getting me energized and excited about reading Trek books again.

I then picked up the nine book A Time To series which I enjoyed. I have since read the TNG relaunch books from Death in Winter through Greater Than The Sum. My favorite books in that group were Greater Than The Sum and Q&A.

I have not read the DS9 relaunch, but I should be able to start soon having now acquired the necessary books. I haven't read the Terok Nor trilogy, the Destiny trilogy or Losing the Peace yet, but I have those books as well. As you can see, I have a LOT to catch up on.

Regarding books prior to 2004, I'd also add Josepha Sherman, Susan Shwartz, J.M. Dillard, Howard Weinstein, Carolyn Clowes, A.C. Crispin, and Carmen Carter to my list of favorite Star Trek authors.