best star trek books and novels
- Thread starter tmosler
- Start date
Well, there have been more than 500 Star Trek novels published over the years, and everyone's got their favorites. Here's some books that I'd recommend, in more or less chronological publication order:
Spock Must Die!
Star Trek Log Eight
Star Trek Log Ten
Star Trek: The New Voyages
Trek to Madworld
The Galactic Whirlpool
The novelizations of The Wrath of Khan/The Search for Spock/The Voyage Home
Web of the Romulans
Yesterday's Son
The Wounded Sky
The Final Reflection
My Enemy, My Ally
The Tears of the Singers
Crisis on Centaurus
Chain of Attack
How Much for Just the Planet?
Spock's World
The Lost Years
Survivors
Doctor's Orders
Vendetta
Sarek
Fallen Heroes
First Frontier
The Captain's Daughter
Dragon's Honor
Q-Space
Q-Zone
Q-Strike
The Lives of Dax
Avatar: Books One and Two
Section 31: Abyss
Immortal Coil
Ex Machina
Orion's Hounds
Troublesome Minds
Full Circle
Unworthy
Synthesis
The Sorrows of Empire
Children of the Storm
The Cold Equations trilogy
It should probably be noted that many of the earlier books on this list (and in Trek literature in general) have been contradicted by later TV shows/movies and also by subsequent novels. Still, a good story is a good story and as long as you bear this in mind, there's a wealth of good Trek stories out there.
If you're primarily interested in the ongoing 24th century books that are set after the various TV series, there is an excellent flow chart here:
http://www.thetrekcollective.com/p/trek-lit-reading-order.html
Spock Must Die!
Star Trek Log Eight
Star Trek Log Ten
Star Trek: The New Voyages
Trek to Madworld
The Galactic Whirlpool
The novelizations of The Wrath of Khan/The Search for Spock/The Voyage Home
Web of the Romulans
Yesterday's Son
The Wounded Sky
The Final Reflection
My Enemy, My Ally
The Tears of the Singers
Crisis on Centaurus
Chain of Attack
How Much for Just the Planet?
Spock's World
The Lost Years
Survivors
Doctor's Orders
Vendetta
Sarek
Fallen Heroes
First Frontier
The Captain's Daughter
Dragon's Honor
Q-Space
Q-Zone
Q-Strike
The Lives of Dax
Avatar: Books One and Two
Section 31: Abyss
Immortal Coil
Ex Machina
Orion's Hounds
Troublesome Minds
Full Circle
Unworthy
Synthesis
The Sorrows of Empire
Children of the Storm
The Cold Equations trilogy
It should probably be noted that many of the earlier books on this list (and in Trek literature in general) have been contradicted by later TV shows/movies and also by subsequent novels. Still, a good story is a good story and as long as you bear this in mind, there's a wealth of good Trek stories out there.
If you're primarily interested in the ongoing 24th century books that are set after the various TV series, there is an excellent flow chart here:
http://www.thetrekcollective.com/p/trek-lit-reading-order.html
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In line with Q-In-Law, you might want to check out How Much For Just The Planet? by John Ford (same author who wrote The Final Reflection).
You should also check out the early Voyager numbered novels (ie. The Escape, Ragnorak, Violations, The Murdered Sun, Echoes...).
Vendetta is also a very nice Borg story that was released in 1991. The events of that book are mentioned in Before Dishonor ,which helps set up the Destiny trilogy.
Another book to check out is TNG #25 Grounded where the Enterprise contracts a "disease" that is slowly dissolving the ship.
You should also check out the early Voyager numbered novels (ie. The Escape, Ragnorak, Violations, The Murdered Sun, Echoes...).
Vendetta is also a very nice Borg story that was released in 1991. The events of that book are mentioned in Before Dishonor ,which helps set up the Destiny trilogy.
Another book to check out is TNG #25 Grounded where the Enterprise contracts a "disease" that is slowly dissolving the ship.
The Final Reflection(TOS) by John M. Ford
- The best star trek book there is. Totally at odds with any trek from TNG onwards since it was written in the eighties.
Where Sea Meets Sky(TOS) by Jerry Oltion
- A very enjoyable cap'n pike exploration tale with a nautical feel. Was part of the "captains table" series, but doesn't require reading any of them.
Federation(TOS,TNG), by Garfield and Judith Reeves-Stevens.
-It spans three eras and focuses on Zefram Cochrane(based on his TOS appearance, First Contact hadn't come out at this point). It feels like the kind of epic "The Motion Picture" tried and failed to be.
Yesterday's Son/Time for Yesterday(TOS) by Ann C Crispin
A couple of great books that focus on spock and a rather surprising relationship.
Spock's World(TOS) by Diane Duane
Deals with Vulcan -its past and what they think it's future should be. Includes an absolutely barnstorming McCoy speech.
Doctor's Orders(TOS) by Diane Duane
Kirk puts McCoy in the captains chair, and things spiral out of control from there. Some great aliens to boot.
The "Errand" series(TOS) by Kevin Ryan
-It's made up of two trilogies, Errand of Vengeance and Errand of Fury, which tell the story of the TOS era conflict between the federation and the klingons, split into basically four viewpoints - a starfleet command officer on earth, a security officer aboard the enterprise who is a klingon infiltrator, an officer aboard a klingon warship, and finally kirk.
One of the best flowing, and most satisfying trek stories I've read.
Book order if you're interested:
The Edge of the Sword
Killing Blow
River of Blood
Seeds of Rage
Demands of Honor
Sacrifices of War
Masks(TNG) by John Vornholt
Away mission on a human colony which eschewed modern technology and cut itself off from earth and ended up going back to a sort of feudal system - but with an interesting twist guided by some of the original colonists. The thing I like most about this book is how well the world and its people is put together. Characterisation(mostly Picard) can be a bit off since this was a very early novel.
Q-Squared(TNG) by Peter David
- An incredibly intelligently written book that weaves together alternate dimensions into a very interesting story.
A Rock and a Hard Place(TNG) by Peter David
- Delves a bit into Riker's past as he goes on leave to help a friend. The other half of the story is his replacement, who is the star of this story. Don't want to go into him as that's the best part of the book.
Dark Mirror(TNG) by Diane Duane
- deals with the mirror universe, written before ds9 went back to it so expect gaping discontinuity - as with Federation, I enjoyed the authors version a lot more then what would later transpire.
Intellivore(TNG) by Diane Duane
- feels like a mystery where the crew are slowly trying to find a creeping horror. the tension in this book amps up very well through to the conclusion.
Possession(TNG) by J.M. Dillard and Kathleen O'malley
- a sequel to a pretty poor TOS book which thankfully isn't necessary reading(I read this one first and never even realised there was a prequel). Great tension as the pressure builds throughout.
Objective: Bajor(DS9) by John Peel
Really fun book, has aliens with a rather interesting fundamental problem.
The 34th rule(DS9) by David R George & Armin Shimmerman
-Brilliant book focusing on quark and how Ferengi tick, with a superb payoff
- The best star trek book there is. Totally at odds with any trek from TNG onwards since it was written in the eighties.
Where Sea Meets Sky(TOS) by Jerry Oltion
- A very enjoyable cap'n pike exploration tale with a nautical feel. Was part of the "captains table" series, but doesn't require reading any of them.
Federation(TOS,TNG), by Garfield and Judith Reeves-Stevens.
-It spans three eras and focuses on Zefram Cochrane(based on his TOS appearance, First Contact hadn't come out at this point). It feels like the kind of epic "The Motion Picture" tried and failed to be.
Yesterday's Son/Time for Yesterday(TOS) by Ann C Crispin
A couple of great books that focus on spock and a rather surprising relationship.
Spock's World(TOS) by Diane Duane
Deals with Vulcan -its past and what they think it's future should be. Includes an absolutely barnstorming McCoy speech.
Doctor's Orders(TOS) by Diane Duane
Kirk puts McCoy in the captains chair, and things spiral out of control from there. Some great aliens to boot.
The "Errand" series(TOS) by Kevin Ryan
-It's made up of two trilogies, Errand of Vengeance and Errand of Fury, which tell the story of the TOS era conflict between the federation and the klingons, split into basically four viewpoints - a starfleet command officer on earth, a security officer aboard the enterprise who is a klingon infiltrator, an officer aboard a klingon warship, and finally kirk.
One of the best flowing, and most satisfying trek stories I've read.
Book order if you're interested:
The Edge of the Sword
Killing Blow
River of Blood
Seeds of Rage
Demands of Honor
Sacrifices of War
Masks(TNG) by John Vornholt
Away mission on a human colony which eschewed modern technology and cut itself off from earth and ended up going back to a sort of feudal system - but with an interesting twist guided by some of the original colonists. The thing I like most about this book is how well the world and its people is put together. Characterisation(mostly Picard) can be a bit off since this was a very early novel.
Q-Squared(TNG) by Peter David
- An incredibly intelligently written book that weaves together alternate dimensions into a very interesting story.
A Rock and a Hard Place(TNG) by Peter David
- Delves a bit into Riker's past as he goes on leave to help a friend. The other half of the story is his replacement, who is the star of this story. Don't want to go into him as that's the best part of the book.
Dark Mirror(TNG) by Diane Duane
- deals with the mirror universe, written before ds9 went back to it so expect gaping discontinuity - as with Federation, I enjoyed the authors version a lot more then what would later transpire.
Intellivore(TNG) by Diane Duane
- feels like a mystery where the crew are slowly trying to find a creeping horror. the tension in this book amps up very well through to the conclusion.
Possession(TNG) by J.M. Dillard and Kathleen O'malley
- a sequel to a pretty poor TOS book which thankfully isn't necessary reading(I read this one first and never even realised there was a prequel). Great tension as the pressure builds throughout.
Objective: Bajor(DS9) by John Peel
Really fun book, has aliens with a rather interesting fundamental problem.
The 34th rule(DS9) by David R George & Armin Shimmerman
-Brilliant book focusing on quark and how Ferengi tick, with a superb payoff
Well, I won't claim these to be the "best" necessarily, but they are some of my favorites:
The Wounded Sky; My Enemy, My Ally; The Romulan Way - Diane Duane - Three of the better TOS-era novels. The Wounded Sky especially captures a sense of wonder that few other Trek novels seem to. Diane Duanee captures the voices and personalities of the TOs characters better than any other writer has.
The Galactic Whirlpool - David Gerrold - from a story he orginally pitched to the TOS production staff. A TOs story from someone who actually wrote TOS we saw on-screen. This book has a lot of really fun little details in it.
How Much For Just The Planet? - John Ford - TOS as a musical comedy. Really.
Ishmael - Barbara Hambly - TOS meets Here Come The Brides. Really.
Prime Directive - Judith and Garfield Reeves-Stevens - Would have made a really good finale to TOS. Epic story.
The Entropy Effect - Vonda McIntyre - Best of the early Pocket publishing era. A couple shocking plot twists. If you don't read any of the other books I've listed here, be sure to read this one.
The Wounded Sky; My Enemy, My Ally; The Romulan Way - Diane Duane - Three of the better TOS-era novels. The Wounded Sky especially captures a sense of wonder that few other Trek novels seem to. Diane Duanee captures the voices and personalities of the TOs characters better than any other writer has.
The Galactic Whirlpool - David Gerrold - from a story he orginally pitched to the TOS production staff. A TOs story from someone who actually wrote TOS we saw on-screen. This book has a lot of really fun little details in it.
How Much For Just The Planet? - John Ford - TOS as a musical comedy. Really.
Ishmael - Barbara Hambly - TOS meets Here Come The Brides. Really.
Prime Directive - Judith and Garfield Reeves-Stevens - Would have made a really good finale to TOS. Epic story.
The Entropy Effect - Vonda McIntyre - Best of the early Pocket publishing era. A couple shocking plot twists. If you don't read any of the other books I've listed here, be sure to read this one.
A lot of my favorites have been mentioned, but I'll add the Department of temporal Investigations books (Watching the Clock and Forgotten History). They're great books involving the Federation organization that investigates time travel events and helps protect the timeline.
Just what I was about to say!
While we're on Peter David books, I'd add in Excalibur: Restoration and Once Burned as outstanding novels. I enjoyed Imzadi 2, though I know PAD had some frustrations with it.
For other entertaining books with a sense of fun and humour (which tend to be PAD signatures) I'd recommend Mudd in your Eye and Q & A.
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Ugh, I couldn't stand Restoration.
The thing that got me back into reading Star Trek were the Lost Era stories (set inbetween Kirk's death on the Enterprise-B and TNG Season 1). Especially; The Sundered, Serpents Among the Ruins, The Art of the Impossible, and The Buried Age.
Figured this would come in handy for future reference, but hadn't thought that it would so fast 
: http://unreality-sf.net/2013/04/05/the-best-types-of-tie-in/
: http://unreality-sf.net/2013/04/05/the-best-types-of-tie-in/
Vanguard Series, is my personal favorite
Cast No Shadow By James Swallow, is my fav stand-alone novel.
Children of The Storm by Kirsten Beyer, is the best Voyager book I have read.
Cast No Shadow By James Swallow, is my fav stand-alone novel.
Children of The Storm by Kirsten Beyer, is the best Voyager book I have read.
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