Catching up with New Frontier

[Steve Roby]

Inspired by the great time I had reading Christopher Bennett's The Buried Age, I decided to start working on the pile of unread Trek books. Two of the books I've read this weekend were After the Fall and Missing in Action, which I'd let sit around because I'd grown seriously disenchanted with New Frontier and PAD's writing in general.

And what do you know? I liked them, much more than I expected to. Yeah, most of the characters have interchangeable smartass dialogue... but they didn't have the sloppiness I found in some of the books a few years back. More importantly, these were ensemble tales, so there wasn't too much Calhoun, by whom I'm not nearly as impressed as PAD is. And the dumb humour was kept to a minimum. Instead, there was a lot of darkness, some really interesting changes for the characters (the Soleta stuff was among my favourite storylines in the books), and the best time I've had reading PAD in too many years. I'm feeling pretty good about his upcoming TNG novel now...

 

[nickyboy]

I really enjoyed After the fall, and missing in action was good.

Does anyone know when we will see the Calhoun and Co next???

 

[Baerbel Haddrell]

Not counting the Mirror Universe, all that has been said so far is that the next novel is in development. A while ago PAD said it will be out mid next year.

 

[nickyboy]

Baerbel Haddrell said:
Not counting the Mirror Universe, all that has been said so far is that the next novel is in development. A while ago PAD said it will be out mid next year.

Its a long wait, but i have gotten used to that with NF!!, still I am glad to know there is more Calhoun & Co on the way. Can't wait, thanks for giving a rough time frame for the next release Barbara

 

[Baerbel Haddrell]

I just wish there would be more news. If anybody can help us NF fans here, please do!

Also, is there any news about NF in the coming Mirror Universe anthology "Shards and Shadows" and/or maybe in Star Trek`s Myriad Universes?

 

[Larki_Toran]

You may try to ask PAD directly on his blog...

 

[Trent Roman]

Baerbel Haddrell said:
A while ago PAD said it will be out mid next year.

The 2008 schedule (which is subject to change yadda yadda etc.) did not have any MMPB slots empty at mid-year, or indeed anywhere but March, so if there is a new NF book coming out next summer, there's a good chance that it will be another hardcover (which is a bummer for Trent).

Fictitiously yours, Bummer Roman

 

[JD]

I really hope it isn't another hardcover, because most of my hardcover money will probably be going twoards Star Wars this year and next.

 

[David cgc]

I believe back before "After The Fall" came out, it was said that the next three New Frontier books would be hardcovers. Just as long as it isn't as horridly short as "After The Fall." I still feel like I'm reading a large-print book when I look at it.

 

[JD]

Yeah, I that one was way to short for a hardcover. Do you guys know if it was already going to be HC before PAD actually wrote it?

 

[KRAD]

Yeah, I that one was way to short for a hardcover. Do you guys know if it was already going to be HC before PAD actually wrote it?

Yes.

 

[Nightcreature]

For the past year or so, I've been reading New Frontier novels from the first 4 short novels to the most recent that I've finished which is Gateways Book #6 Cold Wars. On average, I finish a book in less then a week as they are so fun to read. I've really enjoyed New Frontier as it's taken the place of watching new Trek on TV.

Calhoun may be one of my favorite Trek captains now. He's absolutely reckless and doesn't care for the rules like Kirk but he's also funny at the same time. I really liked how they used Shelby as she plays well off Calhoun with their different styles. The other crew are unique and colorful. The only main issue I have with NF is PAD's interpretation of Selar and Vulcans. I can't imagine any Vulcan acting like Selar no matter what.

 

[captcalhoun]

Selar's not a normal Vulcan though, she's (i think) basically been mildly brain-damaged as well as being emotionally crippled by the death of her hubby during Pon Farr.

 

[Nightcreature]

I know that's the explanation but I don't buy it nor do I like it.

 

[Therin of Andor]

Selar's wry bedside manner comes straight from her canonical TNG appearance in "The Schizoid Man". I don't find PAD's extrapolations all that wrong at all. I only miss the need to overlook her adoption of the little blind Andorian girl in the AC Crispin TNG novel, "The Eyes of the Beholders".

With what we now know of the Aenar (from ENT), perhaps it's time for a return visit from the now-adult Thala?

 

[Steve Roby]

Therin of Andor said:
Selar's wry bedside manner comes straight from her canonical TNG appearance in "The Schizoid Man".

Selar was another of the promising female characters Trek introduced and then didn't know what to do with (see also Saavik, Sonya Gomez, and Ro Laren). Selar in New Frontier isn't wildly different from the TV version. Unlike Robin Lefler, who shares a name and not much else at all with the TV character.

 

[Therin of Andor]

Steve Roby said:
Selar was another of the promising female characters Trek introduced and then didn't know what to do with

Did you know about Tracy Tormé's original plan? There was to be a series of three episodes after "The Schizoid Man" briefly mentioning Worf's sweaty/noisy mating escapades with a female crewmember - and we eventually learn it's... Dr Selar! The producers nixed the idea, but loved the actress, so K'Ehleyr was born!

I got this straight from Tracy Tormé himself.

 

[Steve Roby]

I did not know that.

 

[JD]

Wow, that would have been interesting to see. A Klingon and a Vulcan, not exactly a pairing I usually think of.

 

[Therin of Andor]

Tracy Tormé's thinking exactly.