I started getting the Crucible series tonight, and I just wanted to see if there's any particular order I need to read them in. I don't see any numbers on them, but I wanted to check. Thanks!-cc
Crucible Series Question
- Thread starter StarFleetVeteran
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They were published in the order McCoy, Spock, Kirk, and I suspect they'd work best in that order, but they should work in any order you like; there's some overlapping elements, but not a continuous plot or anything. 
The order they were released in was McCoy, Spock, and the Kirk, FWIW.
You don't need to read them in any order, since each is designed to be essentially standalone. However, there are certain elements of the novels that form a more coherent progression if you read them in publication order, so I'd say it's preferable to read them that way -- McCoy, Spock, Kirk.
Each book's month of publication is printed on the copyright page in the front, opposite the dedication. That will tell you the order they were published in.
I've suggested from time to time the following order -- Spock, McCoy, Kirk. The reasons are two-fold. I make no claims to definitiveness or thoroughness; this is more of an intuitive gut-feeling.
First, Spock novelizes more of "City" than any of the other books. So, for someone reading the book who isn't familiar with what originally happened (unthinkable as that might be), Spock would make a better introduction than McCoy.
Second, one plot thread in Spock -- McCoy having vivid dreams of another life -- doesn't get resolved there, as it's resolved in McCoy. Reading Spock first makes that a genuine question to be answered.
Kirk definitely needs to be read last.
First, Spock novelizes more of "City" than any of the other books. So, for someone reading the book who isn't familiar with what originally happened (unthinkable as that might be), Spock would make a better introduction than McCoy.
Second, one plot thread in Spock -- McCoy having vivid dreams of another life -- doesn't get resolved there, as it's resolved in McCoy. Reading Spock first makes that a genuine question to be answered.
Kirk definitely needs to be read last.
Yeah, don't know why I didn't think of that last night. Guess I figured if the author had specifically meant for them to be read in a particular order, he would've numbered them, but maybe not.
I've suggested from time to time the following order -- Spock, McCoy, Kirk. The reasons are two-fold. I make no claims to definitiveness or thoroughness; this is more of an intuitive gut-feeling.
First, Spock novelizes more of "City" than any of the other books. So, for someone reading the book who isn't familiar with what originally happened (unthinkable as that might be), Spock would make a better introduction than McCoy.
Second, one plot thread in Spock -- McCoy having vivid dreams of another life -- doesn't get resolved there, as it's resolved in McCoy. Reading Spock first makes that a genuine question to be answered.
Kirk definitely needs to be read last.
Awesome, thank you. Spock happened to be the one I found last night, so that works out well.
-cc
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