Errand of Vengeance / Fury series

[Hartzilla2007]

I wouldn't consider most of the books on that list to be "dark," especially not The Wounded Sky, which is one of the most idealized portrayals of the ST cast and universe you're ever likely to see.

Its also way better than the TNG episode based on it.

Barbara Hambly's Crossroad is dark in terms of tone, kind of spooky, and features a warped future Federation.

It also has the Enterprise's bowling alley make an appearance.

 

[Stevil2001]

And laundry, if I remember right.

 

[shanejayell]

The Enterprise had a laundry?

*blink blink*

 

[Christopher]

If I recall The Making of Star Trek correctly, it had machinery that broke down clothing into its constituent fibers, separated out the dirt and stuff, and reassembled the clothes as if brand new. Sort of a much lower-resolution equivalent of a replicator.

 

[RonG]

I belive Cast No Shadow by James Swallow my fit your criteria Ron. That is if you have not read it?

Bear in mind it's a post STVI book though, so just starting to slip out of the TOS era, though still there or there abouts.

Totally forgot about that one. Decentish book, although I think Valeris wasn't particularly well handled.

I read Cast No Shadow when it came out. It was nice and with a "Hunt for Red October" vibe, with Elias Vaugh as Ryan

My memory about the first trilogy is a bit dodgy, having read it several years ago. But the one thing I do recall was that there were typos on almost every page of all three books. And really glaring typos as well. I remember thinking that I couldn't believe Pocket Books would have published these books with the amount of mistakes in them. Mind you, this is not the author's fault, but PB's editor.

Another thing I found really annoying is the use of the names of real Star Trek production personnel as characters. Okuda, Sternbach, Drexler et. al are name-dropped to the point of ridiculousness. I really wish Trek authors wouldn't do that, because in fiction one wants to imagine what those characters look like in our minds. Giving a character the name "Roddenberry" just to be cute automatically makes one think of the real article, and ruins the fictitiousness of the setting, IMHO.

Odd, I don't remember the typos, and I would have gotten american imports from forbidden plant back then, so they should have been first editions. Sure it wasn't the Janus Gate trilogy? That was a bit of a snoozefest so I wouldn't recall one way or the other, but the covers had a very similar style.

The name drops I do kind of remember, but only a couple - guess there were more that I just didn't recognise.

I have noticed the typos I just thought it was the conversion to an ebook that caused this?

Yep - the first Errand series had quite a few typos - while distracting at first, I stopped paying attention to them after a while - goes to show that a great book overcomes mistakes in editing/proofing

Barbara Hambly's Crossroad is dark in terms of tone, kind of spooky, and features a warped future Federation. Probably my favorite numbered TOS novel.

I have Crossroad, but it's been quite a while since I read it - will have to have another look!

 

[Christopher]

I read Cast No Shadow when it came out. It was nice and with a "Hunt for Red October" vibe, with Elias Vaugh[n] as Ryan

Interesting, since the Vaughn character was somewhat modelled after Sean Connery's Ramius from that movie.

 

[RonG]

a Starfleet analyst thrust into a quasi-military operation?
seems like Jack Ryan to me

 

[Christopher]

Yeah, I'm just saying it's interesting, and maybe intentional, that the character whose older version was inspired by one figure from that movie had his younger version evidently based on the rival character from that movie.

 

[Ultramann]

What WAS the deal with all those typos? Ranks jumping from one line to the next and characters changing in midstream (Kell to Karel then back)? Would not the editors catch that? Not cracking just wondering.

 

[RonG]

Yeah, I'm just saying it's interesting, and maybe intentional, that the character whose older version was inspired by one figure from that movie had his younger version evidently based on the rival character from that movie.

quite right, Christopher Makes me wish for a follow up Vaughn novel (it's not like he's got anything going in "current" continuity.. well, maybe DRG3 has plans..)

What WAS the deal with all those typos? Ranks jumping from one line to the next and characters changing in midstream (Kell to Karel then back)? Would not the editors catch that? Not cracking just wondering.

It was jarring at first, but IMO (as I mentioned previously "upthread"), thoss occasions didn't detract from a great story.

 

[Patrick O'Brien]

^I agree, the story is top notch and worth overlooking the typo's. I do wish someone had edited the book though

 

[RonG]

^I agree, the story is top notch and worth overlooking the typo's. I do wish someone had edited the book though

Well, Kevin Ryan was busy *writing* the book, so...

 

[Ultramann]

I'm rereading it now, and it is still awesome reading!