Essential Star Trek Novels That Even Non-Trekkers Should Read

[Markonian]

Oh hm ... not to hijack the thread, but: Should I? I guess I wasn't really going to because I figured I missed the boat already, with there being a vibrant discussion thread already, and I'm not really sure it fits into the ranking comparison-wise since it'd be the first non-novel ... ho-humm. Need more opinions!

It is not a novel but its TrekLit. Furthermore, it is written in-universe (aren't the novels as well?), therefore it is not a 'mere' manual. And it is not uncommon to have two threads, one before and one upon the books release, if I remember correctly. In addition, the established thread is more about the physical book, not so much about the content, characters, spoilers.

 

[Ian Keldon]

My list:

The Galactic Whirlpool (David Gerrald)

Rihannsu series by Diane Duane plus The Wounded Sky and Spock's World

The Final Reflection (John Ford)

The entire Vanguard series (various)

Vendetta (Peter David)

Imzadi (both books) (Peter David)

Dark Mirror (Diane Duane)

Articles of the Federation (Keith R A DeCandido)

A Singular Destiny (Keith R A DeCandido)

Losing the Peace (William Leisner)

A Burning House (Keith R A DeCandido)

The Typhon Pact series (various)

 

[DimesDan]

Oh hm ... not to hijack the thread, but: Should I? I guess I wasn't really going to because I figured I missed the boat already, with there being a vibrant discussion thread already, and I'm not really sure it fits into the ranking comparison-wise since it'd be the first non-novel ... ho-humm. Need more opinions!

It is not a novel but its TrekLit. Furthermore, it is written in-universe (aren't the novels as well?), therefore it is not a 'mere' manual. And it is not uncommon to have two threads, one before and one upon the books release, if I remember correctly. In addition, the established thread is more about the physical book, not so much about the content, characters, spoilers.

As I've said in another thread in relation to this, you could always create the review thread. Nothing's stopping you and it's not one posters personal monopoly.

 

[BillJ]

Not a very good list with Gulliver's Fugitives, Once Burned and the Destiny trilogy missing.

And how did The Captain's Daughter get picked over Forged in Fire?

 

[Paris]

How did they miss DRG3's Serpents Among the Ruins?! Craziness!

 

[Deano2099]

I'd imagine the fairly innocuous explanation for this is that the writer stopped reading Trek Lit around 10 years ago, but used to be quite into it and so pitched the article anyway.

 

[Garrovick]

I'd include The Wounded Sky by Diane Duane on that list for sure. Also Yesterday's Son by A.C. Crispin.

 

[ronny]

I like what the author the article has to say about Peter David in a review of David's prequal to After Earth.

(And if Peter David runs true to form, his contributions will be better than the actual movie he's supporting.)

The complete story is at http://io9.com/5967572/how-did-huma...-exclusive-look-at-peter-davids-prequel-story

Trek writers Michael Jan Friedman and Robert Greenberger are also involved in the project.

 

[Allyn Gibson]

I like what the author the article has to say about Peter David in a review of David's prequal to After Earth.

(And if Peter David runs true to form, his contributions will be better than the actual movie he's supporting.)

The complete story is at http://io9.com/5967572/how-did-huma...-exclusive-look-at-peter-davids-prequel-story

Trek writers Michael Jan Friedman and Robert Greenberger are also involved in the project.

There's a comic book that's out now from Dynamite Entertainment -- After Earth: Innocence. Friedman and Greenberger cowrote it, and it takes place before the film.

 

[Christopher]

It's worth noting that David, Greenberger, and Friedman are not only writing tie-ins for the film, but wrote a bible for the overall After Earth universe, which the film's script was revised to take into account.

 

[JD]

Very cool.
As for the list, there are definitely a lot of more recent books I would have included in there. With the biggest being Serpents Among the Ruins, The Art of The Impossible, Orion's Hounds, and Destiny.

 

[Sci]

I would say that that list should include at least a few of the following books published since 2001:

The Lost Era: Serpents Among the Ruins by David R. George III
Star Trek: Destiny by David Mack
Star Trek: Articles of the Federation by Keith R.A. DeCandido
Deep Space Nine: The Never-Ending Sacrifice by Una McCormack
Vanguard: Reap the Whirlwind by David Mack
Voyager: Full Circle by Kirsten Beyer
S.C.E.: Wildfire by David Mack
Titan: Orion's Hounds by Christopher L. Bennett

 

[Quimby]

How could they have left Crucible: McCoy: Provenance of Shadows off that list? It s basically an Alternate History Novel rather than a Star Trek Novel (and a great read).

 

[zarkon]

Well I doubt the author's read the entireity of the 600+ trek novels floating about

And even then tastes vary. I personally don't like some of the most feted trek books herebout.

Which is fine, different strokes for different folk

 

[JoeZhang]

Let's face it - the real point of such polls is to get hits and you do that by publishing a list that will cause a debate, it's a publishing trick as old as the hills.

 

[TiberiusMaximus]

Spock Must Die is a good read, but I don't see how or why it would be appealing to non-Trek fans.

The Entropy Effect is my favorite Trek novel, I've read it several times and I love it more every time.

Planet of Judgment wasn't all that great, mostly because I found the aliens annoying.

My Enemy, My Ally is great, as is the rest of the Rihannsu series.

The First Adventure was fun too, even though it wasn't quite the crew we're used to.

I haven't read the rest. I tried How Much For Just The Planet but I didn't like it.

 

[Christopher]

Spock Must Die is a good read, but I don't see how or why it would be appealing to non-Trek fans.

It's by James Blish, a very important and well-regarded science fiction author. There are lots of Blish fans who aren't Trek fans.

Planet of Judgment wasn't all that great, mostly because I found the aliens annoying.

I think it's the second-best of the Bantams, trailing The Galactic Whirlpool.

 

[Spike730]

"Uhura's Song" should definately be on that list.

 

[bullethead]

I get the feeling that most of these novels were chosen because they're pretty much standalone works that feature little to no references to other pieces of Trek lit and not too much show continuity stuff. Those kinds of things tend to throw newbies for a loop, so it makes sense to not have them in the books that made it to the list.

 

[TiberiusMaximus]

It's by James Blish, a very important and well-regarded science fiction author. There are lots of Blish fans who aren't Trek fans.

Oh. That makes sense.

I think it's the second-best of the Bantams, trailing The Galactic Whirlpool.

I didn't hate it, I just...I don't know, I didn't "feel" it like I "feel" the TrekLit I like.

"Uhura's Song" should definately be on that list.

I totally agree.