How essential is the "A Time To..." series?

[JJ-R]

Hi there. I've been browsing the boards for a while and it's time for my first post.

I'm returning to the Trek books after many years after having discovered how ambitious and interconnected the post-series/post-movies books have been. I've done my research and am partway through the DS9-R and have the first two Titan and post-Nemesis TNG books on order. I'm also tracking down "Articles of the Federation" having read the huge acclaim.

However, I'm curious about whether I should include the "A Time To..." series in my catch-up, especially since I just discovered that "Articles" is a pseudo-sequel to DeCandido's "A Time for War, A Time for Peace".

I've heard very mixed things about the series from Amazon reviews and other semi-reliable sources, and that only the last 3 are essential from another. But I'd really like to hear what you all think about whether I should include any of the series in my reading so I can get started.

Thanks in advance. I look forward to posting more as I get deeper into the books.

 

[Thrawn]

Last 3.

 

[Steve Roby]

I didn't like the first two at all. I didn't care for either the story or the telling of it. The remainder ranged from quite good to holy crap, this is great. The last three are the ones with the most connections to and repercussions in other books, but that doesn't mean the middle four aren't worth reading.

 

[JJ-R]

I'd been meaning to ask this question for weeks, and now after posting it, discover it got asked a couple of days ago in another thread - what timing! My apologies - I usually do a thread search first. Thanks to you both.

 

[LutherSloan]

Def. the last three. Read the first one of the series, didn't like it much, and I skipped forward to the final three. It was a good idea judging from the summaries I read of the skipped books on one of these sites.

The last book especially sets up a lot of the status quo for the current ST universe as it stands now (well, maybe not as much anymore thanks to the events of Destiny)

 

[captcalhoun]

i like Sow and Harvest as well as the final three

 

[Paris]

Another vote for the final three right here . I got half way through the first one by John Vornholt, and found it not so interesting; but #7 & 8 by David Mack are great and the finale by KRAD was my favorite. I personally count Articles of the Federation as book 10 as it is pretty much a sequel to parts of KRAD's finale. Good luck tracking them all down .

 

[Ktrek]

I liked all but the first two and I think all but the first two are worth reading.

Kevin

 

[RonG]

While the last 3 (Mack's and KRAD's) are *essential* IMO for the ongoing 24th Century Trek continuity (setting up Titan and TNG-R), I also liked A Time to Harvest and A Time to Sow.

The other novels (A Time to Die, A Time to Be Born, A Time to Love, A Time to Hate) weren't that bad IIRC, but not on the level of the novels above...

 

[Thrawn]

I actually thought all of the first 6 were quite terrible. (No offense to Ward/Dilmore; I've loved their Vanguard entries. Sow/Harvest just seemed so... generic, I guess.) But Mack is always amazing, and KRAD's finale does a ton of world- (universe?) building that matters to the series that come afterwards.

Plus, if you read A Time For War, A Time For Peace before you read Full Circle, you have one of the most amazing AHA! moments in all of TrekLit

 

[Defcon]

While the last 3 (Mack's and KRAD's) are *essential* IMO for the ongoing 24th Century Trek continuity (setting up Titan and TNG-R), I also liked A Time to Harvest and A Time to Sow.

The other novels (A Time to Die, A Time to Be Born, A Time to Love, A Time to Hate) weren't that bad IIRC, but not on the level of the novels above...

That pretty much is my estimation of the series as well.

 

[Deranged Nasat]

While the last 3 (Mack's and KRAD's) are *essential* IMO for the ongoing 24th Century Trek continuity (setting up Titan and TNG-R), I also liked A Time to Harvest and A Time to Sow.

The other novels (A Time to Die, A Time to Be Born, A Time to Love, A Time to Hate) weren't that bad IIRC, but not on the level of the novels above...

That pretty much is my estimation of the series as well.

I love the final three, thought Sow/Harvest was solid and enjoyable, found Love/Hate okay, reasonably enjoyable (interestingly, my sister liked these two the best out of the nine) and while Be Born/Die had its moments, it was quite weak and felt a little "off", if that makes sense. Still, the Ontailians were nice non-humanoid folk and bonus points for the Androssi showing up.

 

[Warp Coil]

I skipped over the entire series and I don't feel like I've missed anything major.

 

[ryan123450]

You should read the final three for sure. I read them all and could have done without all but those. I did like the duo regarding Data, whichever one that was, and getting to know Christine Vale, but the rest of those first severl books weren't that great.

 

[JJ-R]

That's great, thanks everybody. I now have the last 3 on order from Book Depository and Articles on order from ABE Books. My library also has Love and Hate, so I can give those a whirl too while I'm waiting.

 

[TEACAKE'S PLEATHER DOME]

I don't remember where I stopped reading them but I have the final 3 in the wings. I have hope for them, lol.. but not based on what preceded them. The only Trek books I've actually regretted spending money on. I would have gotten to the ones I really wanted to read long ago but I felt compelled to keep slogging through.. a mistake.

 

[chelly]

I count the last 3 (especially the 3rd one) as the best of the series.

 

[KRAD]

Plus, if you read A Time For War, A Time For Peace before you read Full Circle, you have one of the most amazing AHA! moments in all of TrekLit

*cackles madly with glee*

Kirsten and I talked a lot about that while she was plotting Full Circle....

 

[Rosalind]

^ ok, I've got to ask, what are you guys talking about?

 

[JD]

Spoiler: MAJOR SPOILERS FOR A TIME FOR WAR/PEACE, and FULL CIRCLE

I don't remember the exact details, but B'Elanna gave Kahless the mobile emitter he used to switch himself with a hologram.