I don't read...so what book should I buy...

[Johnny]

First off, I'm not thick, I just can't be bothered!

My entire reading history can be summed up by the following:

- The books my mother read to me as a child.
- x2 Star Fleet Academy Books
- Shatners Movie Memoirs
- 70% of The Hobbit

I stopped reading in 2004 and haven't picked up a book since. I'd rather look at schematics... genuinely.

However, since I tidied my flat for the first time this decade I've found I'm using my bed to relax rather than sitting in front of my computer (he says as he writes on his laptop...) so I'm going to try and read a book without getting utterly bored!

A couple of criteria:
- It has to be Star Trek.
- 2300's onwards.
- It can't be a rehash of previous century characters.
- It must be a very personal story. << This is important!!!
- And none of that JJ gumf.

So any recommendations would be greatly appreciated. Please don't ask me to read a series of books! I just want to start with one book!

I await your informed responses!
Thanks!

 

[Starbreaker]

VOYAGER
Fire Ship by Diane Carey (Janeway)
Mosaic by Jeri Taylor (Janeway)

TNG
Indistinguishable From Magic by David A. McIntee (La Forge)
The Buried Age by Christopher L. Bennett (Picard)
Imzadi by Peter David (Riker/Troi)
Metamorphosis by Jean Lorrah (Data)

DS9
A Stitch in Time by Andrew Robinson (Garak)
Rising Son by S.D. Perry (Jake)

Reading should never be boring. If you're not enjoying it, throw it against the wall and pick up something else.

 

[Thrawn]

Good recommendations.

 

[ryan123450]

The only thing I could add would be Immortal Coil, which really focuses on Data.

 

[Johnny]

VOYAGER
Fire Ship by Diane Carey (Janeway)
Mosaic by Jeri Taylor (Janeway)

TNG
Indistinguishable From Magic by David A. McIntee (La Forge)
The Buried Age by Christopher L. Bennett (Picard)
Imzadi by Peter David (Riker/Troi)
Metamorphosis by Jean Lorrah (Data)

DS9
A Stitch in Time by Andrew Robinson (Garak)
Rising Son by S.D. Perry (Jake)

Reading should never be boring. If you're not enjoying it, throw it against the wall and pick up something else.

Blimey, thanks. Right this looks like an easier choice now.

I've seen too much of Janeway and Data for the moment, and Jake is well... Jake. So they're out!
Riker & Troi are out too as I can't get that sex scene out of my head...

Indistinguishable From Magic by David A. McIntee (La Forge)
The Buried Age by Christopher L. Bennett (Picard)
A Stitch in Time by Andrew Robinson (Garak)

I have a soft spot for Garak so I'm thinking I may start there (and quite possibly finish... but that's to be seen!)
I shall make a purchase and in a few weeks/months when I've finished it, I'll come searching for this thread and let you know how it goes!
I appreciate the feedback guys!

 

[Paper Moon]

VOYAGER
Fire Ship by Diane Carey (Janeway)
Mosaic by Jeri Taylor (Janeway)

TNG
Indistinguishable From Magic by David A. McIntee (La Forge)
The Buried Age by Christopher L. Bennett (Picard)
Imzadi by Peter David (Riker/Troi)
Metamorphosis by Jean Lorrah (Data)

DS9
A Stitch in Time by Andrew Robinson (Garak)
Rising Son by S.D. Perry (Jake)

Reading should never be boring. If you're not enjoying it, throw it against the wall and pick up something else.

Blimey, thanks. Right this looks like an easier choice now.

I've seen too much of Janeway and Data for the moment, and Jake is well... Jake. So they're out!
Riker & Troi are out too as I can't get that sex scene out of my head...

Indistinguishable From Magic by David A. McIntee (La Forge)
The Buried Age by Christopher L. Bennett (Picard)
A Stitch in Time by Andrew Robinson (Garak)

I have a soft spot for Garak so I'm thinking I may start there (and quite possibly finish... but that's to be seen!)
I shall make a purchase and in a few weeks/months when I've finished it, I'll come searching for this thread and let you know how it goes!
I appreciate the feedback guys!

I second the recommendations of The Buried Age and A Stitch In Time. Both are great works. I think The Buried Age is a little more fun, but if you have a soft spot for Garak, A Stitch In Time might be just the ticket.

I have another recommendation: Una McCormack's The Never-Ending Sacrifice. It's an intensely personal story that follows the character of Rugal after the events of the second season episode, "Cardassians." It really is a coming of age story, and a thumping good one at that. I think I'd say that it's tied with A Stitch of Time for the most personal Trek story ever written. (Except maybe for the Crucible stories, from what I've been told. But they're TOS, so not suited for your interests at the moment.)

 

[tomswift2002]

I can't believe no one thought of TNG #4 Survivors that is a Tasha Yar story.

 

[Tarheel]

If I can only pick one, I would say Imzadi. Like most of Peter David's work, it's a page-turner that's easy to get into. Plus it stands alone, without any ties into the current ongoing Trek-lit universe. And above all else, it's widely regarded as one of the best Trek novels.

I can't believe it's been 20 years since I read this book. It has been on my to-be-reread list for quite some time. It's so hard to find time for rereads when there are so many good unreads on the list.

 

[tomswift2002]

Another story is Starfall from the TNG: Starfleet Academy series. I think it is the only book out there to explore the difficulties Jean-Luc Picard had with his dad when he wanted to enter Starfleet. Other books and episodes have touched, here and there on the story, but as far as I can recall, Starfall is the only story to really explore that part of Picard's past.

Then there is also Deny Thy Father that explores Riker and his father's strained relationship when Riker enters the Academy.

 

[Therin of Andor]

May I suggest, if you're not an avid reader, to sample some audio productions? Most of Simon & Schuster Audioworks' "Star Trek" back-catalogue titles are abridged, but many of their productions are excellent!

http://therinofandor.blogspot.com.au/2007/05/i-hear-star-trek.html

How about:
* TNG: "Q-in-Law" by Peter David, read by Majel "Lwaxana" Barrett and John "Q" de Lancie, 1992, 90 min. (Absolutely hilarious!)

* DS9: "The 34th Rule" by Armin "Quark" Shimerman and David R. George III, read by Armin Shimerman, 1999, 180 min. Abridged by George Truett. (Amazing Quark and Rom story.)

* VOY: "Pathways" by Jeri Taylor, read by Robert Picardo, 1998, 300 min. Abridged by George Truett. (Origin stories of the "Voyager" crew, but not Janeway.)

 

[JD]

The Buried Age, Imzadi, and A Stitch in Time, and Indistinguishable from Magic would be my picks. Are you interested in books that take place after the shows/movies, and feature new characters, or do you just want to stick to the series era stuff?