I just read the entire New Frontier series in about a month.

[Snaploud]

...with a couple small exceptions outside the main series (Gateway novel, short stories, etc.).

This was a great ride. Does anybody know when the next book is likely to be released?

I love the Mackenzie Calhoun character. Zak Kebron is also rather fun, though I'm still getting use to his new personality. Some of the other characters have become less sympathetic over the last half dozen entries, but I appreciate Peter David's willingness to allow his series to evolve.

One interesting note: this is probably the first trek incarnation in which I've enjoyed the portrayal of the various admirals. Admiral Jellico, for instance, actually manages to come across as a real person. Peter David has the ability to both make fun of the character while still letting him come across as a sympathetic person. Not an easy job...

Well, I guess that means it's back to catching up on some of the other trek series. I just picked up the last of the ds9 re-launch books I'll be needing for another such marathon (as I've only read the first few entries), but I think there are a few other trek books ahead on my reading list.

KRAD's Gorkon series is probably next on the list. New Frontier was definitely lacking in the way of Klingons...

 

[donners22]

The new book "Treason" has just come out - not sure if that was part of your reading. I don't think you've missed too much with the Gateways book (one hilarious scene aside) or the short story anthology (some solid, some quite forgettable).

I was actually a little frustrated by Jellico due to the numerous "evil admiral" characters we've seen. He did come off quite silly at times, at one point actually suggesting Calhoun and Shelby made up one of their reports.

Still, it made the dramatic change in their relationship quite funny, and I enjoyed it when they explored their early encounters.

 

[Snaploud]

The new book "Treason" has just come out - not sure if that was part of your reading.

I just finished it. The Morgan Primus situation is more interesting to me than the other threats brought up in "Treason."

I was actually a little frustrated by Jellico due to the numerous "evil admiral" characters we've seen. He did come off quite silly at times, at one point actually suggesting Calhoun and Shelby made up one of their reports.

Still, it made the dramatic change in their relationship quite funny, and I enjoyed it when they explored their early encounters.

It was nice to see Peter David start out with such a one-dimensional character and turn him into something more complicated.

 

[William Leisner]

I hope the Captain's Table book, Once Burned, wasn't one that you skipped. Perhaps the best of the entire series.

 

[Trent Roman]

It was nice to see Peter David start out with such a one-dimensional character and turn him into something more complicated.

Jellico? In his guest stint on the E-D, Jellico was shown to be abrasive, stubbornly set in his ways and grouchy when he didn't get it, but a CO who had earned the respect of his fellow officers, a skilled if unorthodox negotiator and a hard, if not enthusiastic, worker. PAD turned him into a stereotypical "The Chief", the hidebound, peptually ill-tempered bureaucrat constantly being out-thought by his heroic, maverick subordinate. That seems to be changing in the last two books, but I really don't think PAD did the character any favours.

Fictitiously yours, Trent Roman

 

[Snaploud]

It was nice to see Peter David start out with such a one-dimensional character and turn him into something more complicated.

Jellico? In his guest stint on the E-D, Jellico was shown to be abrasive, stubbornly set in his ways and grouchy when he didn't get it, but a CO who had earned the respect of his fellow officers, a skilled if unorthodox negotiator and a hard, if not enthusiastic, worker. PAD turned him into a stereotypical "The Chief", the hidebound, peptually ill-tempered bureaucrat constantly being out-thought by his heroic, maverick subordinate. That seems to be changing in the last two books, but I really don't think PAD did the character any favours.

Fictitiously yours, Trent Roman

It's been a long time since I've watched those episodes, so I had less of an issue with Jellico's "ill-tempered bureaucrat" incarnation. In fact, I've seen the same treatment done to most admirals in the trek universe, so it wasn't a big shock.

I hope the Captain's Table book, Once Burned, wasn't one that you skipped. Perhaps the best of the entire series.

Oh, no. I wouldn't miss out on that one (based upon the praise it's gotten around here). It's definitely my favorite of the new frontier-verse.

Edit: In fact, some of my favorite new frontier-verse material came in the form of young Calhoun material. Stone and Anvil was a real treat because it had so much of Calhoun at the academy. I always loved the TNG young-adult academy series, so I appreciated getting another taste of academy life (this time from the perspective of our favorite Xenexian).

 

[RoJoHen]

You just read it all?! Okay, your job right now: remind me about everything that happened right before "Treason." I want to start reading it, but I can't remember what's going on!

I tried starting a thread about that a little while ago, but it turned into people arguing about "spoilers" and nobody actually answering the question.

 

[Snaploud]

You just read it all?! Okay, your job right now: remind me about everything that happened right before "Treason." I want to start reading it, but I can't remember what's going on!

1 Mackenzie Calhoun--married to Shelby (still captain of the new Excalibur), fought two alien species (one of which killed the other) that happened to live in a fish and got killed by Q as some sort of "lesson"

2 Elizabeth Shelby--Admiral of Bravo Station, doesn't appear to have much to do with her time (sees her husband in-person infrequently, though they communicate via subspace)

3 Burgoyne 172--first officer of the new Excalibur, wants to be with Selar, tries to be a father to their son Xy (aka Xyon) who is super-intelligent and may be dead within a few short years

4 Dr. Selar--avoiding intimacy, focussed entirely on saving Xy from cellular degeneration

5 Robin Lefler--recent quit Starfleet to act in some capacity on New Thallon now that Si Cwan has been killed

6 Zak Kebron--still Security Chief and (now) ship's counselor (personality changed since becoming an adult)

7 Mark McHenry--still out acting as a god

8 Soleta--using the Spectre (a romulan spy ship) to do small jobs (mostly for Robin Lefler) along with her one crew-mate (Lucious)

9 Si Cwan--dead (killed during civil war orchestrated by aliens, though the civil war probably would have eventually happened regardless)

10 Edward Jellico--still appears to be overseeing the Excalibur and the Trident, appears to have a decent relationship with Calhoun

11 Janos--still has no memory of being sentient (acting as an animal in the wilderness)

12 Kat Mueller--commanding the Trident, extremely lonely with no one to confide in...

15 Kalinda--trying to figure out what to do with herself now that her fiance and brother are dead

16 Moke--adopted son of Calhoun resents being "left behind" by people (the latest being Xy, who used to look up to Moke as a baby), especially resentful of Xyon (Calhoun's biological son), appears to have the beginnings of god-like powers (though not yet of use to him)

17 Xyon--wandering around in the Lyla performing various jobs

18 Dr. Xy--science officer/doctor and super-intelligent yet-apparently short-lived son of Burgy and Selar

19 Morgan Primus--becoming more and more powerful as a computer entity, cannot be easily deleted, was incapacitated briefly during the encounter with the (now apprently dead) aliens

 

[JD]

You really should at least check out the Tales From the Captain's Table story. It reveals how Starfleet found out about Soleta being half Romulan.

 

[Therin of Andor]

You just read it all?! Okay, your job right now: remind me about everything that happened right before "Treason." I want to start reading it, but I can't remember what's going on!

Didn't we also suggest you could go to places like Memory Beta and get lovingly-compiled character and novel synopses there, instead of us creating endless NF spoilers in a thread?

...with a couple small exceptions outside the main series (Gateway novel, short stories, etc.).

I thoroughly enjoyed "Gateways: Cold Wars", although some people despised it. You missed the arrivals of Arex and M'Ress!

The omnibus of short stories. "No Limits", has some excellent material in it!

 

[Snaploud]

You really should at least check out the Tales From the Captain's Table story. It reveals how Starfleet found out about Soleta being half Romulan.

I have a copy of this anthology (as well as the dominion war anthology). I'll make sure to check out any New Frontier material from them...

I also have a copy of the double helix new frontier book. Is it worth reading?

I haven't gotten a copy of No Limits, yet, but I do have some New Frontier comics on my shelf (waiting to be read).

 

[donners22]

Double Helix is not too bad. I think it is in some ways the weakest of the series, but that still puts it ahead of plenty of other Trek books.

 

[RoJoHen]

You just read it all?! Okay, your job right now: remind me about everything that happened right before "Treason." I want to start reading it, but I can't remember what's going on!

Didn't we also suggest you could go to places like Memory Beta and get lovingly-compiled character and novel synopses there, instead of us creating endless NF spoilers in a thread?

I mostly just remember the arguing.

 

[borgboy]

I thought the Gateways short story had some very good Calhoun/Shelby relationship stuff. One very memorable scene near the end, for me anyways.
I LOVE NF!

 

[KRAD]

KRAD's Gorkon series is probably next on the list. New Frontier was definitely lacking in the way of Klingons...

Well, lack of Klingons certainly won't be an issue in those books, no...

Hope you enjoy them!

 

[donners22]

I thought the Gateways short story had some very good Calhoun/Shelby relationship stuff. One very memorable scene near the end, for me anyways.
I LOVE NF!

"Epicurus Seven to you too, Admiral"

One of my all-time favourite book scenes.

 

[captcalhoun]

Double or Nothing is a brilliant book, you should definitely read it.

 

[Snaploud]

KRAD's Gorkon series is probably next on the list. New Frontier was definitely lacking in the way of Klingons...

Well, lack of Klingons certainly won't be an issue in those books, no...

Hope you enjoy them!

Update: I just read books one and two of the I.K.S. Gorkon series. They were loads of fun. I can't wait to start the third one.

 

[JD]

Have you read the first two non-series IKS Gorkon stories, Diplomatic Implausablity, and The Brave and the Bold (book 2)? I've only DI, but I loved it.

 

[Snaploud]

Have you read the first two non-series IKS Gorkon stories, Diplomatic Implausablity, and The Brave and the Bold (book 2)? I've only DI, but I loved it.

I read Diplomatic Implausibility a long time ago. I may re-read it, though.