New Star Trek and Impact on Trek Lit

[rahullak]

Hello everyone,

So now that we know and have rumors of the existing and upcoming EIGHT new Trek series, thought I would start a discussion on their impact on Trek Lit, albeit a little early. Hopefully it's long running.

Star Trek: Discovery (running)
Star Trek: Short Treks (running)
Star Trek: Lower Decks (announced)
Star Trek: Revolution (Trademarked)
Star Trek: Starfleet Academy (Trademarked)
Star Trek: Destiny (Trademarked)
Star Trek: Reliant (Trademarked)
Star Trek: Ceti Alpha V (Trademarked)

Would we now have Tie-ins for each of the above?

Would the tie-ins be constrained to only depict stories that are chronologically in the past of the most recent episodes aired? Would you like to see the tie-ins crossover each other?

What would happen to the existing Literature line?

Would the current set of authors have the bandwidth to cover all of these exciting new series?

Would Pocket start the hiring process to onboard newer authors? Would you like to see new programs that take on amateur authors, like Strange New Worlds?

Exciting times to be a Trek Lit fan!

 

[DGCatAniSiri]

As of yet, there’s no determination as to how the new shows will impact the litverse, since everything in question aside from Discovery is still in the earliest stages of pre-production.

I believe Dayton Ward said that, when he was commissioned for next year’s TNG novel, he asked how if at all he should incorporate anything for the new Picard show and was told not worry about it. Which, again, with the Picard show still breaking its story, that’s not unreasonable.

I also wouldn’t jump to saying that there will be eight in-development shows - trademarking a name isn’t a guarantee that it’ll lead to use, just that there’s talk happening that means they want to make sure the name is available. Also, I’d qualify the Short Treks more as an offshoot of Discovery, less than an independent title - three of the four are focused on characters who have been established as part of Discovery. So that makes three shows in production - one actively, two in early prep work - and other ideas being kicked around.

Until we know more details of what is coming down the pipe in on-screen Trek, beyond Discovery, everything seems to be up in the air. The ongoing litverse may end up being wrapped up in the event of some major upset of some new show invalidating the portrayal of things, but for the time being, that’s still speculation.

We’ll know more when we know more. This has been a constant source of debate for a while now, because the best answer the magic 8-ball has given is ‘ask again later.’

 

[rahullak]

Thanks @DGCatAniSiri !

We have a space now to discuss ongoing developments and the Treklit impact.

 

[F. King Daniel]

Thanks @DGCatAniSiri !

We have a space now to discuss ongoing developments and the Treklit impact.

We already have two ongoing threads about it, here and here.

 

[rahullak]

We already have two ongoing threads about it, here and here.

Those are for Discovery related and Picard-series related, respectively.

I think this thread can be for all new series in general, considering that we're hopefully gonna see a slew of new shows.

However, if a mod wants to merge, change or close this thread I have no issues.

 

[DimesDan]

Those are for Discovery related and Picard-series related, respectively.

There has been some over lap so I agree, this thread seems a little redundant.

 

[marlboro]

I wonder if all of the 8 shows will bother with having consistent continuity with one another.

 

[Christopher]

I wonder if all of the 8 shows will bother with having consistent continuity with one another.

As stated above, 8 trademarked titles doesn't mean 8 shows. Often a studio will trademark multiple potential titles for a single show.

And it's pretty much always been the practice of Star Trek shows to maintain the pretense of a consistent continuity even while tweaking and reinterpreting certain details along the way. I don't see why that would change now. Since these shows are all being developed under Alex Kurtzman & Heather Kadin's Secret Hideout Productions, it stands to reason that they'd be consistent with each other. Although where the animated comedy is concerned, they might make an exception, depending on how absurd or parodic they intend to get with the comedy.

 

[Damian]

As more shows are commissioned, how ever many there are, I think it will stand to reason that the novels, at least, will focus more and more on tie ins to those shows and less to the older spin offs. The original series will always have novels. I don't think that will ever change. But as more new shows are brought on line, I think you'll see less of the older spinoffs like DS9, Voyager and Enterprise. And TNG books will likely shift to being tie-ins to the new Picard show. In fact, other than Kirsten Beyer's unreleased Voyager book I wouldn't be surprised if there were no more DS9, Voyager and Enterprise books going forward (I'm not saying that will be the case, just that I wouldn't be surprised).

Pocketbooks wants to sell books obviously. They are going to focus on the areas that will sell more books. When there were no shows on the air, they were freer in a sense to do books on all the series (and even some non-series books like Vanguard and Seekers that expanded the universe). And it seemed CBS wasn't interested for a while in any new series. Now they seemed to have gone into hyperdrive in some senses (though as some have noted I don't expect there to be 8 shows in the near future). Pocketbooks' focus will shift I think, and maybe CBS licensing will insist on that (if they can, I assume since they own Star Trek they have that power but I could be wrong).

Now some people will be happy with that, some not so much. Personally I'm fine with books based on the new books, but I'll be sad to see the relaunches of the prior spin offs come to an end (assuming that occurs).

 

[marlboro]

If they end, I hope the writers get a chance to give the current books a proper ending.

FWIW (not much) I don't really have any interest in new Trek. I'm just not into modern tv. In other words - I'm geting old. I can't see myself buying books based on a show I don't watch, but who knows, maybe if the reviews are strong enough, I might check one out.

 

[Relayer1]

If they end, I hope the writers get a chance to give the current books a proper ending.

Me too.

I'd settle for a wrapping up of the ongoing plot threads, but I'd prefer a reset story or run of novels to put the toys back in the basket in order to lead into the new continuity.

I do, however, think that that would probably result in a convoluted fudge that didn't make for a satisfactory result.

It would certainly take some skill and creativity - I'd probably suggest Christopher or Kirsten to handle it. Christopher does timey-wimey stuff very well and Kirsten did a good job bringing back Janeway after all.

EDIT : or, going by his handling of Data's return, David Mack.

 

[F. King Daniel]

Someone wake Peter David up for the Lower Decks novels.

 

[The Wormhole]

Would the current set of authors have the bandwidth to cover all of these exciting new series?

There's only going to be a maximum of twelve Star Trek novels a year now, and if the 2019 schedule as it currently is is any indication, we're probably getting less than that. Especially now that all the Trek novels are going to be trade paperbacks nearly twenty dollars in price. Which means the more new shows that come out, the less room there is for content based on the other shows. And there will be a focus on content based on the current ongoing TV shows. In fact, it's possible the only pre-Disco series to continue to get novels is TOS, since 5YM novels are the bestselling Trek novels.

Would you like to see the tie-ins crossover each other?

Not likely to happen. They'll want to make these novels stand alone adventures accessible to casual fans.

 

[DS9forever]

I'm hoping the DS9 documentary will keep people interested in DS9. There has been a lot of discussion about the USS Emmett Till, so here's hoping.

 

[rahullak]

I'm hoping the DS9 documentary will keep people interested in DS9. There has been a lot of discussion about the USS Emmett Till, so here's hoping.

Thanks! I didn't know a documentary was in the works.

I'm hoping they have more than 12 a year, and perhaps bring back the MMPB for some of the series. At the very least, ebooks should not become pricier.

 

[ryan123450]

I’m afraid all three of your hopes there are not in the cards.

 

[rahullak]

As stated above, 8 trademarked titles doesn't mean 8 shows. Often a studio will trademark multiple potential titles for a single show.

And it's pretty much always been the practice of Star Trek shows to maintain the pretense of a consistent continuity even while tweaking and reinterpreting certain details along the way. I don't see why that would change now. Since these shows are all being developed under Alex Kurtzman & Heather Kadin's Secret Hideout Productions, it stands to reason that they'd be consistent with each other. Although where the animated comedy is concerned, they might make an exception, depending on how absurd or parodic they intend to get with the comedy.

Right.

And consistent continuity on the shows allows for consistent continuity in the Literature. Which keeps the idea of a shared Universe alive.

 

[Christopher]

And consistent continuity on the shows allows for consistent continuity in the Literature. Which keeps the idea of a shared Universe alive.

Pretty much the opposite, really. Keep in mind that all of the ongoing book continuities Pocket has done have been for series that were no longer in production at the time, while books that came out during those series' runs were standalones. That's because there was no way for the books' creators to know what new information the shows' creators might establish that would contradict the books. Even so, a fair number of novels were contradicted by episodes that came out before the novels did, or slightly after. The lead time to create a novel is so much greater than the lead time to create a TV episode that there was no way the novels could keep up.

As long as there is new screen Trek in production, the universe will be in flux, with new information and interpretations constantly being added. That makes it far harder to keep the tie-ins consistent, not easier. Back during the TNG/DS9/VGR era, I had to rewrite my personal chronology all the time, kicking out books and comics I'd previously accepted because some new episode or movie had invalidated them. An active, in-production continuity is a moving target, much harder to keep up with than a dormant continuity.

 

[rahullak]

Pretty much the opposite, really. Keep in mind that all of the ongoing book continuities Pocket has done have been for series that were no longer in production at the time, while books that came out during those series' runs were standalones. That's because there was no way for the books' creators to know what new information the shows' creators might establish that would contradict the books. Even so, a fair number of novels were contradicted by episodes that came out before the novels did, or slightly after. The lead time to create a novel is so much greater than the lead time to create a TV episode that there was no way the novels could keep up.

As long as there is new screen Trek in production, the universe will be in flux, with new information and interpretations constantly being added. That makes it far harder to keep the tie-ins consistent, not easier. Back during the TNG/DS9/VGR era, I had to rewrite my personal chronology all the time, kicking out books and comics I'd previously accepted because some new episode or movie had invalidated them. An active, in-production continuity is a moving target, much harder to keep up with than a dormant continuity.

I see the point. Makes sense. I wonder how they're doing it with Discovery though? I haven't had the chance to read the DIS novels yet.

 

[DGCatAniSiri]

I see the point. Makes sense. I wonder how they're doing it with Discovery though? I haven't had the chance to read the DIS novels yet.

The Discovery novels to date have been set prior to the show proper, both to minimize the contradictions (which still can happen, as the show will always prioritize on screen developments to a few lines in a tie-in) and because Discovery’s first season had little room to slot in additional adventures for the crew. So they’ve been focusing on character backgrounds over utilizing the characters actually serving on Discovery.