Recommend Good Series/Ones to Avoid

[Guest12]

So I'd like to start reading a series and I was wondering if there are any in particular that others would recommend? Or any that aren't worth bothering with?

By series, I mean something more like Double Helix or Gateways, than something like a relaunch or even Titan/New Frontier. Not necessarily numbered series (like my examples) even something short like the Romulan Wars novels in Enterprise <EDIT: I just realized this was only two novels which might be a bit shorter than I meant.>

I realize my description might make it difficult to tell exactly what qualifies as a series in my definition, but appreciate any suggestions on particularly good/bad ones.

Thanks!

 

[Thrawn]

The best thing about TrekLit these days, in my opinion, is the big overarching novel continuity that's gotten started after each of the series has ended. All the miniseries, like Double Helix and Gateways and Captain's Table etc are uneven at best; the good stuff really comes after that.

In my signature is a bigass flowchart of how (most of) the really important books in that continuity fit together, and almost every book on it comes highly recommended from me. Don't feel like you have to read from the beginning though; start with anything that sounds interesting, and then the arrows tell you where to go from there if you want to explore the ramifications of what you've read or read more of the backstory leading into it.

Popular starting places are DS9: Avatar, the last three A Time To... books (the first six are less important), the Destiny trilogy, or the Vanguard series. If you're not looking to read too much, Vanguard is an especially great place to begin; it just finished, and every one of the 8 books is brilliant.

 

[F. King Daniel]

Avoid Double Helix. I loved "Red Sector" was excellent and "Double or Nothing" (part of New Frontier) was okay, but the rest were mediocre or awful. The overall story arc doesn't work. None of the authorx knew what the others were doing - the mysterious, powerful ship in RS never shows up again. When we meet the big bad in DoN, he doesn't fit his mysterious MO established in the prior novels.

As for Gateways, the TOS entry, "One Small Step" sucks. The DS9 one (part of the post-series DS9 story) is okay. I haven't read the rest, yet. But, you need the final (hardback) book in the series to get the last chapter of each of the prior books! It's a cheap and shitty marketing ploy. Thankfully, one they've never repeated.

 

[bullethead]

New Earth and the lone Challenger book are pretty good, although your enjoyment of the books will vary since they alternated between a few authors during that run.

The Dominion War mini-series is also pretty solid, although the TNG entries are somewhat lacking in action and Riker's subplot might grate on the nerves after a while. The DS9 adaptations are great and expand on the exploits we never got to see due to time and budget limits.

The Mirror Universe series of books that recently wrapped up is pretty good, although you might scratch your head at some of the stuff that goes on in the last book if you don't read all the anthologies and the expanded version of Spock's story.

Myriad Universes is a series of Trek AU novellas, so each story stands on its own. The third book is probably the weakest, but it's still worth reading.

 

[WarsTrek1993]

"The Lost Era" saga is, for the most part, a good series. Especially:

"Serpents Among The Ruins" (Must-read!)
"The Art Of The Impossible"
"The Buried Age" (A prequel of sorts to TNG).

But Serpents is easily the most impressive!

 

[bok2384]

There's been some hits and misses over the years that previous people have eluded too.

I'd second the support for The Lost Era and Vanguard, but would also suggest IKS Gorkon if you like a bit of Klingon action, and who doesn't. All novels are written by Keith R.A. DeCandido...

• Diplomatic Implausibility, published under TNG banner
• A Good Day to Die
• Honor Bound
• Enemy Territory
• Klingon Empire: A Burning House

 

[Yevetha]

The Harbinger series, Titan, the DTI duology which is missing one book yet:
http://memory-beta.wikia.com/wiki/Watching_the_Clock
http://memory-beta.wikia.com/wiki/Forgotten_History

 

[bullethead]

There's been some hits and misses over the years that previous people have eluded too.

I'd second the support for The Lost Era and Vanguard, but would also suggest IKS Gorkon if you like a bit of Klingon action, and who doesn't. All novels are written by Keith R.A. DeCandido...

• Diplomatic Implausibility, published under TNG banner
• A Good Day to Die
• Honor Bound
• Enemy Territory
• Klingon Empire: A Burning House

Don't forget the Brave and the Bold, which has the Gorkon crew show up in the last story.

 

[PaulSimpson]

If you want something that's self-contained, I'd go for the Vanguard series, which is now complete - seven novels, one collection of novellas and a couple of ancillary pieces that help colour the storyline but aren't totally essential.

People have called it Star Trek for HBO, and it's certainly not for you if you want shallow characterisation, bloodless battles or a lack of emotional content. I've just been revisiting it reprinting my original reviews over at Sci-Fi Bulletin (and adding new ones for Declassified and Storming Heaven), and it's reminded me what a great series it is.

The other self-contained series that I've been recommending is the Crucible trilogy by David R. George III. The McCoy book is still the best piece of Trek literature I've read (and I said that in print before I became friends with the author!) and I know a number of people who've read that who aren't Trek fans but didn't need the knowledge to get a great deal from it.

And although I'm no longer editing Star Trek Mag, I'm still not going to be drawn on which series I wouldn't recommend -although there certainly have been some!

Paul

 

[Cybersnark]

It's not really a labelled "series," but it's possible to read the Terok Nor trilogy and follow it up with "A Stitch in Time" and "The Never-Ending Sacrifice" as a five-book Cardassian Saga.

There's also the "Genesis Wave/Genesis Force" books.

 

[JD]

I'd go with Vanguard, Lost Era, and Mirror Universe. I haven't read the last two Vanguard books, What Judgements Come, and Storming Heaven, or the LE novels Deny Thy Father, and Catalyst of Sorrows, but the rest of the books in those series were great. I'm reading the last MU novel now, so I feel comfortable saying the whole series is either good or amazing, with the amazing outnumbering the good and being amazing enough to raise the quality of the series as a whole.

 

[Kertrats47]

I know it's already been said by multiple posters, but I'd just like to add my voice to the cacophony who are recommending Vanguard. I can't say enough about how great this series is. You won't (or shouldn't) be disappointed.

 

[DAYoung]

In my signature is a bigass flowchart of how (most of) the really important books in that continuity fit together, and almost every book on it comes highly recommended from me. Don't feel like you have to read from the beginning though; start with anything that sounds interesting, and then the arrows tell you where to go from there if you want to explore the ramifications of what you've read or read more of the backstory leading into it.

Outstanding. Thank you.

It's helpful to see the post-Destiny world sketched out so clearly.

I'm currently reading Beyer's Children of the Storm, which is quite good, apart from the characters in Voyager who've annoyed me since 'Caretaker' (e.g. Neelix, Kim).

 

[Therin of Andor]

The only trilogies I'd chase you away from would be "DS9: Rebels" and "VOY: Dark Matters". Tedious and overblown. Needed to be tighter.

http://memory-beta.wikia.com/wiki/The_Conquered
http://memory-beta.wikia.com/wiki/Cloak_and_Dagger_(novel)

 

[Art Vandelay]

If you want something that's self-contained, I'd go for the Vanguard series, which is now complete - seven novels, one collection of novellas and a couple of ancillary pieces that help colour the storyline but aren't totally essential.

People have called it Star Trek for HBO, and it's certainly not for you if you want shallow characterisation, bloodless battles or a lack of emotional content. I've just been revisiting it reprinting my original reviews over at Sci-Fi Bulletin (and adding new ones for Declassified and Storming Heaven), and it's reminded me what a great series it is.

The other self-contained series that I've been recommending is the Crucible trilogy by David R. George III. The McCoy book is still the best piece of Trek literature I've read (and I said that in print before I became friends with the author!) and I know a number of people who've read that who aren't Trek fans but didn't need the knowledge to get a great deal from it.

[...]

These two recommendations - seconded, hands down, no questions asked, go for it! Two sets of absolutely brilliant Trek literature.

And since you asked for series to avoid: Stay away from the snoozefest that is the Romulan War series.

 

[Thrawn]

In my signature is a bigass flowchart of how (most of) the really important books in that continuity fit together, and almost every book on it comes highly recommended from me. Don't feel like you have to read from the beginning though; start with anything that sounds interesting, and then the arrows tell you where to go from there if you want to explore the ramifications of what you've read or read more of the backstory leading into it.

Outstanding. Thank you.

It's helpful to see the post-Destiny world sketched out so clearly.

I'm currently reading Beyer's Children of the Storm, which is quite good, apart from the characters in Voyager who've annoyed me since 'Caretaker' (e.g. Neelix, Kim).

You're welcome

And I loved Children of the Storm, glad you're enjoying it too.

 

[AdmiralSteven]

Like others have already said, The Destiny Trilogy is a good seris.

There's been some hits and misses over the years that previous people have eluded too.


I'd second the support for The Lost Era and Vanguard, but would also suggest IKS Gorkon if you like a bit of Klingon action, and who doesn't. All novels are written by Keith R.A. DeCandido...

• Diplomatic Implausibility, published under TNG banner
• A Good Day to Die
• Honor Bound
• Enemy Territory
• Klingon Empire: A Burning House

I'd also like to give my recommendation to the above books.

 

[Guest12]

Thanks for all the recommendations. I think I'll probably try the Vanguard series, considering the recommendations and the fact that it's complete now.

 

[JD]

Oh, I don't remember if anyone mentioned that there is a MU Vanguard short story in the 3rd volume of the Mirror Universe series, Shards and Shadows. It doesn't play a role in the prime universe story, but it's still worth checking out if you're curious to see the MU versions of the Vanguard characters. Just to warn you some of the other stories are followups to stories from the previous collection, so they could be kinda hard to follow.

 

[PaulSimpson]

Oh, I don't remember if anyone mentioned that there is a MU Vanguard short story in the 3rd volume of the Mirror Universe series, Shards and Shadows. It doesn't play a role in the prime universe story, but it's still worth checking out if you're curious to see the MU versions of the Vanguard characters. Just to warn you some of the other stories are followups to stories from the previous collection, so they could be kinda hard to follow.

And for completeness with Vanguard, there's a couple of ebooks - one is printed in dead tree form in Corps of Engineers: What's Past; the other is yet to spring from the fertile mind of Mr. Ward...

Vanguard of course also turns up in the remastered version of the original series - look at the station the Enterprise approaches at the start of The Ultimate Computer!