What works of Trek-Lit would you recommend to a fan who is getting into or attempting to the Novelverse of Star Trek?
What do you like? TOS? TNG? VOY? Do you want to jump right to the best stories or get the backstory leading up to some major books?
I like TOS the most out of the other shows... but I like them too, and basically just some good stories weather it's build up or not. Basically; what do you guys and galls recommend?
My God. There are so many. I think there've been about 10 threads like this in recent memory. Just do a search, and you'll get them. Like this one: http://www.trekbbs.com/showthread.php?t=269470 It's still on the front page.
I would recommend "The Return", "Avenger" The Mirror Universe Trilogy and "Starfleet Academy: Collision Course" all written by William Shatner and Judith & Garfield Reeves-Stevens. SACC takes place before TOS, while the other books pick up right in the 24th century after "Star Trek:Generations" but the main characters are Kirk, Spock, McCoy and Scotty, while also having the crew of TNG, and characters from DS9 and Voyager in supporting roles.
It really depends on the series you like. One cool thing is there are anniversary anthologies of short stories. There are also a ton of novels that are just one off stories.
It's really hard to just pick a book. There are tons of books in tons of different styles. Do you want a strange new worlds story, a character study, a big action packed epic, an alternate universe story, time travel, a modern day book exploring Trek's backstory, a big multibook epic?
Do you like DS9? I haven't read as much TrekLit as many here, but I highly recommend the Avatar duology by SD Perry. DS9-heavy (in fact these books kicked off the so-called DS9 relaunch), but the Enterprise-E makes an appearance, and also an excellent read.
Heard a lot of things about the likes of Vanguard but never actually looked into it. Is it really that good?
Yes. There are 8 novels and one ebook. Vanguard 6 -Declassified contains 4 shorter stories with focus on individual characters. I was in doubt for a long time if I would be able to get myself involved with many new characters. But it worked well. And there are some cameos.
Saying in advance would spoil some of the fun; suffice it to say that a lot of awesome TOS and TOS-movie characters show up. The series is universally fantastic though. Start and you'll be hooked right away.
What's sad is, i own all 8 books, i burned through the first book. Then i just never keep going with the series. But then when certain TV characters sail off into space at the end of the first book, i just have no desire to get back into the rest of the series. But i really need to, because i've been craving 23rd century stories lately.
Man, if that first book doesn't make you want to know what happens next with the Vanguard characters, I don't know what to tell you.
This blows me away. I found the second book to drag a bit in certain places, but always thought the first book was amazing! I remember finishing it for the first time, and wanting to immediately jump into book two. Which I did. Hopefully you jump back in at some point. It's worth it
I've never understood that kind of an attitude. Do not read original fiction? Just because Vanguard is a Star Trek series, doesn't mean you can't just approach it like you would a non-tie in series.
^ It's not a big deal. There are lots of reasons people put down a book or a series and then fail to return to it. It doesn't represent any kind of a failing or flaw. Sometimes these things just happen. No need to guilt folks over it.