Recommended Reading

[Antonovus]

I recently finished watching all of canonical Star Trek, including the films. Now, I'd like to move on to some literature (book/comics). What do y'all recommend as a good starting point?

 

[Admiral Shran]

I would recommend the re-launch books for each series. A good place to start would be with the DS9 relaunch and the book "The Lives of Dax" - an anthology of short stories focusing on each of Dax's hosts.

 

[1001001]

Moving to Trek Lit. Hold on....

 

[Antonovus]

I would recommend the re-launch books for each series. A good place to start would be with the DS9 relaunch and the book "The Lives of Dax" - an anthology of short stories focusing on each of Dax's hosts.

Thanks --I'll have to check those out.

 

[Bibliomike]

All 10 of the Strange New Worlds volumes, since they span the length and breadth of all the canonical series and films (and then some, in later volumes). It's a smorgasboard, and you're sure to find many stories you like.

 

[ryan123450]

Once you figure out what series to start on this might help you follow where to go from there.
www.startreklitverse.yolasite.com

 

[Thrawn]

And the link in my signature might help as well - there are a TON of good places to start!

 

[Riverside2233]

I recently finished watching all of canonical Star Trek, including the films. Now, I'd like to move on to some literature (book/comics). What do y'all recommend as a good starting point?

I am in the same boat. Well kind of. I am brand new to everything Star Trek. I've obviously seen some movies and episodes in passing but I am about to begin the entire canon from TOS and I want to read the literature too. I like to follow things in order so as far back to the beginning as I can go would be great. I'm open to any links, lists, or suggestions.

 

[Thrawn]

So, the flowchart in my signature does not contain anything close to ALL of the Trek Literature ever published, and frankly I'd recommend not attempting that. The vast majority of the novels published while TV shows were still airing are standalone tales that don't add or change anything to the wider canvas. But after the TV shows ended, and there were some changes in licensing and editorial policies, the books really took off, forming a giant, interconnected, mutual continuity that we call the LitVerse, and THAT is AWESOME. That's what the flowchart in my signature is about.

That means that while you're watching the shows, there isn't much that's essential reading - the books more or less pick up once the TV shows/movies have had their say.

The two exceptions are Vanguard and Seekers, which are novel-only series that expand on The Original Series tv show and add a lot of depth and alternate perspectives. Read those after you finish The Original Series. Then, pretty much watch everything and pick up the books afterwards.

Something like:

The Original Series
Vanguard / Seekers novels
The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine, Voyager in airing order
Start the Deep Space Nine relaunch novels (as seen in the flowchart) and proceed from there as you...
...also watch Enterprise, then read the Enterprise novels after the Enterprise TV show is done.

 

[Riverside2233]

So, the flowchart in my signature does not contain anything close to ALL of the Trek Literature ever published, and frankly I'd recommend not attempting that. The vast majority of the novels published while TV shows were still airing are standalone tales that don't add or change anything to the wider canvas. But after the TV shows ended, and there were some changes in licensing and editorial policies, the books really took off, forming a giant, interconnected, mutual continuity that we call the LitVerse, and THAT is AWESOME. That's what the flowchart in my signature is about.

That means that while you're watching the shows, there isn't much that's essential reading - the books more or less pick up once the TV shows/movies have had their say.

The two exceptions are Vanguard and Seekers, which are novel-only series that expand on The Original Series tv show and add a lot of depth and alternate perspectives. Read those after you finish The Original Series. Then, pretty much watch everything and pick up the books afterwards.

Something like:

The Original Series
Vanguard / Seekers novels
The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine, Voyager in airing order
Start the Deep Space Nine relaunch novels (as seen in the flowchart) and proceed from there as you...
...also watch Enterprise, then read the Enterprise novels after the Enterprise TV show is done.

Awesome. Thank you for this.

 

[Antonovus]

So, the flowchart in my signature does not contain anything close to ALL of the Trek Literature ever published, and frankly I'd recommend not attempting that. The vast majority of the novels published while TV shows were still airing are standalone tales that don't add or change anything to the wider canvas. But after the TV shows ended, and there were some changes in licensing and editorial policies, the books really took off, forming a giant, interconnected, mutual continuity that we call the LitVerse, and THAT is AWESOME. That's what the flowchart in my signature is about.

That means that while you're watching the shows, there isn't much that's essential reading - the books more or less pick up once the TV shows/movies have had their say.

The two exceptions are Vanguard and Seekers, which are novel-only series that expand on The Original Series tv show and add a lot of depth and alternate perspectives. Read those after you finish The Original Series. Then, pretty much watch everything and pick up the books afterwards.

Something like:

The Original Series
Vanguard / Seekers novels
The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine, Voyager in airing order
Start the Deep Space Nine relaunch novels (as seen in the flowchart) and proceed from there as you...
...also watch Enterprise, then read the Enterprise novels after the Enterprise TV show is done.

Seconded. Much appreciated.

 

[RandyS]

I wouldn't be so quick to disregard the novels written before the various relaunches. There are alot of good ones there, and best of all, they can be read in any order you prefer, not being bogged down by the heavy continuity that hamstrings today's novels.

 

[JD]

Thrawn, have you guys considered adding a 20th Century section in your next update? With the Eugenics Wars, From History's Shadow, Elusive Salvation and a possible third book, it seems to be getting to it's own little continuity built up.

 

[Riverside2233]

I wouldn't be so quick to disregard the novels written before the various relaunches. There are alot of good ones there, and best of all, they can be read in any order you prefer, not being bogged down by the heavy continuity that hamstrings today's novels.

I plan on checking out some of the early novels like Mission to Horatius and Spock Must Die just for the pure interest in older science fiction novels. I'm quickly learning how many different approaches I can take to the LitVerse and I can't wait to get that started. As a brand-new Trek fan, I want to make it through TOS seasons and then move forward.

 

[Greg Cox]

I wouldn't be so quick to disregard the novels written before the various relaunches. There are alot of good ones there, and best of all, they can be read in any order you prefer, not being bogged down by the heavy continuity that hamstrings today's novels.

And indeed some of us are still pretty much writing standalones that can be read independently of any other books.

 

[Thrawn]

Thrawn, have you guys considered adding a 20th Century section in your next update? With the Eugenics Wars, From History's Shadow, Elusive Salvation and a possible third book, it seems to be getting to it's own little continuity built up.

Yeah, actually, we have talked about it as a possibility. Maybe in the next update (which we should really get to someday soon...)