Relaunch 'Universes'?

[Madzilla]

Hi all,

I'm reasonably new to the world of Trek lit, and have just started getting hold of a few titles which I'm looking forward to digging into. I have a quick question about the TNG and VOY relaunches - are they supposed to be taking place in the same 'universe'? i.e. are Homecoming/Farther Shore/Spirit Walk in the same universe as Death in Winter, Q&A, etc?

I ask for a couple of reasons - I'm starting with the VOY relaunch novels and I know some of the characters from Voyager are also featured in the TNG novels, so I'm wondering if I'll need to pick up both to follow their adventures; also I know about the ending of Before Dishonor and am wondering if that is the direction the VOY novels are heading in too (I hope not).

I'll probably get round to reading both sets eventually, but am just wondering if they're all one big story, so to speak, or two mutually exclusive versions of events in that time period.

Thanks!

- Mad

 

[Brendan Moody]

Pretty much all the modern novels are in the same "universe," including the TNG and VOY relaunches, but all the VOY books so far have taken place well before the TNG ones, and there are no real story connections between the two. So you can safely read the initial four VOY novels (Homecoming/Farther Shore/Spirit Walk 1+2) now, and get around to TNG later.

Some of the books coming out in the future will complicate things, but don't worry about that now.

 

[Cicero]

The Voyager novels are scheduled to pick up again next year, with stories set after this fall's Destiny trilogy (a TNG/Voyager/Titan crossover), which follows on the recent TNG novels, including, I think, one more due out later this year.

You can read the Voyager novels already published, skip ahead to the recent TNG books, pick up Titan (which features Tuvok, to some extent), or wait for Destiny. Or you can pick some combination thereof; any should work just fine.

 

[Christopher]

I'll probably get round to reading both sets eventually, but am just wondering if they're all one big story, so to speak, or two mutually exclusive versions of events in that time period.

Neither. They're consistent with one another, but they're not just one big story. Each has its own distinct storyline with occasional bits of overlap with other storylines.

As stated, all the Christie Golden VGR Relaunch books take place in 2378, well before the TNG Relaunch books, which are in 2380. The upcoming Destiny trilogy brings the book universe (and the TNG portion thereof) into early 2381, and Kirsten Beyer's Full Circle will cover the VGR story from 2378-81. Subsequent TNG and VGR books will move forward from there, but not necessarily telling overlapping stories, since it's a big galaxy.

 

[Therin of Andor]

I'm reasonably new to the world of Trek lit, and have just started getting hold of a few titles which I'm looking forward to digging into. I have a quick question about the TNG and VOY relaunches - are they supposed to be taking place in the same 'universe'?

The only novels that deliberately plot their own path have been:

* the so-called Shatnerverse series, especially the 24th century ones (ie. after "The Ashes of Eden") which were deliberately ignored by a few novelists.

* the "Crucible" trilogy by David R George III.

* the recent TOS prequel, "Academy: Collision Course", again by Shatner and the Reeves-Stevens.

You'll find a few things that don't jibe. For example, in the "Genesis Wave" books and the "Titan" series, the gender of Nurse Ogawa's only offspring is different. The Female Romulan Commander (originally from TOS) has also ended up with numerous futures over the decades. But essentially it's all one happy universe.

 

[Christopher]

^^It would be more accurate to say that most everything from about 2001 onward is in a common continuity, which acknowledges and retroactively includes some earlier books while contradicting others. And in addition to the post-'01 books that are overtly out of continuity with the rest (the Shatnerverse and Crucible), there are some post-'01 standalones that are not overtly either part of the main book continuity or in conflict with it (such as The Case of the Colonist's Corpse).

 

[JD]

Why doesn't The Case of the Colonist's Corpse fit into the current "TrekLit Universe"?

 

[Therin of Andor]

Why doesn't The Case of the Colonist's Corpse fit into the current "TrekLit Universe"?

It does. It's just "not overtly either part of the main book continuity or in conflict with it".

 

[JD]

Oh, I thought Chris meant that it was in conflict with the book continuity, my bad. I've notived I tend to misinterpret things like that when I read them.

 

[Elemental]

As stated, all the Christie Golden VGR Relaunch books take place in 2378, well before the TNG Relaunch books, which are in 2380. The upcoming Destiny trilogy brings the book universe (and the TNG portion thereof) into early 2381, and Kirsten Beyer's Full Circle will cover the VGR story from 2378-81. Subsequent TNG and VGR books will move forward from there, but not necessarily telling overlapping stories, since it's a big galaxy.

Very interesting. This is the first I've heard of this Full Circle. Is it a Voyager novel? Is it coming out before Destiny?

And does this mean that the writing team has finally 'caved' to the idea that perhaps keeping some of the 24th century series around the same timeframe maybe isn't so pointless afterall?

 

[Brendan Moody]

Very interesting. This is the first I've heard of this Full Circle. Is it a Voyager novel? Is it coming out before Destiny?

Yes, then no. It comes out after Destiny, and bridges the gap between Spirit Walk and that story, setting the tone for further VOY fiction. See the thread on Comic-Con news for more details.

And does this mean that the writing team has finally 'caved' to the idea that perhaps keeping some of the 24th century series around the same timeframe maybe isn't so pointless afterall?

No, it means they've decided that VOY fiction specifically is best served by moving it to a post-Destiny context, in part because so many VOY characters have already appeared in that timeframe in other series.

 

[Defcon]

Very interesting. This is the first I've heard of this Full Circle. Is it a Voyager novel? Is it coming out before Destiny?

Yes, it is a Voyager(-Relaunch) novel. It will start were Spirit Walk left off, and then tell the crew's story up to Destiny and beyond. And no, it's coming out after Destiny, in April 2009.

 

[Elemental]

Thanks, I actually just did some research and found out the announcements of the 2009 titles. Very interesting indeed!

 

[Christopher]

And does this mean that the writing team has finally 'caved' to the idea that perhaps keeping some of the 24th century series around the same timeframe maybe isn't so pointless afterall?

No, because that's misdefining the question. The editors have never been opposed in principle to having different series in the same timeframe (and it has been done with cases like DS9/SCE and TNG/TTN), they simply haven't wished to synchronize them arbitrarily. It's simply a matter of whether there's good reason to do it. As Brendan said, since many VGR characters have already been seen in the TNG/TTN timeframe, it made sense to move VGR forward to that point. Also, I would imagine that since the resumption of the VGR Relaunch is happening so soon after Destiny, it makes sense for promotional reasons to tie them together.

 

[Trent Roman]

Also, I would imagine that since the resumption of the VGR Relaunch is happening so soon after Destiny, it makes sense for promotional reasons to tie them together.

*Suddenly pictures a bunch of Star Trek covers emblazoned with the "Decimation" logo*

Fictitiously yours, Trent Roman

 

[Hartzilla2007]

Also, I would imagine that since the resumption of the VGR Relaunch is happening so soon after Destiny, it makes sense for promotional reasons to tie them together.

*Suddenly pictures a bunch of Star Trek covers emblazoned with the "Decimation" logo*

Fictitiously yours, Trent Roman

I was thinking more along the lines of Crisis on Infinite Earths/Infinite Crisis/Final Crisis