So I just finished A Time to be Born

[Thrawn]

The novels really like to refer to each other when possible, but you shouldn't let that make you feel like you've been "missing" anything. Often, characters in onscreen episodes would have backstory you'd never seen, like Picard meeting old friends, etc. Just pretend it's like that, and move on.

I promise, the A Time To... books are the first books that Really Matter in the 24th century ongoing continuity, aside from the DS9 Relaunch which you also mentioned. Don't worry about it.

 

[Christopher]

However, I'm starting to think I missed out by not reading some of the previous books first though. "To Heal" has references to a war on Betazed that I know nothing about - including a "hero" who is confronting President Zife about his aid being sent to Tezwa.

The occupation of Betazed during the Dominion War was canonically established in DS9's "In the Pale Moonlight." The fall of Betazed was the event that motivated Sisko to take action to bring the Romulans into the war on the UFP side. There are a couple of Trek Lit works referring to it -- "The Ceremony of Innocence is Drowned" in Tales of the Dominion War depicts the invasion of the planet and the novel The Battle of Betazed shows its liberation. But even though the character you're referring to, Cort Enaren, was introduced in The Battle of Betazed, I don't think it's necessary to have read that novel for the purposes of following the story.

The novels really like to refer to each other when possible, but you shouldn't let that make you feel like you've been "missing" anything. Often, characters in onscreen episodes would have backstory you'd never seen, like Picard meeting old friends, etc. Just pretend it's like that, and move on.

Yup. The example I like to cite is "The Cage" -- the very first Trek story ever told, yet it begins with the characters recovering from an eventful mission in which Pike's yeoman was killed and Spock was injured. It's impossible for the audience to have had prior knowledge of those events, yet that didn't impede their understanding of the story.

 

[label]

I promise, the A Time To... books are the first books that Really Matter in the 24th century ongoing continuity, aside from the DS9 Relaunch which you also mentioned. Don't worry about it.

Sounds good. The completist in me always worries about not experiencing "the whole story'. So, At what point should I stop the TNG books and begin the DS9 relaunch?

The occupation of Betazed during the Dominion War was canonically established in DS9's "In the Pale Moonlight." The fall of Betazed was the event that motivated Sisko to take action to bring the Romulans into the war on the UFP side.

Ahh, that's right. I had totally forgotten that was in DS9. Shows you how many years it's been since I rewatched that show.

To anyone : So, I realize that I don't need to pick up any books from before where I'm at right now, but are there really good/interesting Dominion war era type books (or others) that might be worth getting into at some point?

 

[label]

So, I finished Time To Heal. Another great book by Mack. This may or may not make sense but I thought this was a better, well rounded effort than Time To Kill, but not quite as riveting for me for some reason. Perhaps because I'm going through these books in quick succession, the planet side story of the Enterprise crew trying to avert a disaster by one part of the planet trying to kill each other off (as well as starfleet) that it seemed like we had been there done that already. (A Time To Hate)

Still, Mack really brought the brutality of this war to life for me and I was a little surprised at how vulnerable to attack the Enterprise and the security on the planet was to attack by Kenechiwan.

I loved the intrigue with the Zife/Koll conspiracy angle, however, the wrap up with Zife willingly (and naively) giving his resignation and going with the Section 31 agents was very brief and his removal could have made for a great novel in and of itself instead of the 2 chapters we got.

I really like Vale, Peart and Perim.......sorry to see the later two resign from Starfleet. I also like Fillion and thought they should have let his character make it out alive. I feel like the Doctor's new romance was a bit like the Ross and Rachel thing from Friends.......everyone knows Picard and Crusher are eventually get together, it's just a matter of when. Or, at least, I think they will given how front and center the relationship has been throughout these first 8 books.

Anyway, I'm off to read A Time for War/Peace and then I'm unsure what I'll do next. For sure I'll take a break from trek and read Duma Key which has been beckoning me for some time now, but once I start back into the trek books, I'll have to figure out what next.

 

[Thrawn]

Plotlines from the DS9 relaunch don't really come into play in the post-Nemesis storyline until the Typhon Pact miniseries. You don't really need to read the DS9 relaunch until then.

With two exceptions.

1) Garak goes back to Cardassia. This is chronicled in the book "A Stitch In Time". It predates (in and out of universe) the DS9 Relaunch proper, but has been integrated into the continuity, and might help explain Garak's appearance in the Destiny trilogy. Though, again, you could skip it and you'd be fine, but you say you like to have the whole story, so there you go.

2) Ezri is a captain in Destiny, a career shift which may seem a bit improbable given her portrayal at the end of the DS9 show. If you'd like to see her character arc and how that comes about, the DS9 relaunch will also be necessary. But here again, David Mack did a splendid job in the Destiny trilogy explaining her backstory in such a way that it didn't give away *anything* from the DS9 relaunch, so you can still read Destiny first.

So it doesn't really matter. You could start right now alternating DS9 relaunch novel / post-Nemesis novel, just for variety, and that might be fun.

Three of the Typhon Pact miniseries books, though, pick up on characters or situations established in the DS9 relaunch, so you'll probably want to have caught up by then.

As far as the Dominion War, there's a short story anthology called "Tales of the Dominion War" that's pretty solid (worth it completely for David Mack's shockingly awesome story about Shinzon, if nothing else), and the book "The Battle Of Betazed" has a cameo from one of the new characters in the DS9 relaunch, so you might enjoy hitting that as well.

 

[Christopher]

Sounds good. The completist in me always worries about not experiencing "the whole story'. So, At what point should I stop the TNG books and begin the DS9 relaunch?

Probably at whatever point is most convenient for you. Chronologically, the DS9 post-finale books come first; they span 2376 and January '77 while A Time to... spans the year prior to Nemesis, basically October '78 to October '79.

If you're looking for a good breaking point in the TNG books, a good place to pause them while you catch up on other branches of the continuity, the best place might be after Death in Winter. Just as ATT... leads into NEM, so DiW takes place between the climax and final scenes of NEM (during the period when the E-E is under repairs in spacedock). After that, there's a gap of four months before we pick up the E-E's adventures in Resistance.

 

[label]

1) Garak goes back to Cardassia. This is chronicled in the book "A Stitch In Time". It predates (in and out of universe) the DS9 Relaunch proper, but has been integrated into the continuity, and might help explain Garak's appearance in the Destiny trilogy. Though, again, you could skip it and you'd be fine, but you say you like to have the whole story, so there you go.

A Stitch in Time was the first book I purchased when I decided to start reading some Trek novels as Garak is one of my favorite character from any Trek incarnation so I given what you've said, I think I'll read this one after I finish the "A Time to" series.

2) Ezri is a captain in Destiny, a career shift which may seem a bit improbable given her portrayal at the end of the DS9 show.

Completely. I hated the character in Season 7......almost as much as Janeway. I realize Terry left the show and they had to replace her but nothing could really replace Jadzia for me, especially Ezri.

If you'd like to see her character arc and how that comes about, the DS9 relaunch will also be necessary. But here again, David Mack did a splendid job in the Destiny trilogy explaining her backstory in such a way that it didn't give away *anything* from the DS9 relaunch, so you can still read Destiny first.

I'll read Mack's story of her in Destiny because I've found him to be so awesome (as you predicted) but I have no interest in catching up with Ezri.

So it doesn't really matter. You could start right now alternating DS9 relaunch novel / post-Nemesis novel, just for variety, and that might be fun.

Great idea. "Time for War/Peace" now, once I start up Trek again, "A stitch in Time", then "Death in Winter'.

Three of the Typhon Pact miniseries books, though, pick up on characters or situations established in the DS9 relaunch, so you'll probably want to have caught up by then.

Gotcha. Finish DS9 relaunch before Typhon Pact.

As far as the Dominion War, there's a short story anthology called "Tales of the Dominion War" that's pretty solid (worth it completely for David Mack's shockingly awesome story about Shinzon, if nothing else), and the book "The Battle Of Betazed" has a cameo from one of the new characters in the DS9 relaunch, so you might enjoy hitting that as well.

Sounds good. Anything with Mack in it is on my list.

If you're looking for a good breaking point in the TNG books, a good place to pause them while you catch up on other branches of the continuity, the best place might be after Death in Winter. Just as ATT... leads into NEM, so DiW takes place between the climax and final scenes of NEM (during the period when the E-E is under repairs in spacedock). After that, there's a gap of four months before we pick up the E-E's adventures in Resistance.

Thanks...so then the DS9 relaunch read-through starts after Death in Winter. I appreciate all the help everyone here has provided.........makes the catching up part much more enjoyable.

 

[JD]

As far as the Dominion War, there's a short story anthology called "Tales of the Dominion War" that's pretty solid (worth it completely for David Mack's shockingly awesome story about Shinzon, if nothing else), and the book "The Battle Of Betazed" has a cameo from one of the new characters in the DS9 relaunch, so you might enjoy hitting that as well.

I'm gonna put in another vote for TotDW, I enjoyed pretty much all of the stories in it when I read it a couple years ago. It also might be a good idea to pick up Tales From The Captain's Table, which features stories focusing on the captains from Ent. and the Lit only series, including the Voyager and DS9 post finale series, and Titan. I haven't read the whole book yet (at the time I read it I hadn't read books in all of the series yet, so I skipped the stories from the series I hadn't read) so I don't know how it relates to the Voy. post finale series.

 

[Christopher]

It also might be a good idea to pick up Tales From The Captain's Table, which features stories focusing on the captains from Ent. and the Lit only series, including the Voyager and DS9 post finale series, and Titan. I haven't read the whole book yet (at the time I read it I hadn't read books in all of the series yet, so I skipped the stories from the series I hadn't read) so I don't know how it relates to the Voy. post finale series.

TftCT contains a Christie Golden-written Chakotay story whose frame is set during the Relaunch period, but which is set in Chakotay's youth and features characters and elements from his past that are revisited in Spirit Walk. Of course, you don't need to read the story to understand Spirit Walk or vice versa, but they are connected.

 

[Thrawn]

...

I appreciate all the help everyone here has provided.........makes the catching up part much more enjoyable.

As a fan, it's just fun watching other people read through these books. There's so much great stuff ahead of you, I'm looking forward to reading your reactions as you go through it. Thanks for posting your thoughts as you go.

It's been a few years since I read all these; it's sort of nice to... reminisce vicariously? Something like that.

 

[Dancing Doctor]

^What Thrawn said.

That was one of the main draws of the Trek Lit subforum for me: the ability to share my thoughts, and see what others are thinking and whether they agree or disagree, and what views or facets they saw that I might have missed.

 

[JD]

^Agreed too. As someone who doesn't interact with other Trek fans in real life, it's nice to be able to come here and see what other Trekkies think of the books and stuff.

 

[label]

Thanks for posting your thoughts as you go.

It's been a few years since I read all these; it's sort of nice to... reminisce vicariously? Something like that.

I completely understand. I've been reliving Farscape and Bab5 in the Sci-Fi forum re-watch threads. As for this thread, As much as I've enjoyed reading the books, they've been made that much better being able to share the experience with you guys here.

 

[label]

Ok. I'm a little over half-way through "A time to War/Peace" and this author has the best dialog from any trek authors I've read to this point. The action isn't necessarily there like it was in the past couple books, but he's got a great sense of humor and rhythm to his writing that would easily translate well to TV or movies.

I'm thoroughly enjoying this book, even though most of it's not action oriented.

 

[JD]

Is this your first KRAD book? He's done tons of great stuff, in Trek and other tie ins. He's easily one of my favorite authors.

 

[Thrawn]

And if you liked War/Peace, you'll love Articles Of The Federation. It follows the new Federation president through their first year, and it's all the best parts of War/Peace but moreso. It's great.

 

[label]

Is this your first KRAD book? He's done tons of great stuff, in Trek and other tie ins. He's easily one of my favorite authors.

This is my first KRAD book. Given how engrossing his writing style is - at least for me - I can see why he's high on your list. He makes something as simple as a poker showdown between Riker and Vale or Counselor Bacco getting ready for her initial speech that shes running interesting somehow. Amazing how talented writers can do that, eh.?

And if you liked War/Peace, you'll love Articles Of The Federation. It follows the new Federation president through their first year, and it's all the best parts of War/Peace but moreso. It's great.

I normally disdain any discussion of politics (or maybe it's just American politics since I enjoyed the discussions in The Moon is a Harsh Mistress) and I never watched West Wing (though I've always heard it was a great show and I'd probably enjoy the writing), but given how entertaining his writing has been in this one, it sounds like I'm definitely going to have to pick that one up.

Now I see what you're saying about just skipping books 1-6 of the Time To Series.....while I didn't spend very long on them, they certainly pale in comparison to the last 3 books in the series.

 

[Thrawn]

Is this your first KRAD book? He's done tons of great stuff, in Trek and other tie ins. He's easily one of my favorite authors.

This is my first KRAD book. Given how engrossing his writing style is - at least for me - I can see why he's high on your list. He makes something as simple as a poker showdown between Riker and Vale or Counselor Bacco getting ready for her initial speech that shes running interesting somehow. Amazing how talented writers can do that, eh.?

And if you liked War/Peace, you'll love Articles Of The Federation. It follows the new Federation president through their first year, and it's all the best parts of War/Peace but moreso. It's great.

I normally disdain any discussion of politics (or maybe it's just American politics since I enjoyed the discussions in The Moon is a Harsh Mistress) and I never watched West Wing (though I've always heard it was a great show and I'd probably enjoy the writing), but given how entertaining his writing has been in this one, it sounds like I'm definitely going to have to pick that one up.

Now I see what you're saying about just skipping books 1-6 of the Time To Series.....while I didn't spend very long on them, they certainly pale in comparison to the last 3 books in the series.

Yep. And with only a couple exceptions (Death In Winter, Resistance, debateably Before Dishonor), the quality of what's ahead of you is a lot more like the last 3 than the first 6.

 

[label]

So I finished the last book in the Time To series (War/Peace).

- I liked the author a lot. He's got a great sense of humour and there were several LOL moments in the book for me.
- Great dialog made scenes that should have bored me pretty interesting.
- Not much really happens in this book oddly enough. I mean, there's the Klingon storyline with the embassy takeover, Kahless missing plot that I supposed served as the A thread. I suppose the B thread would be the presidential elections which leads into the book "Articles of the Federation" which I'm now very much looking forward to. The C thread was just transition on the Enterprise. Still, very little actually went down. Kahless is missing, Data figures out where he might be, he says he's leaving and that's that.
- Really odd ending to the book. So I read the whole series, leading up very nicely to Nemesis which I had planned to watch after this book, but then the epilogue takes you past the events of Nemesis to where Riker (very cleverly, I might add ) finds Vale in her bikini on the beach to offer her the 1st officer position. Almost wish I hadn't of read the epilogue now.

Still, all in all I enjoyed the book very well and look forward to reading more from KRAD.

Thanks for all those who share in this read through of the Time To Series. I really want to start on another Trek book, but I think I'll hit a few other books first before I get burnt out.

 

[Smiley]

I reread A Time to Kill in the last couple of days. It starts off decently with the Tezwan sneak attack, but at Chapter 11, the story kicks into high gear and does not stop. The individual strike team missions are a little bit predictable in how they unfold, but they do not overstay their welcome. I'm a big fan of all the stuff that was done with Worf and Martok in this book.