So where do I begin?

[Therin of Andor]

Oh, I'm a fan of all of Star Trek. I just like stories that interconnect to one another

Well, for those of us who started reading Star Trek novels in the early 80s, there were still moments of interconnectedness. Authors tended to reuse their own original Starfleet characters (esp. Sky, Duane, Dillard and Crispin), and a number of authors shared Security Chief Ingrit Thomson (with various spellings). A few times, characters, dates, events and starship designs have been cross-pollinated by the novels, DC Comics, the old FASA RPG materials, and official Simon & Schuster reference books.

 

[F. King Daniel]

My advice: Pick a few books at random.
But remember the hit/miss ratio is about the same as the TV series'. Some are awesome, some are okay, and some are crap. Don't judge the lot based on one or two bad experiences.

Also, if reading things which don't always mesh perfectly with TV/film Trek annoys you (it doesn't me), be prepared for some frustration. Several older novels made assumptions about the Trek universe which were later "invalidated" by subsequent episodes and movies. One of the best Trek novels ever, The Final Reflection, features a Klingon Empire very different to the one we'd learn about in TNG. George Kirk is a redshirt security officer in some older books, a racist politician one time, and has the name Joseph in another. Pre-TOS history and technology is frequently different to that later established in the Enterprise TV series. Remus is a lush, green world in a few novels. Dark Mirror features a TNG mirror universe at odds with the one seen in DS9.

 

[Charles Phipps]

Yeah, I heard of Dark Mirror and honestly like it better than the DS9 one. But yeah, I figured that I'd get recommendations for what people liked so I can focus there because there's a LOT of books and only so much time in the day.

In any case, I do appreciate everyone's advice and will definitely keep everyone posted.

 

[Therin of Andor]

I figured that I'd get recommendations for what people liked so I can focus there because there's a LOT of books and only so much time in the day.

Following characters you like, or reading prequel/sequel novels to favourite episodes, can be good strategies. Look up items in "Memory Beta" and see where the footnotes take you.
http://memory-beta.wikia.com/wiki/Main_Page

 

[Charles Phipps]

Thanks! I intend to use that to chart my reading!

Here's my next two reviews.

http://unitedfederationofcharles.blogspot.com/2011/10/red-king-star-trek-titan-book-2-review.html

http://unitedfederationofcharles.blogspot.com/2011/10/orions-hounds-star-trek-titan-book-3.html

I think I'll try Articles of the Federation after my current list is done.

 

[Therin of Andor]

Thanks! I intend to use that to chart my reading!

Feel free to update Memory Beta when you notice gaps. There are many, slowly being filled/corrected.

 

[Mage]

Like so many on this board would, I recommend Vanguard.

The DS9 Relaunch is what got my into Treklit really, but lately I've been really enjoying some of the TNG Relaunch. Kirsten Beyer's novels are fantastic, and ANYTHING really by Christopher Bennett.

 

[JWolf]

Get a copy of Voyages of the Imagination. Take a look at the timelime in the back and start from there and read in timeline order.

 

[ryan123450]

Seconded.

 

[Charles Phipps]

The Voyager, DS9 Relaunches, and the TNG Relaunches all look interesting. So does Star Trek Destiny.

 

[JD]

^Sounds like a good place to start to me.

 

[Mr Silver]

I'd also say that the post-invasion stuff is very good indeed. Once you've read Destiny, it actually continues with the high standard of storytelling set by the miniseries. I just recently finished Indistinguishable From Magic which is set a couple of years after the fallout from the Borg invasion and centres around Geordi La Forge and Montgomery Scott. It's part of the TNG series, but it's more or less set within three of the Trek centuries (22nd/23rd/24th).

 

[Charles Phipps]

So there's Indistinguishable From Magic as well as Watching the Clock for big Post-Destiny novels?

 

[Charles Phipps]

BTW, just finished and reviewed "Sword of Damocles."

Nice novel.

I enjoy the big science-fiction concept novels.

 

[JD]

So there's Indistinguishable From Magic as well as Watching the Clock for big Post-Destiny novels?

Here's the release order (and likely best reading order) for the post-Destiny books:
(TTN: Titan VOY: Voyager TNG: The Next Generation TP: Typhon Pact DTI: Department of Temporal Investigations)
A Singular Destiny
TTN: Over a Torrent Sea
VOY: Full Circle
TNG: Losing the Peace
Voy: Unworthy
TTN: Synthesis
TP: Zero Sum Game
TP: Seize The Fire
TP: Rough Beasts of Empire
TP: Paths of Disharmony
Indistinguishable From Magic
DIT: Watching the Clock
VOY: Children of the Storm
TNG: Plagues of Night (coming 2012)
TNG: Raise the Dawn (coming 2012)
DTI: Forgotten History (I swear Christopher said somewhere that some of it takes place after WTC) (coming 2012)
Voy: The Eternal Tide (coming 2012)

 

[Charles Phipps]

Thanks, I appreciate it.

Anything anyone would like me to discuss on the boards once I finish reading them?

 

[JD]

^Uhhh, whatever you think is worthy of discussion. We don't really set down what to discuss beforehand, we just discuss whatever people bring up.

 

[Charles Phipps]

Cool.

I'm looking forward to reading Destiny. I feel kind of bad I learned about some of the major events inside it.

Spoiler: Destiny stuff

Like Janeway's death, the destruction of the Borg, and the death of Admiral Paris.

Still, I think it's the journey rather than the destination that matters.

P.S. Amusingly, I had my comments turned off on my blog. For the longest time I thought no one was interested.

Man, I feel like a Pakled.

 

[Christopher]

Cool.

I'm looking forward to reading Destiny. I feel kind of bad I learned about some of the major events inside it.

Spoiler: Destiny stuff

Like Janeway's death, the destruction of the Borg, and the death of Admiral Paris.

Actually the first of those happened months before Destiny, in the TNG novel Before Dishonor by Peter David. And your description of the second event isn't really accurate -- it's a lot more complicated than it sounds.

 

[Geoff Thorne]

BTW, just finished and reviewed "Sword of Damocles."

Nice novel.

I enjoy the big science-fiction concept novels.

Just saw this. Glad you liked it, in spite of the caveats.