Star Trek Author's black list?

[Ian Keldon]

I realize that our writers have to be careful, but given the tight link that appears to exist between authors and editors, is it therefore reasonable to infer that changes in editorship reflect changes in the "corporate taste" in terms of story focus, writing style, etc?

Put another way, were the editorial changes S&S' (and/or CBS') way of saying "we don't like the material from KRAD, or PAD or whomever? Or were the editors fired for other reasons external to the material, and the story refocusing a "side effect" from the firing?

 

[Sho]

Well, this is a major blow to my hopes of more Trek from KRAD ...

 

[Lonemagpie]

I realize that our writers have to be careful, but given the tight link that appears to exist between authors and editors, is it therefore reasonable to infer that changes in editorship reflect changes in the "corporate taste" in terms of story focus, writing style, etc?

Put another way, were the editorial changes S&S' (and/or CBS') way of saying "we don't like the material from KRAD, or PAD or whomever? Or were the editors fired for other reasons external to the material, and the story refocusing a "side effect" from the firing?

The editorial firings in 2008, e.g. Marco, were purely financial - they fired all the folks who earned at a certain level, AIUI.

 

[Relayer1]

Don't forget, Andy Mangels is one of the casualties of the editorial staff change as well.

I thought that was just another 'moved on to other things'.

Like KRAD...

Sad.

 

[Therin of Andor]

I think some readers mistake his surreal, absurd take on DS9 in The Laertian Gamble for ignorance or incompetence.

No, it was excruciatingly boring. Turning the pages was a real chore.

Re KRAD's comments about ST authors and sales: While I definitely have my preferred authors, I'm a collector. I buy every Star Trek book: good, bad and indifferent, fiction and non fiction. Who actually wrote the book sometimes helps me to decide which book on my teetering "to read" pile gets my attention next, but I am one of those very dependable fans who doesn't influence spikes in sales at all, expect perhaps if/when I do a positive review of one.

Sometimes the byline IS very important. Diane Duane's Trek works got me into her original stuff, and by now I've amassed a fairly large collection.

Ah, but that was only after you read her Star Trek book, not what made you buy her first Star Trek-related title.

I got into reading the original SF works of Larry Niven, David Gerrold, Vonda McInytre and Peter David because of positive experiences with their ST work, but I would have picked up their ST stuff anyway, because it had "Star Trek" on the cover.

 

[KRAD]

Well, this is a major blow to my hopes of more Trek from KRAD ...

Don't forget, Andy Mangels is one of the casualties of the editorial staff change as well.

I thought that was just another 'moved on to other things'.

Like KRAD...

Sad.

Andy and I both have plenty of other work floating around. Andy just cowrote Lou Scheimer: Creating the Filmation Generation, the autobiography of the co-founder of Filmation (producers of the Star Trek animated series). And you can find other works of his on his web site.

I've got a Leverage novel called The Zoo Job that's available for preorder at Amazon, and if you go to my web site, there are ordering links for all my latest novels and short fiction, including Goblin Precinct, V-Wars (edited by Jonathan Maberry), SCPD: The Case of the Claw, -30-, and the Tales from the House Band anthologies.

 

[KRAD]

And hey, while it's not new Trek fiction, I am doing a twice-weekly rewatch of TNG on Tor.com, which I'm having tremendous fun with.

 

[zarkon]

If you guys like my writing -- or David's writing or Greg's writing or Christopher's writing or Dave's writing -- then prove it by supporting our original stuff. (You can order my work directly from <A href="http://decandido.net" target=_blank>my web site</A>.)

Looking forward to Tales From/Gryphon. By the way, will "Tales From" incorporate the kickstarter story? I struggled with the digital copy (I've never really been comfortable with the format) so a hard copy that's easier to reread would be cool.

 

[KRAD]

Yes, "When the Magick Goes Away" will be in Tales from Dragon Precinct, which should be out this spring (as will the Leverage novel and a collection of urban fantasy short stories set in Key West, Florida).

 

[zarkon]

Awesome, looking forward to it.

 

[Biffette]

Andy and I both have plenty of other work floating around. Andy just cowrote Lou Scheimer: Creating the Filmation Generation, the autobiography of the co-founder of Filmation (producers of the Star Trek animated series). And you can find other works of his on his web site.

I've got a Leverage novel called The Zoo Job that's available for preorder at Amazon, and if you go to my web site, there are ordering links for all my latest novels and short fiction, including Goblin Precinct, V-Wars (edited by Jonathan Maberry), SCPD: The Case of the Claw, -30-, and the Tales from the House Band anthologies.

Thank you so much for this post! A tricky Christmas gift decision has just been made much easier.

 

[JD]

I think Micheal A. Martin is proof of just how much the writer seems to matter. The reactions to his books both here and on Amazon are mostly mediocre to bad, but they keep hiring to him to do more books. Obviously despite the reactions of the regular readers, his books must be selling.
I don't about anybody else, but I would be willing to trade MaM for KRAD.

 

[Sho]

I've got a Leverage novel called The Zoo Job that's available for preorder at Amazon, and if you go to my web site, there are ordering links for all my latest novels and short fiction, including Goblin Precinct, V-Wars (edited by Jonathan Maberry), SCPD: The Case of the Claw, -30-, and the Tales from the House Band anthologies.

Well I've actually bought Dragon Precinct, and that's despite not really going for fantasy in general . I get your point of course, and I am indeed keeping an eye on your literary exploits to see when they might coincide with my tastebuds. Still hoping the editors are going to have a change of heart, though, because your take on Trek in print is still my consistent favorite through the years ...

 

[Art Vandelay]

It's a shame that quality of the writing seems to be a secondary factor in deciding who gets to write tie-in fiction. Even more of a shame that how well you get along with somebody factors into that decision.

On the other hand, we have David Mack/Wardlimore/DRGIII/Kirsten Beyer/Greg Cox writing really excellent Trek fiction, so at least some consideration is given to quality. Just remove MaM from and add KRAD to that mix, and we're cooking!

The wife and I love KRAD's books (her favourite is Diplomatic Implausibility, mine is The Art of the Impossible), and now we'll always be maudlin when re-reading one of his great Trek works.

 

[KRAD]

^ Why be maudlin? I mean, I appreciate the thought, but I was never going to write Star Trek novels forever.

 

[Art Vandelay]

^ I know, I know... It's just that you were on such a roll. You and the other guys I named get Trek. I do respect, however, that part of having a creative job is a certain restlessness, the wish to move on to new and exciting things. More power to you. I guess that in the long run, "cherishing" will win out over "being maudlin".

 

[Relayer1]

^ Why be maudlin? I mean, I appreciate the thought, but I was never going to write Star Trek novels forever.

But there was always a chance you would do one every few years !

 

[Tom Riker]

Put it this way -- if the byline was really that important, Dragon Precinct would have sold as well as my Trek novels. It didn't. Dave's The Calling should've sold in the same numbers as his Vanguard novels. It didn't.

If you guys like my writing -- or David's writing or Greg's writing or Christopher's writing or Dave's writing -- then prove it by supporting our original stuff. (You can order my work directly from my web site.)

If the by line DIDN"T matter pocket wouldn't have reprinted Nightshade as a gimmic because of the popularity of Hamilton

 

[KRAD]

Laurell K. Hamilton is a huge phenomenon and a multiple Times best-selling author with a MASSIVE following. It's apples and oranges.

But hey, I've only got 20 years of experience as a writer and editor of tie-in fiction, what do I know?

 

[Fer]

Put it this way -- if the byline was really that important, Dragon Precinct would have sold as well as my Trek novels. It didn't. Dave's The Calling should've sold in the same numbers as his Vanguard novels. It didn't.

If you guys like my writing -- or David's writing or Greg's writing or Christopher's writing or Dave's writing -- then prove it by supporting our original stuff. (You can order my work directly from my web site.)

If the by line DIDN"T matter pocket wouldn't have reprinted Nightshade as a gimmic because of the popularity of Hamilton

But that's an unusual exception. When Laurell K. Hamilton originally wrote Nightshade, she wasn't hired because her name would sell more copies. It was only after she had become more popular (and there was a hole in the schedule that needed to be filled) that the decision was made to try and benefit from her name on the byline.

Michael Moorcock's having recently written a Doctor Who novel would probably be another exception.