Star Trek Vanguard- to read or not to read?

[Killandra]

Thanks for all the advice guys. I'll definitely give it a shot.

Awesome. You will NOT regret it.

I hope not, lol. But I love all Trek (some more than others) so I'm sure I'll enjoy it. I am pretty easy to please overall.

 

[Killandra]

Vanguard made me appreciate the "TOS-Era" as something more viable and worthwhile, not just a holdover from the stylings of the 60's, before the Movie-Era came in and made me love the original series characters.

I grew up on TNG & Matured on DS9, so the movies were always kind of like watching the result of a past I was never that familiar with. To this day I've yet to see most of Star Trek: The Original Series and I'd never really had a desire to, but then Vanguard came along and made me want to.

If Trek ever comes back to Television, it should use this series as the template.

It's just that fucking good.

I agree with Technobuilder. I never really cared much for TOS novels, and haven't seen all TOS episodes. But Vangaurd finally made the 23rd century bigger then just the Enterprise, and showed that it was a huge galaxy where so much more was going on. Looking back at TOS now, I appreciate it so much more as a whole, not just the episodes that had a social message and a great story.

As for Vangaurd itself, it's just to damn well written, with characters that go somewhere, evolve and change. Yes, there is a darkness, there is struggle. But it works. In essence, it's exactly what Trek is; the struggle of individuals trying to create a better, safer universe. For some characters, their actions are dubious at best, but they are ok with that. They are willing to be less then they could be, to achive a greater goal for others. T'Prynn being a great example, with some of her actions being quite dubious, but always to ensure the safety and wellbeing of others, by choosing the lesser of two evils. Same can be said for Reyes.

Awesome! I can't wait! I can appreciate some dubious action, it keeps the character flawed and more three dimensional. I don't think any of us want to read the adventures of Captain Perfect and the the crew of the USS Do No Wrong, where would the fun be in that?

 

[Defcon]

BTW Killandra, I don't recall if it was mentioned yet, but the SCE novella Distant Early Warning ties into the greater Vanguard story as well, while not requiring much knowledge of the SCE backstory. So that should be on your reading list, too .

Thanks! My bday is coming up so I know what to ask for.

I think you've an eReader, so this may be a moot point, but: In print Distant Early Warning is part of the What's Past Trade Paperback.

 

[JD]

BTW Killandra, I don't recall if it was mentioned yet, but the SCE novella Distant Early Warning ties into the greater Vanguard story as well, while not requiring much knowledge of the SCE backstory. So that should be on your reading list, too .

The Typhon Pact/TNG novel Paths of Disharmony also ties in with Vanguard as well, and, as I already noted, one of the main chatacters, T'pryn, is mentioned in The DS9 Relaunch novel Mission Gamma: Lesser Evil. She is also featured in the Lost Era novel The Art of the Impossible.

I thought she played an active role in a series of flashbacks?

 

[Killandra]

BTW Killandra, I don't recall if it was mentioned yet, but the SCE novella Distant Early Warning ties into the greater Vanguard story as well, while not requiring much knowledge of the SCE backstory. So that should be on your reading list, too .

Thanks! My bday is coming up so I know what to ask for.

I think you've an eReader, so this may be a moot point, but: In print Distant Early Warning is part of the What's Past Trade Paperback.

Im primarily an ereader, but I cannot help my love for the look, feel, and smell of a printed book every now and again...

 

[JD]

If you want to read it in paperback form it is part of the What's Past omnibus, along with the other 5 novellas in the miniseries.

 

[Patrick O'Brien]

Vanguard is the best Trek literature I have read hands down. I love the characters in this series. It is a must read for any Trek Lit fan

 

[MatthiasRussell]

I can't recommend Vanguard enough. It isn't just good Trek lit, it is great science fiction even if you aren't a Trekkie. Seeing it end is going to be like saying goodbye to a close friend.

 

[SD70ACe]

Vanguard is the best Trek literature I have read hands down.

I second, third, and fourth that statement.

 

[Patrick O'Brien]

Vanguard is the best Trek literature I have read hands down.

I second, third, and fourth that statement.

Awesome! The motion carried!

 

[BritishSeaPower]

I read Harbinger when it first came out and absolutely loved it. As Chris Bennet pointed out, "DS9 in TOS-Time Period" is a good, but inaccurate, elevator pitch for the series. In 2009, I went back re-read Harbinger and then plowed through the 4 books out at the time. It's quite the series. Really consistent, and definitely wroth checking out. My only real complaint about the series - and it's valid for a lot of recent TrekLit - is that it gets a little Small Universe Syndrome-y at times. But it's not being rubbed in your face like in some instances.

Currently I'm stalled out after finishing the first story in Declassified. I hope to finish out the DS9 Relaunch and return to the book and the last two Vanguard stories then.

 

[CNash]

This thread may have convinced me to add Vanguard on to my reading list once I'm done with Typhon Pact... I don't know whether I'll instantly fall in love with it like most of you have - as, like a few people in this thread, I've never had much time for TOS as a whole, enjoying individual episodes but never really sitting down and ploughing through the series - but I'll try to fight the hype aversion and give it a fair shot. I did like Distant Early Warning, so that's a start.

 

[Patrick O'Brien]

CNASH, you will not be disappointed. I was not the biggest TOS fan growing up either. Vanguard and the new CGI graphics for TOS changed all that. I am now rewatching TOS for the third time(thank you netflix)

 

[Relayer1]

This thread may have convinced me to add Vanguard on to my reading list once I'm done with Typhon Pact... I don't know whether I'll instantly fall in love with it like most of you have - as, like a few people in this thread, I've never had much time for TOS as a whole, enjoying individual episodes but never really sitting down and ploughing through the series - but I'll try to fight the hype aversion and give it a fair shot. I did like Distant Early Warning, so that's a start.

You won't regret it !

It approaches the TOS era with a serious modern sensibility - it's great !

 

[MatthiasRussell]

^ Yep. It also provides some great backstory and extrapolation to people and happenings in TOS and its films.

Though I love TOS, I rarely read TOS books, and have become very attached to the Vanguard story, having read each book at least twice in the past year.

Mack and Ward seem to really enjoy their Vanguard original characters and it comes out in their development and individual growth.

 

[Patrick O'Brien]

We are one and a hlf months away from the final installment in the series. It will be a bittersweet moment for sure. Still I am very excited to see how it all wraps up

 

[DeVario]

I'm a Vanguard newbie, only just started reading it a few months ago, but it's an incredible series and the praise is well deserved. Right now I'm nearly done with Precipice.

 

[Goran]

It's the best TOS era stuff out there IMHO. The books really give you that on the frontier away from Starfleet Command feel that the best of episodes of the TOS captured.

 

[F. King Daniel]

It approaches the TOS era with a serious modern sensibility - it's great !

That's actually something I'm weary of. Don't get me wrong, I've got the first four or five Vanguard books on my shelf and I'll get to them eventually and probably love them, but "modern sensibility" and the TOS setting don't seem like a good fit to me.

Modern sensibility in a cornball setting with 3/4 trousers and jelly bean buttons?

 

[Patrick O'Brien]

It approaches the TOS era with a serious modern sensibility - it's great !

That's actually something I'm weary of. Don't get me wrong, I've got the first four or five Vanguard books on my shelf and I'll get to them eventually and probably love them, but "modern sensibility" and the TOS setting don't seem like a good fit to me.

Modern sensibility in a cornball setting with 3/4 trousers and jelly bean buttons?

Trust me, they make it work! The cornball you speak of is gone (except the quintessential trek humor). The equipment and clothing are described in TOS fashion, and I find it fits in nicely. The authors even work in several TOS characters and episodes that may surprise you
I think you are going to like it Daniel. You have taken the first step by owning the first four books. Time to dive in an enjoy. It's Mack, Ward, and Dilmore at their best