HAH!
Janeway's death is not from the past 15 months
Janeway's death is not from the past 15 months
The State of Star Trek Literature
- Thread starter Sxottlan
- Start date
^ But "it is a pain that never ends"
Alright, Alright, let's keep it on topic folks.
Hey, this is slightly off-topic...but on the other hand, alarming for the state of Trek literature!!!!
This book link is in german (sorry, but it's a german book, so...
), but if you read the abstract, even if you don't understand german so well...look for Jeane Luce Picarde *throws herself away in laughter*
http://www.amazon.de/Star-Trek-Begi...=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1240298483&sr=8-1
Please feel free to change my post into the correct thread if it shouldn't stay here
This book link is in german (sorry, but it's a german book, so...
), but if you read the abstract, even if you don't understand german so well...look for Jeane Luce Picarde *throws herself away in laughter*http://www.amazon.de/Star-Trek-Begi...=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1240298483&sr=8-1
Please feel free to change my post into the correct thread if it shouldn't stay here
Hey, this is slightly off-topic...but on the other hand, alarming for the state of Trek literature!!!!
This book link is in german (sorry, but it's a german book, so...
http://www.amazon.de/Star-Trek-Begi...=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1240298483&sr=8-1
Please feel free to change my post into the correct thread if it shouldn't stay here
The "Author" even dared to post a reply to the negative comments in the reviews, claiming that he (in his opinion) successfully tried to emulate Stephen Kings writing style and that his grammar and spelling does not contain more errors than a professional published book....
And he threatens with a Sequel.....
And now back to our thread, already in progress...
1. How do you feel the Trek book line has done in the last 12-15 months?
Ups and downs, but mostly well, IMO.
2. What specifically have you liked in regards to the entire Trek book line in that time?
Continuity and diversity. A lot of series have had developments, yet they're all still connected. Most series I like have had new releases (DS9, Titan, Vanguard).
3. And what specifically have you disliked in regards to the Trek book line of the last year or so?
There has been a shift towards "darker" stories. I don't mind a bit of action every now and then, but combining both the Terok Nor and Destiny trilogies in one year might have been a bit too much, despite the more personal character themes running through both of them. Both trilogies had this impending sense of doom running through them - too much of that can become a bit depressing.
Also, I have skipped the alternative/mirror universe short story works. I find that short stories don't interest me as much as full-length novels, and I prefer reading about the ongoing life in the "main" universe to the sidetrips to others.
4. Were there any trends or recurring themes emergent in the last 12 months or so that you liked?
Probably the way the focus of the stories goes to the "bigger universe" outside of just "the ship and crew". (In A Singular Destiny and A Burning House for example (thank you KRAD), the introduction of the Aventine as a new point of view in Destiny, etc.)
5. What trends or recurring themes evident in the last year did you dislike and why?
I've seen many people on this board applaud the families that are being formed among the (former) TNG crew. I'm not (and likely never will be) a great family person. The suggestion that there's nothing better in life than making babies (pardon me for phrasing it like this) in two series at once didn't really work for me. It's just something I feel differently about that than most people I guess.
6. What changes or additions to the Trek book line have you liked editorial-wise (i.e. ebook mini-series, focus on one series over another)?
I like the fact that Voyager is back, and with a fresh set-up. I think no series should have to be carried by a single author and both the ones that have - Voyager and Enterprise - are the ones I was losing interest in. One the whole, my favorite series are going strong, so I'm happy with that.
7. What editorial decisions from the last 12-15 months have you not liked?
See above for the alternate/mirror universe stories. I'm also sorry that the CoE line was pulled, as that was the one short(er) story format I liked. On a different note, I'm not all that fond of the cover art chosen for some ongoing series. I'd prefer less shifting among the "main cast" characters in some series. TNG has been in constant flux up until Destiny, Voyager's adding new faces, Titan lost Jaza, etc. I'd like more time to get to know new characters. Finally, as a minor gripe, I'd like books in a single series to be more recognizable from their cover (something Vanguard and Titan have done very well).
8. What changes would you like to see in the Trek book line? Be it production choices or story editorial decisions?
After Destiny, I'd like to see the series involved in that part of the timeline diverge again. I like inter-connectivity, but it does limit the development of the various characters if you throw them all into one story. Titan's made a good start by returning to its mission, and I much enjoyed Over a Torrent Sea as "something completely different" as opposed to Destiny.
1. How do you feel the Trek book line has done in the last 12-15 months?
Ups and downs, but mostly well, IMO.
2. What specifically have you liked in regards to the entire Trek book line in that time?
Continuity and diversity. A lot of series have had developments, yet they're all still connected. Most series I like have had new releases (DS9, Titan, Vanguard).
3. And what specifically have you disliked in regards to the Trek book line of the last year or so?
There has been a shift towards "darker" stories. I don't mind a bit of action every now and then, but combining both the Terok Nor and Destiny trilogies in one year might have been a bit too much, despite the more personal character themes running through both of them. Both trilogies had this impending sense of doom running through them - too much of that can become a bit depressing.
Also, I have skipped the alternative/mirror universe short story works. I find that short stories don't interest me as much as full-length novels, and I prefer reading about the ongoing life in the "main" universe to the sidetrips to others.
4. Were there any trends or recurring themes emergent in the last 12 months or so that you liked?
Probably the way the focus of the stories goes to the "bigger universe" outside of just "the ship and crew". (In A Singular Destiny and A Burning House for example (thank you KRAD), the introduction of the Aventine as a new point of view in Destiny, etc.)
5. What trends or recurring themes evident in the last year did you dislike and why?
I've seen many people on this board applaud the families that are being formed among the (former) TNG crew. I'm not (and likely never will be) a great family person. The suggestion that there's nothing better in life than making babies (pardon me for phrasing it like this) in two series at once didn't really work for me. It's just something I feel differently about that than most people I guess.
6. What changes or additions to the Trek book line have you liked editorial-wise (i.e. ebook mini-series, focus on one series over another)?
I like the fact that Voyager is back, and with a fresh set-up. I think no series should have to be carried by a single author and both the ones that have - Voyager and Enterprise - are the ones I was losing interest in. One the whole, my favorite series are going strong, so I'm happy with that.
7. What editorial decisions from the last 12-15 months have you not liked?
See above for the alternate/mirror universe stories. I'm also sorry that the CoE line was pulled, as that was the one short(er) story format I liked. On a different note, I'm not all that fond of the cover art chosen for some ongoing series. I'd prefer less shifting among the "main cast" characters in some series. TNG has been in constant flux up until Destiny, Voyager's adding new faces, Titan lost Jaza, etc. I'd like more time to get to know new characters. Finally, as a minor gripe, I'd like books in a single series to be more recognizable from their cover (something Vanguard and Titan have done very well).
8. What changes would you like to see in the Trek book line? Be it production choices or story editorial decisions?
After Destiny, I'd like to see the series involved in that part of the timeline diverge again. I like inter-connectivity, but it does limit the development of the various characters if you throw them all into one story. Titan's made a good start by returning to its mission, and I much enjoyed Over a Torrent Sea as "something completely different" as opposed to Destiny.
To be precise, except for Mirror Universe: Shards and Shadows, those were short novels (c. 50,000 words), not short stories (under 7,500 words). And most of the stories in MU:S&S were novelettes (defined as between 7,500 and 17,500 words).
Thanks!
You're not the only one. I pretty much feel exactly as you do. Don't get me wrong, I like both the TNG and Titan lines very much. But that element doesn't resonate with me at all.
While I've really liked the majority of the cover art we've been getting lately (the only one I really haven't liked lately is Losing the Peace, which had a good design but was put together rather strangely IMO). While I do have some pretty clear mental images of most of the characters, I would still love to see images of the new characters from TNG, Vanguard, and Titan especially.
IMO the problem is that both leading couples decided the have children pretty much at the same time (not necessarily stardate wise, but considering the book release date)... to read the woes of impending parenthood twice over might be a bit much.
And I'm looking forward to reading how all of them juggle their duties and their responsibilities for their respective child. I wasn't too impressed by Riker's "angsting" so far. Merely from the character's PoV of course understandable given the background, but I thought it influenced his command decisions too much. So, I'm reserving judgment until the whole baby-plotthread advances - in both TNG and TTN.
Overall quite well. I'm not a huge fan of the major overturns of the ST-universe, but I absolutely loved the idea of the Myriad-Universes.
The introduction of the MyrU. I always wanted those "what ifs" explored.
As much as I like continuity and the way the books form their own universe and depend on each other, I miss the good old stand alone books where you don't have to use any online archive or so to get informed about prior books etc. Also I think the focus on so much interconnectivity takes away "screen time" from the characters themselves.
Not really beyond what I've said so far, that being the exploration of MyrU and the MU.
ST gets darker, there's more war, more death - Not that I'm opposed per se, but that's not what I think ST's about. From the Dominion War to the Borg war, now what might become an armed conflict (but hopefully will stay just a diplomatic challenge) with the powers of the Typhon Pact... I'm not too sure of this development.
Surprise, surprise: The MyrU-books - hopefully there'll be many more.
I'm not quite sure what goes into the "editorial decisions"-category - but the cancellation of the Crucible-omnibus seriously annoyed me.
More standalone TOS adventures. A bit less war, more diplomacy, an even better focus on the characters instead of pages long descriptions of some battle or other action sequences.
generally I am happy with the books. I was a bit disgruntled at the idea of so many Borg books coming out in such proximity to one another, but the execution was far better than the idea suggested.
1. How do you feel the Trek book line has done in the last 12-15 months?
I think that it has been mostly good.
2. What specifically have you liked in regards to the entire Trek book line in that time?
I have liked the continuity.
3. And what specifically have you disliked in regards to the Trek book line of the last year or so?
I have actually not liked the fact that the TNG series had so much Borg. I would have liked to have seen more mystery as to when the Borg would strike, instead, they were in all but one of the books. I do not really care about the MYRDU books, so its just took up space in the line where there could have been more DS9 or ENT.
4. Were there any trends or recurring themes emergent in the last 12 months or so that you liked?
I have liked seeing Picard face his greatest fear, family. It is cool to see that family is still important in the lives of Starfleet crews.
5. What trends or recurring themes evident in the last year did you dislike and why?
As much as I liked Destiny, the darkness is getting to me though. I am also not enjoying the fact that DS9 is so mired in the MU. I would actually rather see how Sisko’s development is going after coming back is.
6. What changes or additions to the Trek book line have you liked editorial-wise (i.e. ebook mini-series, focus on one series over another)?
I have liked that VOY is back. Liked Terok Nor.
7. What editorial decisions from the last 12-15 months have you not liked?
I did not like that DS9 was left in the past and not caught up to the Destiny time. It left out a crew of people that I really would have liked to seen involved in Destiny. Now it is going to be like VOY and have to play around what was done in Destiny, rather than intimately involved. I like Ezri as a captain, but I am also really sad to see her gone from DS9. I hate that so many of the DS9 characters are not on DS9 anymore.
8. What changes would you like to see in the Trek book line? Be it production choices or story editorial decisions?
I would like see more ENT books. I do care too much about the TOS books, since they have a harder time being good (we know so much about that time). I would also like to see Sisko come back to SF as an admiral or something. He feels like a lost character and I miss having him around.
I think that it has been mostly good.
2. What specifically have you liked in regards to the entire Trek book line in that time?
I have liked the continuity.
3. And what specifically have you disliked in regards to the Trek book line of the last year or so?
I have actually not liked the fact that the TNG series had so much Borg. I would have liked to have seen more mystery as to when the Borg would strike, instead, they were in all but one of the books. I do not really care about the MYRDU books, so its just took up space in the line where there could have been more DS9 or ENT.
4. Were there any trends or recurring themes emergent in the last 12 months or so that you liked?
I have liked seeing Picard face his greatest fear, family. It is cool to see that family is still important in the lives of Starfleet crews.
5. What trends or recurring themes evident in the last year did you dislike and why?
As much as I liked Destiny, the darkness is getting to me though. I am also not enjoying the fact that DS9 is so mired in the MU. I would actually rather see how Sisko’s development is going after coming back is.
6. What changes or additions to the Trek book line have you liked editorial-wise (i.e. ebook mini-series, focus on one series over another)?
I have liked that VOY is back. Liked Terok Nor.
7. What editorial decisions from the last 12-15 months have you not liked?
I did not like that DS9 was left in the past and not caught up to the Destiny time. It left out a crew of people that I really would have liked to seen involved in Destiny. Now it is going to be like VOY and have to play around what was done in Destiny, rather than intimately involved. I like Ezri as a captain, but I am also really sad to see her gone from DS9. I hate that so many of the DS9 characters are not on DS9 anymore.
8. What changes would you like to see in the Trek book line? Be it production choices or story editorial decisions?
I would like see more ENT books. I do care too much about the TOS books, since they have a harder time being good (we know so much about that time). I would also like to see Sisko come back to SF as an admiral or something. He feels like a lost character and I miss having him around.
1. I think the book line has done pretty well. I’m enjoying it.
2. I liked the Destiny trilogy, though I don’t think it quite matched the hype. I’ve enjoyed parts of the TNG-R, parts of the ENT-R, Full Circle, Warpath, Harbinger, Destiny, A Singular Destiny, and the New Frontier books. The continuity has been really cool. I feel like I'm really immersed in a larger universe.
3. I don’t care for the Mirror Universe storyline in the DS9-R. Previously I had my misgivings about the neural parasites, because I had wanted them to be used in the TNG-R, but the MU stuff has lost my interest. Warpath was pretty good, but I haven’t been that interested enough to read Fearful Symmetry and it’s doubtful that I’ll pick up The Soul Key, especially if it’s about the MU. As for the ENT-R, I really liked Last Full Measure (thought it’s not part of the re-launch I guess) and The Good that Men Do, but the conceit of bringing Trip back was starting to wear thin with Kobayashi Maru. I also don’t like how the Romulan War started-it seemed like the Coalition went to war without enough proof it was actually the Romulans, though I am interested in reading the upcoming book. I’ve always been interested in the war and look forward to seeing how Martin will write it. Even though I wasn’t much of a Janeway fan, I’m not sure about killing her off. However, her death has actually opened up the possibility for greater character development for the other characters so it’s a mixed bag, but more good than bad after reading Full Circle. I also would like to see more done with Sisko in the DS9-R.
4. Though I was initially skeptical about bringing the Borg back, I’m glad that the TNG-R took them on and then definitively got rid of them. I think a big, bold story was necessary to really capture the terrifying scope of a full on Borg invasion. I’m looking forward to the Typhon Pact as well. It’s an idea that makes so much sense that I’m surprised no one really thought of it before. Whenever the Ascendant storyline gets going in the DS9-R it will be a good thing.
5. As I said previously, didn’t care for the MU storyline in DS9-R. I also don’t care for much of the new crew in the TNG-R. Kadohata bores me to tears. I’m probably the only person alive that liked T’Lana and was disappointed when DM killed her off. Overall, I think the VOY-R and the DS9-R created better characters, or reused older characters in a better, more organic way.
6. I think all of the series have gotten an appropriate amount of attention. Even though there was a significant gap in the VOY-R, Tuvok was on Titan, Janeway and Seven played roles in the TNG-R, and Voyager returned for the Destiny trilogy.
7. I think the Sisko/Tzenkethi War Lost Era book has been shelved. I’ve been looking forward to reading that one for years. Hopefully they’ll get it back on track.
8. I would like to see more Lost Era books (I have the Bajoran Occupation trilogy, but I haven’t read those yet). For storylines, I can’t say for certain. On DS9, I wouldn’t mind seeing more about what’s going on with the Dominion, more post-war Cardassia. I like Voyager’s new mission so I’m looking forward to them revisiting some of the alien species, particularly the adversaries like the Voth, Swarm, and Vaadwaur that got short shrift during the show’s run. In addition, more Hirogen and Species 8472 wouldn’t hurt either. The Typhon Pact seems like a very promising storyline potentially for all of the 24th century series so I’m looking forward to that. I’m also looking forward to the Ascendant storyline.
Though you didn’t ask, I’m also enjoying the comics.
2. I liked the Destiny trilogy, though I don’t think it quite matched the hype. I’ve enjoyed parts of the TNG-R, parts of the ENT-R, Full Circle, Warpath, Harbinger, Destiny, A Singular Destiny, and the New Frontier books. The continuity has been really cool. I feel like I'm really immersed in a larger universe.
3. I don’t care for the Mirror Universe storyline in the DS9-R. Previously I had my misgivings about the neural parasites, because I had wanted them to be used in the TNG-R, but the MU stuff has lost my interest. Warpath was pretty good, but I haven’t been that interested enough to read Fearful Symmetry and it’s doubtful that I’ll pick up The Soul Key, especially if it’s about the MU. As for the ENT-R, I really liked Last Full Measure (thought it’s not part of the re-launch I guess) and The Good that Men Do, but the conceit of bringing Trip back was starting to wear thin with Kobayashi Maru. I also don’t like how the Romulan War started-it seemed like the Coalition went to war without enough proof it was actually the Romulans, though I am interested in reading the upcoming book. I’ve always been interested in the war and look forward to seeing how Martin will write it. Even though I wasn’t much of a Janeway fan, I’m not sure about killing her off. However, her death has actually opened up the possibility for greater character development for the other characters so it’s a mixed bag, but more good than bad after reading Full Circle. I also would like to see more done with Sisko in the DS9-R.
4. Though I was initially skeptical about bringing the Borg back, I’m glad that the TNG-R took them on and then definitively got rid of them. I think a big, bold story was necessary to really capture the terrifying scope of a full on Borg invasion. I’m looking forward to the Typhon Pact as well. It’s an idea that makes so much sense that I’m surprised no one really thought of it before. Whenever the Ascendant storyline gets going in the DS9-R it will be a good thing.
5. As I said previously, didn’t care for the MU storyline in DS9-R. I also don’t care for much of the new crew in the TNG-R. Kadohata bores me to tears. I’m probably the only person alive that liked T’Lana and was disappointed when DM killed her off. Overall, I think the VOY-R and the DS9-R created better characters, or reused older characters in a better, more organic way.
6. I think all of the series have gotten an appropriate amount of attention. Even though there was a significant gap in the VOY-R, Tuvok was on Titan, Janeway and Seven played roles in the TNG-R, and Voyager returned for the Destiny trilogy.
7. I think the Sisko/Tzenkethi War Lost Era book has been shelved. I’ve been looking forward to reading that one for years. Hopefully they’ll get it back on track.
8. I would like to see more Lost Era books (I have the Bajoran Occupation trilogy, but I haven’t read those yet). For storylines, I can’t say for certain. On DS9, I wouldn’t mind seeing more about what’s going on with the Dominion, more post-war Cardassia. I like Voyager’s new mission so I’m looking forward to them revisiting some of the alien species, particularly the adversaries like the Voth, Swarm, and Vaadwaur that got short shrift during the show’s run. In addition, more Hirogen and Species 8472 wouldn’t hurt either. The Typhon Pact seems like a very promising storyline potentially for all of the 24th century series so I’m looking forward to that. I’m also looking forward to the Ascendant storyline.
Though you didn’t ask, I’m also enjoying the comics.
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I've been noticing this too and I too don't much care for it either.
Fearful Symmetry is most emphatically not about the MU. The MU plays a role in it, but that is very much not what the book's about. In fact, the MU is significantly less important in FS than it was in Warpath, which you liked.
Darkush, if you want more post-DW Cardassia, then you'll probably want to check out The Never Ending Sacrifice, although it actually begins in the second season of the series, and covers the rest of it up through Relaunch
I like that we are getting more DS9, but I want to see more of the main characters, not very small side characters. There is so much story for DS9 to tell without looking backwards! Come on!
What? Deep Space Nine had as well as the main cast, had shed loads of other minor characters populating the series which added to the greatness of the series and something I am in favour of in the books as well.
And who said anything about going backwards?
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