TOS novel recommendations?

[ireactions]

I always assumed "Star Trek" was filled with bland characters reciting technobabble, roaming boring sets that looked like airport terminals, and made up of stories about as interesting as home videos of my parents doing their taxes. "The Next Generation" has a lot to answer for. However, in my teens, I discovered that the original "Star Trek" series was actually a daring, exciting, punchy, dramatic series filled with social commentary, a striking cast in Kirk, Spock and McCoy, and a terrific sense of humour. However, I haven't really read many of the novels in this range. My "Trek" reading has been confined to the William Shatner/Garfield & Judith Reeves-Stevens novels. Most have been great, and I've also enjoyed "Vulcan's Forge", but I'm really hungry for more TOS novels. I have an obsessive friend who has pretty much every "Trek" novel ever published, and he's willing to loan me whatever I want, but it's hard to choose.

I like the Shatnerverse. I've adored the "New Frontier" series. I've liked how the "Enterprise" novels have really made a meal out of the mess that was the TV series. I'm looking for TOS novels that are as good. I don't need all the "Trek" novels I read to be epics, but at the same time, I don't want to struggle through ten volumes of generic adventures where Kirk, Spock and McCoy encounter an alien planet, deal with the crisis and push off to the next adventure. I figure, what with all the "Trek" books having been out for awhile, maybe the avid readers on this forum know what stands out and what fades into the ether of bland media tie-in fiction.

So, for someone fairly new to Trek-Lit and looking for good TOS titles, what would you recommend?

- Ibrahim Ng

 

[Claudia]

If you've already enjoyed "Vulcan's Forge", try "Vulcan's Heart" and the "Vulcan's Soul"-trilogy by the same authors.

My favourite Trek book is Crucible: McCoy by David George III, but this approaches "epic"... *g* The other 2 Crucible-novels are good and moving as well, but this one's just outstanding.

Episode-tie ins are the 2 Yesterday-books "Yesterday's Son" and "Time for Yesterday" by A.C. Crispin (I'd also recommend her "Sarek"), and the "My Brother's Keeper"-trilogy by Michael Jan Friedman.

If you're familiar with the movies and Saavik, then I recommend "The Pandora Principle" by Carolyn Clowes. More "episode-like", but nonetheless very enjoyable, are "The Entropy-Effect" by Vonda N. McIntyre (her novelizations of movies 2, 3 and 4 = the omnibus "Duty, Honor and Redemption" should also be on your reading list) and "Ishmael" by Barbara Hambly.

I hope that helps.

 

[KRAD]

I'd strongly recommend the anniversary anthology Constellations, which has some excellent five-year-mission stories, culminating in "Make-Believe" by Allyn Gibson, which is one of the finest Star Trek stories ever written.

 

[BaloksPuppet]

Based on what you've liked so far, I'd recommend Prime Directive and Strangers from the Sky most highly. But there are a ton of really great TOS books. Here's my short list of favorites that I think would appeal to you:

• The Entropy Effect
• Yesterday's Son
• The Wounded Sky
• The Final Reflection
• Uhura's Song
• Ishmael
• Enterprise: The First Adventure
• Strangers from the Sky
• Prime Directive
• The Great Starship Race
• First Frontier
• The Eugenics Wars, pts. 1 & 2
• To Reign in Hell
• Burning Dreams
• Provenance of Shadows

There are many, many other great ones out there, and my list includes a couple of "oddball" titles that might not appear on other people's lists, but these are all titles I'd happily recommend to anyone who loves TOS.

Enjoy!

 

[ryan123450]

Burning Dreams is the best TOS novel that I've read, and I would definitly recommend it. Definitly not an alien of the week type thing.

 

[JD]

Just so you know, the Eugenics Wars books, mostly focus on Kahn's life during The Eugenics Wars, so I don't think there is much of the actual TOS characters in it. I know it does have a framing story with the TOS characters, but I haven't read the books myself, so I don't know how much of a role they play in the books. Same goes for To Reign in Hell, which follows Kahn and his followers after Space Seed.

 

[OmahaStar]

Jean Lorrah - Vulcan Academy Murders and IDIC Epidemic
MWB - Any, but especially Burning Dreams
A. C. Crispin - all of her TOS books. And only her TOS books.
Any and all by Howard Weinstein, Michael Jan Friedman, and Peter David.

 

[JAG]

Jean Lorrah - Vulcan Academy Murders and IDIC Epidemic

These are 2 of my favorite books along with Uhura's Song

 

[Nerys Ghemor]

What I always recommend to anyone looking for TOS novels: The Wounded Sky, by Diane Duane.

 

[Claudia]

I'd strongly recommend the anniversary anthology Constellations, which has some excellent five-year-mission stories, culminating in "Make-Believe" by Allyn Gibson, which is one of the finest Star Trek stories ever written.

I have had that anthology sitting on my shelf since it first came out, never even opening it. Until your posting, KRAD.

"Make-Believe" surely is one of most profound tales I've read in quite some time, emotional, thought-provoking... it's one of those stories that you don't just put aside after reading it, but that stays with you for a long time.

 

[KRAD]

^ *bows* Glad to be of service. Allyn hit it out of the park with that one. In fact, he hit it onto Waveland Avenue....

 

[RandyS]

Burning Dreams is the best TOS novel that I've read, and I would definitly recommend it. Definitly not an alien of the week type thing.

Yeah, that's one of my favorites too. The Crucible trilogy is another. Volume one, which centers on McCoy is the best of the three, but they were all good.

 

[arch101]

Read anything by Christopher L. Bennett - you won't be disappointed. Especially Ex Machina and The Buried Age (which is TNG but you should broaden your horizons if you find a good author).

 

[Geoff Thorne]

I always assumed "Star Trek" was filled with bland characters reciting technobabble, roaming boring sets that looked like airport terminals, and made up of stories about as interesting as home videos of my parents doing their taxes. "The Next Generation" has a lot to answer for. However, in my teens, I discovered that the original "Star Trek" series was actually a daring, exciting, punchy, dramatic series filled with social commentary, a striking cast in Kirk, Spock and McCoy, and a terrific sense of humour. However, I haven't really read many of the novels in this range. My "Trek" reading has been confined to the William Shatner/Garfield & Judith Reeves-Stevens novels. Most have been great, and I've also enjoyed "Vulcan's Forge", but I'm really hungry for more TOS novels. I have an obsessive friend who has pretty much every "Trek" novel ever published, and he's willing to loan me whatever I want, but it's hard to choose.

I like the Shatnerverse. I've adored the "New Frontier" series. I've liked how the "Enterprise" novels have really made a meal out of the mess that was the TV series. I'm looking for TOS novels that are as good. I don't need all the "Trek" novels I read to be epics, but at the same time, I don't want to struggle through ten volumes of generic adventures where Kirk, Spock and McCoy encounter an alien planet, deal with the crisis and push off to the next adventure. I figure, what with all the "Trek" books having been out for awhile, maybe the avid readers on this forum know what stands out and what fades into the ether of bland media tie-in fiction.

So, for someone fairly new to Trek-Lit and looking for good TOS titles, what would you recommend?

- Ibrahim Ng

May I present, for your consideration, the TITAN and VANGUARD series'.

You won't be disappointed.

 

[Rush Limborg]

If you like dark thriller-mysteries, with the heroes being forced to hit bottom, and work their way back up, you will LOVE Prime Directive!

I also recommend:

Ex Machina (Excellent read, which pulls no punches!)

The Captain's Daughter (Captain Sulu story. Good, fun, and an excellent character peice!))

The Great Starship Race (Good fun tale, where Star Trek meets NASCAR!)

Just to name a few....

 

[Starbreaker]

My Enemy, My Ally by Diane Duane... still my favorite TOS book.

 

[Reanok]

Diane Duane's Romulan series My Enemy My ally,The Romulan way,Sword Hunt,Honor Blade, The Empty Chair. The Rihannsu saga series can be found collected in a big Trade paperbacksAll the other Tos books recommended are really good too.

 

[Rush Limborg]

Ah, yes...the Rihannsu saga.

Perhaps the BEST Star Trek miniseries I have EVER read! And...that's sayin' a lot.

This saga is Diane Duane's masterpeice, without a doubt!

By the way...I seem to recall that, in that one Voyager Q episode, Q noted that he had tried to flirt with a Romulan empress once. Hmm...looks like it was either "The Ruling Queen" or Ael....

 

[Sci]

Spock's World remains my favorite Star Trek novel of all time. The story of Vulcan's entire history is amazing, especially the chapter on Surak (even if parts of it were seemingly contradicted by ENT).

 

[Rush Limborg]

Spock's World remains my favorite Star Trek novel of all time. The story of Vulcan's entire history is amazing, especially the chapter on Surak (even if parts of it were seemingly contradicted by ENT).

Hmm...didn't Judy, Gar, and Manny say something about using Spock's World for reference when writing the 4th-season Vulcan eps?