Trek book recommendations - best of the past 10 years?

[golakers]

Hello all, I used to frequent these forms often about 15-20 years ago. Glad to see them going strong.

Quick question. I've done much perusing, but am trying to determine what 2 or 3 Trek novels (regardless of series) are "must reads" from this past decade? It's been too long since I read a great Trek novel, but don't know where to start and my search attempts came up short. Thought it best to ask the forum given the great group, here.

I appreciate any recommendations on your favorites - great plot and characterization.

Thank you!

golakers

 

[tomswift2002]

That’s going to be little hard, since most of the 24th century books have been apart of an ongoing storyline that’s been going on since 1997 with the launch of “New Frontier” and the DS9 relaunch in 2001. “Star Trek Prometheus” trilogy is a good mini-series, as well as the “Prey” trilogy. Plus the Voyager relaunch books. Otherwise, the TOS books were mostly stand-alone, like Greg Cox’s “The Weight of the Worlds” (best cover art of the last 10 years) and “No Time Like The Past” (which is a crossover with Voyager—-that is Season 6 of Voyager not post-TV Voyager).

 

[dupersuper]

Limiting this to the past 10 years is a painful reminder of how far behind I am...

 

[Jinn]

If I have to chose three I'd say Voyager: Children of the Storm, Discovery: The Way to the Stars and Picard: The Last Best Hope. The latter two are standalone, but the first is part of the Beyer Voyager relaunch series.

 

[Smiley]

Watching the Clock by Christopher L. Bennett
The Eternal Tide by Kirsten Beyer
The Latter Fire by James Swallow

There are other great ones from the past decade, but the three I mentioned rise to the top for reasons of quality, impact, and/or unanswered questions about the Trek universe.

 

[Thrawn]

Lots of long ongoing story arcs over the last decade, but in terms of books I think work well on their own:

Children of the Storm by Kirsten Beyer (this is book 3 in a series of books relaunching Voyager's adventures; you'll need to go into it with an open mind that the current status quo is pretty different from what you might expect, but it's my favorite Trek story of the last 10 years and I think if you go in with that open mindset you'll love it)

The Captain's Oath by Christopher L. Bennett (Kirk before the Enterprise; totally amazing)

Anything by Una McCormack (every book of hers is a beautiful little tone poem / story arc / thematic tangle that works beautifully if you know any backstory or not; I especially recommend Enigma Tales or The Last Best Hope)

 

[Kilana2]

TOS - Cast No Shadow by James Swallow featuring Valeris.

TOS - Foul Deeds Will Rise, No Time Like the Past and Child of Two Worlds, by Greg Cox. TOS at its best. I could hardly put those books down and forgot certain things like to sleep or to eat on a regular basis.....

Section 31 - Disavowed and Control. Thriller - Excitement - David Mack. Same thing like with the Greg Cox novels. I desperately longed for a food replicator to skip cooking.

 

[8of5]

Also thinking about what's most accessible stand-alone...

My favourite recent book is Picard: Last Best Hope, by Una McCormack, which I found very powerful as analogy for several present day problems, and is also great backstory for the TV series that really enriches the viewing; especially for Raffi's history - I wrote an adoring review if you'd like more of my thoughts!

Basically anything by Una McCormack is gold, but most especially her Cardassian focused books. Top of those for me is The Never-Ending Sacrifice, a great stand-alone tracking the downfall of Cardassia.

Several of Christopher L. Bennett's books spring to mind. I really liked the world building of The Face of the Unknown, a TOS novel about the First Federation. The Buried Age fills in Picard's time between Stargazer and Enterprise-D and is a very enjoyable interstellar archaeological adventure. And Watching the Clock, which kicks off a Department of Temporal Investigations series, is a remarkable feat in making all Trek's time travel make sense!

Also a little timey-whimy, and delightfully different, is Dayton Ward's From History's Shadow, which makes sense of 20th century UFO paranoia in the Star Trek universe.

And my final suggestion is David Galanter's Discovery book Dead Endless, which manages to squeeze in a story for Doctor Culber in the time when he was dead! It also brings the Tardigrade to life quite unexpectedly, and puts a new twist on the spore drive/mycelial network I really enjoyed.

 

[Sci]

Of the ones I've read, I'd say the top are:

• Mirror Universe: Rise Like Lions by David Mack (2011)
• Typhon Pact: Plagues of Night by David R. George III (2012)
• Typhon Pact: Raise the Dawn by David R. George III (2012)
• Typhon Pact: Brinkmanship by Una McCormack (2012)
  
• The Fall: The Crimson Shadow by Una McCormack (2013)
• The Fall: A Ceremony of Losses by David Mack (2013)
• Section 31: Control by David Mack (2017)
• DS9: Enigma Tales by Una McCormack (2017)
• TNG: Collateral Damage by David Mack (2020)
• Picard: The Last Best Hope by Una McCormack (2020)

I'm only partway through Last Best Hope, so it may surprise me yet. But on balance, I'd say the best Trek novel (of the ones I've read) of the past ten years was The Crimson Shadow by McCormack. It's such a vivid picture of a society trying to become a democracy but standing on the brink of a fall back into fascism.

If I had to go for a top five, it would be:

1. The Crimson Shadow
2. Brinkmanship
3. Control
4. A Ceremony of Losses
5. Plagues of Night/Raise the Dawn (tie)

 

[Sci]

Also thinking about what's most accessible stand-alone...

Not to be too much of a pedantic killjoy, but The Never-Ending Sacrifice (2009) and The Buried Age (2007) are both more than 10 years old. The Buried Age will be old enough to get a learner's permit next year.

The Never-Ending Sacrifice also just might be the greatest Star Trek novel of the past 20 years, and possibly of all time.

 

[8of5]

Not to be too much of a pedantic killjoy, but The Never-Ending Sacrifice (2009) and The Buried Age (2007) are both more than 10 years old. The Buried Age will be old enough to get a learner's permit next year.

The Never-Ending Sacrifice also just might be the greatest Star Trek novel of the past 20 years, and possibly of all time.

Well OP mentioned not being active for 15-20 years, so figured that gave some leeway to mention some of my faves that don't quite make the 10 year bracket

 

[Kilana2]

The whole Mirror Universe saga was great, especially Rise Like Lions. Dead characters from the Prime Universe got to shine....

From History's Shadow and Elusive Salvation are also highly commendable. Especially for fans of Roberta Lincoln and Gary Seven or the DS9 episode Little Green Men.