Trek XI universe novels coming!

[Therin of Andor]

Would you say that ST EU has generally gone in the right direction? Is it character-oriented or does it get side-tracked with sci-fi and original characters?

Side-tracked with sci-fi?

The Pocket Books Star Trek novels have always excelled in their variety. Something for everyone. We've had strong character-based novels, others with solid world-building, science fiction premises, prequels and sequels to existing episodes and movies, novels that emulate a self-contained episode, and sweeping sagas stretching across several volumes. We've had musical comedy(!) and high tech and all-out war. We've had a mix of books grounded in reflecting an existing series, and others which have forged whole new series in novel form.

Countdown looks interesting to me, so I might check that out. What would be nice is if they delved into the Abramsverse group of alternate characters in their next projects.

IDW has announced two new tie-in mini-series: one on Nero's missing 25 years at the hands of the Klingons and one on Ambassador Spock.

 

[NileQT87]

"Sidetracked by sci-fi" meaning technobabble jargon and world-building. And from my experiences with SW EU, for example, it often is taken over by it at the expense of characters. Sure, you have to have some of it, but the plots should be made to serve the characters and their journeys, not the characters made to serve the plot. I've noticed that far too much in various EUs.

What ST XI got absolutely right was having the plot serve the core characters and about seeing what they go through because of it. ST movies focusing on the core friendships, plots made to serve character journeys and personal struggles are the ones that got it right. The shows, despite their episodic nature, at least have some core character focus with some semblance of a journey (though yes, the movies seemed to do the heavy-lifting when it comes to character journeys). What I've found EU books to lack is that sense of character journey. I'm sure some have attempted it, but too many focus on what cool big bad they can make or inserts of excessive original characters (many of which end up being Mary Sues). And the fans who like world-building are the people who love all the books/comics about minor characters (like random alien in the background or somebody who had one line), but I find there is nearly a problem of these sort of stories outnumbering ones with main character focus.

When I watch TOS (and I have seen a large chunk of it), I'm looking for the characters. Granted, it is a '60s show with an episodic reset button, but it's not the planet or alien of the week that holds my interest, but rather how it affects the lead characters. The best episodes are character-related. And in the other ones, it's the little character moments of bickering, friendship, etc...--the little character moments--that make the episode.

Unfortunately, I have little interest in stories about Nero with the Klingons. Seeing the deleted scenes on the DVD will be enough for me with him. The Spock Prime project sounds MUCH better.

 

[DiSiLLUSiON]

Would you say that ST EU has generally gone in the right direction? Is it character-oriented or does it get side-tracked with sci-fi and original characters?

What do you mean with 'EU'? I'm guessing it's not European Union...

 

[NileQT87]

EU = expanded universe (comics, tie-in novels, video games, etc...)

It's a term used for many fandoms. AU is another similar term (alternate universe).

 

[DiSiLLUSiON]

Thank you.

In that case, I think Star Trek fandom has gone into the right direction; mostly, it seems to continue where the series stopped.

 

[Therin of Andor]

"Sidetracked by sci-fi" meaning technobabble jargon and world-building. And from my experiences with SW EU, for example, it often is taken over by it at the expense of characters. Sure, you have to have some of it, but the plots should be made to serve the characters and their journeys, not the characters made to serve the plot. I've noticed that far too much in various EUs.

Well, "Expanded Universe" has not been a term commonly used with ST tie-ins.

What I've found EU books to lack is that sense of character journey. I'm sure some have attempted it, but too many focus on what cool big bad they can make or inserts of excessive original characters (many of which end up being Mary Sues).

Well, you obviously haven't read any ST novels in a long, long time.

And the fans who like world-building are the people who love all the books/comics about minor characters (like random alien in the background or somebody who had one line), but I find there is nearly a problem of these sort of stories outnumbering ones with main character focus.

Again, this doesn't really apply to ST novels. In general, the minor characters usually stay fairly minor. One exception is Peter David's "New Frontier", which takes several minor TNG characters (Shelby, Selar, Lefler, and later Arex and M'Ress of TAS) and puts them on a ship, USS Excalbur, captained by a feisty alien humanoid, Captain Calhoun. That series has been very popular, and was the first original-to-novels series.

I'd disagree that fans who like world-building necessarily also like the books about minor characters being thrust to the main focus.

When I watch TOS (and I have seen a large chunk of it), I'm looking for the characters. Granted, it is a '60s show with an episodic reset button, but it's not the planet or alien of the week that holds my interest, but rather how it affects the lead characters. The best episodes are character-related. And in the other ones, it's the little character moments of bickering, friendship, etc...--the little character moments--that make the episode.

Sound to me like you should try "Crucible: McCoy" by David R George III. It's a very meaty book and one thread follows McCoy on his journey in the past in "City on the Edge of Forever" - the McCoy who wasn't rescued by Kirk and Spock, because Edith Keeler wasn't killed in the street accident as history had determined. Lots of TOS-inspired character banter, and real growth.

 

[SeerSGB]

Seems like a long time to wait to get the novels out. Oh I understand the reasons, it just seems like poor marketing, IMO. Unless there's a sequel up and in production then is anyone going to really care?

Still, I might pick up a couple of them to check them out.

I doubt it - that's not the way the Trek universe works.

Well to be fair, that's not the way the original (prime, alpha, whatever you want to call it) works. We don't know if there really is going to be such as thing as "canon" with these new film series; at least in the way we define it now.

 

[Therin of Andor]

Unless there's a sequel up and in production then is anyone going to really care?

I would think the publicity machine on "What's the new sequel going to be like?" will be running hot by then.