I sit in front of my computer giving some thought to something about the Star Trek novels that has been seeded and grown in the back of my mind for some time now.
Having finished Brinkmanship recently, it sorta brought into focus what Ive been batting around.
Dont get me wrong, I am a fan of the interconnected ongoing storyline we've been given over the past handful of years, continuing the the Star Trek series.
However I share Picard and Ezri Dax's frustration in Brinkmanship.
There is this huge, political, war driven juggernaut set firmly on its path which a small part of me cant help but feel is taking the franchise away from its core.
Remember the feeling you shared with Picard at the end of Encounter at Farpoint, "Lets see whats out there."
Yes we have Titan, which while takes the crew to unknown space, is still tied to the storyline back home. Im about to start "Fallen Gods" and I wince a little because already before page 1 the reader is set up for "How does the Andorians leaving the Federation impact Riker and the crew"
The previous Titan novel was a Typhon Pact book with the Gorn, and while I enjoyed it, I was personally more excited about the new story ahead for Tuvok's character based on his experiences and their results/consequences to him.
I get it, I understand that a book with Picard, Sisko or Spock will sell off the shelf better than some guy in a Starfleet uniform but I really feel like we need a brand new crew, removed from the larger picture to provide all new stories. To boldy go where no one has gone before Seeking out new life and new civilizations.
Staying inverse, some of the plots and characters are becoming stale because its inevitable that there is a question as to what to do with them.
Geordi became Captain in "Indistinguishable From Magic" and then chose to step down because the Enterprise doesnt need 2 Captains in "Plagues of Night/Raise the Dawn" Thats a huge step forward and a giant fall back on your ass move.
Beverly is left furious with her part in Brinkmanship (as she should be) and personally even though it would suck a little, I really think the next move with her would be to say, "You know what, Im a mother to Rene now, living on the Enterprise in a hostile tense atmosphere created by the Typhon Pact situation all the while letting my personal career wilt and become stagnant is not the best thing for me." But therein lies the problem, because Picard is the Captain and nobody wants to see him settle down in France and make wine or even go to Earth as an Admiral. Their family scenario would have worked well in season 7 of the show on the Galaxy Class exploration ship Enterprise. So what to do with her, we already have the struggles of relationship with officers going on with Sisko and Kasidy so that doesnt need to be rehashed here and honestly wouldnt be as believable with Picard and Crusher as Sisko had specific reasons for his part in that story that from his perspective and plot points prior were justifiable.
I really dont know if the New Frontier series works anymore, PAD has a following that will buy and read his books and the series does have its fans (I enjoy it) but there is a disconnect between it and the others that just makes it feel like a square in a triangle hole. Because there is an underlying attempt to pull it into the overall story. So while New Frontier may not be the solution to what Im talking about (though Id like a closure novel at least) it does offer at least step in the direction I feel Star Trek needs to go.
I will gladly buy and read the Typhone Pact novels Im a fan of the characters and want to know what happens to them. I just think there is a lot more Star Trek can offer. I almost think the books need to make a jump and get a Next Generation treatment for them.
Having finished Brinkmanship recently, it sorta brought into focus what Ive been batting around.
Dont get me wrong, I am a fan of the interconnected ongoing storyline we've been given over the past handful of years, continuing the the Star Trek series.
However I share Picard and Ezri Dax's frustration in Brinkmanship.
There is this huge, political, war driven juggernaut set firmly on its path which a small part of me cant help but feel is taking the franchise away from its core.
Remember the feeling you shared with Picard at the end of Encounter at Farpoint, "Lets see whats out there."
Yes we have Titan, which while takes the crew to unknown space, is still tied to the storyline back home. Im about to start "Fallen Gods" and I wince a little because already before page 1 the reader is set up for "How does the Andorians leaving the Federation impact Riker and the crew"
The previous Titan novel was a Typhon Pact book with the Gorn, and while I enjoyed it, I was personally more excited about the new story ahead for Tuvok's character based on his experiences and their results/consequences to him.
I get it, I understand that a book with Picard, Sisko or Spock will sell off the shelf better than some guy in a Starfleet uniform but I really feel like we need a brand new crew, removed from the larger picture to provide all new stories. To boldy go where no one has gone before Seeking out new life and new civilizations.
Staying inverse, some of the plots and characters are becoming stale because its inevitable that there is a question as to what to do with them.
Geordi became Captain in "Indistinguishable From Magic" and then chose to step down because the Enterprise doesnt need 2 Captains in "Plagues of Night/Raise the Dawn" Thats a huge step forward and a giant fall back on your ass move.
Beverly is left furious with her part in Brinkmanship (as she should be) and personally even though it would suck a little, I really think the next move with her would be to say, "You know what, Im a mother to Rene now, living on the Enterprise in a hostile tense atmosphere created by the Typhon Pact situation all the while letting my personal career wilt and become stagnant is not the best thing for me." But therein lies the problem, because Picard is the Captain and nobody wants to see him settle down in France and make wine or even go to Earth as an Admiral. Their family scenario would have worked well in season 7 of the show on the Galaxy Class exploration ship Enterprise. So what to do with her, we already have the struggles of relationship with officers going on with Sisko and Kasidy so that doesnt need to be rehashed here and honestly wouldnt be as believable with Picard and Crusher as Sisko had specific reasons for his part in that story that from his perspective and plot points prior were justifiable.
I really dont know if the New Frontier series works anymore, PAD has a following that will buy and read his books and the series does have its fans (I enjoy it) but there is a disconnect between it and the others that just makes it feel like a square in a triangle hole. Because there is an underlying attempt to pull it into the overall story. So while New Frontier may not be the solution to what Im talking about (though Id like a closure novel at least) it does offer at least step in the direction I feel Star Trek needs to go.
I will gladly buy and read the Typhone Pact novels Im a fan of the characters and want to know what happens to them. I just think there is a lot more Star Trek can offer. I almost think the books need to make a jump and get a Next Generation treatment for them.
).
