Star Trek Novels

[Banner]

Anybody want to recommend a good Star Trek author? I've read all of Peter David's books, but I'm looking for something else. I think it would be nice to get a good page turner in the Star Trek universe.

[Deathstroke]

I liked A.C. Crispin's Sarek novel.

And the Deep Space Nine novels that are set after the end of the series started off pretty good. The two Avatar novels are excellent. I can't remember who wrote it though.

[Michael P]

Probably one of the best Trek novels ever written was Federation by Judith and Garfield Reeves-Stevens.

[Solaris]

Favorites:

Spock's World, by Diane Duane---my favorite. Gives highlights of Vulcan evolution, on a backdrop of Vulcan's proposed secession from the Federation, and a modern day scandal.

Strangers from the Sky, by Margaret Wander Bonanno. Humans first met Vulcans long before the "official" meeting... and Kirk, Spock, Gary Mitchell and other crewmen were in the middle of it. One aspect I love about this book is that you learn about Amanda Grayson's grandfather... the woman who married Sarek, and was Spock's mother.

The latter book is out of print, but limited copies are available through Amazon, or your library *might* have a copy.

[Ilash]

I read them ages ago but I really liked William Shatner's Star Trek novels (well, the earlier ones anyway, I haven't bothered with the newer ones). Maybe it's just because I was quite a bit younger but I really liked Shatner's more epic, intrigue-filled take on the Trek universe and he did get the characters mostly right I think.

[Roquefort Raider]

I really enjoyed the adaptations of Star trek: the motion picture, the wrath of Khan and [the search for Spock[/i]. They were much richer than the movies (even though wrathwas an excellent movie). The latter two novels were written by Hugo award winning author Vonda McIntyre.

I agree with Solaris about Diane Duane's work; in fact, all of Duane's Romulan books were pretty decent. Not Hugo material, but good space opera.

[Rocket13]

I have read a bunch of the Star trek novels (only with the original crew and next generation though). Just finished reading Time for Yesterday by A. C. Crispin which was a sequel to another book, Yesterday's Son. I really enjoyed these two books. Have enjoyed most of the books in this series though, with only one or two of the books I read not being too interesting to me.

Another book in the Series that I really remember enjoying was Blackfire, by Sonni Cooper.

Happy Reading!

[Ryan K]

I remember really enjoying Diane Duane's Dark Mirror (The Next Generation).

Peter David's are the ones I like the most though.

[Headhunter]

I liked Invasion; it was a 4-part series, 1 for each TV show (this came out before Enterprise), and each part was done by a different author. Really well done (though the last volume was disappointing, which wasn't much of a surprise since it was Voyager).

There's a really cheap omnibus of it floating around, if you're interested.

[Michael P]

I read them ages ago but I really liked William Shatner's Star Trek novels (well, the earlier ones anyway, I haven't bothered with the newer ones). Maybe it's just because I was quite a bit younger but I really liked Shatner's more epic, intrigue-filled take on the Trek universe and he did get the characters mostly right I think.
Those were actually ghost-written by the Reeves-Stevenses.

[Tobias March]

I only ever read the Next Gen books when I was younger and to be honest the only ones I remember are the Peter David ones :confused:

I remember liking one by Michael Jan Friedman(?) a lot around that time as well though.....something to do with a maze and Riker looking to prove yet another old friend of his innocent.

There was another one featuring that civilization were the roman empire never ended. That was....different. (apparently phasers on stun don't affect Klingons).

[Typo Lad]

Those were actually ghost-written by the Reeves-Stevenses.

he best part is that thye now have bios in the book jackets. They just don't get to be on the cover.

[hitman]

And the Deep Space Nine novels that are set after the end of the series started off pretty good. The two Avatar novels are excellent. I can't remember who wrote it though.

S.D. Perry wrote them.

She also wrote two other books in the DS9 relaunch series, Rising Son & Unity.

[Slappy san]

S.D. Perry wrote them.

She also wrote two other books in the DS9 relaunch series, Rising Son & Unity.

I wish she had written all of the new DS9 books.

[Kirayoshi]

No votes yet for "Q Squared"? Brilliant confrontation between Q and Trelaine("The Squire of Gothos") by Peter David. Lots of alternate universe fun.

Not the best ever, but a lot of fun from a fanboy perspective; the two-part "Eugenics Wars: The Rise and Fall of Kahn Noonian Sighn" by Greg Cox. An ambitious effort to retro-fit the Eugenics wars into the modern Star Trek timeframe, by making them more of a covert war. Lots of easter eggs referring to past Treks(original, NG, DS9), plus Gary Seven in a prominent role.

"Prime Directive" by Judith and Garfield Reeves-Stevens. Great little conspiracy piece, in which Kirk's bending of the PD finally catches up with him.

And from DS9, "A Stitch in Time" by Andrew Robinson. Taken from a backstory Robinson created for Garak when he became a recurring cast-member. Garek reflects on his past as he prepares for his role in the restoration of Cardassia after its decimation during the Dominion Wars.

Oddest Trek novel recently; "The Case of the Colonist's Corpse". A locked-room mystery in space, featuring Kirk's lawyer Sam Cogsley from 'Court Martial'.

[Solaris]

I just remembered another one that was pretty neat: The Kobiyashi Maru. Don't remember the author. Kirk, Scotty, McCoy, Chekov, and Sulu are stranded in a shuttlecraft amid some weird gravitational fields that messed up their engines (and going to die if they can't get out). While they're trying to fix the problem, and trying to fix the equipment so they can send a signal to Spock of where they're at (so he can bring the Enterprise to the rescue), they end up talking about each of them's experience with the Kobiyashi Maru test. (Except for Bones, who was medical and didn't take it.) I think Sulu's was the sweetest, Chekov's the most surprising, Kirk's the most typical (of him, anyway), and Scotty's the most hilariously fun. It's worth reading for the story of Scotty alone. Damn he's good.





Not the best ever, but a lot of fun from a fanboy perspective; the two-part "Eugenics Wars: The Rise and Fall of Kahn Noonian Sighn" by Greg Cox. An ambitious effort to retro-fit the Eugenics wars into the modern Star Trek timeframe, by making them more of a covert war. Lots of easter eggs referring to past Treks(original, NG, DS9), plus Gary Seven in a prominent role.



I have to admit these two thoroughly rocked---not so much from a Star Trek viewpoint, but from reading a book by a culture-hound who LOVES putting in various references into the story. Finding them, and laughing over them, was the very best part. (Spoiler hint: he found a way to include the Bionic Woman in the story, as a tiny cameo... it just rocked, when you realize WHO she is!)

And not only that, but you get a lot of great info on Khan Noonian Singh and on Gary Seven, Roberta, and Isis. It's just a great couple of books, and well worth the read.

[Michael P]

No votes yet for "Q Squared"? Brilliant confrontation between Q and Trelaine("The Squire of Gothos") by Peter David. Lots of alternate universe fun.
What's really fun about that one is in one of the alternate universes, he practically bases the continuity around fanfic wish-fulfillment: Data's human, Geordi can see, Riker and Troi are together, Picard and Crusher are together, Wesley's dead, Worf was raised by Klingons, etc., etc., etc., and really, their lives are just as screwed up as they were in the "real" universe. I enjoyed that.

[Rabid Trekkie]

I haven't really read many Star Trek books but this one I did read Star Trek: Enterprise Log was really good. It isn't one complete story but a short story about every captain to command the Enterprise from the sailing ship during the war of American Independence to Picard. Diane Duane, Peter David, A.C. Crispin, and many others mentioned in this thread wrote stories for it.

[Darkwing42]

I've read quite a few, when I had to leave comics because it got too expensive I started reading the trek books. Peter David is the king when it comes to trek novels, but I also really liked Diane Carey. Micheal Jan Friedman has grown on me and his new Stargazer series is excellent, just read the TNG book The Valiant first. The two books that I liked the best were The Final Reflection (original series) by John M. Ford and Infiltrator (TNG) by W. R. Thompson. the irony about the first book is that it barely has anyone of the original crew in it, since it takes place 30 years in the past, but it is my vote for best Star Trek book.

[Roquefort Raider]

Are there any star trek novels placed after "Nemesis"?

And in the DS9 series, has Sisko's child been born yet?

I wonder when Paramount will allow the "return" of Data and Sisko... Probably when it's decided that there will never be another ST:TNG or DS9 production.

Cheers,

- Ben

[Darkwing42]

There's a book that will be out soon which will be about Captain Riker. I heard the book has sold out even before it's been released and it has become the first Trek novel to be reissued before it's release date. You can find out lots of stuff at the Psi Phi site. I don't have the link handy but Google will find it if you put in Psi Phi and Star Trek.

[Michael P]

There's a book that will be out soon which will be about Captain Riker. I heard the book has sold out even before it's been released and it has become the first Trek novel to be reissued before it's release date. You can find out lots of stuff at the Psi Phi site. I don't have the link handy but Google will find it if you put in Psi Phi and Star Trek.
It's out now, actually.

[Darkwing42]

I hadn't kept track of the date for it's release. Funny thing is, I went to the store today and bought it. I understand that two more are in the works for Captain Riker. There's also a Captain Pike book being finished up.

[Slappy san]

Are there any star trek novels placed after "Nemesis"?

And in the DS9 series, has Sisko's child been born yet?

- Ben

It's really sad but..it might have happened in Unity. I read it months ago and can't remember what the hell happened.

[ouiyahtsiouiyah]

Nemesis never happened GRRRR..... (unless they do find a way for Data to come back of course)

[Darkwing42]

I'm still waiting for Q to have rescued him.

[Michael P]

I hadn't kept track of the date for it's release. Funny thing is, I went to the store today and bought it. I understand that two more are in the works for Captain Riker. There's also a Captain Pike book being finished up.The two guys, I forget their names, are trying to make a series of it.

Riker will also get a slot in the upcoming Captain's Table anthology, which covers pretty much every character to land in the center chair in the last eight years or so.

[Gordon Smith]

It's out now, actually.

Yeah. I just noticed Titan: Taking Wing today, as a matter of fact. I ain't sure that I'll buy it, though. My local library is sure to have a few copies, so I'll likely just borrow it from there.

[Sanagi]

I remember liking the TNG novel "Vendetta." It delved into the Borg back around the time they were first introduced, rather differently from what Voyager and First Contact revealed. It also explains where the TOS "Doomsday Machine" came from.

[DoubleWide]

I'm reading and enjoying the Star Fleet Corps of Engineers Series, but not ebook style. I like the concept of a ship primarily of engineers going around Federation space making repairs and occasionally saving the planet. Book six "Wild Fire", the 'da Vinci' exploded. Can't wait for the next collected book.

[Emerald Ghost]

The best Trek books ever:

New Earth. Challenger.

Great stories of a colony trying to start new world waaaay far away so nobody can hurt them.

Oops, too late.

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World becomes radioactive. Warring worlds near them make it dangerous. They are almost killed totally several times.

They can not go home. Six months away from Fed at high warp. Even if could make it with very little food, they travel slower because very little ships.

I enjoyed this very much.

[Fenris]

The two books that I liked the best were The Final Reflection (original series) by John M. Ford and Infiltrator (TNG) by W. R. Thompson. the irony about the first book is that it barely has anyone of the original crew in it, since it takes place 30 years in the past, but it is my vote for best Star Trek book.

Yes! I loved The Final Reflection. Even though it's hardly a Star Trek novel at all. :) I wish they'd gone with Ford's version of the Klingons rather than Marc Okrand's.

John M. Ford also did How Much For Just the Planet?, probably the only novelized Star Trek musical comedy, which is also in my top ten.


Others:
The Wounded Sky, Diane Duane's first ST novel, is my favorite of all her efforts. The unabashed sense-of-wonder thing is in full flight.

Strangers From the Sky. What Solaris said.

Dreams of the Raven. A head injury gives Dr. McCoy a sort of limited amnesia; he doesn't remember anything past his 19th birthday. So from his point of view, he's a college med student; he has to try to make sense of what's happened in his life since then. (He doesn't like it at all.)

Uhura's Song; even though it features a race of talking felinoids. But the characterizations are excellent.

[Darkwing42]

I still have a lot to get to yet. About two years ago I bought my mom two Ann Crispin Trek novels, because she loved Sarek by Crispin. After that I bought many more Trek books and read 20 in the span of 6 months. For 9 months afterward though I couldn't seem to finish anything. Guess my mind needed a break. I loved The Wounded Sky also, Diane Duane is always putting out quality work.

[DoubleWide]

What did everyone think about Star Trek Destiny? A large part of The Federation, Klingon and Romulan empires were laid waste by The Borg, plus we get the beginnings and ultimately the ending of The Borg which, IMHO, was a log time in coming. For all the Katheryn Janeway haters out there, there was the added bonus of her death.

Now comes the rebuilding, the humanitarian efforts, the grief and general exhaustion before the next problem begins in 2010 with The Typhon Pact.

[Michael P]

What did everyone think about Star Trek Destiny? A large part of The Federation, Klingon and Romulan empires were laid waste by The Borg, plus we get the beginnings and ultimately the ending of The Borg which, IMHO, was a long time in coming. For all the Katheryn Janeway haters out there, there was the added bonus of her death.

Now comes the rebuilding, the humanitarian efforts, the grief and general exhaustion before the next problem begins in 2010 with The Typhon Pact.

Except Janeway died back in Before Dishonor. Although seeing the rest of the Voyager crew get the crap kicked out of them did give me a tingly, happy feeling.

[Athena Bast]

No votes yet for "Q Squared"? Brilliant confrontation between Q and Trelaine("The Squire of Gothos") by Peter David. Lots of alternate universe fun.

Not the best ever, but a lot of fun from a fanboy perspective; the two-part "Eugenics Wars: The Rise and Fall of Kahn Noonian Sighn" by Greg Cox. An ambitious effort to retro-fit the Eugenics wars into the modern Star Trek timeframe, by making them more of a covert war. Lots of easter eggs referring to past Treks(original, NG, DS9), plus Gary Seven in a prominent role.


Cox' Khan books are now a trilogy with the third book detailing Khan and his followers lives in exile on the planet. Pretty good.

I loved Q Squared too. It made my head hurt after a while keeping who's who straight.:smile:

[Roquefort Raider]

Except Janeway died back in Before Dishonor. Although seeing the rest of the Voyager crew get the crap kicked out of them did give me a tingly, happy feeling.

What? They actually killed a major character? That's pretty interesting. I didn't think it was allowed to change the status quo in any important way in the Trek novels.

Does it mean that more major developments could be possible? (In a sense I don't see why not, since Paramount can probably declare that anything it doesn't like isn't canon).

I would love to hear that Data is back, for example. The lame B4 subplot from Nemesis was like an unfulfilled promise of things to come.

[MNM]

What? They actually killed a major character? That's pretty interesting. I didn't think it was allowed to change the status quo in any important way in the Trek novels.

The status quo has been changed quite a lot in the last few couple of the books.

Just incase I shall leave spoiler space.

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Just a few:

Janeway is dead.
The Romulan empire has split into two seperate states.
The Borg invaded on mass, ie thousands of ships, destroyed lots of worlds, and killed "63 billion". The borg are also gone now.
A few nations, including one of the two Romulan states, the Breen, The Tholians, the Gorn, have formed the Typhon Pact, a political rival to the Federation.

[Roquefort Raider]

The status quo has been changed quite a lot in the last few couple of the books.

Just incase I shall leave spoiler space.

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Just a few:

Janeway is dead.
The Romulan empire has split into two seperate states.
The Borg invaded on mass, ie thousands of ships, destroyed lots of worlds, and killed "63 billion". The borg are also gone now.
A few nations, including one of the two Romulan states, the Breen, The Tholians, the Gorn, have formed the Typhon Pact, a political rival to the Federation.

Thanks for the tip, MNM.

IMO, though, Janeway's death is the only real change to the status quo in that list. The Borg have invaded plenty of times before (and have been "gone" in the past, only to come back later), the Romulans have had civil wars, many hostile people have formed alliances against the Federation, etc... But actually killing somebody? That's pretty big.

Has Ben Sisko done anything since he came back from wherever he went at the end of DS9?

[Michael P]

I would love to hear that Data is back, for example. The lame B4 subplot from Nemesis was like an unfulfilled promise of things to come.
Nothing on that front; they actually wrote him out of the TNG books. There was a brief mention of B4 being declared not the property of Starfleet, and Commander Maddox is apparently taking care of him, but that's it. He's still Rain Droid.

Oh, and Riker and Troi have a daughter now, and Picard & Dr. Crusher have a son on the way.

[MNM]

Thanks for the tip, MNM.

IMO, though, Janeway's death is the only real change to the status quo in that list. The Borg have invaded plenty of times before (and have been "gone" in the past, only to come back later), the Romulans have had civil wars, many hostile people have formed alliances against the Federation, etc... But actually killing somebody? That's pretty big.

Actually this is different. Every other time has been one or two cubes, this was thousands. They invaded with teh sole intent of exterminating the Federation. All of the ships went on to destory and leave completely uninhabitable, many, many planets, such as Deneva, Risa and others I forget the name of. Planets such as Kronos, Vulcan, and Andor all got hit and severly damaged. Plus the Borg are truely gone. They all got released from the collective and absorbed, willingly, into another civilisation (who helped Picard and co). This spanned the "Destiny" trilogy that came out at the end of last year.


Has Ben Sisko done anything since he came back from wherever he went at the end of DS9?

I havent read all of the DS9 relaunch books, but as far as I can tell he returns from being with the Prophets in "Unity" just in time for the birth of his child. He seems to have just hung around Bajor since, though he did seem to setting something up in the last DS9 book "Fearful Symmetry", which will most likely play out in the next one, "The Soul Key".

Oh, and aside from Janeway being dead, Riker and troi are having a child, Picard is married to Crusher and they are also having a child. Ezri Dax from the last season of DS9 is now a captain and in command of one of the most advanced ships in the fleet, the Aventine, which has slipstream drive and everything.

So there's definitely a lot of status quo changing going on. Which is good.

[Roquefort Raider]

Actually this is different. Every other time has been one or two cubes, this was thousands. They invaded with teh sole intent of exterminating the Federation. All of the ships went on to destory and leave completely uninhabitable, many, many planets, such as Deneva, Risa and others I forget the name of. Planets such as Kronos, Vulcan, and Andor all got hit and severly damaged. Plus the Borg are truely gone. They all got released from the collective and absorbed, willingly, into another civilisation (who helped Picard and co). This spanned the "Destiny" trilogy that came out at the end of last year.


Oh, and aside from Janeway being dead, Riker and troi are having a child, Picard is married to Crusher and they are also having a child. Ezri Dax from the last season of DS9 is now a captain and in command of one of the most advanced ships in the fleet, the Aventine, which has slipstream drive and everything.

So there's definitely a lot of status quo changing going on. Which is good.

Well, that sounds pretty interesting. What you and Michael P said about Picard and Crusher having a kid is also pretty much in the "real change in the status quo" category. I may just have to resume reading ST novels, now!

[Deathstroke]

If I recall correctly, Janeway was both dead and Q-ized...

[Michael P]

If I recall correctly, Janeway was both dead and Q-ized...

I took it as Q ushering her into the afterlife, which is apparently really cool no matter who you are.

[ChrisIII]

Regarding Data apparentally he's back in the prequel comics to the new movie, although in the body of B-4

[Rabid Trekkie]

Well, that sounds pretty interesting. What you and Michael P said about Picard and Crusher having a kid is also pretty much in the "real change in the status quo" category. I may just have to resume reading ST novels, now!

This group of authors that they have right now are doing pretty great work. DeCandidio, Mack, Bennett, Martin and Mangels are the main authors with some other authors coming in now and again. I even have hope for the new Voyager series they have coming out. It seems that with the focus of the franchise going with Kirk and Co. again, the authors have more freedom to do things they couldn't have before.

And Destiny really is a great trilogy. We find out the beginnings and endings of the Borg, a dream come true for Riker and Troi, Picard dealing with his demons, and most of all the hope that is central to Star Trek and something I think we could use more of right now.

I can't wait till the end of March when I'll finally get the Trek books I ordered. Barnes and Noble's website decided to ship them all at once instead of one at a time so I'm having to wait on everything.

[Justin D.]

Probably one of the best Trek novels ever written was Federation by Judith and Garfield Reeves-Stevens.

It is a really good book.


I really enjoyed the adaptations of Star trek: the motion picture, the wrath of Khan and [the search for Spock[/i]. They were much richer than the movies (even though wrathwas an excellent movie). The latter two novels were written by Hugo award winning author Vonda McIntyre.

I agree with Solaris about Diane Duane's work; in fact, all of Duane's Romulan books were pretty decent. Not Hugo material, but good space opera.


I remember really enjoying Diane Duane's Dark Mirror (The Next Generation).

Peter David's are the ones I like the most though.

I third Diane Duane's work. However, since I only read Trek books that involve TNG, I can only recommend Dark Mirror. I do highly recommend it though.


Yeah. I just noticed Titan: Taking Wing today, as a matter of fact. I ain't sure that I'll buy it, though. My local library is sure to have a few copies, so I'll likely just borrow it from there.

I've had that sitting on my bookshelf for a long time. For some reason, I haven't gotten around to reading it. Any good?


Nothing on that front; they actually wrote him out of the TNG books. There was a brief mention of B4 being declared not the property of Starfleet, and Commander Maddox is apparently taking care of him, but that's it. He's still Rain Droid.

Oh, and Riker and Troi have a daughter now, and Picard & Dr. Crusher have a son on the way.

What?! That's definitely something I didn't know. Did all that happen in the A Time to . . . books? I haven't read any books about the TNG crew that takes place after, or just before in the case of the A Time To . . ., Nemesis.

What are good Trek books that take place after Nemesis?

[Michael P]

I've had that sitting on my bookshelf for a long time. For some reason, I haven't gotten around to reading it. Any good?

The first two are all right, but skippable. The Titan series really takes off with the two books by Christopher L. Bennett (with a rather tepid installment between them that's notable largely for the included ship schematics).


What?! That's definitely something I didn't know. Did all that happen in the A Time to . . . books?

No, post.


I haven't read any books about the TNG crew that takes place after, or just before in the case of the A Time To . . ., Nemesis.

What are good Trek books that take place after Nemesis?

Well, this is me being purely subjective, but I would say Keith DeCandido's Q&A, Peter David's Before Dishonor, Christopher Bennett's Greater Than The Sum (in spite of the overlarge presence of a rather annoying original character), and the two aforementioned Titan books. There's also David Mack's Star Trek: Destiny trilogy, which hopefully provides a final wrap-up to the Borg thing, but I didn't feel that as much..

[Typo Lad]

Destiny was fun, but was kind of "meh" in how it resolves the Borg.

Which may just be a holdover of my really wanting the Borg to be an evolved V'ger, or at least the race that made it.

[Michael P]

Destiny was fun, but was kind of "meh" in how it resolves the Borg.

Which may just be a holdover of my really wanting the Borg to be an evolved V'ger, or at least the race that made it.

You must have loved The Return.

[Typo Lad]

You must have loved The Return.
As much as one can love a Shatner-verse novel, yes.

I read it on an international flight, and turned to my brother to say "The Reeves-Stevenses agree with you."

[Deathstroke]

I finished reading the new Star Trek Titan novel Over A Torrent Sea yesterday.

Decent book.

It does seem to me that the renewed focus on providing continuity based books is paying dividends. I've been reading the after series books and enjoying the hell out of them.

[Roquefort Raider]

Which may just be a holdover of my really wanting the Borg to be an evolved V'ger, or at least the race that made it.

The connection between V'ger and the Borg was fun. I didn't care as much for the one between the Borg and the probe from The voyage home.

I dug up my old cassettes this week and watched "Q-Who" and "Best of both worlds" again. Seeing what cool villains the Borg were at the time (impersonal, efficient, of unknown origin), I regretted the way the concept had later been mishandled.

The entire "Borg queen" stuff from First contact was a real let-down. The movie may have been fun in and of itself, but turning the Borg into a techo version of Aliens was not particularly original. Adding a central authority figure like the queen was also a very standard way to focus the dramatic conflict around one character, and reduced the Borg to just another bunch of funnily-dressed guys obeying an evil master. I much preferred the disembodied collective they were first introduced as, the ultimate consumers.

The few Borg episodes from Voyager that I watched were cringe-worthy. Gone were the days where a single Borg ship could bring the entire federation down.

I've begun reading David Mack's Destiny trilogy, on the recommendation of a few posters here. It's too bad Mack has to take into account the superfluous aspect of Borg lore that were added over the years, but so far it's pretty good stuff. (I hate the concept of weapons from the future being used by the Enterprise, though. I'm not surprised that it's a Voyager concept either).

[Rev. Calibos]

I really enjoyed Kahless by Michael Friedman.

It delves into Klingon history and culture by examining the legend of Kahless and the facts behind the myths. It's intertwined with a present day story of political intrigue as the clone of Kahless, now head of the Klingon Empire, must call upon Captain Picard and Worf to assist him to defend the Empire from a threat from the past.


I like the mainstream Star Trek novels but to be perfectly honest I prefer these glimpses into the alien characters and cultures of Star Trek that we don't get to see in nearly enough detail in the shows or films.

[Rabid Trekkie]

I really enjoyed Kahless by Michael Friedman.

It delves into Klingon history and culture by examining the legend of Kahless and the facts behind the myths. It's intertwined with a present day story of political intrigue as the clone of Kahless, now head of the Klingon Empire, must call upon Captain Picard and Worf to assist him to defend the Empire from a threat from the past.


I like the mainstream Star Trek novels but to be perfectly honest I prefer these glimpses into the alien characters and cultures of Star Trek that we don't get to see in nearly enough detail in the shows or films.

I don't know if you've read them but may I humbly suggest that if you like these glimpses into other cultures, you'll really enjoy the following books:

The Left Hand of Destiny by J.G. Hertzler and Jeffrey Lang: You'll probably have to hit up a couple used book stores to find these but they're definately worth it. A collaboration between Trek author Lang and General Martok himself, it really delves into the past of the Klingons.

I.K.S. Gorkon/Klingon Empire series by Keith R. A. DeCandidio: An excellent series of Klingon only novels. Klingon adventure and culture and fun characters that I liked as soon as I met them.

A Stitch in Time by Andrew Robinson: The Life and Times of Elim Garak. That and the fact that it's probably the greatest Trek novel out there (and a good sci-fi novel in its own right) are all you need to know in order to find a copy of this book somewhere and buy it quick.

[rick]

And the Deep Space Nine novels that are set after the end of the series started off pretty good. The two Avatar novels are excellent. I can't remember who wrote it though.


Ack!!!!

I hate to say it, but personally I loathe the DS9 novels that take place after the end of the series.

All of them are dominated by the truly revolting character of Elias Vaughn, about as close to the perfect example of a Mary Sue that you are ever going to run across.

Just an awful character who brings down the level of every story he appears in.

Also as much as I love Peter David's Star Trek novels that take place in the "real" Trekverse, I just have not enjoyed a single one of his Star Trek: New Frontier books.

His hero, the swrod fighting alien whose name translates ioto Mackenzie Calhoun, is another one of those who gives a fuck characters that just are so overdone to be unreadable.

Still to give David his due, he wrote my two favorite of all the Star Trek novels, Vendetta and Imzadi, both of which I can't recommend enough.

[Roquefort Raider]

His hero, the swrod fighting alien whose name translates ioto Mackenzie Calhoun, is another one of those who gives a fuck characters that just are so overdone to be unreadable.

I wonder if David Mack didn't have fun at Peter David's expense regarding the Calhoun character. In Gods of night, as the Borg are ripping the Federation a new one, we learn off-handedly that Calhoun's little ship just managed to destroy a Borg cube single-handedly. Picard isn't even interested in learning how he did it, because he's used to miracles from that guy.

[Typo Lad]

I wonder if David Mack didn't have fun at Peter David's expense regarding the Calhoun character. In Gods of night, as the Borg are ripping the Federation a new one, we learn off-handedly that Calhoun's little ship just managed to destroy a Borg cube single-handedly. Picard isn't even interested in learning how he did it, because he's used to miracles from that guy.
I quite enjoyed that moment.

I like the NF books despite Calhoun.

[Chris N]

Still to give David his due, he wrote my two favorite of all the Star Trek novels, Vendetta and Imzadi, both of which I can't recommend enough.

I loved both of those, as well as Q-in-Law (which I found to be hysterical) and Q-Squared

[Rabid Trekkie]

Also as much as I love Peter David's Star Trek novels that take place in the "real" Trekverse, I just have not enjoyed a single one of his Star Trek: New Frontier books.

His hero, the swrod fighting alien whose name translates ioto Mackenzie Calhoun, is another one of those who gives a fuck characters that just are so overdone to be unreadable.

Still to give David his due, he wrote my two favorite of all the Star Trek novels, Vendetta and Imzadi, both of which I can't recommend enough.

I actually really love the New Frontier series. It's just a crazy space adventure that expands on some of the crazier ideas from TOS. Some of the jokes can get repetitive and I don't think every idea has been a winner, but overall its the most consistantly good (considering the number of books in the series) of the Trek series that I've read.

But I get that it might not be for everyone.

[Justin D.]

No, post.

When did that stuff happen then? In this next group of books you mention?


Well, this is me being purely subjective, but I would say Keith DeCandido's Q&A, Peter David's Before Dishonor, Christopher Bennett's Greater Than The Sum (in spite of the overlarge presence of a rather annoying original character), and the two aforementioned Titan books. There's also David Mack's Star Trek: Destiny trilogy, which hopefully provides a final wrap-up to the Borg thing, but I didn't feel that as much..

All TNG books there?

[Rabid Trekkie]

All TNG books there?

Q&A, Before Dishonor, and Greater Than the Sum are all TNG books and really good to great. However, I emplore you, never pick up the book Resistance which starts off the TNG relaunch. I almost gave up on the whole line when I picked up that book.

The Titan books take place in the same time period, but onboard the U.S.S. Titan. Riker and Troi and Nurse Ogawa are the TNG alums onboard that ship, though they give a home to a Voyager character in book 2. If you remember in Nemesis, Riker is supposed to be getting his own command, so that's what this series covers.

And Star Trek Destiny is a massive crossover. You get a story about a crew from the Enterprise era as well as Picard, Riker, and Dax to stop the massive Borg invasion. It also features cameos of crew from Voyager and DS9, as well as book only series such as New Frontier, IKS Gorkon/Klingon Empire, the stand alone novel Articles of the Federation, Star Trek Corps of Engineers and even a passing reference to the Vanguard series from the TOS era. It really was almost everything I wanted in a Trek crossover.

[MNM]

However, I emplore you, never pick up the book Resistance which starts off the TNG relaunch. I almost gave up on the whole line when I picked up that book.

Death In Winter actually starts off the TNG relaunch. Resistance comes after that.

[Rabid Trekkie]

Death In Winter actually starts off the TNG relaunch. Resistance comes after that.

Really? I remember reading in a Star Trek magazine where the editor said that Resistance was the beginning of the relaunch with Death in Winter being before it. Rather like how A Stitch in Time took place after DS9 but before the relaunch books.

Doesn't really matter though, the point is to stay away from Resistance. If I was a bit more conceited I'd say the author got a hold of a Trek story I wrote in the third grade and made it into a novel. It's just bad.

[MNM]

Really? I remember reading in a Star Trek magazine where the editor said that Resistance was the beginning of the relaunch with Death in Winter being before it. Rather like how A Stitch in Time took place after DS9 but before the relaunch books.

It's the first TNG book set after Nemesis. I always assumed it was the first of the relaunchs but I suppose technically it may not be considered as such.

[Michael P]

Really? I remember reading in a Star Trek magazine where the editor said that Resistance was the beginning of the relaunch with Death in Winter being before it. Rather like how A Stitch in Time took place after DS9 but before the relaunch books.

Doesn't really matter though, the point is to stay away from Resistance. If I was a bit more conceited I'd say the author got a hold of a Trek story I wrote in the third grade and made it into a novel. It's just bad.
Were you happy when the star-crossed lovers died? I was.

[Roquefort Raider]

Just finished the first part of David Mack's Destiny trilogy. It's good enough for me to want to read the other two. It's good to see the characters evolve a bit.

I was surprised to see Ezri Dax in command of a ship. I guess the past lives of the Dax symbiont allow her to skip steps in the progression of her career.

I was amused that Mack made one of the characters a compatriot of mine : the French swear words used by Thayer clearly mark her as coming from Quebec!

[dupersuper]

Peter David's my fave to, but I've also enjoyed Greg Cox, Diane Carey, John Ford, Michael Jan Friedman, and the Reeves-Stevenseses (both alone and with William Shatner).

[MNM]

I was surprised to see Ezri Dax in command of a ship. I guess the past lives of the Dax symbiont allow her to skip steps in the progression of her career.


Very mild spoiler warning........









As far as I can tell, the only part of her career progression she skipped was first officer. she was the Aventine's second office, and when the two people above her were killed by the borg, she took command, gaining a battlefield promotion to captain and due to the borg problem, this was ratified into an offical promotion to captain very quickly. None of which was shown in the book, just breifly reffered to as a past event early on in Destiny book 1.

[Roquefort Raider]

I've finished the Destiny trilogy and am very impressed by it! It wasn't only a good Star Trek story, it was an excellent SF novel, period!

Mack introduced many wonderful concepts, like that of a galaxy you can't see because all its stars are individually encompassed in Dyson spheres... woah!!! That's large-scale imagination!!!

The final resolution to the Borg plot was quite satisfying, and considering all the indignities that were heaped on them since Best of both worlds, that's quite a relief.

There were a few points I especially enjoyed: first and foremost, the idea that the first Borg was a woman from Québec. The brilliant irony here is that the main defining aspect of the Québecois identity is resistance to assimilation (assimilation to the widespread anglo-saxon culture prevalent in the rest of Canada and the US). In fact, when a Québec nationalists tries to insult a non-nationalist, he will accuse him of having chosen assimilation. Although not necessary to the understanding of the plot, this little cultural nugget was a nice easter egg.

Second, and this is just due to my biased view, was seeing the USS Voyager swatted away from the Borg's invasion fleet like a bothersome insect. I don't hold any particular hostility toward Voyager or its crew, but I was always irked by the way that TV show used the Borg to crank up its own relevance and belittle the Borg in the process. So... in this novel, when Voyager proved to be so small and unimportant that a cube didn't even bother to shoot at it (it was just rammed as it stood in the cube's way), I cheered!

On a more serious way, I wondered how much the final pages were inspired by the recent regime change in the US, what with the Federation president facing the outcome of a costly war, a devastated economy, and a long and hard struggle to rebuild everything... all in a spirit of hope, optimism, and dedication to peaceful development and exploration.

[felix77]

I could be wrong but...

Spoiler

I think B'Lanna Torress was killed in the Destiny Borg arc as well. I saw her name listed in one of the casualty lists in one of the post-Destiny books.

[Rabid Trekkie]

I've finished the Destiny trilogy and am very impressed by it! It wasn't only a good Star Trek story, it was an excellent SF novel, period!

Mack introduced many wonderful concepts, like that of a galaxy you can't see because all its stars are individually encompassed in Dyson spheres... woah!!! That's large-scale imagination!!!

The final resolution to the Borg plot was quite satisfying, and considering all the indignities that were heaped on them since Best of both worlds, that's quite a relief.

There were a few points I especially enjoyed: first and foremost, the idea that the first Borg was a woman from Québec. The brilliant irony here is that the main defining aspect of the Québecois identity is resistance to assimilation (assimilation to the widespread anglo-saxon culture prevalent in the rest of Canada and the US). In fact, when a Québec nationalists tries to insult a non-nationalist, he will accuse him of having chosen assimilation. Although not necessary to the understanding of the plot, this little cultural nugget was a nice easter egg.

Second, and this is just due to my biased view, was seeing the USS Voyager swatted away from the Borg's invasion fleet like a bothersome insect. I don't hold any particular hostility toward Voyager or its crew, but I was always irked by the way that TV show used the Borg to crank up its own relevance and belittle the Borg in the process. So... in this novel, when Voyager proved to be so small and unimportant that a cube didn't even bother to shoot at it (it was just rammed as it stood in the cube's way), I cheered!

On a more serious way, I wondered how much the final pages were inspired by the recent regime change in the US, what with the Federation president facing the outcome of a costly war, a devastated economy, and a long and hard struggle to rebuild everything... all in a spirit of hope, optimism, and dedication to peaceful development and exploration.

Glad you enjoyed it. Didn't know that about the Quebecois, that does make it a bit more interesting.

The end of Destiny took a little time for me to really get behind. After all the pain and hurting that the Borg put the Federation and it's allies through, I wanted the last glorious stand that would have the Federation bringing the Borg down with phasers and the whole nine yards. Then after thinking about it for a bit, Mack really went for the Star Trek ending, and as such shows the higher road that Roddenbarry really tried to get across in the tv series. Forgiveness and hope opposed to death and destruction, once I understood that I enjoyed the ending a lot more.

[Lester C.]

I stopped reading when I found out that none of the novels are cannon. None.

[Typo Lad]

I stopped reading when I found out that none of the novels are cannon. None.
That's the best damn part.

[Rabid Trekkie]

I stopped reading when I found out that none of the novels are cannon. None.

Why would that keep you from reading something you might enjoy?

[Roquefort Raider]

I stopped reading when I found out that none of the novels are cannon. None.

Well, yeah, that's true.

George Lucas once told Roy Thomas "the movies are gospel; the rest is gossip".

When it comes to Star Trek, I'm not even sure that the "movies are canon" rule applies! There certainly are many things in the several TV series and movies that blatantly contradict each other.

Still, as Rabid points out, why not enjoy these stories for what they are? Although most franchise novels (in my opinion) usually range from bad to merely adequate, some manage to be quite good and, from time to time, excellent.

It's true that the non-canonical status of the novels can lead to frustration if we read them all and insist on a tight continuity; I, for one, when I was an avid Star Trek reader during the 80s, was quite frustrated to see Diane Duane's complex Romulan society completely ignored by other writers. I'm sure that if I had been reading all the recent Trek novels, I may have suffered from too much Borg in too little time (Star Trek : SmorgasBorg?)

Still, having read only the Destiny trilogy that was recommended by many posters here, I enjoyed it for what it was : a fun science-fiction story that used the Star Trek universe as its canvas and that really moved the Trek mythos forward. Paramount is certainly extremely unlikely to take this story into consideration if and when it decides to return to the TNG universe in future movies or TV spinoffs, but that's OK... this story stands on its own, and I'd rather consider it canon than The final frontier or Nemesis.

Cheers!

- Ben

[Athena Bast]

I stopped reading when I found out that none of the novels are cannon. None.

But Q and Luaxanna get married in one!! Cannon or not that's a hell of an idea.

[Roquefort Raider]

I also can't wait for the non-canonical return of Data.

His death in Nemesis was very poorly justified, plotwise, and lamely carried out. His brain-damaged second "twin" B-4 also has no business in that story if not to serve as a way to bring Data back. The whole thing really smacked of unfinished business, but since there probably won't be any more TNG movies...

[Deathstroke]

Screw Paramount or whoever is in charge...I consider the after series novels canon.

[Typo Lad]

I also can't wait for the non-canonical return of Data.

Already done!

In the movie Prequel comics, we learn that Data's programing has succesfully taken root in "B4", and he is now captain of the Enterprise

[Michael P]

Already done!

In the movie Prequel comics, we learn that Data's programing has successfully taken root in "B4", and he is now captain of the Enterprise

That might not carry over to the books, though.

Also, I don't know if I'm all right with the idea of Data taking over B4's personality. After all Data went through to prove, to himself and others, that he had the right and the capability to grow beyond his programming, denying B4 that same opportunity just to have Data back doesn't feel right.

[Typo Lad]

I was hoping it would be a merge, but I hate B4 so much, from the basic concept to the annoying cutesy name, so I let it slide.

[Roquefort Raider]

I was hoping it would be a merge, but I hate B4 so much, from the basic concept to the annoying cutesy name, so I let it slide.

I'm no expert on B-4 but I was left with the impression that his positronic brain was a very low-end one, that his personality was almost non-existent, and that there was no way he could evolve and better himself the way Data once did.

Of course, since Starfleet does have the specs on Data's innards (it was mentioned in Insurrection, at least) a new brain could be built and Data's software could be downloaded in it. B-4 Would then have acted as a big data repository (no pun intended). Maybe he should have been called Floppy ! (Or Yu-Esbiki, which is more distinguished).

[Typo Lad]

Data put his memories in B-4 at the end of Nemisis. That's why it was whistling the same song as Data was in "Farpoint"

[Roquefort Raider]

Data put his memories in B-4 at the end of Nemisis. That's why it was whistling the same song as Data was in "Farpoint"

Yes, yes, I know that; but even with all of Data's memories, B-4 has no chance of becoming Data if he doesn't have the hardware to handle the software. My backup hard disk has all the bits present on my computer, but it can't do much of anything on its own (although it does whistle sometimes)!

Maybe it would be a good idea to download all that's in B-4's brain into Lore's head. I'm sure that's stashed away somewhere.

[Typo Lad]

Yes, yes, I know that; but even with all of Data's memories, B-4 has no chance of becoming Data if he doesn't have the hardware to handle the software. My backup hard disk has all the bits present on my computer, but it can't do much of anything on its own (although it does whistle sometimes)!

Actually, your backup HD is a bad example, as a backup drive can be popped into a computer and boom... bootable drive.

If the issue is B-4 having a simpler Positronic Matrix or somesuch, the actual brain, then that's a whole 'nother story. It would be like trying to run an OS that takes 4 gig on a machine with 1. You'd have to pare it down and you'd lose some functionality.


Maybe it would be a good idea to download all that's in B-4's brain into Lore's head. I'm sure that's stashed away somewhere.

Does Data have a spare head from that time-travel adventure?

[Roquefort Raider]

Actually, your backup HD is a bad example, as a backup drive can be popped into a computer and boom... bootable drive.

True, but you still need the computer... which in this case would be a positronic brain on par with Data's.

(I apologize if I sound like a dog who won't let go of a sock)!



If the issue is B-4 having a simpler Positronic Matrix or somesuch, the actual brain, then that's a whole 'nother story. It would be like trying to run an OS that takes 4 gig on a machine with 1. You'd have to pare it down and you'd lose some functionality.

I think that's exactly what is the case here.



Does Data have a spare head from that time-travel adventure?

It wasn't actually a spare, it was the same head all along. As I recall (and it's been a while) Data and his head were separated in the past, with the body going back to the 24th century via time-warp while the head took the slow road (one minute at a time), buried in California. While the two were eventually reunited, Data's head is therefore something like 400 years older than the rest of his body.

That was a good time-travel story, and not only because it had Mark Twain in it!

[Michael P]

Data put his memories in B-4 at the end of Nemisis. That's why it was whistling the same song as Data was in "Farpoint"

Except he wasn't. He was softly singing "Blue Skies," the same song Data sang earlier in the movie.

Data whistled "Pop Goes the Whistle" in Farpoint.

I will never again know the touch of a woman.

[Rabid Trekkie]

Except he wasn't. He was softly singing "Blue Skies," the same song Data sang earlier in the movie.

Data whistled "Pop Goes the Whistle" in Farpoint.

I will never again know the touch of a woman.

Actually its "Pop Goes the Weasel"

[Michael P]

Actually its "Pop Goes the Weasel"

I knew that.

[Deathstroke]

I'm reading that Mirror Universe anthology Shards and Shadows right now. I was originally going to just read the Peter David story but I've read 3 other ones as well and they are really good.

[Nate Grey]

Oh, and Riker and Troi have a daughter now, and Picard & Dr. Crusher have a son on the way.

What books were these mentioned in? And was it in Death and Winter where Picard and Crusher got together, or after that book?

The Destiny books sound awesome, I'll have to check them out.

Ezri as a captain doesn't seem right somehow, but...the context behind it seems sound. Look forward to reading about it.

Is Elias Vaughn dead?

And why has Sisko been so underused? Is he even still a captain?

[Nate Grey]

double post

[Crowforge]

Why couldn't they just dig up a pattern data left in a transporter buffer? I still say every character that's transported dies and a copy takes up where he left off...

[Roquefort Raider]

Why couldn't they just dig up a pattern data left in a transporter buffer? I still say every character that's transported dies and a copy takes up where he left off...

That's a pretty good question...

In fact, and despite what has been written in a few novels, each time a character is transported it could be argued that they are killed (reduced to energy) and that a copy is reassembled elsewhere.

[Michael P]

What books were these mentioned in? And was it in Death and Winter where Picard and Crusher got together, or after that book?

The Destiny books sound awesome, I'll have to check them out.

Riker and Troi's arduous road to parenthood was chronicled in the Titan books, and the Destiny series. Their daughter was born in the most recent Titan book, Over a Torrent Sea. For anyone who wants to know, her name is Tasha.

Picard and Crusher's choice to have children was covered in the TNG novel Greater than the Sum; the kid was conceived offscreen between then and Destiny.


Is Elias Vaughn dead?

And why has Sisko been so underused? Is he even still a captain?

I don't really follow the DS9 books, so I have no idea.

Oh, and apparently Countdown takes place several years after the point the books are currently at, so I guess it's up to Pocket to decide if they want to sync up with it when they get to that point.

[Deathstroke]

As far as I can remember Vaughn is alive.

I read the Mirror Universe anthology Shards and Shadows recently and really liked all but one of the stories in it.

Next up for me will be the Voyager novel Full Circle.

[Nate Grey]

Riker and Troi's arduous road to parenthood was chronicled in the Titan books, and the Destiny series. Their daughter was born in the most recent Titan book, Over a Torrent Sea. For anyone who wants to know, her name is Tasha.

Thanks, I might check that out. How are the Titan books? Its not trying to hard to be like TNG is it?

[Deathstroke]

Thanks, I might check that out. How are the Titan books? Its not trying to hard to be like TNG is it?

I've found the Titan books to be very good. I think only the second one took me a while to get into.

[Michael P]

Thanks, I might check that out. How are the Titan books? Its not trying to hard to be like TNG is it?

It's very much its own thing. They really take off with the third one, though.

[Deathstroke]

Does anyone have a site that shows the upcoming Star Trek novels to be released?

I tried Psi-Phi.org but that site is not updated or working it seems.

[dupersuper]

Does anyone have a site that shows the upcoming Star Trek novels to be released?

I tried Psi-Phi.org but that site is not updated or working it seems.

http://www.google.ca/search?hl=en&source=hp&q=upcoming+star+trek+novels&oq=upcoming+star+tr&aq=2&aqi=g10&aql=1&gs_sm=c&gs_upl=4017l9606l0l12260l16l16l0l1l1l1l340l2393l2-7.2l9l0

There's gotta' be something in there.

[Deathstroke]

http://www.google.ca/search?hl=en&source=hp&q=upcoming+star+trek+novels&oq=upcoming+star+tr&aq=2&aqi=g10&aql=1&gs_sm=c&gs_upl=4017l9606l0l12260l16l16l0l1l1l1l340l2393l2-7.2l9l0

There's gotta' be something in there.

Thanks for the help!

[darkkeeperjr]

The Price of the Phoenix by Myrna Culbreath and Sondra Marshak and fate of the phoenix are two of the best star trek books ever written.

[steve2275]

Does anyone have a site that shows the upcoming Star Trek novels to be released?

I tried Psi-Phi.org but that site is not updated or working it seems.http://memory-beta.wikia.com/wiki/New_and_Future_Releases

[Deathstroke]

http://memory-beta.wikia.com/wiki/New_and_Future_Releases

Thank you!

[Michael P]

Amazon also has listings up through August 2012.

[steve2275]

http://memory-beta.wikia.com/wiki/Star_Trek:_Chain_of_Destiny
looking forward to those

[Scurlogg_Hawkk]

I wonder what is better original stories with some of the tv shows crews or original stories with original characters ?

Any thoughts.

cheersss

[C. Earl]

It depends on how big of a Trekkie you are. There are those fans who only want to read stories featuring characters they know or like, while there are others who would like to go deeper into the Star Trek Universe and follow adventures with new characters never seen onscreen before.

The advantage of featuring TV show crews is the familiarity with the characters and their setting. The advantage of featuring never-before-seen crews is that anything can happen to them (it's not necessarily a given that all of them will survive a given adventure).

Any disadvantages once again depends on your level of Trekkiedom. There are those who have voiced displeasure at the route nearly all of the TV show novels have taken in recent years, while others don't like that some of the few slots for new TV shows novels each year are taken up by non-TV show novels (some may resent that there are no DS9 novels this year, but there were two novels based on Vanguard--a series or era they're not interested in--instead).

[Michael P]

It depends on how big of a Trekkie you are. There are those fans who only want to read stories featuring characters they know or like, while there are others who would like to go deeper into the Star Trek Universe and follow adventures with new characters never seen onscreen before.

The advantage of featuring TV show crews is the familiarity with the characters and their setting. The advantage of featuring never-before-seen crews is that anything can happen to them (it's not necessarily a given that all of them will survive a given adventure).

Any disadvantages once again depends on your level of Trekkiedom. There are those who have voiced displeasure at the route nearly all of the TV show novels have taken in recent years, while others don't like that some of the few slots for new TV shows novels each year are taken up by non-TV show novels (some may resent that there are no DS9 novels this year, but there were two novels based on Vanguard--a series or era they're not interested in--instead).

How do they survive.

[Scurlogg_Hawkk]

For me i am for both the original characters and the tv one

[ChrisIII]

I enjoyed Peter David's NEW FRONTIER novels, which is composed of new characters mixed in with some supporting ones from TNG (Selar, Shelby and Lefler) as well as the ocassional guest star appearence by Spock, Picard etc.


Also, anybody remember the old movie adaptation novels? Basically instead of just copying the script like a lot of novels do, they have whole chapters that flesh out some of the side characters and bits of the plot. (Although the movies are canon and the novelizations are not).


-TMP features some interesting background on the characters being morally evolved humans.

-TWOK features a lot of background on the Genesis team and also Joaquin having doubts about Khan's sanity.

-TSFS has an interesting romance between Saavik and David. Also how Uhura got from earth to Vulcan.

-TVH features some interesting changes to the film's comedy, such as the garbagemen at the beginning being aspiring novelists.

-FF has a ton of stuff on Sybok's background. Also we get to see the 'secret pain' of some more of the crew.

and TUC adds some more context to Kirk's Klingon hatred.


I haven't really read the TNG movie novels, although I believe Generations fleshes out more of the TOS part including the crew's reaction to Kirk's "Death". Not sure about the others, although I recall Nemesis mentioned Wesley was going to be on the crew of Riker's ship hence his being present at the wedding (The explanation given in the Time To...novels which bridge the film with Insurrection gives a better explanation)

[dupersuper]

and TUC adds some more context to Kirk's Klingon hatred.

What more context did we need?

[Michael P]

The novelization of Star Trek: Generations keeps the version of Kirk's death from the original script.

It's even worse than what made it to the finished film.

[Scurlogg_Hawkk]

I had like to see more diversity in the Star Trek novels not only tv show based ones but in original settings and characters too .Star Trek U. is very rich and deep one.

[ChrisIII]

The TUC novel had Carol badly injured in a Klingon raid. It's also implied that it's Kang's cloaked bird of prey which is responsible for it.

[dupersuper]

The TUC novel had Carol badly injured in a Klingon raid. It's also implied that it's Kang's cloaked bird of prey which is responsible for it.

That seems needless piling on: they'd already killed his son.