Star Trek discussion

Looks like things are pretty quiet around here lately, so as the new member, I thought I'd ask the most popular question on Goodreads.

What Trek book are you reading now?

I'm reading 'The Disinherited'. An original series numbered book #59. I think it's really really good so far. But then, Peter David rarely disappoints me when he writes Star Trek tie-in novels.

It doesn't hurt that Uhura figures prominantly in this one. I like that. So does Chekov. This one seems to take place early in Chekov's Enterprise career and he's full of angst about his abilities. I like hearing his mind's voice and his fears of inadequacy. Makes his character seem fuller.

Anybody else got something good going on the fire?

NOt just this instant, Leslie, But an early Star Trek well worth hunting for is " Uhura's Song" by Janet Kagan.

If you are a Uhura fan, it is a MUST-- Chekhov has a good part in it also.

I'm not reading any at the moment (though I have a couple on my shelf waiting for their turn: Star Trek: Troublesome Minds and Vulcan's Glory). I recently finished two I really enjoyed, though: Burning Dreams by Margaret Wander Bonanno and Excelsior: Forged in Fire by Michael A. Martin and Andy Mangels.

I'd give both a solid four, four and a half stars. Burning Dreams covers Pike's backstory and is a fitting ode to a great, but often neglected character (now we just need more April). Forged in Fire, as the title suggests, is a movie-era story set mostly on the Excelsior, but also featured were Curzon Dax and everyone's favorite Klingons, Kor, Kang, and Koloth in the backstory to "Blood Oath" (so, in other words, the perfect book for a TOS movie/DS9 fan like me). It was satisfyingly geeky in its many, many references and I especially liked it as a fan of the Lost Era Sulu/Excelsior book The Sundered by the same authors, which was set a little later with Sulu and Chekov as CO and XO on the Excelsior (Forged in Fire covers Sulu's early days as XO). I recommend any of the books in that series, too.

And I am all in favor of more Uhura and Chekov, so I'd like to read those books you both mention.

Oh, and welcome to the group, Leslie!

Mary JL wrote: "NOt just this instant, Leslie, But an early Star Trek well worth hunting for is " Uhura's Song" by Janet Kagan.

If you are a Uhura fan, it is a MUST-- Chekhov has a good part in it also."

Ohhhh yes, I read Uhura's song last year. It's a certain favorite.

Aughadan wrote: "I'm not reading any at the moment (though I have a couple on my shelf waiting for their turn: Star Trek: Troublesome Minds and Vulcan's Glory). I recently finished two..."

Thanks Aughadan! And thanks for all the recommendations as well. Many of the Trek books are only so-so. (and I'll read them too. LOL)

I just read the first two 'Vanguard' books. Sorry, I'm blanking on the titles. It's an original Trek series, set on a station, during the original TV series. Pretty good, except everybody is up to something, so there are a lot of story threads to keep track of.

Also read the comic mini-series 'Crew', which features the woman that becomes Pike's 'Number one'. Really good stuff.

I've been meaning to get to Vanguard. I've heard a little bit about them, but I haven't read any yet.

And I'm interested to hear of those comics, Travis. I love Number One and I've been on a Trek comics kick lately. I'll have to check that out.

I read Harbinger (the first "Vanguard" title) last fall. It seemed to me that there were too many story lines at once, because there wasn't enough space in a single book to develop any one of the story lines beyond a basic introduction. It was like reading the first chapter of six different books. Eventually I will probably get around to reading the next one in the series.

The Trek comics by John Byrne I highly recommend: "Assignment: Earth, Crew and Romulons', all are set during the original series and are excellent reads.

My problem with Vanguard is that there is too much going on and not only that but everybody seems to have a secret and be up to something. Hardly anybody comes across as the usual good and noble Trek characters. Made it hard to root for anybody.
That and they don't number the books, but you have to read the series in order if you want to keep track of anything drove me nuts.

Travis wrote: "I just read the first two 'Vanguard' books. Sorry, I'm blanking on the titles. It's an original Trek series, set on a station, during the original TV series. Pretty good, except everybody is up to ..."

The first Vanguard is Harbinger. I liked it pretty weel as I remember, but can't seem to remember much about it. Sadly.

Colin wrote: "I read Harbinger (the first "Vanguard" title) last fall. It seemed to me that there were too many story lines at once, because there wasn't enough space in a single book to develop any one of the ..."

Maybe that's why I can't seem to remember anything about the book. Normally I'm very good about remembering these things. (Except for Agatha Christie novels and Law and Order episodes...those all just kinda bleed together into one never-ending plot)

I got VOY Full Circle by Kirsten Beyer for Christmas, but haven't started it yet. I also got Shatner's Collision Course which I have already read and is actually pretty decent story about Kirk in his academy days. I did a book project on it when it first came out.

Also some good read are Before Dishonor by Peter David for any Seven lover or Borg and Q & A by Keith R A DeCandido for an innovative Q story.

I rather liked Collision Course. I read it a while after I saw the new movie, and I thought it was an interesting alternative to the scenario in the movie (though with that being an alternate universe, it could have still happened the Collision Course way, but still). There were some things I preferred in the movie and some in the book.

I read the first two Voyager relaunch books when they first came out, but I wasn't too impressed by them.

Here's my list of great Trek reads:
For the Original series fan:
The Lost Years books, Prime Directive, Federation, The Fearful Summons, The Brother's Keeper trilogy, Excelsior: Forged in Fire, Troublesome Minds

The Titan series has been great (Except Orion's Hounds... it didn't really flow for me)

The Crossover book series Destiny was Fantastic!! I highly recommend these books for any Next Gen Trek fan. But you really need to read Next Gen books: Resistance, Q&A, Before Dishonor,and Greater the Sum. These books lead up to The Destiny Books:
Destiny Book 1: Gods of Night
Destiny Book 2: Mere Mortals
Destiny Book 3: Lost Souls
Destiny: A Singular Destiny

The Voyager books that follow after the TV series have been really good but the last two: Full Circle and Unworthy are great. They also follow up on what happens in Destiny.

The DS9 relaunch. I personally loved these relaunch books :
Avatar Books One and Two, Section 31 : Abyss
Mission Gamma books 1-4
(1) Twilight
(2) This Gray Spirit
(3) Cathedral
(4) Lesser Evil
Unity, Worlds of Deep Space Nine: Volume One
Cardassia & Andor, Worlds of Deep Space Nine: Volume Two
Trill & Bajor, Worlds of Deep Space Nine: Volume Three
Ferenginar & The Dominion
But something just didn't pop in the last few books, so I dropped DS9 after the last books on this list.
Lastly Enterprise and New Frontier. Peter David's New Frontier series is great. I have only read the Enterprise books The Good That Men Do, and Kobayashi Maru. Both of those were good and they take place after the TV show. There you have a chunk of my personal favs from Trek Enjoy!

The last Star Trek books I read (last October) were The Eugenics Wars by Greg Cox. The best two Star Trek books ever! Cox does an amazing job blending the fictional story with real-life events. And, also blending in the various time travel stories that Star Trek has done over the years.

F. J.: If you like Greg Cox's writing, he wrote a TOS Trek novel called "Assignment Eternity", which features the return of Gary Sever--the time travler from the episode "Assignment : Earth".

I enjoyed that one a lot; and there are lots of "in" fan references to enjoy.

Yeah, I have that one, too. Though, I haven't gotten around to reading it yet. There are so many other great books to read!

I'm currently reading "Vulcan's Forge" it's wonderful, especially for anyone who loves Spock and McCoy's bickering friendship. The only drawback for some may be that this is post Kirk's death, so it can be very sad.

Hello:
I saw that but haven't picked it up yet. I'll have to give it a try. "Imzadi" was always one of my favorites.
Have a Great Day!!!
The "Creature"

Last week I picked up Spock, Messiah! at Half Price books, because it looked interesting. I started reading it last night, and discovered to my surprise that I read it about thirty years ago. I'm going to finish reading it anyway -- this will be the first time in a long time that I have reread a book.

Hello:
I always heard good things about it though I've never read it. I'll have to pick it up and check it out.
Live Long and Prosper and...Have a Great Day!!!
The "Creature"

Colin wrote: "Last week I picked up Spock, Messiah! at Half Price books, because it looked interesting. I started reading it last night, and discovered to my surprise that I read it about thirty ye..."

It's been 10 years for me. It was one of the first books I read in high school (for pleasure). Then, a few years later, the school library was giving it away along with a bunch of other books. So, I adopted it.

It is a very interesting book.

I'm fairly new to Star Trek in general. I've seen up through season five of DS9, season one of TNG + a dozen random episodes, maybe five of TOS, and practically no VOY or ENT. Been reading the Titan novel series, though, and just finished book three. Really enjoying that series a lot, but one of these days I need to get back and watch more of the show. The problem is that the DVDs are so godawful expensive.

I recommend netflix. They carry just about everything Trek related. I've been using them to rewatch TOS as well as to check out 'Enterprise'.

Just finished the first TNG book, "Ghost Ship." Review: http://tinyurl.com/4a885g5

I'm reading Assignment: Eternity by Greg Cox right now. I'm really enjoying it!

Assignment: Eternity is awesome! "Assignment: Earth" is one of my favorite episodes.

Greg Cox wrote more about Seven and Lincoln in the Eugenics Wars series, but so far I have only read the first one of those: The Eugenics Wars Vol I: The Rise and Fall of Khan Noonien Singh . It was good, but not as good as Assignment: Eternity.

There is also a comic book series about Seven and Lincoln, but I have not read any of them.

The 'Assignment: Earth' comic is brilliant, and makes me wish we'd gotten a TV show after the episode.
Or that someone would be inspired by the new Doctor Who and decide to create a show now.

Colin wrote: "Assignment: Eternity is awesome! "Assignment: Earth" is one of my favorite episodes.

Greg Cox wrote more about Seven and Lincoln in the Eugenics Wars series, but so far I have onl..."

The Eugenics Wars novels are both brilliant. While I enjoy Assignment: Eternity, I wouldn't say it's better than The Eugenics Wars. If anything, they're equal.

Just read "The Gemini Agent." Just came out. Original Star Trek characters from new time line, while they are in the Academy. Cool series.

Leslie wrote: "Looks like things are pretty quiet around here lately, so as the new member, I thought I'd ask the most popular question on Goodreads.

What Trek book are you reading now?

I'm reading 'The Dis..."

i am reading STAR TREK TNG: IMZADI, and the klingon dictionary.

Imazdi was only an 'Okay' read. Odd attempt to do a sort of 'chick lit' Trek book.
Decent characterization, but an uneven story.

Not sure how I feel about New Trek taking over the books and comics.

I was kind of hoping it would just stay as movies and they'd let us old Trek fans have the books and comics.
Now it seems Paramount wants everything to be the Abramsverse version.

Tara wrote: "Just read "The Gemini Agent." Just came out. Original Star Trek characters from new time line, while they are in the Academy. Cool series."
I really want to read that series. I love any hints of Academy days in the Original Series and the various books.

I just finished reading The Eugenics Wars, Vol. 1: The Rise and Fall of Khan Noonien Singh and have started in on volume 2. I am also reading The Starless World.

Tara wrote: "Just read "The Gemini Agent." Just came out. Original Star Trek characters from new time line, while they are in the Academy. Cool series."

I just read that too and thought it a lot of fun. I was afraid it would be too juvie with that giant type face, but it was not. It was like seeing a lost Star Trek episode. I wish they'd do a TV series about Starfleet Academy with the TOS crew as kids.

Travis wrote: "Not sure how I feel about New Trek taking over the books and comics.

I was kind of hoping it would just stay as movies and they'd let us old Trek fans have the books and comics.
Now it seems Param..."

I'm quite sure how I feel... But we don't need to get into that discussion all over again.

I suppose the best we can hope for is that the books will be clearly marked, "Original Trek" or "New Trek", but even that may be expecting too much from these people.

Kernos wrote:

I just read that too and thought it a lot of fun. I was afraid it would be too juvie with that giant type face, but it was not. It was like seeing a lost Star Trek episode. I wish they'd do a TV series about Starfleet Academy with the TOS crew as kids.

Oh My God I want that! I loved the Original Series and hated that there were only three seasons. And to be able to see them as kids before the show had begun would be awesome.

A new star trek academy book, The Assassination Game, should be coming out June 28th. I plan on reading it as soon as possible.

I've also started reading the older starfleet academy series books featuring Next Generation. Wish they had them all in ebook format bc I really don't like reading paper books much anymore.

Last Trek book for me was Typhon Pact: Plagues of Night bk6 by David R. George. The Federation and Starfleet are still picking up the pieces after the David Macks destiny series.

I've been accumulating all the Trek books since they started coming out. I've read about 10% of them. There are 728 in my database. I plan on taking some time and read them all back to back. I just can't figure out what order to read them. Publication order? By series? What about crossovers...?

Any suggestions?

I'd say go by series in the order they were made. That's what I would do. Which books are crossovers b/w series?

I like to read them in publication order too, but I jump around from series to series. I find that most of the books, unless written as a series, do not tend to form any storyline.

Tara wrote: "I'd say go by series in the order they were made. That's what I would do. Which books are crossovers b/w series?"

The Captain's Table series crosses over all the series.
And....The Invasion series...The Gateway series...and um...there was also one that is titled after the clandestine intelligence group whose name I cannot remember. I remember that the Cardassians had 'the Obsidian Order' and the Romulans had 'Tal Shiar' but I cannot remember the Federation one. Getting old sucks.

That would be Section 31.

yep! That's the one.

I've heard about the Captain's table, but haven't read them. Just finished reading Imzadi, and it may very well be my favorite star trek book of all time. Have to read the second one.

I've been reluctant to read voyager books since hearing that Janeway essentially got killed off. Which book did that happen in and did she or will she ever come back?

Janeway died in one of the books leading up to the Destiny series. And I feel the new Voyager books are better than the show ever was.

I just finished The Assassination Game Starfleet Academy book 4. A fun romp where the boys and girl save the universe as we know it yet again. I think the authors etc are doing a good job of characterizing immature versions of our heros.

Been reading Greg Cox's Q trilogy.
Some great ideas, strong characterization, big cosmic moments and nice use of Trek history, but the middle book is so painfully by the numbers setting things up that I've stalled on reading the third book.

Shame, as I generally really like the Q books. I'm hoping he redeems himself in book 3.

Department of Temporal Investigations: Watching The Clock