Novel Ideas

[Rottwang]

I was wondering. What are the best Star Trek novels to read? Any period is exceptable.

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"The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of
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--Eleanor Roosevelt

[StyroFoam Man]

This message has been removed on request by the
poster

[Dan Stack]

I agree with the Peter David suggestion, but be warned, people have wildly diverging opinions on him - many can't stand him.

If you don't mind the dreaded "non-canon" I strongly suggest "The Final Reflection" by John M. Ford. It's a pre-TNG view of Klingons. Contradicted by much of modern Trek, it is still an excellent book.

[Kaiddin]

Diane Duane - just remember its an alternate universe. Ael is an excellent character.

[AslanC]

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by Dan Stack:
I agree with the Peter David suggestion, but be warned, people have wildly diverging opinions on him - many can't stand him.

If you don't mind the dreaded "non-canon" I strongly suggest "The Final Reflection" by John M. Ford. It's a pre-TNG view of Klingons. Contradicted by much of modern Trek, it is still an excellent book.</font>

I must second this one. I am currently rereading the book for a 3rd time in my life, which says something. Most good books get one read and special books get tw0 from me.

But as he points out, not canon at all...but might swing you over to the way of Klin!





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Aslan Collas
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Ferengi Rule Of Acquisition #76: Every once in a while, declare peace. It confuses the hell out of your enemies.

[Phoenix]

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by Kaiddin:
Diane Duane - just remember its an alternate universe. Ael is an excellent character.</font>

Ahhhh YesssSS, my preferred version of the Mirror Universe.

Another good book IMO was "Devil's Heart"

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"Never interrupt your enemy when he is making a mistake."
-Napoleon

[Rottwang]

In or out of canon is unimportant to me, what I like is a good read. Used to be into DC comic books, but it seems that right now continuity is more important than a good story. Give me the days when Batman would be fighting a common thug in one book and crossing dimensions with a bunch of heroes in another comic book. There was no cohesion, but both stories were good, but this is probably the wrong place for that rant.

Another thing, don't we disobey canon, the moment we roleplay in a licensed universe like Star Trek or Star Wars.

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"The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of
their dreams."
--Eleanor Roosevelt

[Brian K]

Federation

Judith and Garfield Reeves-Stevens

Nice book - should have been the movie Generations.

Brian K

[Sarge]

Yeah, Federation was pretty good. I'd also recommend Ship of the Line, and Vendetta.

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LUGTrek isn't really dead. Not as long as we remember it.

[Liquidator Queeg]

I also suggest the novels Federation and The Final Reflection. These two stand head and shoulders above the rest, IMHO.

Two other gems:

The Romulan Way by Diane Duane. It's a wee bit dull in places, but I really like the Romulan cultural info. Diane's slant on the Rommies is a good one, if a bit different from TNG and the later shows.

Vulcan's Heart by Josepha Sherman & Susan Shwartz. More Rommie stuff as Spock goes undercover on Romulus--lots o' political intrigue. Saavik plays a big role in the story. The novel is set when Picard is a young officer, circa 2339.

Steve


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Go Leafs Go! Screw the Senators!

[Rottwang]

Thanks for all of the advice. I will definitely look for those the next time I have a little book money.

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"The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of
their dreams."
--Eleanor Roosevelt

[Cessna]

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by Dan Stack:
If you don't mind the dreaded "non-canon" I strongly suggest "The Final Reflection" by John M. Ford. It's a pre-TNG view of Klingons. Contradicted by much of modern Trek, it is still an excellent book.</font>

I'll heartily second this recommendation. "Final Reflection" is a darn good book. Even my non-Trek fan girlfriend liked it.

Here's another consideration: if you're running a TOS campaign, "TNG Canon" does not matter, and can, in fact, be used to lead the players into a flase sense of security i.e., "The Klingons wouldn't do that, they're honorable." (Oh yeah? Not THESE Klingons...!) (I started a thread on this and got some good responses - see "The Road Less Traveled/TOS.")

How does this relate to the topic? There was a LOT of Trek-fiction produced before TNG which was later contradicted by TNG. I've found that these novels often spark some interesting ideas.

For example, if you're running a TNG era campaign, some of these "Old Trek" ideas could make interesting "Alternate Universe Timelines...!"

[VulcanJoe]

I recommend the recent TNG novel, "Diplomatic Implausibility".

It features Worf in his new role as Federation Ambassador to the Klingon Empire.

I'm currently reading the Maximum Warp TNG two-parter. Not bad so far.

[Gamethyme]

I liked "Ishmael" and "The Final Reflection" -- both of 'em are more ... introspective than action-oriented.

"Uhura's Song" is another excellent Trek novel.

Peter David has written some good Trek, but a lot of what he writes is just crap.

"Home is the Hunter" was one I enjoyed, even if it wasn't particularly good.

"The Abode of Life" was (and is) one of my favorites (I'm dating myself with this one, I think ... it was one of the first Pocket Book Trek Novels) -- I even converted it (with very little effort) to work as an RPG adventure.

That's my spare change on the subject.

Gamethyme

[First of Two]

Most of what I like has already been mentioned, so I'll just add two books:

"How Much for Just the Planet?" by John M. Ford, because it's one of the most hilarious pieces of fiction I've ever read (Inflatable starships? Gilbert and Sullivan? Klingons in a PIE FIGHT??!?),

and "Rock and a Hard Place" by Peter David, as both I and my RPG character have certain things in common with Commander Stone.