The State of Star Trek Literature

[Zane Gray]

LightningStorm said:
The highlight of the year was Reap the Whirlwind and the Mirror Universe books. Which was expected (for me). The standout pleasant surprise (again, for me) was The Good that Men Do.

I have to agree with this. The Mirror Universe books were surprisingly imaginative. And I found The Good That Men Do extremely satisiying as a fan of Enterprise. That show's grace note left too many of us soured, and I really enjoyed this new direction. I find myself eagerly awaiting the next book in the Enterprise relaunch series, and also the Romulan War books that have been hinted at. I've also enjoyed the Titan books, as well as the Crucible trilogy. I do wish we could get more non-fiction titles, but as we've heard all too often, they're just not selling anymore.

I would also second someone else in this thread. No more Borg, please. At least not unless someone can do them real justice.

 

[KRAD]

Dislike aspect of cohesive storylines going forward in that individual books set in different times in each series may be a thing of the past.
Are we never to get another Delta Quad VOY story?

You mean like the String Theory trilogy in 2005-2006? Or the Distant Shores anthology? As Christopher said, doing post-finale fiction doesn't mean the during-the-series stories stop.

Mirror Universe revisited

Mirror U and Myriad U just tossing things up to toss them up may not find favor with me.

First you say the MU is one of the things you like, then you say it's one of the things you dislike, and you also judge MyrU without seeing it yet.

Burning House and Forged in Fire very wordy, florid, repeatative. Maybe it is a new editor. Maybe it is a dumbing down for people who can't remember a character from a brief filmed appearance.

Once again, you list FiF as a favorite and then put it as a dislike. And it isn't "a new editor," both books were edited by Marco.

I also really do appreciate KRAD and Christopher having a presence on the TrekBBS, too.

Thanks.

 

[Baerbel Haddrell]

In general, I am still very happy with the Star Trek books coming out. Also this year there has been a lot I enjoyed and I look forward to.

Highlights are:

Enterprise – I am so very much looking forward to Kobayashi Maru! I enjoyed Enterprise very much in spite of certain flaws and it makes me happy that Enterprise Relaunch is making excellent use of these characters and the promising idea behind the series. There is a lot to look forward to!

I like the idea of having more anthologies, I like the “three novels in one” books and novella collections, especially the Starfleet Corps of Engineers books.

I am actually glad that there are no more Christie Golden Voyager Relaunch books, at least so far. I am certainly not in a hurry to read more after the second two-parter. String Theory was one of the weaker projects as well. Therefore I am not sad that there is no new Voyager project I know of. On the other hand, I loved how PAD wrote Seven in Before Dishonor. I guess we will have to wait and see how dead Janeway really is.

I like Vanguard. I admit it, when the series was first announced I was very sceptical. That I am not a TOS fan didn`t help either. But I got hooked very quickly and enjoyed the books very much so far.

I am very happy about the return of Gorkon or as it is called now, Klingon Empire. Now I finished about half of the book and I love it! It is very difficult to put down. I am crossing fingers that it sells well and that we will get more!

I am looking forward to read Foged in Fire. I like Sulu and Excelsior stories. It is just that I was more curious about KRAD`s Klingon Empire book and had to make a choice about what to read next.

I am confident that Terok Nor will be a good substitute for missing DS9Relaunch. I haven`t been too happy with DS9R recently and therefore I am the more looking forward to these books.


Mixed bags:

Alternate Universe stories, meaning Mirror Universe and Myriad Universes – It is something new and I welcome new ideas but so many of them within such a relatively short time? My guess is, the main reason is they sold well but nevertheless, although I will buy them I think it would have been better to spread this out a bit more. In general, I found the new MU books interesting but there is too much emphasis on “Dark Star Trek” within that series. Hopefully the next stories will make more of an effort to grow past the clichés we have seen in the MU on TV.

DS9 Relaunch – I am not complaining about the unfortunate delays. But I am not fond of the mixing with the MU elements as shown especially in Warpath. DS9R is the most complex ongoing series to date and I see a real danger here that people will lose track of important storylines in the series. My memory is probably worse than most people who read Star Trek but nevertheless, the long break and picking up a storyline that confused and misled not only me worries me. Hopefully DS9R will have a clearer direction in future.

TNG Relaunch – There is a lot to like. I like how the Picard/Crusher relationship is being dealt with. I like Worf`s part in the books and that includes PAD`s Before Dishonor. The mutiny story is a very different matter. I will have to wait and see what effect it will have in future books.

I am excited about Destiny. Hopefully it will go further than the, IMO, half hearted attempt with Gateways and What Lay Beyond. I remember that there was a lot of hype then about the big crossover that will bind several series together but at the end most people just met on screen and there was little interaction indeed. I was very disappointed. Therefore, I am excited, but I try to be cautious as well. I already heard that NF, for example, will be mentioned but that these characters won`t really appear, something that is already very disappointing to me. I might be completely wrong, of course, but from what I have learned the Borg could play an important part and that is something that can either work very well or leave me with a bad “Borged Out” condition. I really hope the MU gang will be left out here and that the “big changes” won`t turn “our” universe into a darker version.

I am trying to keep an open mind about the TOS Remake, the new movie. I have seen numerous fan productions in which fans played TV characters and a lot of it is excellent! Seeing known characters with new faces is not a problem to me but I can imagine, it will be to many people. My worry is mainly about the story. What has been presented in the newer Star Trek movies is not giving me confidence that this new movie will be any different. I don`t have a good feeling about this project but I am hoping I will be proven wrong.

Not happy:

I miss NF. Yes, I am extremely excited about the coming NF comics but nevertheless, I really hope to get a new NF book in the near future that has nothing to do with MU or Myriad Universes.

 

[JoeZhang]

Now I can understand that people like the Mirror Universe but "fresh" and "new" are not words I'd use to describe those types of stories.

 

[HIj'Qa]

LightningStorm and KRAD said:

May peoples, may is the operative word. I liked 'em, I'm glad we got 'em, they could have been better. Alternate storylines with the characters acting out of character, doing things that have no 'meaning' in the mainstream universe, takes time away from what I want to read about in the main continuity universe.

A little chat with Margaret about why my story made the grade has me somewhat on guard.

 

[Christopher]

HIj'Qa said:
May peoples, may is the operative word. I liked 'em, I'm glad we got 'em, they could have been better. Alternate storylines with the characters acting out of character, doing things that have no 'meaning' in the mainstream universe, takes time away from what I want to read about in the main continuity universe.

Well, you never know. Given that alternate timelines are "real" in the Trek universe, rather than simply hypotheticals, you can't rule out the possibility that something in Myriad Universes might follow up on an element or two of the "main" timeline.

A little chat with Margaret about why my story made the grade has me somewhat on guard.

But SNW was its own distinct entity. The factors that applied there are not necessarily applicable to the rest of Trek Lit, or vice-versa.

 

[David Mack]

Baerbel Haddrell wrote:
I already heard that NF, for example, will be mentioned but that these characters won`t really appear, something that is already very disappointing to me.

While I understand why you would feel that way, my decision to limit the NF crew's participation to "off-screen" status was not intended as a slight to Peter David's work, but rather as a safeguard to make certain I don't accidentally contradict it. He frequently makes major changes in the lives of his characters, and because Destiny is set slightly ahead of Peter's current NF continuity, I didn't want to lock him into any details, and I wanted to reduce the risk of having those details contradicted by his future work.

 

[JoeZhang]

And I guess the same applies to DS9 characters? because those books are three (four?) years behind?

 

[David Mack]

^ You'll see.

 

[kimc]

I haven't read any the past year. I'm still waiting on some good Voyager novels...

 

[Gatekeeper]

DS9 Relaunch – I am not complaining about the unfortunate delays. But I am not fond of the mixing with the MU elements as shown especially in Warpath. DS9R is the most complex ongoing series to date and I see a real danger here that people will lose track of important storylines in the series. My memory is probably worse than most people who read Star Trek but nevertheless, the long break and picking up a storyline that confused and misled not only me worries me. Hopefully DS9R will have a clearer direction in future.

You're not alone, Baerbel Haddrell. I've already forgotten key plot developments in the DS9-R ... and I *like* the relaunch. Even worse, I've lost track of the last book in the relaunch, and have no idea when the next one is coming out.

Gatekeeper

 

[KRAD]

Even worse, I've lost track of the last book in the relaunch,

Warpath by David Mack.

and have no idea when the next one is coming out.

Fearful Symmetry by Olivia Woods in July of this year.

 

[Gatekeeper]

Much appreciated, KRAD.

Gatekeeper

 

[Sxottlan]

Very interesting comments so far!

Brendan Moody said:

3. And what specifically have you disliked in regards to the Trek book line of the last year or so?

The continued emphasis on past continuity rather than moving the fiction forward.

Nearly every book published recently has been a sequel to an episode, a movie, or another book, and/or been about filling in some continuity hole.

8. What changes would you like to see in the Trek book line? Be it production choices or story editorial decisions?

More pure invention rather than elaboration.

Great observations. I agree.

 

[JoeZhang]

Gatekeeper said:

DS9 Relaunch – I am not complaining about the unfortunate delays. But I am not fond of the mixing with the MU elements as shown especially in Warpath. DS9R is the most complex ongoing series to date and I see a real danger here that people will lose track of important storylines in the series. My memory is probably worse than most people who read Star Trek but nevertheless, the long break and picking up a storyline that confused and misled not only me worries me. Hopefully DS9R will have a clearer direction in future.

You're not alone, Baerbel Haddrell. I've already forgotten key plot developments in the DS9-R ... and I *like* the relaunch. Even worse, I've lost track of the last book in the relaunch, and have no idea when the next one is coming out.

Gatekeeper

Hum I had a bit of a problem with the last one, I've enjoyed the relaunch but then I found that this one features

Spoiler: plot point spoiled

plot point spoiled

and decided against reading it, I've never taken to that place and any book with it in goes on the no-no list.

 

[Christopher]

^^Err, you left the spoiler in the clear and hid the warning. Except there's no harm done, since the next book in the series says "Mirror Universe" on the cover, so it's hardly a secret that the MU is involved with the DS9 Relaunch.

 

[JoeZhang]

opps ! I've changed it but since, as you say it's on the cover..not sure what the point was...

BTW The buried age is my current book and I'm really enjoying it - there was a minor minor plot point I wanted to ask you about but I've bloody forgotten it.. however, another quick question - was the reference to killer androids in WW3 a nod to The terminator?

 

[Christopher]

JoeZhang said:
was the reference to killer androids in WW3 a nod to The terminator?

Not consciously. It was just an attempt to explain why robotics technology is so primitive in the Trek universe. In real life, we're probably within a decade of androids that can convincingly mimic human appearance and movement (so long as you don't look too closely), although the AI is a different matter. So I figured there had to be some reason why the technology suffered a profound setback. I figured that since Earth had given up genetic engineering because of the Eugenics Wars, maybe there was a similar reason why they artificially suppressed advances in robotics.

 

[JoeZhang]

Do other federation races practice genetic engineering or even the use of nano-technology? I cannot remember any reference to either?

 

[JD]

The Denobluans use genetic engineering, and I'm not sure if they're Federation members, but I think the Chobliks (Torvig from Titan's people) might have nano-tech in their systems.