A personal barometer I’ve developed is anything above a 3.5/5 on Goodreads is worth reading. I’ve been mostly right in the books I choose to read as a result. But it lead to me reading some real stinkers. And besides the odd recommendation I get from the sub here, it’s kinda hard to figure what books to read. I’ve figured I’ve read at 150-160 Star Trek books and probably have 35-40% of all the books published. I really wish Star Trek books got as much love as Star Wars books from the fandom. With Star Wars, the books are treated as canon and revered by a lot of fans.

With Star Trek fans, I feel a general sense of ambivalence due to the fact that Paramount treats the books as non-canon. I never hear enough people talk about it outside of this community. It’s at least not on the level of Star Wars. Is there also any element from the books that have become canon in the TV shows besides the names of Uhura, Sulu and the Black Fleet? I know this became a bit of a rant, but I’ve felt this way about the books for awhile and I really wish they were given more love as they’ve brought so much joy and comfort.

I was happy to finally dive into a full size New Frontiers book and had a blast with "Martyrs". There are times that I think he is just setting the stage for later books but all in all it comes together for a satisfying story.
I feel like this one is setting up the next for an exciting conclusion.

This will be my last post on this site. Thanks for all the fun but I'm done with Reddit. There is a great Trek Lit page at the Star Trek BBS that I have been enjoying lately. Maybe I'll see some of you there. LLAP.

https://youtu.be/pO0AitoPCTo

Hey yall! Hope everyone who celebrated Thanksgiving had a great time with friends n family!

Yall get any reading done this week? Some classic missions with your fave spaceship family?

Perhaps diving into (or further into) a multiparter?

Trying something a little outside the box?

Curling up in a comfy space with a morning cup of raktajino? Perhaps a spot of afternoon earl Grey? Catch your reads at night, with a cup of saurian brandy?

Let us known how your reads are going! Hope your reads take you to exciting places, cool chars and immersion stories throughout the final frontier!

This is the book I’ve been wanting to read all year. I’ve found myself tiring of reading Star Trek books lately as I’ve read a lot of really bad ones. My logic for reading for a Trek book is if it has a rating of 3.5/5 on Goodreads or higher, I’ll read it. And I’ve a lot of really really middle of the road or bad Trek books this year because of that rule. But this book is the exact kind I’ve been wanting to read this year.

Mack always delivers a good book. This felt very much in alignment with the universe of Trek we see in SNW. Still the bright, hopeful future but there’s still a dark underbelly like in the episode where M’Benga comes face to face with a Klingon war criminal. I appreciate a darker Trek sometimes as such a world is not going to be perfect and there’s always going to a dark side. But nothing like Discovery though.

Despite sort of not aligning with current canon, it works well. It’s hard to say who my favourite character was, but the book makes the TOS era feel more richer and akin to DS9. The Tholians were a perfect choice to focus on as we don’t know much about them in canon as the enemy race. Anyway, this was a great first book and I look forward to the day of them.

8/10

Out now: "Star Trek: Defiant #21" by Christopher Cantwell with covers by Angela Wu, Angel Unzueta, Declan Shalvey and published by IDW Publishing

Spock and Sela are trapped in the belly of the Romulan warbird Taredrix and General Revo’s coup. The three of them are the only living souls who know of the impending Romulan supernova. With Revo offering Sela the choice between death or a seat at the head of the empire itself, Spock will learn the answer to the question of what drives the universe ever forward: sheer willpower or blood?Meanwhile, it’s up to Worf, B’Elanna, and Ro to save the pastoral planet Antara from the hostile Romulans seeking to take it as their own.

Seeing all the fuss caused by the short film in which Kirk and Spock are revived, I have become slightly interested in the novels "written" by Shatner where he returns (again). I understand that they have a their "reputation" in the fandom, so I would like to ask those who have already read them, how bad/good they are?

Heya yall! What have yall been getting in to lately? Any cool reads to let us know about?

The holidays got yall in a festive spirit? Perhaps celebrating a diff cultural event when intrigue and assassination interrupt the happy festivities? The Enterprise shall investigate!

Oh no! You and your friends are enjoying a religious retreat to the fire caves of Bajor when the Cardassians launch a surprise attack! Do you hunt down the perpetrators or lead your fellows to safety?

Or perhaps you were victorious in battle and led your fellow klingons to victory at a crucial fight! No doubt the few of your crewmen who died are in the Halls of Sto'vo'kor!

What about that ship in the distance? A genuine distress call? Or a romulan warbird using subterfuge to gain the advantage in an upcoming battle?

Let us know where your journeys take you and what you're looking forward to next! Happy reading yall!

I have posted a review of this excellent -- and really fun -- graphic novel.

Finished book 4 of this fun series and really enjoyed it! I feel like this has been one big opening act and now the rest of the story begins. There are still loose ends to tie up from these books and I am excited to see how those are brought into the next books.

So far I like the Calhoun/Shelby dynamic and also loving Zak and Si Cwan as well. Seems like there is a lot of character growth to look forward to. Can't wait for more! LLAP.

https://youtu.be/deC72RQth8U

I just started the Vulcan Academy Murders and wondered if there are any other trekbooks that are straight-up mysteries. Any Star Trek, not limiting myself to one series or crew.
Also, since the holidays are coming up, are there any "holiday" themed books? I'm thinking about something like Sir Terry Pratchett's Hogfather, which I usually read each year around Christmas time. Or even something like the Star Wars "Life Day" holiday. Which was apparently on November 17!
Thanks for any suggestions!

Out now: "Star Trek #26" by Collin Kelly, Jackson Lanzing with covers by Jake Bartok, Angel Hernandez, Ramon Rosanas and published by IDW Publishing

In its escape from the Delta Quadrant, the U.S.S. Theseus has landed in an unknown sector of space that appears safer-if not a hundred years younger-than their own. There, the crew receive a signal from an oncoming ship: the U.S.S. Enterprise.Captain James T. Kirk is hailing.

The two crews join together in the race against Lore’s wave of destruction, convinced there must be some countermeasure that will save their universes from complete annihilation. But will their combined bravery and brainpower be enough? Or is it already too late for both their timelines?

Jon Ciccolini and Bill Rehor of Beadle & Grimm took an hour of their busy day to talk to me about their upcoming Star Trek Murder Mystery and Escape Room games that’s currently on Kickstarter for a surprisingly low price for a game that’s going to have an AR component and some form of participation from Star Trek: Picard actor Todd Stashwick.

I’ve never played a murder mystery table top game before, nor an escape room game, but the concept is super intriguing to me. If you’re in the same boat, you may appreciate the naive questions, and if you’re already familiar with the concepts I hope you find my ignorance endearing.

I'm wanting to get some Star Trek books for my friend after she found one in a second hand book shop and really enjoyed it. The one she found was a few decades old and quite thin.

I looked up the reading order and let's just say I'm overwhelmed. As far as I can tell most can be read in any order, but some need to be read chronologically.

Any advice on 2-6 books that are both eaily available and can be read as standalones

Thanks!

The third book in the New Frontiers saga takes us right into the action with both the Excalibur and the runabout crew under fire. The story follows two paths and gets us more into these characters and this world.
Soleta and Selar get some backstory and Zak Kebron and Si Swan get to know each other. Calhoun continues to show off just how cool he is. Loving it and can't wait for the next.

https://youtu.be/GQVjU-cBnuA

I’ve been watching the Star Trek movies for the first time and I’ve really enjoyed them so far. I also wanted to get into Star Trek books as well and I heard that the prey trilogy is good and I’m a fan of John Jackson Miller. So I was wondering what I would need to watch before reading them or can I just jump in

He has always been one of my favorite writers and I wanted to ask him a few things about his books, but I can't find any social media profile, e-mail or website to be able to send a formulary, message or anything. I know people contacted him via e-mail years ago but today seems everything has vanished.

Continuing my trend of reading various novelizations this year, I come to Generations. I mildly enjoyed Generations as I love a good crossover between TNG And TOS. The Return is one of the first Star Trek books I’ve ever read and one of my favourites.

And Dillard did a really good job here. The movie felt very lacking and the stuff she adds is great. Just the beginning stuff with Kirk skydiving, Sulu, McCoy and Spock reacting to his death. More info on Soran, and other small things. The stuff she adds is really really great and this feels like the Director’s Cut of this. I think the only thing I really object to is they keep the original death of Kirk where he gets shot. His death in the final cut is almost laughably bad (not him dying, but the cause of his death is him falling off a rickety ass bridge) but him getting shot is worse. I will also say Dillard did a far better job then the movie in capturing the spirit and energy of Kirk, particularly in the Nexus and he feels more in character then he did during the movie. The book also wrapped up a little fast for my liking.

Overall, this is my second favourite novelization after the Voyage Home. 8/10

What missions have yall been getting into this week?

Fast paced warpin' adventure?

Plot twisting thrillers?

Slower paced crew interactions?

Engineering innovative solutions?

Focus on scientific endeavors?

Let us know how it has gone and where you're heading next week! Happy reading yall!

This is book two of the New Frontiers series and the fun just keeps on coming. The Excalibur is getting ready to depart under Captain Calhoun and it's time to get to know the crew!
I am loving this series so far. It seems clear that the first four books will be one story and I love that. The characters are all interesting in different ways and I cannot wait to get to know them more!

https://youtu.be/wgM419tEB4U

Out now: "Star Trek: Lower Decks #1" by Ryan North with covers by Chris Fenoglio Megan Huang Derek Charm and published by IDW Publishing

Hot off their Eisner nomination for Lower Decks tie-in Shax’s Best Day, stellar duo Ryan North and Derek Charm are kicking off a brand-new ongoing series that’s a big fun adventure on a big fun ship……wherein Dr. T’Ana saves the crew from a virulent, purple-boiled disease that is sure to- Wait, no, everyone’s cured pretty quickly, actually.

Okay…wherein Deep Space 2’s distress call is mysteriously cut off and the crew has to- Wait, nope, they just needed some help resetting their comms systems.

ALL RIGHT, WHEREIN Mariner gets so totally frustrated with the lack of thrills aboard the Cerritos that she drags her friends into a holodeck adventure that would definitely kill them in reality! Should totally provide them all with a sense of purpose and well-being, right?

Right.

Or at least it would have. If the U.S.S. Bonaventure hadn’t shown back up from the Delta Triangle to provide them with a real challenge. It’s time to explore a ghost ship, baby!

Out now: "Star Trek: Sons of Star Trek TPB" by Morgan Hampton with covers by Jake Bartok and published by IDW Publishing

In the aftermath of Kahless’ harrowing Day of Blood, Jake Sisko struggles to find his place in the universe now that his family has been reunited and his father, Benjamin Sisko, has once again saved the Galaxy. Meanwhile, Nog faces the challenges of being the first Ferengi in Starfleet and Alexander Rozhenko is recovering mentally and emotionally from his time as one of Kahless’ devout followers. Although his father, Worf, was able to break him away from the Red Path cult, Alexander is haunted by his actions during the bloody coup and is unsure of his ability to atone for the devastation he caused. Jake, Alexander, and Nog find their stories intertwined as they’re thrust into an alternate reality full of lessons that may be just what the doctor ordered!

Here’s a preview of Star Trek: Lower Decks #1 by Ryan North which is due to be released this Wednesday on November 13, 2024 at your local comic shop and digital retailers:

Hot off their Eisner nomination for Lower Decks tie-in Shax’s Best Day, stellar duo Ryan North and Derek Charm are kicking off a brand-new ongoing series that’s a big fun adventure on a big fun ship……wherein Dr. T’Ana saves the crew from a virulent, purple-boiled disease that is sure to- Wait, no, everyone’s cured pretty quickly, actually.

Okay…wherein Deep Space 2’s distress call is mysteriously cut off and the crew has to- Wait, nope, they just needed some help resetting their comms systems.

ALL RIGHT, WHEREIN Mariner gets so totally frustrated with the lack of thrills aboard the Cerritos that she drags her friends into a holodeck adventure that would definitely kill them in reality! Should totally provide them all with a sense of purpose and well-being, right?

Right.

Or at least it would have. If the U.S.S. Bonaventure hadn’t shown back up from the Delta Triangle to provide them with a real challenge. It’s time to explore a ghost ship, baby!

"House of Cards" by Peter David is a really fun start to this series. It is short at only 160 pages but is just the beginning of something that looks very promising.
The characters each get a fantastic introduction and I can't wait to get to know them more. It is a nice mix of some people you will remember and some very exciting new characters.
This is a great read for me now. I feel I can get myself drawn into this world for a good month or so and forget the craziness of the real world for a bit. LLAP.

https://youtu.be/d6mAijhBt6A

This was a decent collection of short stories and were surprisingly well written for fan fiction. I’ve never really written or read fan fiction myself beyond the first volume of Strange New Worlds. I’m actually currently writing some fan fiction about the Voyager episode, the 37s (selfish plug sorry, will share if people are interested). It still wasn’t 100% the best but I rather enjoyed it still. My favourite was probably the Hunting, Visit to a Weird Planet Revisited and the Enchanted Pool.

7/10

Hey yall! Any cool reads this week? Let's talk about 'em!

Perhaps some cool battles with new tricks to take down enemies or evade their assaults?

Any dangerous flora on that newly discovered world? Hope the crew is ok....OK.....

Getting some good info at that trade conference or trying to enjoy some shore leave? Be a shame. ...if something interrupted that relative tranquility.....

But nah, yall have been doing great charting the stars , going through missions. Definitely not any mechanical malfunctions on the horizon.....

Let us know how it's going and what you're looking forward to next week! Happy reading yall!

Barbara Hambly's "Ghost-Walker" was the perfect end to the Spooky Trek season for me. It was a great ghost story that became more and more unsettling as the plot unfurled. I am glad I was not spoiled because the twist was a total surprise to me!
Load's of surprises and fun bits that come together to make a great story. The climax was a very unexpected and fun ride. One of my favorites this year for sure, LLAP.

https://youtu.be/2XpKoFksy7Y

This book was not as good as I hoped it was. I was immediately hooked because of they promised to explore the disappearance of Gillian Taylor as you don’t find out what happened afterwards. Like, obivously you know she goes to the 23rd century, but not the aftermath of her disappearance back in the 80s. The part set in our present day I really really enjoyed it and it was easily the best part of the book.

The villain, Orlando Wilder was kind of a run of the mill Trek villain. I was hoping for a more interesting twist than an augment. I fully didn’t quite understand what he wanted to find Taylor and how he knew Kirk before meeting him in 2268. Everything else in the book was very standard Trek and Cox always has a good grasp of the characters. But if I were to read a book like this again, the Rings of Time is a better version of this book. And Gillian doesn’t show up until the very end which is frustrating too. That’s 3 out of 3 new Trek books that have come out in the last year and a half that have been disappointing for me.

6.5/10

Out now: "Star Trek: Strange New Worlds: Asylum" by Una McCormack and published by Simon & Schuster Audio, Blackstone Publishing, Pocket Books, Gallery Books:

When Una Chin-Riley and Christopher Pike meet at Starfleet Academy after one of his lectures, they immediately become friends. A stellar student, Una is the “poster girl” of her class, and Pike is determined to become a Starfleet captain with his own ship, rhetorically assembling his dream crew. As their friendship evolves, Pike also suspects Una is involved with the Euxhana, a Chionian cultural minority, who are seeking asylum in Federation space, leading to more questions than answers.

Twenty-five years later, Una and Pike are working together on the USS Enterprise to settle a Chionian trade agreement when a pro-Euxhana saboteur launches a terrorist attack. When the suspect is taken into custody for interrogation and is discovered to have a history with Una, her past associations resurface, threatening to expose a secret she’s been harboring all these years…

Get your cloak and dagger ready, it's time to read some stories of Section 31!

Books in bold have not been on sale in a long time:

Star Trek: 15 Corona by Greg Bear on 1984-04-01

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The Corona, an awesome, sentient force of protostars, has taken control of a stranded team of Vulcan scientists. The U.S.S. Enterprise comes on a rescue mission, with a female reporter and a new computer that can override Kirk's command. Suddenly, the rescuers must save themselves and the entire Universe -- before Corona unleashes a Big Bang!

Read reviews and buying options here

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine: Section 31: Abyss by David Weddle Jeffrey Lang on 2001-06-26

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SECTION 31(TM) They are the self-appointed protectors of the Federation. Amoral, shrouded in secrecy, answerable to no one, Section 31 is the mysterious covert operations division of Starfleet, a rogue shadow group commited to safeguarding the Federation at any cost. Mere days after the startling events of AVATAR, Dr. Julian Bashir faces his darkest nightmare when Section 31 compels him to undertake amission to stop one of their own. But this renegade is no ordinary agent. Like Bashir, Dr. Ethan Locken is genetically enhanced, a human superior in body and mind. But Locken dreams of remaking the galaxy in his own image -- and creating a new human empire based on the example of the infamous Khan Noonien Singh. And as he begins to understand the terrifying truth about his opposite number, Bashir will learn more about himself than he ever wanted. NO LAW. NO CONSCIENCE. NO STOPPING THEM.

Read reviews and buying options here

Star Trek: Section 31: Cloak by S.D. Perry on 2001-05-22

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They are the self-appointed protectors of the Federation. Amoral, shrouded in secrecy, answerable to no one, Section 31 is the mysterious covert operations division of Starfleet, a rogue shadow group committed to safeguarding the Federation at any cost. Once, in order to preserve the galaxy's fragile balance of power, Captain James T. Kirk carried out a dangerous mission to capture a cloaking device from the Romulan Star Empire. Months later, while investigating a mysterious disaster aboard a Federation starship, Kirk discovers that the same technology he obtained for the sake of peace is being put to sinister purposes. What the crew of the "Starship Enterprise(TM) " uncovers will send shock waves through the quadrant, as Section 31 sets in motion a plan that could bring the major powers of the galaxy to their knees. NO LAW. NO CONSCIENCE. NO STOPPING THEM.

Read reviews and buying options here

Star Trek: Section 31: Disavowed by David Mack on 2014-10-28

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The pulse-pounding new Star Trek thriller from David Mack—a direct sequel to the New York Times bestselling series The Fall! Amoral, shrouded in secrecy, and answerable to no one, Section 31 is the mysterious covert operations division of Starfleet, a rogue shadow group committed to safeguarding the Federation at any cost. Doctor Julian Bashir sacrificed his career for a chance to infiltrate Section 31 and destroy it from within. Now it’s asking him to help it stop the Breen from stealing a dangerous new technology from the Mirror Universe—one that could give the Breen control over the galaxy. It’s a mission Bashir can’t refuse—but is it really the shot he’s been waiting for? Or is it a trap from which even his genetically enhanced intellect can’t escape?

Read reviews and buying options here

Star Trek: The Next Generation: Section 31: Rogue by Andy Mangels Michael A. Martin on 2001-05-22

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They are the self-appointed protectors of the Federation. Amoral, shrouded in secrecy, answerable to no one, Section 31 is the mysterious covert operations division of Starfleet, a rogue shadow group committed to safeguarding the Federation at any cost. Six months before their ultimate battle against the Borg for the fate of Earth, Captain Jean-Luc Piccard and the crew of the "USS Enterprise" face a very different kind of crisis. A world in turmoil becomes the focal point of conspiracies and betrayal as an unexpected reunion brings with it startling revelations. Old friends become bitter enemies and one young officer reaches a crossroad when he's forced to choose between the greater good of the Federation and the ideals for which it stands. NO LAW. NO CONSCIENCE. NO STOPPING THEM.

Read reviews and buying options here

Star Trek: The Original Series: Seasons of Light and Darkness by Michael A. Martin on 2014-04-28

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An original Star Trek e-novella set in the Original Series universe, taking place prior to the events of the feature film The Wrath of Khan.

Read reviews and buying options here

Star Trek: Voyager: Section 31: Shadow by Dean Wesley Smith Kristine Kathryn Rusch on 2011-05-22

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They are the self-appointed protectors of the Federation. Amoral, shrouded in secrecy, answerable to no one, Section 31 is the mysterious covert operations division of Starfleet, a rogue shadow group committed to safeguarding the Federation at any cost. Someone or something is trying to kill Seven of Nine. As the crew races against time to save millions of refugees from an imminent stellar cataclysm, the former Borg becomes the target of several seemingly random but potentially lethal "accidents." The investigation reveals a truth more terrifying than anyone ever imagined, as Captain Kathryn Janeway and the crew of the Starship Voyager fight for their lives against the most unexpected enemy of all. NO LAW. NO CONSCIENCE. NO STOPPING THEM.

Read reviews and buying options here

It looks like a bunch of the older ebooks are disappearing from Amazon, Apple Books, etc. I'm really hoping Simon & Schuster are getting better scans of the covers and putting them back up, but I have no idea. the two I noticed were The Captain's Daughter and Vulcan's Forge.