I'll add my vote to the "Rihannsu: The Bloodwing Voyages" serie by Diane Duane. It was entertaining and it challenged me as a reader to puzzle out certain aspects of the Romulan people, allowing me to discover them rather than spoonfeed me the information.
Aside from that, it laid a rich thematical groundwork for much of the way Christine Thompson has written the Romulan Republic. Though there is a need to compromise what is unveiled in the Rihannsu books with the TNG-series (and Cryptic writing is compelled to follow the latter more than the former) after reading the books I have a much better sense of what it is to be Romulan.
Great picks guys so I'll add a few of my own that haven't been mentioned:
TOS
Duty, Honor, Redemption
Star Trek Logs
World Without End
Windows On A Lost World
The Starship Trap
Sanctuary
Death Count
The Wounded Sky
First Frontier
The Great Starship Race
TNG
The Devil's Heart
All Good Things
Unification
Relics
The Romulan Prize
Boogeymen
Grounded
WOAH!!! Where do I get copies of the technical memos from TNG and VOY?! I think I have nearly every other book displayed there, however.
I'll echo that. Where's the best place to get your hands on the Collected Technical Memos? I've never seen these before and now, well... I must have them!
I enjoyed the novel "Inception" by S.D. Perry and Britta Dennison. It shows a young Commander Kirk and Carol Marcus relationship (leading to David Kirk), plus a Spock/ Leila Kalomi relationship mentioned in a TOS episode. I'd say a must read for TOS fans. Probably one of the best new(er) Trek books out there. The old "log" books are still probably the greatest, capturing the TOS feel. I also enjoyed thr "Vangaurd" series, set in the TOS era, and the "Titan" series following the Rikers post Enterprise careers.
As I said, I like novels that tie the eras together or TRIBBLE some real meat behind the characters.
Two good ones are:
Vendetta, super planet-killer and insane el-Aurian, pre-Generations and pre-STO, good stuff.
The Prime Directive, pretty huge story, destroyed Enterprise and the command crew thrown out of Starfleet.
Problem with those is that the events are soooo huge, it's hard to imagine then actually having happened in canon given that they are never mentioned on-screen.
Two great novels canonically invalidated since they were written:
Star Trek: Federation, Zefram Cochrane, World War III, warp bombs, all around fun.
Strangers from the Sky: First Contact killed this one, but still a good read.
Another good novel was Probe - some cool backstory about Star Trek IV's eponymous probe.
A terribly written and occasionally drool-inducingly-bad novel was Dreadnought, but the cover art of the 3-nacelle Connie dreadnought with TMP skin and the backstory of the Dreadnought development were good reasons to give it a read. Just don't expect really believable situations or non-cardboard tiger baddies.
My guess is "hope" keeps people not playing but posting on the forums. For others, its a path of sad realization and closure. Grieving takes time. The worst "haters" here love the game, or did at some point.
I'll echo that. Where's the best place to get your hands on the Collected Technical Memos? I've never seen these before and now, well... I must have them!
They almost look like items that would have been issued to prospective screenwriters for the shows. Might make them hard to find.
My guess is "hope" keeps people not playing but posting on the forums. For others, its a path of sad realization and closure. Grieving takes time. The worst "haters" here love the game, or did at some point.
I second "Federation". I think that it's the best stand alone book.
The left copy is my original. Bought in 1991 or something, dog eared, with a broken spine. The 10-14 year old me spent days pouring over it's pages.
The last time I moved, I unpacked all of my Trek books, and the tech manual was not among them. I was depressed that I had somehow lost my tech manual in the move. I eventually accepted it, and bought a new copy when I started working on STO.
Then, a month or two ago, going through some random box of papers, my original manual was sitting in the bottom. Woo Hoo!
The left copy is my original. Bought in 1991 or something, dog eared, with a broken spine. The 10-14 year old me spent days pouring over it's pages.
The last time I moved, I unpacked all of my Trek books, and the tech manual was not among them. I was depressed that I had somehow lost my tech manual in the move. I eventually accepted it, and bought a new copy when I started working on STO.
Then, a month or two ago, going through some random box of papers, my original manual was sitting in the bottom. Woo Hoo!
If no one's said it, the Destiny trilogy is worth a look. And the rest of the Titan series, and the Typhon Pact. Some lesser-known titles I personally enjoyed were The Lost Era: The Art of the Impossible (Dealing with the Betreka Nebula "Incident" mentioned in DS9: Way of the Warrior) and a TNG title called "Immortal Coil" (I won't summarize that one - just read it. Well worth it).
And, if you're on these forums and haven't read it, go pick up the STO book "The Needs of the Many"! DEFINITELY worth a read. I've also heard good things of the Bloodwing Chronicles about the Romulans.
OP, I have stayed away from the recent books as I focused on other titles. But I can speak for a few:
Federation (TNG/TOS)
Prime Directive (TOS)
and a sprinkling of the continuing series (Badlands, Kobayashi Maru, Vendetta from memory)
Prime Directive is pure Kirk being awesome
Federation is what the movie Generations should have been and is honestly the best Trek I have read
The series books have all been fun to read and is quick to get through
From my perspective, generally speaking, Trek books are worth reading. I have a deep respect for authors attempting to handle the classic characters and some have done the characters very well (Judith Reeves-Stevens is a name I can't forget for her work with Prime Directive).
My data my be very old, but it's memorable enough for me to add a post to your query.
Anything and everything by Peter David. I particularly recommend Imzadi and his Q series (Q-Squared, IQ, and Q-in-Law), as well as his brilliant New Frontier series.
The four "Invasion!" novels weren't bad, either. They attempted to create not one but two truly alien races, and a war spanning millennia, and did a pretty good job.
As somone who has read hundreds of star trek books over the years i have a HUGE list of suggestions:
The genesis wave series: Very well written,, never a dull page
William SHatners " the return" series. The first book is fracking AWESOME,, 2nd and
3rd are good. Then theres " the mirror universe" series.. VERY well done, worth reading.
Star Trek: New Earth 7 book series that takes place in between TMP and TWoK, different than most trek stories,, Kirk and Spock are not the focus of EVERY book,, but it introduces some GREAT new characters.
the " A time too.." series. 8 books takes place in between Insurrection and Nemesis. Actually explains some of the story from Nemesis. Brings back some old characters, and introduces several new ones.
the INVASION series: 4 books, one for each series TOS TNG DS9 and VOY.. very well written,, different stories that are all tied together.
The Eugenics wars: 2 books that bring to life the world of KHAN... has some interesting twists, and awesome surprises.
I could go on for a while,, IMO anything by Peter David, David Mack , Diane Carey, John Vorhnholt are some of the best ive read.
OWWWWE... Cant forget Vendetta! Very good BORG story,,, almost EPIC!
Hope this helps you find something you like!
Cya around the galaxy.... Once the galaxy comes back online....
*************************** Fleet Admiral In charge of Bacon Fighting 5th Attack Squadron The Devils Henchman
Personally I find, as a rule of thumb, the Trek novels that can stand on their own will generally be much better than most of the continuation ones, that just drag the same old characters around as if the total population of the Federation is everyone we ever saw on screen. (The Titan novels really drive that failing home by not even being able leave bloody Stitch! alone!)
Anyhow, I'd recommend "A Stitch in Time", even if you don't like Cardassians, "Articles of Federation" and the DTI novel "Watching the Clock".
The new JJ-Trek movie actually put me in mind of an old book I remember enjoying -- "Dreadnaught" by Diane Carey. (Different story, but a few similar elements. TOS-era.) There was another by Carey, "Battlestations" that was a sort of follow-up, though each is a discreet story on its own. Both good, enjoyable reads.
Comments
Enterprise, First Adventure
The Lost Years
Strangers From The Sky
Spock's World
Vulcan's Glory
Ashes of Eden
The Return
Avenger
Spectre
Dark Mirror
Aside from that, it laid a rich thematical groundwork for much of the way Christine Thompson has written the Romulan Republic. Though there is a need to compromise what is unveiled in the Rihannsu books with the TNG-series (and Cryptic writing is compelled to follow the latter more than the former) after reading the books I have a much better sense of what it is to be Romulan.
Best Destiny
Shadows on the Sun
TOS
Duty, Honor, Redemption
Star Trek Logs
World Without End
Windows On A Lost World
The Starship Trap
Sanctuary
Death Count
The Wounded Sky
First Frontier
The Great Starship Race
TNG
The Devil's Heart
All Good Things
Unification
Relics
The Romulan Prize
Boogeymen
Grounded
That's all I can think of that I have.
Lifeforms.... you precious little lifeforms.... where are you?? I just love scanning for lifeforms..
Revenge is a dish best served cold... it's very cold in space..
I'll echo that. Where's the best place to get your hands on the Collected Technical Memos? I've never seen these before and now, well... I must have them!
As I said, I like novels that tie the eras together or TRIBBLE some real meat behind the characters.
Two good ones are:
Vendetta, super planet-killer and insane el-Aurian, pre-Generations and pre-STO, good stuff.
The Prime Directive, pretty huge story, destroyed Enterprise and the command crew thrown out of Starfleet.
Problem with those is that the events are soooo huge, it's hard to imagine then actually having happened in canon given that they are never mentioned on-screen.
Two great novels canonically invalidated since they were written:
Star Trek: Federation, Zefram Cochrane, World War III, warp bombs, all around fun.
Strangers from the Sky: First Contact killed this one, but still a good read.
Another good novel was Probe - some cool backstory about Star Trek IV's eponymous probe.
A terribly written and occasionally drool-inducingly-bad novel was Dreadnought, but the cover art of the 3-nacelle Connie dreadnought with TMP skin and the backstory of the Dreadnought development were good reasons to give it a read. Just don't expect really believable situations or non-cardboard tiger baddies.
They almost look like items that would have been issued to prospective screenwriters for the shows. Might make them hard to find.
The left copy is my original. Bought in 1991 or something, dog eared, with a broken spine. The 10-14 year old me spent days pouring over it's pages.
The last time I moved, I unpacked all of my Trek books, and the tech manual was not among them. I was depressed that I had somehow lost my tech manual in the move. I eventually accepted it, and bought a new copy when I started working on STO.
Then, a month or two ago, going through some random box of papers, my original manual was sitting in the bottom. Woo Hoo!
Sternbach sells them on Ebay once in a while. Pricey, but fun to go through periodically.
http://myworld.ebay.com/intrep74656/
This is my copy.
One day, maybe I'll get Michel Okuda and/or Rick Sternbach to sign in.
And, if you're on these forums and haven't read it, go pick up the STO book "The Needs of the Many"! DEFINITELY worth a read. I've also heard good things of the Bloodwing Chronicles about the Romulans.
Federation (TNG/TOS)
Prime Directive (TOS)
and a sprinkling of the continuing series (Badlands, Kobayashi Maru, Vendetta from memory)
Prime Directive is pure Kirk being awesome
Federation is what the movie Generations should have been and is honestly the best Trek I have read
The series books have all been fun to read and is quick to get through
From my perspective, generally speaking, Trek books are worth reading. I have a deep respect for authors attempting to handle the classic characters and some have done the characters very well (Judith Reeves-Stevens is a name I can't forget for her work with Prime Directive).
My data my be very old, but it's memorable enough for me to add a post to your query.
Left hand of destiny and Shatner wrights a good book.
The genesis wave series: Very well written,, never a dull page
William SHatners " the return" series. The first book is fracking AWESOME,, 2nd and
3rd are good. Then theres " the mirror universe" series.. VERY well done, worth reading.
Star Trek: New Earth 7 book series that takes place in between TMP and TWoK, different than most trek stories,, Kirk and Spock are not the focus of EVERY book,, but it introduces some GREAT new characters.
the " A time too.." series. 8 books takes place in between Insurrection and Nemesis. Actually explains some of the story from Nemesis. Brings back some old characters, and introduces several new ones.
the INVASION series: 4 books, one for each series TOS TNG DS9 and VOY.. very well written,, different stories that are all tied together.
The Eugenics wars: 2 books that bring to life the world of KHAN... has some interesting twists, and awesome surprises.
I could go on for a while,, IMO anything by Peter David, David Mack , Diane Carey, John Vorhnholt are some of the best ive read.
OWWWWE... Cant forget Vendetta! Very good BORG story,,, almost EPIC!
Hope this helps you find something you like!
Cya around the galaxy.... Once the galaxy comes back online....
Fleet Admiral In charge of Bacon
Fighting 5th Attack Squadron
The Devils Henchman
Personally I find, as a rule of thumb, the Trek novels that can stand on their own will generally be much better than most of the continuation ones, that just drag the same old characters around as if the total population of the Federation is everyone we ever saw on screen. (The Titan novels really drive that failing home by not even being able leave bloody Stitch! alone!)
Anyhow, I'd recommend "A Stitch in Time", even if you don't like Cardassians, "Articles of Federation" and the DTI novel "Watching the Clock".
biggest problem with star trek series as a whole is that it appears the star trek writers don't read each other books