A list of Star Trek novels

With everybody drooling, speculating and waiting in anticipation over Abrams’ next Star Trek movie courtesy of a trailer containing numerous explosions, the io9 people cranked out an interesting list. It was rather incomplete but then again, their editorial board is wrapped around Joss Whedon’s little finger if their movie bracket contest is any indication. Seriously? The Empire Strikes Back lost out to Serenity?

Hard to believe I’ve read five on io9’s list. Many Star Trek books leave little middle ground for me. They’re either really good because the author captured the show’s tone, mindset and established characters; or they’re crappy fan fiction you paid for so the author can squeeze in his/her own lame characters. Case in point with the latter gripe…Dreadnaught by Diane Carey.

Here are the ones I’ve read, only one was pretty flawed.

Spock Must Die: James Blish did an excellent job converting the first 79 episodes from the Sixties into short stories. When he was given the opportunity to write something original, he exceeded my expectations by integrating the Organians and Commander Kor from “Errand of Mercy” into a new plot. Blish followed through on something many fans wondered, would a new war break out between the Klingons and Federation if the Organians were thwarted or disappeared? The answer is a resounding yes. Sadly this story fell into non-canon once the 1979 movie appeared. I read Die over a decade ago, it held up despite all the changes in Trek continuity that followed.

The Final Reflection: Former Traveller scenario designer John M. Ford wrote this intriguing piece about life in the Empire from the perspective of a Klingon starship commander. I got the opportunity to read it in 1984, the same year it was published. During those days the Klingons were more enigmatic and a Soviet surrogate. Ford made them interesting without being too sympathetic, a major complaint I have with Star Trek: The Next Generation…numerous Klingon Culture 101 shows while nothing regarding how much has changed within the Federation.

Enterprise: The First Adventure: Vonda McIntyre wrote Wrath of Khan so I thought she’d do well here. Sort of. First is light, funny and engaging. My peeve with it is all the continuity the author ignored. This isn’t all her fault, for some reason Paramount (or Viacom) has no interest in ironing it out. I understand giving the writers (novels, TV and film) some flexibility but consistency is appreciated in all genres. What am I complaining about? When Kirk takes command, Spock is his first officer. Incorrect. Gary Mitchell was, Spock got the job after “Where No Man Has Gone Before.” I know it’s trivial and it’s just a TV show. Yet it’s not okay when this happens in serious, academic fiction. McIntyre did well in other areas because the humorous moments are what I remember the most: a traveling circus, Sulu getting irritated over McCoy’s question about what his first name means and the Vulcan equivalent of a social deviant.

Imzadi: Peter David wrote at least one episode of Babylon 5 while not one for Star Trek‘s numerous incarnations (I could be wrong). Too bad. His novels in the Nineties blew away what had quickly become a tired franchise. David did a better job using the Borg and Q as well. In Imzadi he brings back the Guardian of Forever to tell Troi and Riker’s backstory the ST:NG‘s pilot implied. The frustrating part with his novel along with the many others, namely his Star Trek: The New Frontier series, it’s R-rated (or risque PG-13), thus Star Trek’s handlers will never convert them for fear of alienating the fair-weathered and/or complainers.

A Stitch in Time: Andrew Robinson played Garak on DS9 and cranked out an excellent book. I don’t know if he had a ghost writer, I lean toward no due to him not being very famous. Sometimes actors demonstrate talents they don’t share with the public until later. Stitch takes place after DS9 ended. Cardassia is in ruins and Garak has returned home for the first time in years. While various political factions are trying to curry his endorsement/support, Garak reminisces about growing up as an illegitimate child, joining the Obsidian Order (Cardassian KGB/CIA) and piecing together his people’s true past to see when did they become so militant.

Others I would put on the list and recommend:

• Ghost-Walker: Kirk’s essence has been swapped more subtly than the “Turnabout Intruder” and I liked how Spock picks up on the clues on how something isn’t right, namely through Kirk’s dating habits.
• Chain of Attack: The Enterprise is transported to another galaxy in which the inhabitants fight each other with kamikaze tactics.
• Q-Squared: Peter David makes the case for the Squire of Gothos being a member of the Q Continuum…he’s Q’s stepson.

There’s several hundred novels. What about your favorites?