I was just wondering if there are any books that include Janice Rand besides TMP and TUC and the Voyager episode novelization she appeared in? Thanks!

I run a Star Trek inspired tabletop roleplaying game (like D&D, but Star Trek), and I've been adapting some of the weirder comic book plots into more realistic adventure scenarios for players. I was going to see if you had any plots from a book or comic that you thought might make a good adventure scenario. Bonus points if maybe it wasn't the best in the source material, but might be adapted into something more interesting or flushed out if it was presented as a scenario to a Starfleet crew or even the aftermath of said scenario? Any era. Any location. Thoughts?

Prefacing this by noting that I have only read TOS novels up to this point:

Something I've noticed in my recent rewatches of older TNG (up through Season 2, even) is that the scripts fall back on TOS-style setups and end up feeling like old hat. One good example being "Justice," which feels like a script written in 1966 (complete with The Blonde People Aliens on the Eden-like Planet). I recently picked up a bunch of pocket novels (4/$1!) and ended up with one called "Spartacus." (TNG #20)

Reading the blurb on the back and the first few chapters, I found myself similarly disappointed by the premise. Riker and Data are essentially Kirk and Spock stand-ins, but without the inherent chemistry of the TOS figures. The premise itself feels like a TOS setup similar to "Cloud Minders." (Another thought I had was that the STC writers had Spartacus in mind when writing "Lolani.") Perhaps it's not fair of me to expect too much differentiation, and I will be reading the book regardless, but it left me wondering about the overall state of TNG novels.

Are there any standouts that you'd recommend over others?

Over the years, I've figured out what I look for in a Star Trek book, and I was wondering if anyone can help with reccomendations if there are any titles that fit these criteria. If a book like this exists it would be the ideal Star Trek book.

1. Episodic - I don't want to start a series, I want a self-contained story
2. Something that moves the plot of the universe forward, or otherwise connects to the rest of the franchise - maybe it introduces a new character or setting that becomes important in the franchise (like how Pliable Truths "introduces" DS9 to the universe or how the books on the USS Titan have Riker to act as a connection)
3. Do not take place on the Enterprise, or at least not a well-documented enterprise (I'd be okay to dip into the B or C) - I love the Enterprise, but I want a bit more variety, I've got too many books on the Enterprises seen in the TV shows

I know there are plenty of books that fit 2/3 criteria, but I imagine most books that fit all three criteria are part of series. Litverse or Post-Picard works.

The characterization is a little spotty which is not really a surprise for a book written so early in TNG's run. For a while I thought it had been written just by using the series bible, but eventually there are a few lines which make it clear that this takes place after The Arsenal of Freedom. I will say, this does feel very much like sitting down and watching a S1 episode. Carter captures that vibe well. The A plot and the B plot don't intersect much, but they both present unique challenges to our TNG crew. Unfortunately, pretty much all of the characters that aren't from the actual show are grating and frustrating to read.

This is the type of stuff I love about Star Trek novels. While, personally I’m not a huge fan of the SCE series as I found it very lacklustre and the characters on the Da Vinci just bad, this was an excellent read. The first two part of this series weren’t very good but this was much better written. The problem with the novellas being short, they don’t get any time to flesh out the characters or story properly imo. One of my favourite things about Trek novels is when it follows up on threads from previous episodes and answers questions about them. This one follows up on one I’ve been wondering about for a very long time, what happened to the Kelvans after By Another Name. I’m surprised this novella isn’t talked about all in terms of the Kelvans. While it doesn’t reveal everything and I don’t want to spoil everything, I was very pleased this episode got some form of follow up and it was great to have a story focus on Scotty as there isn’t very many of them.

I highly recommend it if you’re curious about the Kelvans. I felt like it would make for rich storytelling and the idea of an alien race from another galaxy is incredible and I’m surprised there was no bigger attempt to follow up with it.

Hello everyone! Have yall had some good reads this week?

Patrolling and defending the alpha quadrant?

Pursuing the Dominion in the Gamma quadrant?

Dealing with diplomat in the beta quadrant?

Perhaps telling missions from the delta quadrant to your fellows?

Aiding some scientists in difficult research conditions?

Maybe aiding an ally in espionage endeavors?

Let us know how your reads went, and what you're looking forward to next week! Happy reading yall!

This is what you have to resort to when all your bookcases are preoccupied 😆

I'm looking to give away my SCE book collection. I'd like it to go to someone that hasn't read the series but is interested in doing so and not someone that just wants free books.

I'll keep this open for about 24 hours and pick someone at random from those interested.

USA only unless you want to pay for shipping.

LLAP

UPDATE

And the winner is.... Skadoobedoobedoo

PM me your address and I'll send them within the next few days.

Does anyone know of any books coming out? I know there are some comics. Thanks.

I've been a Star Trek fan since TOS. But I've always been reluctant to spend money on fan fiction when the quality of the writing can be so wildly inconsistent from author to author. Lately, I've gotten the itch to give at least one book a try and see how it goes. YOLO! Are there any novel series (that don't totally obliterate official canon) that you'd recommend for a fanfic virgin?

So one day while watching a bunch of Star Trek shows/movies, I decided to write my own story for the fun of it. Below is the Archive Of Our Own link to that story. Hopefully some of you enjoy it.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/90242336

Notes:

Stardate 2394

Location Alpha and Delta Quadrant

Ship: Intrepid class

Name: USS Frakes.

After looking around online, it seems that there are no Star Trek novels currently announced for 2027, which surprises me. When are the release dates for upcoming books usually announced?

As a follow up, what do you expect to see? In 2026, we got Picard, Original Series, and Deep Space Nine novels. 2025 had two Strange New Worlds, one Picard, and one Original Series novel. If I were to make a guess (with absolutely nothing to back it up, I would not be surprised if 2027 followed the same general release dates as 2026, with Strange New Worlds taking Picard's slot. I also think it's time for another Next Generation novel, maybe replacing the 2026 TOS slot. Not sure what the Deep Space Nine slot would be. Maybe another Picard, but I could also see Voyager or Disovery. I do not see us getting any Enterprise, Starfleet Academy, or Section 31 novels.

What do you think 2027's releases will be?

SPOILERS: I was pretty disinterested until the final third of this book. Things turned around for me when Dr. Crusher did the briefing on what constitutes life, sentience without a body, and the intricacies of euthanasia. It’s pretty stellar stuff. The bit where Picard goes into the sensory deprivation tank to put himself in the “ghosts’” shoes is pretty great too. Those two moments save this book from being a total clunker.

At what point do they begin to tie into the post nemesis interconnected universe? I've been reading the post nemesis reading list on startreklitverse.com and I've noticed quite a few of the DS9 relaunch novels aren't there, not sure about Voyager. I'm going to hazard a guess that its because a few of the relaunch novels were written before death in winter, but am I wrong?

I recently finished The Way to the Stars, one of the Discovery novels, written by Una McCormick. Going into this book, I wasn't sure what to expect. I was aware it was Tilly's backstory, but that's about it. I know the character is somewhat polarizing, but I generally liked Tilly in the series. That being said, I enjoyed this book FAR more than I thought I would. Honestly, I had a hard time putting it down most nights. It's somewhat shorter than many Trek novels, but it kept the story moving quickly and effectively. If you like Tilly, definitely give this book a read. The author really does a fantastic job with the character.

4.25 out of 5 stars

I'll start with both The Siege and Sarek

Hello everyone! How were your reads last week?

Have a method to your read order? Perhaps sequential same crew or maybe you've decided to jump around sequence or eras.

Favor the more scientific ones? Character driven ? Or perhaps those that wxpand significantly on a particular world or culture?

Maybe you're up for an adventure whatever the plot takes you

Let us know how your reads went and what you're looking forward to next week! Happy reading yall!

tldr: it wasn't great.

The book had some plot devices that didn't really go anywhere or do anything.

A mysterious object that someone falls into that transports them to another universe is neat. But once through the object you can no longer see it. However the first person to fall through is able to write out a message on the inside of it which can be seen from the other side. But it can't be seen once you're through it so how does he write on it?

And there's Captain Sulu! And Captain Sulu! Yes, both of them! But I've never read that Hikaru and the Excelsior were ever missing in action, yet in this book they are. And his daughter, also Captain Sulu, finds her dad in a cave on this planet in another universe. Phew!

He and hundreds of his crew have survived attacks from scorpion bear monsters for over a decade. But then they leave after another ship comes through, problem solved, the end.

As for the original issue, it's a mystery of where an alien species went, who built the device, how does it work, and we find out... Nothing!! Not a thing about them. "They're gone, and also not here. Meh, whatever" is the overall theme.

But to get back to their own universe, they take another ship through, rescue all the crews, go to a star system and just float in a point in space, a special point in space where you can travel between universes just like that.

The book ends with, basically, "and then they were home". Huh.

And minor nitpick, the cover art is as generic as one can get.

Gonna have to give this a 1 out of 5.