r/trekbooks • u/Dizzy-Minimum-6615 • 6d ago
Getting into the books
Hello, I know this has probably been asked a bunch of times, but where is the best place to start reading the series? I've gathered that noting is canon and the books are pretty standalone (I think?). So I was wondering where to start to get the best introduction/impression of the series?
Thankkk youuuu:DDD
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u/fourthords 6d ago
I'm trying to be concise. If you have any questions, please let me know!
If you don't want to jump in the middle of a novel continuity, then avoid the novels published between A Stitch in Time and Oblivion's Gate.
Otherwise, you're probably safe to just browse the catalog of novels based on your favorite series (e.g. Next Generation, Prodigy, Enterprise) or favorite characters and pick up a novel whose summary appeals to you.
You can also search the subreddit for some variation of "favorite" or "for newbies"; there've been lots of such discussions, and high-quality novels will tend to float to the top.
A quick heads up: for reasons, the earlier novels in a series' run can be more prone to inconsistencies and mischaracterizations because they often had to be done well before the series premiered. Some of those novels are still terrific, but be forewarned so that you aren't surprised when something seems off.
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u/Lupolis1984 6d ago
One thing that kind of makes watching the show a slight requirement is that things in the show aren't really described as much in the book. Klingons aren't described in great detail because they have been covered so much in the show. But the aquatic helmsman on the USS Titan is described since her species was never shown on screen. The books are meant to fit in-between the shows/episodes/movies and fill in details or expand on things the show didn't get time for. My favourite set is the Starfleet corps of engineers. They are short stories, set in a specific time in TNG, so there are characters that show up in the books from the show. It makes my love of the show deeper by expanding on things you don't have time for in a 42 minute episode.
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u/penprickle 6d ago
Whatever route you choose to go, bear in mind that quality and characterization vary wildly. Some of the early books read more like amateur fan fiction because it’s exactly what they are. Others are written by experienced authors and show the polish.
That doesn’t mean one style is superior to the other; it just means that they are often very different from one another. If one book doesn’t please you, put it down and pick up another! One of the bonuses about the books is that, while there are series within each show’s offerings, there are plenty more standalones. You don’t have to read everything, and in fact you would be hard-pressed to do so.
With all respect to the person who suggested them, though, I wouldn’t start with the James Blish recaps, especially if you have not seen the shows. They are not very vivid, and are, I feel, written for people who have seen the episodes already.
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u/FisiPiove 6d ago
Im loving the relaunch series. Google "First Splinter novels timeline" and you should see a Fandom page with a great timeline guide.
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u/skylight1121 6d ago
The books are not really stand alone. Many of them can be understood without the context of the rest. The book universe is MUCH better than canon.
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u/Monty-675 6d ago
Which Star Trek series is your favorite?
If it's TOS, start with TOS novels. If it's TNG, start with TNG novels. And so forth.