Star Trek books!

[Sorehl 0]

I know the mid to late 80's Trek books had a slew of Mary Sue characters popping up, and this seems to have died out by the early to mid 90's as well.

Having not heard this phrase before, I was interested to learn that the origin of the term "Mary Sue" itself was in fact from Trek fiction of the 1970's. (I had to look it up on Wikipedia.) And it succinctly describes several of the more annoying books I remember. Interestingly, Battlestations and Dreadnought weren't two of them. I think the introduction of the Piper character, as I think you agreed, was well done and presaged the creation of fiction involving other crews of talented people like the Peter David Excalibur series, Starfleet: Corp of Engineers, and our own ship- and station-based role-play.

 

I won't cite the book title because I don't want to dissuade people from reading what was otherwise an excellent character study (if lacking in action), but I just finished one book where the Mary Sue aspect killed my recommendation. For some reason, the author felt it necessary to create a love interest for an established canon character after a somewhat passing professional relationship, kept her relatively bland (but brassy, of course), asserted over and over how competent she was - thus worthy of our hero's attention - and then established her as his true soul mate, marrying them off in the final pages. Considering the deeper story wasn't even affected by this character, I found myself asking: What was this author thinking? Despite a clear understanding of the original canon character, why throw in a soul mate who didn't exert one influence on his life until the last two pages? This aspect ruined the book for me. It seemed like a forced contrivance: like Spock's interest in Droxine in "The Cloudminders" or better, the sudden Chakotay/Seven pairing in the final episode of Voyager.

 

And now my pain has a name: I call thee "Mary Sue".

 

:::almost certain to see a new NPC on half of the Academy sims:::

Edited July 21, 2008 by Sorehl

[Kansas_Jones 0]

Having not heard this phrase before, I was interested to learn that the origin of the term "Mary Sue" itself was in fact from Trek fiction of the 1970's.

 

The Bantam 1970's Trek novels are a bit different? Is that the word I want? It was just a different decade with a different company and different set of authors helming the novels. Not a bad thing, but definitely not as "evened out" as the 1980's onward Pocket Books era. That's my impression; other then one or two 70's novels (such as Vulcan! by Kathleen Sky, which I do like), I really don't care for the 70's books.

 

And yep, I do agree, Mary Sue isn't a bad thing. Colonel Harper had mentioned a few posts back that the Sue character in Uhuru's Song (Evan ? I'm blanking out on the full name) was fun and fallible, and she really is a solid character. And, definitely, I agree with you on the Piper character in the Dreadnought and Battlestations books. Not to spoil the book for anyone (I think its Battlestations) but the opening scene where Piper is a crewmember skidding across the half tilting deck of Captain Kirks boat (yes, they are actually on a boat sailing the water) is priceless.

 

I wouldn't mind seeing Piper pop up in a modern novel as a Commander or Captain of her own ship, and that's true she did pave the way for the modern "non canon" crew members and captains that star in New Frontier or the Corp of Engineers books. But, that probably will not happen unless author Diane Carey resurrects Piper.

[Col. C.E. Harper 0]

(Evan ? I'm blanking out on the full name)

 

Wilson.

 

"Mary Sue" as a term originates not from the licensed books of the 70s (which I'd never heard of before, actually) but from the early days of 'zine fan-fiction. Specifically there was this one story, parodying the trend in fic, where a perfect crew member turned up, was loved by all the men, admired by all the women, could drink Scotty under the table, out-logic Spock, advise McCoy on medical decisions, etc, etc, etc. And her name was Mary Sue.

 

The name stuck, and the phenomena crosses all fandoms and genres. Actually, the Mary Sue is pretty classic, and typically the first thing anyone "writes" -- many of us have the sense to never commit it to paper, much less put it out on the web, but how many people didn't imagine going off on adventures with their favorite characters, as kids (or even grownups)?

[knlwtchr 0]

All my favorite books are usually TNG and are written by Michael Jan Friedman. I really enjoy his style of writing, because I feel it is close to my own. But, of his books, I really enjoyed "Kahless", "Relics", and "All good things". I like them too because he really knows how a character would respond to any situation: he knows the characters well. Did you know he helped write some Star Trek episodes? Im not sure which series, Im thinking Voyager, but I could be wrong. Also, if you plan to attend Shoreleave East this year, you will have a chance to meet him. He attends, and in fact helps create, the convention and is quite visible and always approachable. =0]

[Kansas_Jones 0]

All my favorite books are usually TNG and are written by Michael Jan Friedman. Also, if you plan to attend Shoreleave East this year, you will have a chance to meet him. He attends, and in fact helps create, the convention and is quite visible and always approachable. =0]

 

Michael Jan Friedman was in fact there this year at Shoreleave East '08 (Nabbed his autograph on my favorite McCoy novel - Shadows on the Sun. Big w00t). Very approachable, yes.

 

Actually, the Mary Sue is pretty classic, and typically the first thing anyone "writes" -- many of us have the sense to never commit it to paper, much less put it out on the web, but how many people didn't imagine going off on adventures with their favorite characters, as kids (or even grownups)?

 

Indeed! I know I still go on all kinds of adventures with my favorite characters.

 

When I was a young teen, I totally wanted to zip off and go adventuring with Kirk and Company. Now, I have Trek adventures regularly every week thanks to STSF. So, as an adult I'm now able to go on that Enterprise adventure. The same goes for the novels. I love karma.

[Sorehl 0]

Although it suffers from "this character is the most important in the galaxy" syndrome, Metamorphosis does a really interesting analysis of what could happen to Data if he ever were to become truly human - right down to shaving, deodorant, hunger, etc. Some of these concepts would later be addressed in the TNG episode: "Deja Q" in which Q considers turning Data human after being one himself. (You may remember this as the episode which ends with Data laughing hysterically, as a parting gift from Q.)

[Guest Natalie Harris]

I'll have to take a look at that one.

[Travis Kroells 0]

(You may remember this as the episode which ends with Data laughing hysterically, as a parting gift from Q.)

 

One of my favorite Q and Data moments. Not that I get around to reading too many trek books, but I found I, Q and The Q Continum Series pretty good.

[LeftEar JoNs 0]

I recommend "Shell Game" by Melissa Crandall. A wonderful TOS novel focusing mainly on an away team who had been dispatched to a creepy space station. A good adventure novel.

[Josephine Lessard 0]

It has been sometime since I read it but I liked "The Galactic Whirlpool".

 

"My Enemy,My Ally" seemed to get distracted by trying to show how racially diverse the Enterprise and Starfleet was with all the random aliens. The freedom of imagination rather than a special effects budget hurt the story more than helped I believe. That, and the part where the Romulans are showing the Enterprise crew hand-to-hand combat moves and everyone just jumps in like it's a family reunion just seemed silly.

 

"The Romulan Way" I loved the simple yet informative (anecdotal?) history lessons in half the book. I actually skipped ahead and read all of those parts. I still have yet to finish the main story portion.

 

I would like to get a hold of the novelizations of the TOS episodes. I felt several episodes would have been great if more detail could have been given. I fear though that the writer will take the story in the opposite direction I had wished it to go.

Edited July 29, 2008 by Josephine Lessard

[TKAR 0]

I haven,t read those books but they look interesting--there are so many to choose such as it you like vulcans try -Spocks world,sarek,vulcans glory,vulcans heart---40 th anninersary Startrek crucible /kirk/spock/mccoy series---if you lov RIKER try the Titan series there even a book where Sulu is the capt-start with them......there is even a old book about kirk meeting dr who in the 70s --try the blish series too-DC FONTANA,S are great too..------there is a PIKE book out too about pike and spocks first mission -----have fun reading them

[Guest Laarell]

I would like to get a hold of the novelizations of the TOS episodes. I felt several episodes would have been great if more detail could have been given. I fear though that the writer will take the story in the opposite direction I had wished it to go.

 

I have (almost) all of the novelizations - written by James Blish. As far as I'm aware they're the only novelizations that aren't fan-written.

 

They're... so-so. They're each about thirty pages, don't give a helluva lot of detail, and frankly, I've never cared for them... they don't do a lot to expand. It's almost more like he took the screenplays and turned them to prose-form, though someone else might disagree with me.

[Sorehl 0]

I can't remember who recommended or suggested it, but based on their comment, I picked up a copy of Articles of the Federation by DeCandido and I welcome it to my list of limited recommended titles. I didn't agree with all of the political mechanisms he developed, but he really took a risk and went out there to describe a workable Federation government.

 

Be forewarned, this book is essentially West Wing meets Star Trek. If you're looking for action, this is not the book for you - lots of staff meetings and council confrontations. It also heavily weaves in events from other Pocket Books, especially the Titan and Time to... series. If you haven't read those or didn't like a particular plotline, you might get less enjoyment out of the book. Still, I've only read a few Titan books and I didn't like the Tezwa plotline from the Time To... series, but I still really enjoyed this book. I actually hope he'll take a stab at another one.

[STSF Jumper 0]

I have (almost) all of the novelizations - written by James Blish. As far as I'm aware they're the only novelizations that aren't fan-written.

 

They're... so-so. They're each about thirty pages, don't give a helluva lot of detail, and frankly, I've never cared for them... they don't do a lot to expand. It's almost more like he took the screenplays and turned them to prose-form, though someone else might disagree with me.

 

No, that description is spot on. The Blish novelizations are fine, but you have to be in the mood for 'em. I myself own no copies, but they were one of my first Trek books explored when I checked them out of my local library at the wee age of fourteen. The library also had an original 1960's copy of Mission to Horatios (sp) (reprinted in hardback a couple of years ago), which is the first ever Trek book published.

 

.... I still say I should have "forgotten" to return the original 1960's Mission to Horatios to the local library. The library admins wouldn't sell it to me. :-P

[Guest Laarell]

Lolz, Jumper. How high are the late fees? B)

Edited August 3, 2008 by Laarell