star trek novels 1980s

Star Trek Books In Order

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Star Trek is a series of episodes initially divided into three seasons and produced by America based producer Gene Roddenberry which was an experiment of its own kind and later set the legend for many people. Star Trek is highly appraised by many people around the world for its futuristic thinking as per the time and era it was created in. There are huge crowds at its big conventions where people can meet their favorite stars and discuss episodes and theories with other people. The genre of science fiction got a new meaning through this show and the ideas used in each episode. While initially this show was not quite famous and accepted widely it stopped producing once CBS cancelled it in 1969 after which the show got quite famous through a process known as syndicate broadcasting where a channel can buy the original rights of a television show to broadcast it as per their timings. Soon it grew famous and remained a legacy throughout the 70’s becoming a huge hit and a cult classic with people known as trekkies devoted to each and every aspect of the show and having great knowledge about it. Such people regularly attend the meetings and events of Star Trek and maintain an amazing fan base for the series at all times.

Storyline of the books: The story of the episodes of the Star Trek book series originally released are adventures of the starship which travels through a part of the milky way galaxy and is known as the USS Enterprise (NCC-1701). The crew members aboard the space ship are the leading captain of the crew James T. Kirk whose role is played by William Shatner who became quite famous for his acting through the show along with other cast once the show gained popularity. Other members of the crew are First officer and science officer Spock played by Leonard Nimoy and is often compared with the crew’s captain Kirk, another crew member is the chief medical officer Leonard McCoy who is played by DeForest Kelly.

The storyline of the show is based about the year 2260’s and the time is measured in startime in the series. The initial series got the name after its fame as Star Trek: The Original Series so that it always stands out amongst the massive fan along with media franchise. Captain Kirk often states the purpose of the series in the beginning of the episodes in the world renowned series by introducing the show as voyages of the Starship Enterprise and its mission for five years is to go on an exploratory mission on different planets in order to find and research them and seek out new life and civilizations primarily by going where no human has gone previously.

Creation of Star Trek: Gene Roddenberry, finished drafting a short plot for a series based on science fiction on March 11th 1964, which he referred to as Star Trek and was set aboard a spaceship on the 23rd century. While his influences to the idea of Star Trek as accepted by Roddenberry himself include the stories featuring spaceship Space Beagle written by A. E. van Vogt along with Marathon which is a series of stories written by Eric Brand Russell along with the film Forbidden Planet launched in 1956.

While the works of Roddenberry are one of their kind and imprinted in history people have been seen debating his television series similar to a television series Rocky Jones, Space Ranger launched in 1956 which has similar elements to that of Star Trek along with a few technologies displayed on the show as well. While Roddenberry accepts deriving elements for his show from the Horatio Hornblower novels which depict a daring sea captain who goes on a journey for a noble purpose and overcomes various feats using his authority and daring and Roddenberry sometimes refers Captain Kirk by referring to him as Horatio Hornblower in Space.

Roddenberry had a good share of experience in writing successfully crafted television series which depicted his fine artistic skills through their popularity in the decades following 1960 and 1950. Except Star Trek: Deep Space Nine all the later movies based on Star Trek are based around the idea originally used by Roddenberry in the original series which depicted each episode as having a separate storyline contained within a single episode through a different adventure. In short the script was drafted such that each episode is a new adventure of the ship at a new location while their main motive remains carrying on at a slower pace. Thus, any person can view an episode as each episode has its own different story and is quite independent of others.

Books published in Star Trek: James Blish was the first person to write Star Trek books through short stories for each episode into one book. He wrote total 11 books based on the three seasons of original Star Trek episodes. The books were quite famous once the show gained popularity and Bantam Books republished Blish’s books in three volumes one for each season. There was an acknowledgement stating that after Star Trek 7 or Star Trek 8 the credit for writing Star Trek novels goes to his wife and mother J. A. Lawrence who ghost wrote the books for him. A short story written by Blish’s wife known as Mudd’s Angels was published with the book. The Star Trek books were published from 1967 to 1975 based on rough initial drafts for the show and initially they were not referenced to the show since James Blish was based in United Kingdom and the show had not yet been aired there.

With time the fans have grown for the show and books and people and experts often state the phenomenon of Star Trek as ever growing with time and people are found in huge crowds at the premiering of new episodes, movies, comics, books, graphic novels etc. at the Star Trek conventions. There are new experiments done by a variety of writer and a number of franchised shows for Star Trek have been released along with books over time. Many of the Star Trek books and comics along with shows cover the original show in an enhanced or detailed manner there are also a vivid variety of cases where people have based the book on a show or with their unique inputs. Some famous fan or company based books have also become the plotline of famous Star Trek movies or stories while some comics and book series of star trek are genuinely famous for their writing style and regular updates. Many of these franchised books do not relate to the original series in many aspects along with the plotline and there is a huge variety to choose from.

What to Choose: While there are a number of options available to the readers beginning with the initial novels of Blish are the best idea as it gives the starting plot of the story thought by the creator at that point. There are also a huge number of famous and appraised novels created by fans and other companies along with a wide array of books which grow in number each week and many of these books are quite impressive.

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Star Trek: The Original Series

Star Trek: The Motion Picture

The Entropy Effect

The Klingon Gambit

The Covenant of the Crown

The Prometheus Design

The Abode of Life (Star Trek, No 6)

The Wrath of Khan

Black Fire: A Star Trek Novel

Web of the Romulans

Yesterday's Son

Mutiny on the Enterprise

The Wounded Sky

The Trellisane Confrontation (Star Trek, #14)

The Final Reflection

Star Trek III: The Search for Spock

My Enemy, My Ally

The Tears of the Singers (Star Trek: The Original Series #19)

The Vulcan Academy Murders

Uhura's Song

Shadow Lord (Star Trek, #22)

Ishmael (Star Trek, No 23)

Killing Time

Dwellers in the Crucible

Pawns and Symbols (Star Trek, No 26)

Mindshadow (Star Trek)

Crisis on Centaurus (Star Trek)

Dreadnought! (Star Trek, Book 29)

Battlestations! (Star Trek, No 31)

Chain of Attack (Star Trek, No 32)

Deep Domain

Dreams Of The Raven (Star Trek, #34)

The Romulan Way

How Much for Just the Planet?

Bloodthirst

The IDIC Epidemic

Time for Yesterday

Timetrap (Star Trek, No 40)

The Three-Minute Universe

Memory Prime

The Final Nexus

Vulcan's Glory (Star Trek, No. 44)

Double, Double (Star Trek, No 45)

The Cry of the Onlies (Star Trek #46)

The Kobayashi Maru (Star Trek, Book 47)

Rules of Engagement

Pandora Principle, The (Star Trek #49)

Por Prescripcion Facultativa

Enemy Unseen

Home is the Hunter (Star Trek, No 52)

Ghost Walker. STAR TREK. No.53

A Flag Full of Stars (Star Trek, Book 54)

Renegade (Star Trek, Book 55)

Legacy (Star Trek, Book 56)

The Rift (Star Trek, Book 57)

Faces of Fire (Star Trek, #58)

The Disinherited (Star Trek, Book 59)

Ice Trap (Star Trek, Book 60)

Death Count

The Starship Trap

Windows on a Lost World

Star Trek: From the Depths

The Great Starship Race (Star Trek, Book 67)

Firestorm (Star Trek, Book 68)

The Patrian Transgression (Star Trek, Book 69)

Traitor Winds (Star Trek, Book 70)

Star Trek: The Better Man

Recovery (Star Trek, Book 73)

The Fearful Summons

First Frontier (Star Trek, Book 75)

Captain's Daughter

Twilight's End (Star Trek, Book 77)

The Rings of Tautee

First Strike

The Joy Machine

Mudd in Your Eye

Heart of the Sun

Assignment: Eternity

Republic (Star Trek: My Brother's Keeper, Book 1)

Constitution (Star Trek: My Brother's Keeper, Book 2)

Enterprise (Star Trek: My Brother's Keeper, Book 3)

Across the Universe

Wagon Train to the Stars

Belle Terre (Star Trek: New Earth, Book 2)

Rough Trails (Star Trek: New Earth, Book 3)

The Flaming Arrow

Thin Air (Star Trek: New Earth, Book 5)

Swordhunt (Star Trek, #95)

Star Trek, Book 96: Honor Blade (Rihannsu, Book 4)

In the Name of Honor (Star Trek, No 97)

Die Anfänge

Spock's World (Star Trek)

Prime Directive

Federation (Star Trek)

The Eugenics Wars Vol I: The Rise and Fall of Khan Noonien Singh (Star Trek)

The Eugenics Wars, Vol. 2: The Rise and Fall of Khan Noonien Singh (Star Trek, Giant Novel 16)

Star Trek Enterprise: The First Adventure

The Lost Years

The Voyage Home

Vulcan's Forge

Strangers from the Sky (Star Trek)

Star Trek V: The Final Frontier

Vulcan's Heart

Best Destiny (Star Trek, Giant Novel 8)

From History's Shadow

Spock: The Fire and the Rose

To Reign in Hell: The Exile of Khan Noonien Singh (Star Trek)

Star Trek: Troublesome Minds

Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country

Kirk: The Star to Every Wandering

Star Trek Final Frontier (Star Trek)

Probe (Star Trek)

No Time Like the Past

Crucible: McCoy: Provenance of Shadows (Star Trek)

Shadows on the Sun (Star Trek)

Exiles (Star Trek: Vulcan's Soul, #2)

The Empty Chair

Burning Dreams (Star Trek)

Star Trek: Cast No Shadow

The Children of Kings

Star Trek - Seekers 2: Divergenzpunkt

Star Trek: Unspoken Truth

The Weight of Worlds

Seekers: Second Nature

Star Trek: The Original Series: The Folded World

The Latter Fire

Star Trek: The Original Series: Constellations Anthology: The Original Series: Constellations Anthology

Star Trek: The Original Series: Serpents in the Garden

The Rings of Time

Garth of Izar (Star Trek)

Past Prologue: The Janus Gate Book Three of Three

Star Trek: Engines of Destiny

Killing Blow (Star Trek The Original Series: Errand of Vengeance, Book 2 of 3)

Devil's Bargain

Future Imperfect: The Janus Gate Book Two of Three

Star Trek: The Shocks of Adversity

River of Blood (Star Trek The Original Series: Errand of Vengeance, Book 3 of 3)

Crisis of Consciousness

Excelsior: Forged in Fire (Star Trek)

Gemini (Star Trek)

Errand of Fury Book One: Seeds of Rage

Allegiance in Exile

A Choice of Catastrophes

Demands of Honor

Present Tense: The Janus Gate Book One of Three

The Edge of the Sword (Star Trek The Original Series: Errand of Vengeance, Book 1 of 3)

The Face of the Unknown

Foul Deeds Will Rise

Child of Two Worlds

Savage Trade

That Which Divides

The Last Roundup

The Case of the Colonist's Corpse: A Sam Cogley Mystery (Star Trek)

Star Trek: Errand of Fury Book 3: Sacrifices of War

Living Memory

A Contest of Principles

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Star Trek: The Original Series Lit-verse Reading List

The Original Series Reading List lacks a main ongoing storyline that is the hallmark of the other series' literary continuities. However, some prominent storylines and tales can be picked out. The majority of The Original Series novels are stand-alone, and most can easily be read in any order. Accordingly there are no obvious "jumping on points" which the other series can be said to have.

Many The Original Series stories in the last two decades have included elements of the wider Lit-verse, so many novels, short stories, comics, and audiobooks are connected due to various references in other books, or to other books. These references are mentioned in the notes.

Nine other short stories or novellas are also connected: five from Enterprise Logs (which shares references among several connected novels), two from Deep Space Nine: The Lives of Dax (which ties into the Deep Space Nine Post-Finale Series), one from The Brave and the Bold duology (which ties into the Gorkon series), and one from Seven Deadly Sins (which ties into three Lit-verse series.)

Five novels and one ebook in other series cross over with The Original Series: Discovery: Drastic Measures, Discovery: Desperate Hours, Department of Temporal Investigations: Forgotten History, Vanguard: Harbinger , Vanguard: Storming Heaven, and Vanguard: In Tempest's Wake.

Also included are the stories from Constellations ( one story of which is referenced in The Next Generation: Before Dishonor) , and Mere Anarchy (which references several other stories.) Various references in parts of the Crew series, New Visions : Issue #5, Peter Pan Record #1, the Year Five series, the Wildstorm Star Trek Special, Star Trek #400 , and the DC Volume 2 Special #2 connect The Original Series stories from those works. 

The Original Series Reading List stops at the disappearance of James T. Kirk aboard the Enterprise-B and all storylines transfer to "The Lost Era", the Early 24th Century Reading List.

In addition there are the novels that comprised the "Original Lit-verse" of the 1980s. This was a group of stories which were eventually linked together through references and shared characters. Of particular importance to the later Lit-verse are the original two Rihannsu novels, The Final Reflection , and the novelizations of The Motion Picture and The Wrath of Khan , many elements of which have been more or less incorporated into the modern continuity, though undoubtedly requiring a certain amount of retconning.

The earliest book eventually connected to the "Original Lit-verse" was published in 1977. The continuity flourished throughout the 1980s under editor Dave Stern. Around 1988, under the direction of Gene Roddenberry and Richard Arnold, a push was made to cut back on shared characters and references between novels. This was not a hard rule, and references between books and between comics continued at a slower pace through the mid 1990s under Stern and Kevin Ryan. I place the end of this era, and the advent of the modern Lit-verse, around 1995/1996, under editor John Ordover.

(Note that an explanation for my order of episodes and novels during the Five Year Mission can be seen here: The Five Year Mission: Month-By-Month . This is a very specific order that does not always match production order or airdate.)

(Note that the covers of many The Original Series books contain Enterprise designs or Starfleet uniforms which do not match the era of the book, and which sometimes do not even match each other. These should be disregarded.)

• Crew: Shakedown
• Deep Space Nine: Old Souls
• Crew: The Bottle
• Discovery: Drastic Measures
• Though Hell Should Bar the Way
• Crew: Ghosts
• Crew: Shadows of the Past
• Crew: The Ends of Eternity
• Vulcan's Glory
• The Children of Kings
• Early Voyages: Flesh of My Flesh
• Early Voyages: The Fires of Pharos
• Early Voyages: Our Dearest Blood
• Early Voyages: Nor Iron Bars a Cage
• Conflicting Natures
• Early Voyages: Cloak and Dagger
• Early Voyages: The Flat, Gold Forever
• Early Voyages: Immortal Wounds
• Early Voyages: One of a Kind
• Early Voyages: The Fallen
• Early Voyages: Futures
• Early Voyages: Thanatos
• Early Voyages: Nemesis
• Child of Two Worlds
• Discovery: Desperate Hours
• Discovery: The Enterprise War
• Star-Crossed
• Star-Crossed: Loved Not Wisely...
• Enterprise: The First Adventure
• The Captain's Oath
• Alien Spotlight: Orions
• Mere Anarchy: Things Fall Apart
• Deep Space Nine: Sins of the Mother
• My Brother's Keeper: Republic
• My Brother's Keeper: Constitution
• Vanguard: Harbinger

• My Brother's Keeper: Enterprise
• The Landing Party
• The Janus Gate: Present Tense
• The Janus Gate: Future Imperfect
• The Captain's Table: Where Sea Meets Sky
• The Janus Gate: Past Prologue
• The First Artifact
• Alien Spotlight: Romulans
• Pawns of War: Balance of Terror
• Shadow Lord
• The Peril of Planet Quick Change: The Creatures of Light
• The Peril of Planet Quick Change: The Sinister Guest
• Errand of Vengeance: The Edge of the Sword
• Errand of Vengeance: Killing Blow
• Errand of Vengeance: River of Blood
• The Avenger
• The Brain-Damaged Planet, Part One
• The Brain-Damaged Planet, Part Two
• Official Record
• Errand of Fury: Seeds of Rage
• Errand of Fury: Demands of Honor
• Errand of Fury: Sacrifices of War
• The Modala Imperative
• The Aliens Are Coming!
• Final Frontier
• The Disinherited
• Chaotic Response
• Invasion!: First Strike
• Day of Honor: Treaty's Law
• See No Evil
• Romulans: The Hollow Crown, Issue One

• The Vulcan Academy Murders
• The IDIC Epidemic
• Double, Double
• Twilight's End
• First, Do No Harm
• James Kirk's Psycho-File
• Spocks's Psycho-File
• Uhura's Song
• Across the Universe
• Mere Anarchy: The Centre Cannot Hold
• Legacies: Captain to Captain
• A Bad Day For Koloth
• Legacies: Best Defense
• Legacies: Purgatory's Shadow
• Mission to Horatius
• The Rings of Tautee
• New Visions: Strange New Worlds
• The Klingon Gambit
• Mutiny on the Enterprise
• The First Peer
• A Choice of Catastrophes
• Crisis on Centaurus
• X-Men: Star Trex
• Assignment: Earth
• From History's Shadow
• The Shocks of Adversity
• Romulans: The Hollow Crown, Issue Two
• The Entropy Effect
• Dreams of the Raven
• The Unhappy Ones
• Ghost-Walker
• Devices and Desires
• Section 31: Cloak
• Gateways: One Small Step

• Gateways: One Giant Leap
• How Much For Just the Planet
• Vanguard: Storming Heaven
• Vanguard: In Tempest's Wake
• Year Five: Weaker Than Man
• Killing Time
• Dying of the Light
• New Visions: A Scent of Ghosts
• None But the Brave
• Assignment: Eternity
• As Others See Us
• The Face of the Unknown
• The Latter Fire
• Passage to Moauv
• In Vino Veritas
• A Crier in Emptiness
• Tears of the Singers
• The Great Starship Race
• The Galactic Whirlpool
• First Frontier
• Year Four: The Enterprise Experiment
• That Which Divides
• Year Five: Odyssey's End
• Year Five: Communications Breakdown
• Prime Directive
• Agents of Influence
• Romulans: Schism
• Yesterday's Son
• The Eugenics Wars, Volume One

• The Eugenics Wars, Volume Two
• Memory Prime
• The Price of the Phoenix
• The Fate of the Phoenix
• Year Five: The Truth Artifact
• Year Five: Trespasser
• Year Five: The Wine-Dark Deep
• Dreadnaught!
• Year Five: The Mission Who Walks Like a Man
• Year Five: Guide of Fire
• Year Five: Vote Mudd
• Faces of Fire
• Where Everybody Knows Your Name
• Battlestations!
• The Abode of Life
• Chain of Attack
• Allegiance in Exile
• Year Five: On the Death of a Friend
• Savage Trade
• The Final Nexus
• Garth of Izar
• Troublesome Minds
• The Weight of Worlds
• Bloodthirst
• No Time Like the Past
• The Rings of Time
• Year Five: The Raptor's Wings
• Year Five: Ithica
• Star-Crossed: A Bright Particular Star
• The Lost Years
• Year Five: Experienced in Loss
• Mere Anarchy: Shadows of the Indignant
• New Visions: Memorium

• Traitor Winds
• Leonard McCoy, Frontier Doctor: Weeds
• Leonard McCoy, Frontier Doctor: Error
• A Flag Full of Stars
• Leonard McCoy, Frontier Doctor: Medics
• Leonard McCoy, Frontier Doctor: Hosts
• Leonard McCoy, Frontier Doctor: Scalpel
• Serpents in the Garden
• Night Whispers
• The Motion Picture
• The Motion Picture: Echoes
• Untold Voyages: Renewal
• Infestation
• The Kobayashi Maru
• The Final Reflection
• Mere Anarchy: The Darkness Drops Again
• The Enterprise Murder Case!
• Double Bluff
• The More Things Change
• The Prometheus Design
• Experiment in Vengeance!
• Untold Voyages: Worlds Collide
• Department of Temporal Investigations: Forgotten History
• The Wounded Sky
• Rihannsu: My Enemy, My Ally
• We Are Dying, Egypt, Dying!
• Spock's World
• The Better Man
• There's No Space Like Gnomes'!
• The Covenant of the Crown
• Doctor's Orders

• Untold Voyages: Past Imperfect
• Rihannsu: The Romulan Way
• Rihannsu: Swordhunt
• Rihannsu: Honor Blade
• Rihannsu: The Empty Chair
• Untold Voyages: Silent Cries
• Rules of Engagement
• The Higher Frontier
• Untold Voyages: Odyssey's End
• Deep Domain
• Living Memory
• New Earth: Wagon Train to the Stars
• New Earth: Belle Terre
• New Earth: Rough Trails
• New Earth: The Flaming Arrow
• New Earth: Thin Air
• New Earth: Challenger
• Gateways, Book 2: Challenger- Chainmail
• Gateways: Challenger- Exodus
• The Pandora Principle
• Dwellers in the Crucible
• Alien Spotlight: The Gorn
• Just Another Little Training Cruise
• Elusive Salvation
• Strangers From the Sky
• Time For Yesterday
• Deep Space Nine: Infinity
• The Wrath of Khan
• Seasons of Light and Darkness
• The Wormhole Connection
• ...The Only Good Klingon...
• Errand of War
• Deadly Allies
• Mortal Gods
• Who is Enigma?

• Saavik's Story
• The Search For Spock
• New Frontiers
• The D'Artagnan Three
• All Those Years Ago...
• Wolf on the Prowl
• Wolf at the Door
• Double Blind
• The Trouble With Transporters
• Around the Clock
• The Last Word
• The Trouble With Bearclaw
• Uhura's Story
• Maggie's World
• Judgement Day
• Vicious Circle
• The Doomsday Bug
• The Needs of the One
• The Voyage Home
• Debt of Honor
• Prey: Hell's Heart
• When You Wish Upon a Star...
• Mudd's Magic
• What Goes Around...
• The Corbomite Effect
• The Return of the Serpent
• Idol Threats
• The Stars in Secret Influence

• Aspriring to Be Angels
• Marriage of Inconvenience
• Haunted Honeymoon
• Hell in a Handbasket
• You're Dead Jim
• Old Loyalties
• Finnegan's Wake
• To Reign in Hell
• The Final Frontier
• The Return!
• The Sentence
• Death Before Dishonor
• Repercussions
• Fast Friends
• Not Sweeney
• Going, Going
• The Trial of James T. Kirk
• Unspoken Truth
• In the Name of Honor
• The Return of the Worthy
• Once a Hero
• Foul Deeds Will Rise
• Mission: Muddled
• The Sky Above...the Mudd Below
• Target: Mudd
• Raise the Defiant
• Class Reunion
• Where There's a Will
• Truth or Treachery
• Captain's Log

• Excelsior: Forged in Fire
• The Tabukan Syndrome
• A Little Adventure!
• ...Goes a Long Way!
• Acceptable Risk
• A Little Man-to-Man Talk
• Blaise of Glory
• The Peacekeeper
• No Compromise
• Bait... and Switch
• A Wolf in Cheap Clothing
• Captain Sulu Adventures: Cacophony
• Convergence
• Mere Anarchy: The Blood-Dimmed Tide
• A Question of Loyalty
• Prey: The Jackal's Trick
• The Undiscovered Country
• Klingons: Blood Will Tell
• Best Destiny
• Shadows on the Sun
• The Ashes of Eden
• The Captain's Table: War Dragons
• The Last Roundup
• The Autobiography of James T. Kirk
• The Lights in the Sky
• All That Most Maddens and Torments
• The Autobiography of Mr. Spock

Order of Star Trek Books

The first Star Trek novels were direct novelizations of the original Star Trek episodes by James Blish, running from 1967-1978. Along with the various Star Trek novel series there have also been dozens of authors who have contributed to the franchise, including (but not limited to) Roddenberry himself, G. Harry Stine (as Lee Correy), A.C. Crispin, Diane Duane, J.M. Dillard, Vonda N. McIntyre, Michael Jan Friedman, Peter David, Diane Carey, David R. George III, Greg Cox and many others.

Below we have listed the various series not directly linked to any of the major Star Trek novel series (read more about those by clicking the various links on this page) and any crossover series that spans multiple Star Trek series, sorted by year of publication:

Publication Order of Star Trek: TOS Adaptations Books

Get notified when Joe Haldeman releases a new book at BookNotification.com .

Publication Order of Star Trek Adventures Books

Get notified when Alan Dean Foster releases a new book at BookNotification.com .

Publication Order of Star Trek: The Animated Books

Publication order of star trek wanderer books.

Get notified when William Shatner releases a new book at BookNotification.com .

Publication Order of Star Trek: Odyssey Books

Publication order of star trek: the mirror universe trilogy books, publication order of star trek: totality books.

Get notified when Peter David releases a new book at BookNotification.com .

Publication Order of Star Trek: New Frontier Books

(by: peter david, josepha sherman).

Get notified when David Mack releases a new book at BookNotification.com .

Publication Order of Star Trek: Starfleet Corps Of Engineers Books

Get notified when Michael A. Martin releases a new book at BookNotification.com .

Publication Order of Star Trek: Enterprise: Romulan War Books

Get notified when Christopher L. Bennett releases a new book at BookNotification.com .

Publication Order of Star Trek: Enterprise: Rise Of The Federation Books

Get notified when Diane Carey releases a new book at BookNotification.com .

Publication Order of Star Trek: Enterprise Episode Novelizations Books

Get notified when Dean Wesley Smith releases a new book at BookNotification.com .

Publication Order of Star Trek: Enterprise Books

Get notified when Michael Jan Friedman releases a new book at BookNotification.com .

Publication Order of Star Trek: Stargazer Books

Get notified when Ilsa J. Bick releases a new book at BookNotification.com .

Publication Order of Star Trek: The Lost Era Books

Publication order of star trek: vanguard books, publication order of star trek: invasion books, publication order of star trek: day of honor books, publication order of star trek: typhon pact books.

Get notified when Dayton Ward releases a new book at BookNotification.com .

Publication Order of Star Trek: The Fall Books

Get notified when John Jackson Miller releases a new book at BookNotification.com .

Publication Order of Star Trek: Prey Books

Publication order of star trek: titan books, publication order of star trek: section 31 books, publication order of star trek: academy books, publication order of star trek: excelsior books.

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Publication Order of Star Trek: Klingon Empire Books

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3 Responses to “Order of Star Trek Books”

I just discovered Star Trek books. I’m particularly interested in those written by Peter David. Does anyone know where I can get a list of his Star Trek books and should they be read in order?

Good evening, looking at your order for the Titan Series, it seems to be missing Absent Enemies published in 2014

Thanks. The whole section needs an update.

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Essential Star Trek Novels That Even Non-Trekkers Should Read

Now that we've all seen the teaser trailer for Star Trek Into Darkness , we've got a bad case of Star Trek fever. Luckily, there are tons of Star Trek novels that have been published since the Original Series went off the air — and many of them are shockingly good. Thanks to editors like David G. Hartwell and John Ordover, the Star Trek novels have regularly attracted some of the best authors out there.

Here are a dozen Star Trek novels that even non-diehard Trek fans will appreciate.

For those of you who look down on media tie-in novels — you should know that these tie-in novels have a long and sometimes illustrious history . Here's our article about the large number of great science fiction and fantasy authors who've chosen to write tie-in novels over the years.

In any case, here are some truly rewarding Star Trek novels — including quite a few written by Hugo or Nebula winners.

Spock Must Die by James Blish.

The Hugo Award-winning author wrote the books that adapted every single original Star Trek episode into short stories, and then went on to write the first Star Trek novel for adults, in 1970. And Blish dives right into one of the most baffling aspects of Star Trek continuity: the Organians, that race of godlike beings who forced the Federation to make peace with the Klingons and then were never seen again. When the Klingons find a way to start making war once again, Spock has to transport himself to the Organian planet using a special tachyon beam — but the result is two Spocks, one of whom has to die. But which one? I read this as a kid and was very impressed by the Spock drama, but apparently it holds up pretty well today .

Planet of Judgment by Joe Haldeman

The Forever War author wrote two Star Trek novels in the late 1970s, and by all accounts this is the better of the two. (Haldeman has written that he wasn't really into doing the second one, World Without End, but it was contractually obligated.) Planet of Judgment has a lot of the great Star Trek staples, including super-powerful aliens putting the Enterprise crew on trial, and some big philosophical questions. Plus lots of huge space-opera action, including an impossible planet orbiting a stable black hole. And this is one of the most adult of the Star Trek novels, with the redshirts getting their faces ripped off and the Enterprise crew actually talking about sex.

The Entropy Effect by Vonda N. McIntyre

And here's yet another award-winning author who wrote Star Trek novels — we'll be featuring McIntyre again on this list. The Entropy Effect was the first original novel published by Pocket Books, and here's McIntyre's account of how that happened . And for her first original Trek novel, McIntyre pulls out all the stops, with a twisty story of time travel in which it actually causes physical damage to the fabric of the universe. A great example of using a Star Trek novel to explore some scientific ideas.

The Final Reflection by John M. Ford

The first of two must-read Star Trek novels by Ford, The Final Reflection is the first novel to delve into Klingon culture and show the Klingons as having honor and valid ideas of their own. Ford invents a Klingon version of chess, called klin zha, and uses it to explore the Klingon view of the universe and their place in it. Pretty much all of the later development of Klingons in Star Trek builds on Ford's work here, and it's also a great piece of world-building and a tutorial in how to make an alien race feel alive and real. For the rest of his life, Ford was feted by Klingons at conventions as their great hero.

My Enemy, My Ally by Diane Duane

What Ford did for the Klingons, Duane did for the Romulans — this is the first book in her "Rihannsu" series, which fleshes out Romulan culture and makes them not just a weird offshoot of the Vulcans with a somewhat random "Ancient Rome" motif glued on. All of Duane's Rihannsu novels are worth reading, even if you're not a Trek maniac, because they create a believable alien culture and put it alongside the Federation. And unlike the Klingons, the Romulans have never gotten this much depth and thought put into them on screen, to this day.

How Much for Just the Planet? By John M. Ford

Having given the Klingons a new depth and integrity, Ford chose to follow that up with... a musical comedy book. The Enterprise travels to a Dilithium-rich planet, where the Federation is competing with the Klingons for the mining rights. And weirdly enough, everybody on the planet communicates by bursting into song. And comedy is king. This book features cameo appearances by Pamela Dean, Neil Gaiman, Diane Duane and other authors.

Enterprise: The First Adventure by Vonda N. McIntyre

Before J.J. Abrams gave us a new version of Captain Kirk's origins, McIntyre wrote this masterful novel about a young Captain Kirk having to come to grips with his command — including the uptight Spock, who considers his new captain to be a loose cannon. For fans of later Star Treks who've never quite understood why the Kirk/Spock/McCoy relationship is so important to the series, McIntyre does a great job of establishing and developing that relationship, and showing just why that particular trio are so epic. There's also a winged horse in the Enterprise cargo bay , a vaudeville troupe on board, and a brand new race of... winged monkeys.

Prime Directive by Judith and Garfield Reeves-Stevens

The Reeves-Stevenses have had a long and varied career with Star Trek , including a stint working on Enterprise and a long stretch ghost-writing William Shatner's bizarre "Shatner-verse" novels. But their first Star Trek book is probably the best thing they've ever done — it's a genuinely epic look at the Prime Directive and what happens when Captain Kirk appears to have broken it once too often, causing a huge disaster in which the Enterprise is all but destroyed. Kirk is shamed and drummed out of Starfleet in disgrace, and the rest of the Enterprise bridge crew has to scatter and go into hiding, enacting an elaborate plan to bring Kirk back. Dr. McCoy has to become a fictitious space pirate, and Sulu and Chekov become Orion smugglers. It's a completely over-the-top adventure novel, but it also manages to sell you on the idea that Kirk's goose might really be cooked this time. Great fun.

Imzadi by Peter David

For a long time, Peter David was the undisputed master of Star Trek novels — his New Frontier books are great swashbuckling fun, and quite addictive, and he also wrote some entertaining books about Q and the Borg. But his most lasting achievement as a Star Trek author is probably Imzadi , in which he manages to take the Troi-Riker relationship and infuse it with romance, joy and danger. As a time-travel romance, Imzadi is remarkably strong and intense — it starts out in the future, when Admiral Riker is mourning the death 30 years ago of his beloved Deanna Troi. But when Riker discovers evidence that Troi's death was actually the result of time-travel interference, he goes back in time to save her. Leaving the future Data no choice but to go back in time to try and stop Riker.

The Captain's Daughter by Peter David

The other must-read Peter David Star Trek novel, this one fleshes out the oft-overlooked character of Hikaru Sulu (who only got his first name, thanks to Vonda McIntyre's Entropy Effect .) Captain Sulu's daughter is apparently killed in mysterious circumstances, and he risks everything to go find out what happened to her. For those of us who still feel sad that we never got a Captain Sulu TV series or spin-off movie, this is the next best thing — and for anybody who wants to read a rip-roaring space opera with heart, this is a great read.

The Eugenics Wars: The Rise and Fall of Khan Noonien Singh by Greg Cox

There have been a lot of great Star Trek novels in recent years, many of them written by Cox and David Mack. (See above for the cover of Mack's Vanguard, which commenter SandroinSeattle recommends. ) This one stands out, though, because it fleshes out a key period in Star Trek history — the Eugenics Wars that are alluded to in the episode "Space Seed." Now at last, we learn just how Khan and his fellow augments tried to take over. Cox does a fantastic job of fleshing out the already rich character of Khan Noonien Singh — but this is also great as a near-future story of genetic engineering gone wrong, in its own right.

A Stitch in Time by Andrew Robinson

And finally, there's the one must-read Deep Space Nine novel. Andrew Robinson's Garak was one of the most fascinating characters Star Trek has ever given us — a former spy who claims to be just a simple tailor, Garak was always willing to do what needed to be done. And to push characters like Bashir and Sisko over the edge into his own moral gray area. Robinson returns to the character he played, and fleshes out a lot of his backstory as well as filling in a lot of what happened to Garak after he left Deep Space Nine. Anybody who was ever curious about the darker, more textured universe DS9 was creating will find a lot of insights here.

So what are your choices for the most essential Star Trek novels? List them below!

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The Best Star Trek Novels: A Personal List

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Star Trek has always been my fictional comfort food. When times are tough, I can always put on an episode or open a book and things aren’t so bad for a while. I don’t know if it’s the excitement of scientific discovery, the positive vision of humanity’s future, or just the premise of a diverse and competent crew working together to make the galaxy a better place—I almost always end a Star Trek story feeling a little more hopeful than when I began. If, like me, you’ve watched all the Star Trek out there and still want more, here’s a list of books to get you started.

The Rihannsu Series

This series of novels follows the Original Series crew as they become entangled in various Romulan plots to dominate the galaxy, beginning with a secret lab of psychic super soldiers and climaxing with a doomsday weapon aimed at the heart of Federation space. Kirk is initially sent to investigate the hijacking of a Starfleet vessel. There he meets and (eventually) befriends Ael, commander of Bloodwing , a warship full of defectors from Romulus. Together, the two crews work to keep the simmering tensions between the interstellar powers from boiling over into all-out war. The Rihannsu books provide a densely detailed portrait of Romulan history, philosophy, and culture. You will come to understand the origins of their language, and how it shaped the thinking of their people and their quixotic sense of honor. While all of this is technically non-canon, you can definitely see its influence on the show Picard . If you always wanted to know more about this fascinating yet enigmatic people, Rihannsu and Picard make an excellent pairing.

Buy My Enemy, My Ally at  Amazon

"Metamorphosis"

The Enterprise-D finds a seemingly magic mountain on the planet Elysia. Commander Data is sent to investigate and ends up literally going on a Hero’s Journey, complete with a quest to help a fair maiden by traveling into the underworld. This adventure tests Data to his limits, for at the end awaits a treasure beyond compare, the android’s only wish: to become human. That would be enough to explore for any novel, but  Metamorphosis keeps going past where the credits would normally roll on an episode. We get to follow Data through his awkward first steps of being human, learning how to live with a fragile fleshy body, and coping with his new limitations. My favorite moment is when Data realizes he no longer has all of Starfleet’s databanks in his memory and will have to actually do his homework to prepare for briefings. The story keeps twisting from there, and goes to some pretty ridiculous lengths that I won’t spoil for you. The whole book feels like a metafictional commentary on narrative structure, and I love it just a little bit more every time I read it.

Buy Metamorphosis at  Amazon

"Planet X"

Speaking of ridiculous premises, there was a comic in which the crew of the Enterprise-D entered the Marvel Universe and fought Kang the Conqueror with the help of the X-Men. Even more ridiculous, this novel is a sequel to that comic book. This time, the X-Men end up in the Star Trek universe and help Picard and crew resolve the civil upheaval on a world experiencing mutations in its population. People are developing strange and dangerous powers, and the rest of the society hates and fears them for it. The X-Men find this all too familiar, and together with the Enterprise crew, they manage to bring both sides of the conflict together to find a peaceful way forward. There’s lots of fun bits like characters commenting on the uncanny resemblance between Captain Picard and Charles Xavier, years before Sir Patrick Stewart played the latter role. My personal highlight is Worf and Wolverine fighting X-Men villains together on the holodeck. Is it great literature? No. But it is a fun and weird pop cultural artifact worth exploring if you can find a copy.

Buy Planet X at  Amazon

The Mirror Universe Series

The Mirror Universe is a dark reflection of the Star Trek universe we know and love, and the source of endless “evil twin” plots. Basically, everything is its opposite. In the Mirror Universe, the tolerant and peace-loving United Federation of Planets is actually the xenophobic and warlike Terran Empire. Instead of the collegiate atmosphere of cooperation, these human supremacists are motivated solely by hatred and self-interest. In the Terran Empire, the quickest way to a promotion is literal backstabbing. The rest of the universe is similarly warped, and these books will take you on a guided tour through it all. You will learn the history of the Terran Empire’s bloody rise and catastrophic fall, follow the adventures of a space pirate named Luc Picard, and witness the Klingon-Cardassian Alliance crushing the galaxy beneath its boot heel. Just a few of the bizarre reflections you will witness as these books take you to all your favorite corners of a familiar galaxy to see just how different things could be. Honestly, it reads like what would happen if they tried to do a “darker and grittier” Star Trek reboot. If you enjoyed Discovery’ s voyage to the Mirror Universe, this series is for you.

Buy Dark Mirror at  Amazon

The Cold Equations Series

This series is all about the many different forms of artificial life that exist in the Star Trek galaxy. Doctor Noonien Soong is surprisingly not dead, and leads the crew of the Enterprise-E on a merry chase as he carries out a crazy complicated plan to resurrect his artificial son. On his journey you will learn a great deal about his life and work, as well as the development of Data. Once Soong succeeds in bringing him back, Data proves himself to be a chip off the old block, setting out on a quest to resurrect his departed daughter, Lal. Along the way they discover a secret Fellowship of Artificial Intelligences, from whom they learn the ancient history of artificial life. Of course, it turns out the AIs are scheming to destroy all organic life in the galaxy, but the books take this plot in an unexpected and much more satisfying direction than the more recent Picard . Finally, if you were wondering what the hell happened to Wesley after he vanished from TNG, these books have answers for that, too.

Buy The Persistence of Memory at  Amazon

The Department of Temporal Investigations Series

Time travel is a big no-no in Starfleet. Divergent timelines, alternate histories and temporal revisionism are all frowned upon by the members of the Department of Temporal Investigations. It’s their job to keep people from screwing around in the timestream and rewriting history. If you fly your ship back to the past and pick up a whale, you’ll likely get to have an unpleasant chat with Agents Dulmer and Lucsly. The regulation of time travel is a fertile subject for sci-fi, and this series covers every angle from policing abuses to helping victims of temporal displacement cope with their situation. There are complex political machinations between the different states as they try to agree on responsible rules for time travel. It’s fascinating to witness the debates of a governing body composed of people not just from different places, but also different eras. These books are able to cover (nearly) the entirety of Star Trek history, making narrative connections between almost every time travel event in the canon. It’s a real treat for completist fans, and has a ton of fun playing with all the tropes and toys in the time travel box. The second book in the series is both a sequel and its own prequel. They’re honestly some of the best time travel books I’ve ever read, Star Trek or not.

Buy Watching the Clock at  Amazon

The Klingon Empire     Series    

If you’re tired of reading about very polite and pleasant professionals working together in the post-scarcity utopia of the Federation, perhaps you’ll enjoy a rousing adventure with Star Trek’s beloved space vikings: the Klingons. The Empire must expand again, meaning there is battle, honor and glory to be had—a Klingon’s three favorite things. The first three novels of this series embed you with the crew of the IKS Gorkon on a tour of duty. It’s one of few stories that explores Klingon culture beyond the warrior class. The books use multiple point-of-view characters to paint a complete picture of life in the Empire at all levels of their society, from lowly medics to mighty commanders. It’s also a fun way for fans to catch up with all of the Klingon supporting characters from the shows. And of course, no Klingon tale would be complete without an epic battle. At one point, they pause their war of territorial conquest to fight a civil war on the side over the outcome of an honor duel. If you’ve ever been intrigued by Star Trek’s greatest warriors, the Klingon Empire series will show you a good time.

Buy A Burning House at  Amazon

The Q Continuum Series

This series focuses on the impish immortal prankster Q. He has once again kidnapped Picard to take him on a wild transcendental trip to learn about the secrets of the universe. They go back in time to see Q’s misspent, troublemaking youth and witness the secret history of the Q Continuum. But on this stroll down memory lane, Picard learns about a terrible threat that awaits them beyond the bounds of their galaxy. The Q Continuum is preparing to face its greatest foe, an utterly malevolent being with the ability to reshape reality at will, more powerful than even the Q. Picard and the Enterprise end up playing referee in a battle between gods for the fate of all existence. This series is another treat for completists—through Q’s life story, the novels manage to tie together the most extensive history of the Star Trek universe I had ever read at the time.

Buy Q Space at  Amazon

Star Trek is a fictional universe of unlimited narrative potential, perfectly built to support a never-ending collection of stories. Sometimes I find it hard to believe Star Trek didn’t begin as a novel, as its dense ideas and rich world-building are perfectly suited to the form. These are just a few of my most fondly remembered favorites. It is by no means a complete or ranked list. Any of the listed series will be worth your time, but there’s plenty more where that came from. If there are any great ones I left out, feel free to leave them in the comments.

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Column by BH Shepherd

BH Shepherd is a writer and a DJ from Texas. His short stories have appeared on Thuglit.com and numerous print anthologies. He also writes about comic books at www.docawesome.tumblr.com .

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Star Trek: Reader's Reference to the Novels: 1980-1983 Paperback – October 9, 2002

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• Print length 288 pages
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• Publisher ‏ : ‎ AuthorHouse (October 9, 2002)
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• Paperback ‏ : ‎ 288 pages
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The 15 Best Star Trek Books Ever Written

Like all our favorite franchises, "Star Trek" is a multimedia phenomenon. Today's kids grow up in a world full of TV series, movies, comics, games, and, of course, tie-in novels. "Star Trek" novels are notable because they're non-canon by default, and that's allowed their writers to go ham while exploring strange new worlds. Some of these earliest tie-in writers went on to become science fiction titans, and sometimes those titans like to return for more Trekkie fun.

"Trek" books are also a unique part of the fandom experience. "Star Trek: The New Voyages" was a licensed, two-book anthology, printed in the late '70s and curated from fanfiction. Wilder still, in 1985, writer Della Van Hise saw her "Star Trek" novel "Killing Time" published and recalled for an edited reprint as longtime fans realized their beloved slash fiction pairing of Kirk and Spock was no longer hiding in the shadows. It's a goofy testament to how fans helped "Star Trek" thrive in the first place, and today, these tie-in novels are still great comfort food. These are 15 of the best that I've found, read, and loved over the years.

A Stitch in Time by Andrew Robinson

Elim Garak isn't special to "Star Trek" fans alone. He's also part of actor  Andrew Robinson in a unique way. The charming-yet-wily Cardassian tailor (and spy) called Deep Space Nine his home, but Garak's too big a personality to be contained by its steel corridors (or with a word from Dr. Bashir, his unlikely best friend.) Robinson grew him that way from the start, creating an in-character diary to guide him through Garak's behavior. Garak's diary, however, took on a life of its own as Robinson made readings from it part of his convention appearances. Eventually, Robinson was coaxed into turning it into a novel.

"A Stitch in Time" is epistolary, presented as a series of letters sent by Garak to Dr. Bashir in the wake of the Dominion War. Contained within are fragments of Garak's childhood, memories of a long-ago love, and preparations for the future. The greatest compliment I can offer is that every word drips with Robinson's genteel drawl. No one else could have written this novel, and it's the perfect love letter from an actor to the character he brought to life.

Imzadi by Peter David

"Imzadi" was rereleased in 2003, packaged with its sequel and listed as "Imzadi Forever." By all accounts, the follow-up is a fine tale, but I haven't read it. My recommendation is for the original 1992 release, which I eagerly bought in hardcover. Like another upcoming Peter David selection, "Imzadi" has a complicated timeline, but the emotional thread and David's clean prose make the plot easy to follow.

The word "imzadi" is first used in "Encounter at Farpoint," telepathically sent to Riker by Troi. However, it's author Peter David who expands on the power of the Betazed term for "beloved." The word refers not to a teen's first love but to something richer and deeper. The novel explores Riker's and Troi's early relationship through the lens of a distant, alternate future in which Troi is dead, and Riker is a bitter old cuss. Obviously, nobody wants a future like this one, but the Guardian of Forever, that magical archway from classic "Star Trek," has our backs. The return of this sentient space rock is always a selling point, but the story also has all the political twists and turns a Trekkie could want.

How Much for Just the Planet? by John M. Ford

John M. Ford was one of the best, most underrated writers of the modern era. Until recently, almost all of his work had fallen out of print with his death in 2006. Most of his catalog is still pretty hard to find and requires trawling used bookstores with an eye for treasure. Unfortunately, that includes 1987's "How Much for Just the Planet?" It's Ford's second "Star Trek" novel, and it's a "Dr. Strangelove" -style artifact of perfect absurdity.

"How Much for Just the Planet?" is a surreal sci-fi mélange: Take the crew of the Enterprise, pit them against opportunistic Klingons, and add a previously undiscovered planet full of untouched dilithium. Then, mix in a troupe of truly incomprehensible, goofball aliens, slap everybody in a hotel (with a golf course — it's a plot point), and make them play in a "Squid Game"-style competition that focuses on heists and ballroom dancing instead of murder. The goal is friendship and having some good laughs along the way.

Spock Must Die! by James Blish

The first original "Star Trek" novel is still a good read and a great place to get some context for the ways "Trek" fiction has evolved. "Spock Must Die!" feels fresher than its 1970 print date in many places, but bear in mind, it plays with some "exotic sexuality" tropes regarding Spock. Yeah, he was definitely the unlikely sex symbol of original "Star Trek," but Blish's prose occasionally takes that to a funky place.

Otherwise, this book does introduce some neat concepts way before later "Star Trek" wore them out. The evil clone plot line is a groaner staple now, but Blish's novel twists it up with some unsettling fridge logic questions about how the transporter room could work with some mad science drive. From there, the science is pretty pulpy, but the high-stakes thrills leading up to the title drop — a Spock does have to die — make for a nice, cozy ride through an earlier science fiction era.

Q-Squared by Peter David

Like most "Star Trek” tie-ins, "Q-Squared" isn't canon, but it's close enough to an assumed truth that fans have kind of adopted it anyway. It's a three-lane timeline pileup, and this time, it is a little confusing. It makes sense for there to be some confusion over what the hell is going on because this book brings in John de Lancie's omnipotent trickster, Q . And it's not a Q story unless everyone (including Picard) asks, "What the hell is going on?" at least once.

In this case, what the hell is going on is a tantrum thrown by a young Q whom "Trek" fans know as Trelane, the Squire of Gothos. A longtime "Star Trek" favorite, Trelane was a quirky, omnipotent brat that futzed around with Kirk and his buddies until his family pulled him in line at the end of the episode . David's novel draws on the fan-inspired retcon that this classic character is actually a Q ( a speculation John de Lancie also shares ) and ties it all together in a messy bow. It doesn't always make sense, especially the semi-metaphorical sword fight finale. Still, it's a great trip through the fringes of the Continuum.

Spock's World by Diane Duane

Author Diane Duane is a modern treasure. Her "Young Wizards" fantasy series remains one of the best ways to hook a kid on the dreams hidden inside books. Still writing and still a part of fandom today, she also wrote 1988's "Spock's World," one of the first and best books to dig into the social intricacies and history of Vulcan.

The framing narrative deals with a fledgling separatist movement working to pull Vulcan out of the Federation, and it provides a chance for Spock and his family to take the spotlight. It's a great political yarn, and it pulls on some threads from classic "Trek" episodes, most notably "Amok Time." However, the real meat here is the intricate world building with lingering glimpses of major moments in Vulcan history. It's a great reminder that what makes "Star Trek" so special are the worlds it explores. Although "Spock's World" is not canon, Duane's graceful creation continues to influence other "Star Trek" creators .

The Last Best Hope by Una McCormack

With the debut of every new "Star Trek" TV series, you can rest assured that a swath of new tie-in novels are in the works. Obviously, the tie-in tradition continued with "Picard." The first novel based on Jean-Luc's solo outing was published within a month of the show's premiere. "The Last Best Hope" is a prequel to " Picard ," and it does a solid job of fleshing out a number of connections that the first season didn't get a chance to work on.

Though a lot of the novel is devoted to Raffi , the troubled intelligence officer we grow to love on the show, it's the glimpses of Romulan culture that stand out. The religious order introduced in the show, the Qowat Milat , are in sharp focus here and help round out the childhood of Elnor , our orphaned Romulan Legolas. "The Last Best Hope" has another trait that may make it attractive to fans of the show: Until "Picard" contradicts it, this book is currently as close to actual canon as a "Star Trek" novel can be.

Star Trek: The Eugenics War by Greg Cox

It's easier to refer to this bulk recommendation as "The Khan Trilogy." The first two novels are formally titled "The Eugenics War: The Rise and Fall of Khan Noonien Singh" ( volumes one and two , respectively), and the third is "To Reign in Hell: The Exile of Khan Noonien Singh." The trilogy is two parts covert war thriller and one part survivalist nightmare. All together, it pieces together the complete life of one of the mightiest (and bare-chestiest) foes in "Star Trek" history .

"The Eugenics War" is a look inside the doomed effort to prevent that legendary conflict from ever happening. As mentioned in the classic episode "Space Seed," eugenicist science created a social schism the likes of which Marvel's Magneto barely dreamed of. The effort to stop Khan from dominating Earth fails, but infighting eventually drives the tyrant into exile. The events of "Space Seed" happen after the first two books, and the final novel sees Khan struggle to survive on Ceti Alpha V , the sandy death-world we discover in "The Wrath of Khan," surrounded by loyalists and scarce resources. Great stuff.

The Final Reflection by John M. Ford

My prior John M. Ford recommendation may have the spotlight, but don't pass up "The Final Reflection" if you can find it. While not as richly built as Diane Duane's "Spock's World," Ford's book treats Klingons with such detail and complexity that it went on to affect later portrayals of the proud warrior race. It's a book that's occasionally lauded as a "Star Trek" novel that stands on its own as a great work of science fiction, which is a backhanded compliment that ignores the love and passion of "Trek" writers. Nevertheless, that is an accurate assessment here.

The focus of the book is on Klingon Captain Krenn, whose decades-long effort to prevent his own people from destroying the Federation remains a secret until he pens his own chronicle of events. During his career, Krenn flickers in and out of the lives of the characters we know, with special emphasis placed on his encounter with Spock as a child. There's some hefty focus on Klingon stratagems in the early part of the novel, which can be daunting for the reader, but the journey is worth it.

Fallen Heroes by Dafydd ab Hugh

"Fallen Heroes" is a sentimental choice. It's one of my gruesome comfort food books. Pairing the horrific invasion of DS9 with a time-shifted mystery, the novel puts Quark and Odo together as ad hoc detectives trying to stop the massacre of their friends from happening. It's not a perfect tale, and, coming back to it later, it misses some character tone due to how early in the show's airing it was published. Still, it's a good yarn from a time when we were starved for stories that put our best frenemies together.

Author Dafydd ab Hugh has a gift for crunchy, visceral action sequences, and that got him a pretty decent gig writing "Doom" tie-ins in the '90s. It's best to go in with the reminder that, according to the classic "Star Trek” fiction trope, our heroes will be alright by the end, but there's some gnarly road before this book gets there. "Fallen Heroes," like many older tie-in novels, is easily found used.

Q-In-Law by Peter David

Peter David gets on this list three times because, along with his clean prose and keen understanding of the franchise, he also understands what a fan would kill to see. "Star Trek: The Next Generation" has an embarrassment of riches when it comes to great recurring characters, and two fan favorites take the spotlight in "Q-In Law." The omnipotent Q is a guaranteed good time, but adding Deanna Troi's dramatic mother Lwaxana to the mix makes for a salty popcorn festival.

The premise is simple: Noticing that the Enterprise is ready to host a wedding, Q shows up with mischief on his mind. Lwaxana arrives for the diplomatic event, and Q picks up on the Betazed noble's talent for chaos. However, for once in his life, Q gets more than he bargained for when he flirts with Lwaxana. Somewhere in the mayhem, Worf notes the crew might as well sell tickets to watch it all fall apart. I recommend tracking down the audiobook . It's narrated by John de Lancie and Majel Barrett-Roddenberry (Q and Lwaxana themselves), and they happily go all in on the verbal sparring.

Prime Directive by Judith and Garfield Reeves-Stevens

The Prime Directive is one of the few immutable tenets of the "Star Trek” universe. However, Starfleet General Order 1 is not without its flaws. To wit, no Starfleet command or crew is to interfere with the development of an alien society. It's a Cold War product that was designed by minds worried about escalation and accidental destruction. Judith and Garfield Reeves-Stevens' "Prime Directive," published in 1990, digs into what happens when that order is disobeyed.

In both the original series and the movies, Kirk and his crew rarely receive lasting consequences for their actions. This novel sets about dismantling that trope. Kirk, in charge of observing Talin IV, a world on the cusp of first contact, seems to accidentally violate the Prime Directive. Worse, his mistake devastates the developing Talin society. From Kirk to Uhura, the command crew of the Enterprise see their careers ended for their failure. The bulk of the novel is the long process of the crew (who have either resigned, been demoted to ensign, or court-martialed) seeking out what actually went wrong on Talin IV. The answers are complex, and the ethical questions are thought-provoking.

Sarek by A.C. Crispin

Author A.C. Crispin was a key figure in not only helping readers understand that tie-in novels shouldn't be dismissed as "amateur" content but also in protecting other writers from being scammed. Her talents as a writer provided light but intricate stories. "Sarek" (not to be confused with the phenomenal "Next Generation" episode of the same name ) is a rich look at one of "Star Trek's" most complicated figures .

"Sarek" is a political thriller tempered by Sarek's sometimes cold Vulcan discipline. A veiled threat from an unknown alien race aims to unbalance the core of the Federation. Balanced against these high stakes is the famed Vulcan ambassador's wife's illness. Amanda Grayson 's humanity helped both Sarek and Spock bridge their two worlds. However, her impending loss threatens to undo the peace father and son forged years ago. In the book, Amanda's journal provides empathetic glimpses inside Sarek's life. "Sarek" is a novel as crucial as "Spock's World" for fans of the iconic Vulcans.

Uhura's Song by Janet Kagan

Uhura 's popularity was a big deal for television back when "Star Trek" first came on the air. Unfortunately, moments in which she took the lead were all too rare. By 1985, Uhura was still a supporting character on screen, but now, she had a couple of novels that gave her some more in-depth attention. "Uhura's Song" is the best and, frankly, the weirdest slice of fanfic-style glory to make it to the printed page.

Long ago, Uhura made friends with a woman named Sunfall of Ennien, a diplomat from the planet Eaiaou, whose love of dance and song outlived her when a deadly pandemic decimated her world. However, there's a clue in the songs Sunfall taught Uhura that might help end the pandemic before it wipes out the whole planet. This is where I have to warn you that this strange and lovely novel is basically "Warrior Cats” in space. Yes, the people of Eaiaou are cat people — with emphasis on the cat side of that equation. Shut up! It's awesome!

Metamorphosis by Jean Lorrah

This last pick is going to be a divisive one. Jean Lorrah 's "Metamorphosis" is a chunky book that lags in a few places, but it does two things well enough to get a sentimental recommendation: First, though non-canon, the book picks up after "Measure of a Man," the "Next Generation" episode that gave Data legal protection as a sentient lifeform and explores the ethical aftermath in a way that's catnip to me. Second, the novel makes the acerbic Dr. Pulaski somewhat likable and empathetic. Now, that's an achievement!

Although there's a handful of plot threads going on in this large, lumpy novel, the biggest one is Data's temporary tenure as what he's wanted to become all along — a fleshy human (with all that entails). As anyone who rolls out of bed to the symphony of their bones cracking could tell the android, it's not all it's cracked up to be. Still, he persists in a weird kind of hero's journey, and although everything is set back to baseline by the end, the trip is one of a kind.

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Published Dec 6, 2019

Simon & Schuster and 40 Years of Star Trek Publishing

Writer Dayton Ward takes us through the publishing world of Star Trek, beginning with the release of 'The Motion Picture.'

StarTrek.com

Forty years ago this month, Star Trek returned in a big way with the theatrical release of Star Trek: The Motion Picture . During the decade following the original series’ cancelation, fans of Captain Kirk, Mister Spock, and the voyages of the Starship Enterprise had to satisfy themselves with reruns of those 79 episodes, rare sightings of Star Trek: The Animated Series , and whatever merchandise they happened to find here and there. Toys, models, and games were among the most common items, along with a host of fan-created publications, as well as the occasional comic book from Gold Key Publishing or novel from Bantam books.

Bantam’s license was drawing to a close at the end of the 1970s in lieu of a new home for Star Trek publishing: Simon & Schuster. Through its imprints Wallaby Books, Wanderer Books, and Pocket Books, S&S set out to unleash their new license in bold fashion with sixteen titles planned to tie into the then upcoming big-budget Star Trek film. A staggered rollout of new books and other tie-ins aimed at adults and kids began in the months leading up to the movie’s release on December 7th, 1979.

As we celebrate the first Star Trek feature film’s 40th anniversary this month, we also commemorate four decades of Star Trek publishing by taking a look back at how it all began:

Things kicked off in admittedly modest fashion starting in September 1979 with two calendars and the first title aimed at younger fans. The Star Trek: The Motion Picture Stardate Calendar 1980 was your typical wall calendar featuring full-color publicity photos and stills from the new film. If desk planners were more your speed, you could instead select The Official U.S.S. Enterprise Officer’s Date Book: 1980 Desk Calendar , which included 52 black-and-white photos, each partnered with a weekly planning page.

Rounding out September’s offerings was the Star Trek: The Motion Picture Make-Your-Own Costume Boo k. Written by Lynn Edelman Schnurnberger, this book offers a guide to creating several of the film’s new uniforms and alien wardrobe designs. While none of the resulting creations could ever be confused with something seen on screen, the book is still a fun early entry in what would become the cosplay segment of Star Trek fandom. It also has a preface written by Robert Fletcher, the movie’s costume designer.

Simon & Schuster really started getting serious in October with three more releases. First up, Star Trek Speaks , written by Gene Roddenberry’s longtime personal assistant, Susan Sackett, along with Fred Goldstein and Stan Goldstein. A tie-in to the original series rather than the new film, it’s a collection of memorable, inspirational, and thought-provoking quotes from various episodes and ordered into themes and topics including “Society and Government,” “Men and Women,” “Science and Technology,” and “War and Peace.”

Also released was the Star Trek: The Motion Picture Peel-Off Graphics Book . Assembled by artist Carole Lee Cole, who served as a graphic designer for the film, the book was stuffed with decals depicting the signage Cole created for the refit U.S.S. Enterprise as well as Starfleet Headquarters, the Epsilon IX outpost, and the space station where Admiral Kirk reunites with his former chief engineer, Montgomery Scott. Kids — and those of us who still act like kids — found plenty of places to put those decals, but of course we bought a second copy of the book to keep minty-fresh and collectable.

Rounding out the month’s releases was the Star Trek: Spaceflight Chronology . This oversized trade paperback posited a timeline of human space exploration beginning with the first unmanned satellite launches in the 1950s through what was then believed to be the launch of the new film’s refit U.S.S. Enterprise in the 23rd century. The book is filled to overflowing with news reports, official “log entries,” personal anecdotes, and other details as written by Stan and Fred Goldstein. Their text accompanies page after page of line-art and full page paintings by longtime Star Trek veteran Rick Sternbach. Though the book itself as been rendered all but obsolete, not just by real history but also the future imagined by subsequent Star Trek films and television series, the Spaceflight Chronology remains a solid, fan-favorite reference work.

By comparison, November was a quiet month as it featured only a single release: The Star Trek Make-A-Game Book . Though it didn’t carry the logo from the new film, cover photos leave no doubt it was meant as a tie-in. Written and illustrated by Bruce and Greg Nash, it contains everything required for kids (and grown-ups who are still children at heart) to assemble their own fairly simple board game pitting the Starship Enterprise against Klingon battle cruisers. There were and are more complex Star Trek board games out there, but having to punch out and assemble the various pieces might appeal to a budding arts and crafts fan.

December brought not only Star Trek: The Motion Picture ’s theatrical release but also Gene Roddenberry’s novelization of the film. Released in mass-market paperback along with a limited edition hardcover, Roddenberry’s adaptation of Harold Livingston’s screenplay was Pocket Book’s first Star Trek novel under their new license, a publishing venture which continues to thrive. As far back as the late 1970s, Roddenberry was known to be working to publish a novel based on an un-produced Star Trek script, "The God Thing." Despite several attempts, the project never came to fruition. As for his novelization of Star Trek: The Motion Picture , Simon & Schuster celebrated its 40th anniversary earlier this year with a new trade paperback edition as well as making it available in e-Book formats and even commissioning a brand-new audiobook adaptation narrated by frequent Star Trek reader Robert Petkoff.

Accompanying the novelization was The U.S.S. Enterprise Bridge Punch-Out Book , which provides everything needed to assemble a cardstock model of the refit starship’s brand-new and shiny command center as seen in the film. Written by Tor Lokvig and illustrated by Chuck Murphy, it was designed to work without scissors or glue, this made for an easy craft project aimed at younger fans.

A new year did not mean an end to new products tying into the movie. Toys, games, and other items kept coming, and remained true for Simon & Schuster. Arriving in January 1980 was the Star Trek: The Motion Picture Blueprints . As Franz Joseph had done for the original series Enterprise just five years earlier, artist David Kimble with the assistance of art designers Andrew Probert and Carole Lee Cole created technical drawings not just for the refit starship as well as the new Klingon battle cruisers and other vessels seen in the film. The resulting 14 drawings came packaged in a vinyl envelop similar to that used for Joseph’s original “construction plans.”

Alongside the blueprints came Star Trek: The Motion Picture – The Photostory . Such books, including the set of 12 “ Star Trek Fotonovels” published by Bantam Books between 1977-1980, were popular in the age before home video. Edited by Richard J. Anobile, the book contained hundreds of color stills from the film accompanied by dialogue and thoughts rendered in the style of comic book word balloons and caption boxes.

February brought new reading for fans interested in what happened behind the scenes of the new film. The Making of Star Trek: The Motion Picture , which chronicles the journey of Star Trek ’s revival from a new television series as envisioned in 1975 to the feature film’s release four years later. Written by Susan Sackett and with a preface by Gene Roddenberry, the book offers a detailed account from Sackett’s point of view as well as anecdotes and other accounts provided by members of the movie’s production crew and cast.

Also released in February were two more books aimed at younger readers. Another collaboration between writer Tor Lokvig and artist Chuck Murphy, The U.S.S. Enterprise Punch-Out Book is another cardstock model project for the craftier fans. Lokvig and Murphy also brought readers Star Trek: The Motion Picture – The Pop-Up Book , which retells the film’s story in a series of wonderful illustrations including pop-up versions of the new Enterprise , Klingon warships, and even V’ger itself.

For March, Pocket Books released something of a companion to Susan Sackett’s earlier behind-the-scenes account with Chekov’s Enterprise: A Personal Journal of the Making of Star Trek: The Motion Picture . Originally written by actor Walter Koenig as an “on-set diary” during the film’s production, the book naturally offers insight into the day-to-day happenings from his point of view, from reuniting with his fellow cast members to dealing with the obstacles that come with a such a complicated project and the challenge to “get it right.” It’s a wonderful, personal look at what it took to bring about Star Trek ’s return.

While not originally part of Simon & Schuster’s plans, Pocket Books still was able to publish a paperback edition of Marvel Comics' version of Star Trek: The Motion Picture . Written by Marv Wolfman and illustrated by Dave Cockrum and Klaus Johnson, this comics adaptation originally appeared as a magazine-sized “Super Special” at the time of the film’s release. It also served as the first three issues of Marvel’s monthly Star Trek comic. For this edition, the individual art panels were freed from their original layout to facilitate reading in paperback form.

Of all the titles Simon & Schuster slated for publication as promotions to the new film, only one, the Star Trek: The Motion Picture Iron-On Transfer Book , failed to materialize. Even with mixed reviews, the film itself generated significant merchandising revenue and created or revitalized fan interest enough for Simon & Schuster to launch a publishing program that continues to this day.

The human adventure, on the screen as well as the page, was truly just beginning.

Dayton Ward (he/him) is a New York Times bestselling author or co-author of numerous novels and short stories, including a whole bunch of stuff set in the Star Trek universe, and often working with friend and co-writer Kevin Dilmore. As he’s still a big ol' geek at heart, Dayton is known to wax nostalgic about all manner of Star Trek topics over on his own blog, The Fog of Ward .

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The Best Star Trek Books for the Final Frontier

Ann-Marie Cahill

Ann-Marie Cahill will read anything and everything. From novels to trading cards to the inside of CD covers (they’re still a thing, right?). A good day is when her kids bring notes home from school. A bad day is when she has to pry a book from her kids’ hands. And then realizes where they get it from. The only thing Ann-Marie loves more than reading is travelling. She has expensive hobbies.

View All posts by Ann-Marie Cahill

Reading: My Final Frontier. This is the year 2020 and I have all but given up on my mission: to regain some reading mojo; to seek out new books and ideas; to boldly read books I have not read before. And yet, my brain just can’t. It’s rough. I feel like the energy needed to read a new book would be enough to power the USS Enterprise. By now, you have probably picked up on the theme here: I have journeyed home to seek out guidance from books I have already read, explored, and loved. Yeah, I went searching for the best Star Trek books. I wanted to reconnect with the very spirit of the Federation itself.

Herein lies the trap, the Kobayashi Maru of my mission to read the best Star Trek books. It is a no-win scenario because I am not the same person today compared to the first time I read a Star Trek novel (many many moons ago). Not only has my reading style changed, so too have my expectations on the creative minds behind the LONG list of Star Trek novels. Most noticeably, I would expect some diversity in the authors. Since the first publication of Star Trek 1 by James Blish in 1967, there have been over 850 Star Trek novels, short story anthologies, novelisations, and omnibus editions (!!). I’m not entirely sure if this includes the comics as well but if not, the number would be closer to 1000.

Out of all of these, I can count the writers of color on one hand. Now, given we are talking about science fiction literature which, unfortunately, is renowned for its history being comparable to a very masculine White Dwarf Star. However, we are also talking about Star Trek, a geek culture unto itself considered to be the pinnacle of utopian diversity and opportunity for all. And while I can comfortably find some gender diversity in the authorship, I no longer believe our idealistic future is going to be based on the heavily influenced white-washed western culture as portrayed in the Hollywood perspective.

For the sole purpose of revisiting the Star Trek novels, I have scanned my favourites based on the diversity of authors and/characters. Previous Book Riot articles have delved into the best of the series, even touching on the best way to read Star Trek books. Peter Damien shared his favourites here , while Kristen McQuinn has a great and detailed list of her own here .

Where To Start

Of course, with over 850 books to work with, any list of “favourites” is going to seem a little overwhelming. Let’s find a sensible starting point.

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It all depends on what you are looking for. Do you know the franchise really really well? Or does your foundation knowledge extend as far as Chris Hemsworth’s iconic opening scene in the movie reboot? (Now there’s a character portrayal to motivate my reading mojo). You could start in chronological order or you could pick out your favourite movie/TV storyline and find the books to continue from there.

Personally, I’m going with the core elements of Star Trek. There are plenty of books to expand on specific storylines or pivotal plotholes. However, my preference has always been for books to expand on the very soul of Star Trek. If you are new to Star Trek books, these suggestions will shine a light on the ‘bones’ of the Star Trek Universe: the Prime Directive, Starfleet Academy, First Contact, the Klingons, the Vulcans. For any Trekkies, the same books will remind you how well these stories can come together. And just to make it easier for us all, I have grouped the books within the television series. Sometimes the stories can crossover, so I’ve added a final group for those books too. 

No matter where you start, there is a fair consistency of facts and style across all Star Trek novels (minus any reboots). Star Trek fans are known for their attention to detail and their demand for consistency. Gene Roddenberry (the original creator) was a supporter of fan fiction and the initial fanzine, Spocknalia . He considered any fan fiction to be a compliment, a statement of their love and passion for the series – which was exactly what he had hoped to gain from the television series.

The Best Star Trek: The Original Series Books (ST:OS)

The Kobayashi Maru by Julia Ecklar

There are a handful of phrases you will hear throughout the Star Trek series, no matter where you start. One of these is the Kobayashi Maru: a training exercise given to every cadet who aspires to join Starfleet. The ultimate goal is to rescue the civilian vessel Kobayashi Maru in a simulation battle with the Klingons. There is no ‘win’ in this scenario, making the test more about character than skill or knowledge. In The Kobayashi Maru , Ecklar tells the story of four separate characters from ST:OS, giving us great insight through their varied approaches to the infamous test. I consider this to be The Starting Book for Star Trek Novels because it gives us the best character foundations while providing strategic insight to the philosophies of Starfleet Academy itself.

Prime Directive by Judith and Garfield Reeves-Stevens

The Prime Directive is the first and foremost rule, the guiding principle of Starfleet. It prohibits all Starfleet members from interfering with the natural development of any civilisation. The key determinant is whether the civilisation has passed a recognised milestone in technological, scientific, and cultural development. Prime Directive is the best Star Trek novel to challenge this principle and show some serious ethical analysis through the eyes of the original characters. The Reeves-Stevens team are considered the best at capturing the canonical characterisations of the Enterprise crew. From Kirk through to Nichols, each character is allowed to show their belief in the system and their need to question its validity. Prime Directive is one of my absolute favourites.

Spock’s World by Diane Duane

One of the most familiar, if not THE most familiar character is Spock. His mixed human-Vulcan heritage provided the bond between space-travelling humans and alien races across the Universe. The Vulcans themselves were always fascinating, in both history and characterisation. They are a race who have chosen logic and reasoning above all other experiences, detached from their emotions. In Spock’s World, Vulcan is planning to secede from the United Federation of Planets. Spock and the crew of the USS Enterprise have been called to Vulcan to help guide through this political and social mess. Woven within the chief storyline are chapters of Vulcan’s history, philosophy, and culture. This is a lovely display of the importance of cultural identity and heritage with the evolution of any society; a key concept of the Star Trek Universe.

Uhura’s Song by Janet Kagan

I always felt like Lt. Uhura was a minor character with the lesser role of Communications Officer. While her character grew over time, the role was never given its full due. For me, Uhura’s Song fills the gap and expands the roles of crew members. The key to this story is communication; between Uhura and her friends, and amongst the cat-like beings of Eeiauo who have preserved their cultural history in song. I always have a soft spot for anything to do with intangible culture property, but Uhura’s Song brings it out in a spectacular performance.

Pawns and Symbols by Majliss Larson

I’ll be honest with you: this is not the best Star Trek book; HOWEVER, it is one of the more memorable depictions of Klingons. The Klingons were the original foes to our earthly counterparts and a stark contrast to the Vulcans. In the earlier stories, it was easy to rely on the bloodthirsty honour system of the Klingons as a way of pushing the story through battle scenes. Larson digs deeper into the Klingon culture beyond war and battles. Here we meet scientists, doctors, and civilians. If you are exploring the established alien races within the Star Trek world, Pawns and Symbols is the starting point for the Klingons.

The Best Star Trek: Next Generation Books (ST:NG)

The Devil’s Heart by Carmen Carter

ST:NG is really the television series to thank for the Star Trek reboot. Sure, the movies were great, but it took Captain Picard and his crew to re-establish the Star Trek Universe, balancing the science fiction action with the sociological analysis it was renown for. There are plenty of ST:NG novels where they capture the excitement of the episodes and the fun of the characters. However, my list today is more about the soul of Star Trek, the yearning to explore space and embrace the diversity out there. Carter captures this essence, balancing the scientific discovery with respect for cultural heritage. Captain Jean-Luc Picard truly is the best Star Trek captain to carry this story.

The Best Star Trek: Voyager Books (ST:V)

Homecoming by Christie Golden

Homecoming is the ultimate book for any Voyager fans left wanting at the end of the series. However, don’t go thinking this is simply a ‘closure book’. Golden has taken some of the core elements of Voyager and brought them back to life in the ongoing story of the Federation. The goal of the Starfleet is to travel and explore further afield, and Homecoming addresses all the issues they bring back with them.

The Best Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Books (ST: DS9)

The Never-Ending Sacrifice by Una McCormack

McCormack has a few Star Trek novels spread across all time periods but I love her best when she is delving into the dark political subterfuge seeded in ST: DS9. I will warn you: The Never-Ending Sacrifice is not a ‘light-touch’. It focuses on the fall of the Cardassians, bringing heart and soul to a historical epic, tying in with the infamous Dominion War. You do not have to be a Star Trek fan to love this book. It’s more like a passionate invite to jump into the television series after you read this.

NB: If you are just starting your Star Trek journey with the new live-action series Picard , you should also check out McCormack’s The Last Best Hope , set as a prequel for the series. I haven’t read it yet but I have heard good things about it.

Night of the Wolves (Star Trek: Terok Nor #2) by S.D. Perry and Britta Dennison

This is the second book of the Terok Nor trilogy; Perry and Dennison wrote books two and three after James Swallow opened the series with Day of the Vipers . The trilogy is set before ST: DS9, before the Dominion War, during the Occupation of Bajor. It is not a spoiler when I say, “This does not end well”. Rather, it gives the necessary backstory to what was the key political issue leading into DS9. Perry and Dennison have stayed true to the characters and the experiences that shaped them. There are plenty of tie-ins, and they really help to connect with the storyline. Yes, it will help reading Swallow’s book first but I warn you: Swallow’s book is REALLY plot-heavy reading and you will want to pick up Night of the Wolves almost immediately afterwards, just to help with processing the storyline.

The Best Star Trek: Enterprise Books (ST:E)

Surak’s Soul by J.M. Dillard

Enterprise , as a series, had the unfortunate burden of all prequel series – it was limited to what came before it. It is a bit harder to find high-quality books which still cover the core elements of the Star Trek Universe as a whole. The best I can find is Surak’s Soul by J.M. Dillard. Giving the limelight to Enterprise’s only Vulcan character allows some discussion on the role Vulcans played in Earth’s earlier space adventures. It also gives us insight into how other alien species would manage to live with Earth-humans. In light of T’Pol’s existential crisis, I would say not well. I’m not totally surprised but it makes for a good story.

The Best Star Trek: Discovery Books (ST:D)

The Way to the Stars by Una McCormack

ST:D is fairly new in the Star Trek Universe, so the selection of novels available is still in its early days. It seems fitting to then recommend what is essentially a coming-of-age story for one of the awkward yet ambitious characters in the show: Sylvia Tilly. And to be fair, Tilly is probably one of the more relatable characters too. By the time we reach Discovery in the television-timeline, most of the core concepts have been played out. If you are looking for novels after watching Discovery , then Tilly’s story is a great starting point. McCormack builds a family history that blends Tilly’s formative years with the established culture of “Federation Families” – those who have name, status, and presence within the system already.

The Best Star Trek Anthologies, Cross-overs, and Novelisation

Federation by Judith and Garfield Reeves-Stevens

Many fans are attracted to the Star Trek novels in hope of a crossover. When the move Generations was released, fans rejoiced at the idea of Captains Kirk and Picard mixing it up. While the movie was…okay…this is definitely a moment where the book is better. Federation is everything Generations should have been. The Reeves-Stevens team remain true to the established characters and successfully balance the stories across both past and future. For fans of the Original Series looking to jump over to Next Generation, or vice versa, this one bridges the gap.

Duty, Honor, Redemption by Vonda McIntyre

For fans of the movies who have never watched the television series (or read the books), you can always start with novelisations of the movies. Hardcore fans will always tell you the best films are Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, Star Trek III: The Search for Spock, and Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home. McIntyre brings all three movies into one hardy book, expanding on the movies and incorporating additional details to fill out the stories

The Lives of Dax (Anthology) Edited by Marco Palmieri

This anthology includes stories by stories by Steven Barnes, Michael Jan Friedman, L.A. Graf, Jeffrey Lang, and several others. That’s a big team of writers, but then, Dax is a big character – figuratively speaking. Dax is a worm-like symbiote who is joined body and soul with a diverse range of humanoid hosts. This collection of short stories is not just a backstory to one of my favourite Star Trek characters; it is also an example of the diversity of all characters within the Star Trek universe. Not only is each host different but the combination of host and symbiote creates differences too. This is simply a reflection of our own interactions creating unique relationships and experiences as a result of the combination we make with other people.

And on that note, I will end my very long list of the best Star Trek books. Somewhere in this list is your ticket to an amazing literary universe filled with utopian ideals and exploration. But who says you can only choose one?

Be bold! Read them all!

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Star Trek Fandom and Tabletop Gaming

• Roleplaying
• The Golden Age

TOS Top 25 Novels

In addition to the Taurus Reach novel series, the following 25 books are rated by DeepSpaceSpines.com as some of the best novels among the vast inventory of published TOS era books.

• The Entropy Effect  (TOS #2), by Vonda McIntyre
• Yesterday’s Son  (TOS #11), by Ann Crispin
• The Wounded Sky   (TOS #13), by Diane Duane
• The Final Reflection  (TOS #16), by John M. Ford
• My Enemy, My Ally  (TOS #18), by Diane Duane
• The Tears of the Singers  (TOS #19), by Melinda Snodgrass
• Uhura’s Song  (TOS #21), by Janet Kagan
• Dwellers in the Crucible   (TOS #25), by Margaret Wander Bonanno
• Mindshadow  (TOS #27), by J.M. Dillard
• Enterprise: The First Adventure  (TOS event novel), by Vonda McIntyre
• Strangers from the Sky  (TOS event novel), by Margaret Wander Bonanno
• The Romulan Way   (TOS #35), by Diane Duane
• Time for Yesterday   (TOS #39), by Ann Crispin
• The Three-Minute Universe  (TOS #41), by Barbara Paul
• Spock’s World   (TOS event novel), by Diane Duane
• The Cry of the Onlies  (TOS #46), by Judy Klass
• The Kobayashi Maru  (TOS #47), by Julia Ecklar
• Doctor’s Orders  (TOS #50), by Diane Duane
• Prime Directive  (TOS event novel), by Judith and Garfield Reeves-Stevens
• The Disinherited  (TOS #59), by Peter David, Michael Jan Friedman, and Robert Greenberger
• Sanctuary  (TOS #61), by John Vornholt
• The Starship Trap   (TOS #64), by Mel Gilden
• Shadows on the Sun   (TOS event novel), by Michael Jan Friedman
• Sarek  (TOS event novel), by Ann Crispin
• Crossroad  (TOS #71), by Barbara Hambly
• Star Trek Novels

What Is Classic Trek?

Hi, I’m Stan, and I like to read and write about the Golden Age of Star Trek, which (in novels, comics, and games) continues to the present day. If you like The Original Series, and like roleplaying or wargames, follow this blog. Over time I hope to build a community of great fan resources for reading and gaming.

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Pocket Books

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Pocket Books is a publishing imprint, a subsidiary of Simon & Schuster . It is the imprint under which all current Star Trek mass-market paperback novels are published. It also released hardcover and trade paperback novels and reference works until an editorial reorganization at Simon & Schuster in 2009 , when those formats were incorporated into a new imprint, Gallery Books .

The origins of the company date back to 1939, with the publication of the first paperback books in the US by Robert Fair de Graff. Previously, books were only published in hardcover, and often priced at several dollars apiece – beyond the means of most people during the Depression. The success of paperback publishing in Germany and the UK led to de Graff's efforts, which, being sold at 25 cents each, were much more affordable. In addition to carefully selecting his titles, de Graff sought to establish new channels of distribution, such as drug stores, five and dime stores, and department stores – all places that, prior to his efforts, had not sold books. de Graff presented his idea to several publishers before Simon & Schuster decided it was worth a look. To this end, Pocket Books was formed.

Simon & Schuster purchased the company in 1966. In 1975, Simon & Schuster, and thus Pocket Books, was sold to Gulf+Western (which had also bought Paramount Pictures in 1966), and was incorporated into Viacom in 2002.

The Pocket Books logo is a kangaroo named "Gertrude".

• 1.1 Publications
• 1.2 Chronology and continuity in the Pocket novels
• 1.3 Star Trek editors
• 2 Pocket Star Books
• 3 Further reading
• 4 External links

The Star Trek license [ ]

Pocket acquired the license to publish Star Trek fiction in 1978 when Gulf+Western owner Charles Bluhdorn requested the development of a Star Trek book line as a promotional tie-in for the first Star Trek film , Star Trek: The Motion Picture , this despite the fact that Bantam Books was in the process of publishing original novels based upon the TOS era. A total of sixteen titles, both novels and reference books , were intended to coincide with the premiere of the film, which included a desk engagement calendar titled Star Trek: The Motion Picture - The Official USS Enterprise Officer's Date Book (1980) , the first of its kind for the franchise . ( Playboy magazine, January 1980, p. 310) However, due to the film's mixed reception, only about half of these were ultimately released. One of these, the December 1979 novelization of that movie, was the company's first Star Trek novel, and marked the start of a long-running role for the company as the sole officially-licensed publisher for Star Trek novels, reference works and calendars in all forms and formats.

David G. Hartwell was instrumental in getting the initial Star Trek license and authors for the series, and was the first editor of the line.

The Bantam and Pocket Books licenses overlapped; as a result, while Pocket did publish the TMP novelization in 1979, Bantam continued to publish original novels based on the series until 1981; as a result, the first original Pocket Books novel, The Entropy Effect , did not appear until June 1981, several months after the April 1981 publication of the final Bantam novel, Death's Angel .

As the number of Star Trek series increased, and novels for each series slotted into the publishing schedule, Pocket reached a peak of publishing two mass-market paperbacks a month, a pattern which continued for ten years until 2005, when it was reduced to one per month.

On the title pages of many Star Trek novels from the early 2000s onward, a location from that novel is included as an additional Pocket Books office.

As already indicated, Pocket Books also retained the license to release Star Trek reference books in the US. Their first title was the 1979 Star Trek Speaks , published under the imprint " Wallaby Books " in reference to the publisher's logo – as a wallaby is a smaller species of kangaroo – , and an imprint brand which, like the " Wanderer Books " imprint for juvenile readers, was also used for Star Trek titles on occasion in that period. Publication outside the US was sub-licensed to (amongst others) Titan Books for the UK market, Heyne Verlag , VGS Verlag and Heel Verlag for the German market, Fanucci Editore for the Italian market, and Dai-X and Bunkasha for Japan, in translation where applicable. Incidentally, as if to reflect the popularity Star Trek enjoyed in these markets, Germany, Japan and, at some distance, Italy were the countries which saw the most translated reference book titles by far, starting with those published by Pocket Books.

Due to perceived diminishing interest in these kind of works, the number of new reference publications dropped sharply after 2002. Licenses to publish reference books were eventually extended to other publishers, starting in 2009 when Titan Books published Star Trek - The Art of the Film . Abrams Books , 47North , and Eaglemoss Collections in particular have since also been additionally contracted to release licensed Star Trek reference books.

On 29 March 2016 , it was announced that Pocket Books, in conjunction with CBS Consumer Products , would be offering over 700 Star Trek titles as DRM-free eBooks. [1]

Beginning in 2017 , the Star Trek: Discovery novels were published under Gallery Books . Over the next few years, other Pocket titles began migrating to that imprint, beginning with Available Light ( TNG ) and The Captain's Oath ( TOS ) in May 2019 . From that point forward, all series previously under Pocket Books were published as Gallery Books.

Publications [ ]

• Star Trek (1979-present)
• Star Trek: The Original Series (1979-present)
• Star Trek Photostories (1980-1982)
• Star Trek: The Next Generation (1988-present)
• Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (1993-present)
• Star Trek: Voyager (1995-present)
• Star Trek: Enterprise (2001-present)
• Star Trek: Starfleet Academy (1993-1998)
• Star Trek: New Frontier (1997-present)
• Star Trek: Starfleet Corps of Engineers (2000-present)
• Star Trek: Stargazer (2000-2004)
• Star Trek: Klingon Empire (2003-present)
• Star Trek: The Lost Era (2003-present)
• Star Trek: Titan (2005-present)
• Star Trek: Vanguard (2005-2012)
• Star Trek: Mirror Universe (2007-present)
• Alternate Reality (2009-2013)
• Star Trek: Starfleet Academy (2010-2011)
• Star Trek: Department of Temporal Investigations (2011-present)
• Star Trek: Seekers (2014-2015)
• Star Trek: Coda (2021)
• Star Trek Speaks (1979, as "Wallaby Books")
• Star Trek Spaceflight Chronology (1979, as "Wallaby Books")
• Star Trek: The Motion Picture Make-Your-Own Costume Book (1979, as "Wallaby Books")
• Star Trek: The Motion Picture Peel-Off Graphics Book (1979, as "Wallaby Books")
• Star Trek: The Motion Picture The USS Enterprise Bridge Punch-Out Book (1979, as "Wanderer Books")
• The Making of Star Trek: The Motion Picture (1980, as "Wallaby Books")
• Star Trek: The Motion Picture Blueprints (1980, as "Wallaby Books")
• The Star Trek Compendium (1981, as "Wallaby Books")
• The Making of Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (1982)
• The Klingon Dictionary (1985)
• The Official Star Trek Quiz Book (1985)
• Mr. Scott's Guide to the Enterprise (1987)
• Captain's Log: William Shatner's Personal Account of the Making of Star Trek V: The Final Frontier (1989)
• The Worlds of the Federation (1989)
• Star Trek: The First 25 Years (1991, canceled)
• Star Trek: The Next Generation Technical Manual (1991)
• Star Trek: The Next Generation Companion (1st ed.) (1992)
• Star Trek Chronology (1993)
• The Making of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (1994)
• Star Trek Encyclopedia (1994)
• Star Trek - Where No One Has Gone Before (1994)
• The Art of Star Trek (1995)
• The Ferengi Rules of Acquisition (1995)
• Star Trek Chronology (2nd edition) (1996)
• Inside Star Trek: The Real Story (1996)
• Make It So (1996)
• Star Trek: Federation Passport (1996)
• The Klingon Way (1996)
• Star Trek: The Next Generation USS Enterprise NCC-1701-D Blueprints (1996)
• Star Trek: These Are the Voyages... (1996)
• Star Trek Encyclopedia (2nd edition) (1997)
• Klingon for the Galactic Traveler (1997)
• Star Trek: Federation Travel Guide (1997)
• Star Trek Phase II: The Lost Series (1997)
• Star Trek: The Next Generation - The Continuing Mission (1997)
• Star Trek: The Original Series Sketchbook (1997)
• Q's Guide to the Continuum (1998)
• The Secrets of Star Trek: Insurrection (1998)
• Star Trek: Action! (1998)
• Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Technical Manual (1998)
• Star Trek Science Logs (1998)
• Star Trek: The Next Generation Sketchbook: The Movies (1998)
• The Tribble Handbook (1998)
• A Vision of the Future - Star Trek: Voyager (1998)
• Star Trek Encyclopedia (3rd edition) (1999)
• Fade In: From Idea to Final Draft (1999, canceled)
• The Q Chronicles (1999)
• Quotable Star Trek (1999)
• Star Trek Cookbook (1999)
• Star Trek Sticker Book (1999)
• The Definitive Star Trek Trivia Book (2000)
• The Klingon Hamlet (2000)
• Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Companion (2000)
• Star Trek: Paper Universe (2000)
• Starship Enterprise (2000, canceled)
• Unseen Frontier (2000-2001, canceled)
• The Definitive Star Trek Trivia Book Volume II (2001)
• The Magic of Tribbles: The Making of Trials and Tribble-ations (2001, eBook only)
• Star Trek: Celebrations (2001)
• Star Trek: Starship Spotter (2001)
• The Hologram's Handbook (2002)
• I'm Working on That (2002)
• Star Trek: Star Charts (2002)
• Star Trek: The Starfleet Survival Guide (2002)
• Star Trek: Voyager Technical Manual (2002-2003, canceled)
• Star Trek: Voyager Companion (2003)
• Ships of the Line (2006)
• Voyages of Imagination (2006)
• Star Trek 101 (2008)
• Star Trek: The Original Series (produced for 1980 – 2013 , 1980 & 1981 as "Wallaby Books")
• Star Trek: The Next Generation (produced for 1989 – 2004 , 2013 )
• Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (produced for 1994 – 2002 )
• Star Trek: Voyager (produced for 1996 – 2002 )
• Star Trek: Ships of the Line (produced for 2001 – 2013 )
• Star Trek: Enterprise (produced for 2003 – 2006 )
• The Women of Star Trek (produced for 2000 )
• Star Trek films (produced for 1980 , 1983 , 1985 , 1987 , 1990 , 1993 , 1996 , 1998 , 2000 , 2004 , 2010 )
• Star Trek Stardate Calendars (produced for 1997 – 2007 )
• Star Trek: The Motion Picture - The Official USS Enterprise Officer's Date Book (1980) (produced for 1980 as "Wallaby Books")

Chronology and continuity in the Pocket novels [ ]

Pocket's licensed novels are required to be consistent with on-screen canon , with Paramount Consumer Products (formerly CBS Consumer Products) approving the outlines and manuscripts of each novel on that basis.

From the mid-1980s onward, there was a general belief that novels could not make significant character changes, such as the death of a character or a promotion contradicting an established on-screen rank. This has often been considered to have been the influence of Richard Arnold , although that is disputed.

However, novels were free to provide explanation for character changes and events that took place in canon, such as the Star Trek: The Lost Years miniseries which followed James T. Kirk 's role as Chief of Starfleet Operations , as well as explaining other promotions such as Pavel Chekov 's role as security chief .

A frequently-used concept in the Pocket Books novels of the 1980s was the existence of a second five-year voyage of the USS Enterprise under Captain Kirk (taking place either before or after The Motion Picture ), something which was not stated in canon, but did not contradict the chronology known at the time. The 2005 novel Ex Machina and its follow-ups returned to this idea.

With the ending of the various television series, a greater degree of creative freedom saw the restriction on character change relaxed somewhat. This included the (temporary, was later reversed) death of Kathryn Janeway in the novel Before Dishonor , and the Enterprise novels retconning Trip Tucker 's death. This period also saw the novels developing into their own internal continuity, with Star Trek authors and Pocket Books editorial often collaborating to enhance consistency between various manuscripts.

Particularly with regard to The Original Series , it is generally accepted that the number of novels published means that the characters would not have had enough time to participate in all of the depicted adventures.

In late 2021, a series of books titled Star Trek: Coda were published, beginning with the title Moments Asunder . These books were created in response to the release of new series such as Star Trek: Picard and Star Trek: Prodigy , set after the events of Star Trek: Voyager and other previous series and thus conflicting with continuity established within the various novels released as the "relaunch novels" of the various Star Trek franchises. As such, Coda establishes these novels as being set within an alternate timeline .

Star Trek editors [ ]

• David G. Hartwell
• Mimi Panitch
• John J. Ordover
• Margaret Clark
• Marco Palmieri
• Ed Schlesinger
• Jennifer Heddle
• Jaime Costas

Pocket Star Books [ ]

The Pocket Star Books line is a subsidiary of Simon & Schuster that specializes in media tie-in eBooks . As such, a number of the Star Trek novels are released under the Pocket Star Books imprint when released in ebook format.

Further reading [ ]

• "Star Trek Encyclopedias", Star Trek: The Magazine  Volume 1, Issue 4 , August 1999, pp. 90-91
• "Star Trek: Non-Fiction Books", Star Trek: The Magazine  Volume 1, Issue 7 , November 1999, pp. 59-61
• " Canon Books?", Star Trek: The Magazine  Volume 2, Issue 11 , March 2002, pp. 69-72

External links [ ]

• Simon & Schuster's page for Star Trek books
• Pocket Books at Wikipedia
• 3 Ancient humanoid

Star Trek: Best Book-Only Characters

• The Star Trek novels introduce unique characters like Akaar and Treir, adding depth to the expansive Starfleet universe.
• Characters like Nick Keller and Elias Vaughn bring new perspectives to the post- DS9 era, facing challenging galactic events.
• Mackenzie Calhoun leads the USS Excalibur in a new hero ship series, showcasing tactical genius in the New Frontier books.

Just like the universe itself, the Star Trek franchise is huge and far-reaching, encompassing several television shows, and numerous video games, movies, and books. While many of Star Trek 's most iconic characters appear in various series and films, there are many other great characters who only feature in alternative media sources. For instance, the final frontier has spawned some memorable video game-based characters .

Star Trek: 8 Most Powerful Federation Starships, Ranked

Yet perhaps the richest source of characters is the now questionably canon series of books that take place following The Next Generation and Deep Space Nine . From fresh takes on classic species like the Andorians and Orions, to some of Starfleet's finest officers, the Star Trek novels are a treasure trove of notable figures.

Leonard James Akaar

First appearence: star trek mission gamma book one: twilight.

• Author: David R. George III
• Publication Date: September 2002

Leonard James Akaar is unique among novel-only characters in that he does, in fact, make a blink-and-you'll-miss-it appearance on televised Trek . "Friday's Child," an episode of The Original Series , ends with his birth; however, the Capellan royal would not be seriously fleshed out until 2002's Mission Gamma: Twilight . By the time of the Deep Space 9 novels, Akaar had risen through the ranks of Starfleet to become an influential admiral with the ear of the Federation president.

Akaar's strategic mindset and steely resolve proved essential in preserving the Federation through some of its darkest periods, including the Borg invasion depicted in the Star Trek: Destiny series. The Starfleet legend may have been born in The Original Series , but the Star Trek novels were where he made his name.

First Appearence: Star Trek: Demons of Air and Darkness

• Author: Keith R. A. DeCandido
• Publication Date: September 2001

Star Trek features many inspirational female characters, from Kira Nerys to Katherine Janeway. However, few are as resourceful or as motivated as Treir , an Orion Dabo girl who transformed Quark's Bar into a highly successful business during the post- DS9 novels. Following her escape from Orion servitude, Treir earned her place as Quark's right-hand woman by implementing a series of radical reforms, including hiring a Dabo boy to attract more customers.

Star Trek: The Fates Of Every Live-Action TV Show's Main Character

Treir may not play a significant role in the canon-shattering events depicted in the Deep Space 9 novels, but this ruthless businesswoman helped to make Star Trek 's prose universe feel like a living, breathing place. If anyone is capable of giving Quark a run for his latinum, it's her.

Nick Keller

First appearence: star trek new earth: challenger.

• Author: Diane Carey
• Publication Date: August 2000

New Earth , a series of six novels that take place between Star Trek: The Motion Picture and The Wrath of Khan , was intended to act as a backdoor pilot for a new narrative focusing on Commander Nick Keller . In the final novel, Keller takes command of a makeshift starship in order to defend the human colony of Belle Terre from alien attack. Keller was conflicted between overthrowing his inept captain and preserving the lives of his comrades, and it's a great shame that a full series based on the space cowboy's adventures never emerged.

Interestingly, author Diane Carey based Keller's appearance on Scott Bakula, who would go on to play Captain Jonathan Archer in Star Trek: Enterprise . Keller, however, would make only two more appearances in the Star Trek universe, with both being part of the multi-series Gateways crossover event.

Elias Vaughn

First appearence: star trek: avatar (book one).

• Author: S. D. Perry
• Publication Date: July 2001

Elias Vaughn was a Starfleet officer and intelligence operative who joined Deep Space 9's command staff following the end of the Dominion War . Despite only holding the rank of commander, Vaughn's expertise proved a boon to the Federation outpost, and he played a role in several key events, including the USS Defiant 's post-war exploration of the Gamma Quadrant (depicted in the Mission Gamma sub-series).

Star Trek: 8 Impressive Things Kirk Did Before Joining The USS Enterprise

Vaughn was haunted by the death of his wife, Ruriko, and his troubled relationship with his estranged daughter, Prynn. This relationship was complicated by the fact that Prynn was also assigned to Deep Space 9. However, father and daughter were eventually able to reconcile–but not without some bumps along the way.

Christine Vale

First appearence: star trek: the belly of the beast.

• Author: Dean Wesley Smith

While William Riker's USS Titan has made notable appearances in Star Trek: Lower Decks , the starship's adventures were originally chronicled in a series of spin-off novels. These books featured Christine Vale , a former detective turned Starfleet officer, as Riker's second-in-command. Vale was initially unwilling to take the post, as she disliked the idea of Riker working so closely with his wife, Deanna Troi.

Luckily, Vale took the post, which allowed her to act as a counterweight to any of Riker's Troi-related biases. During her time aboard the USS Titan , she helped to explore the Beta Quadrant and fend off a Borg invasion. Indeed, her record was so good that, following Riker's promotion to admiral, she took command of the Luna -class starship.

Thirishar ch'Thane

From their initial appearance in 1967's "Journey to Babel" and 2001's "The Andorian Incident," references to Star Trek 's Andorians were true and far between. One important detail was disclosed in The Next Generation , however: Andorians have four sexes , with all four required for successful reproduction.

The character of Thirishar ch'Thane (or "Shar") was a response to this premise. Shar served as Deep Space Nine's science officer following the end of the Dominion War, but was torn between his commitments to Starfleet and to his mating group, who wished him to return to Andor. This dilemma was further complicated by a dangerous decline in Andorian fertility, which threatened to cause the Andorians' extinction in the long term. Shar was eventually able to use his scientific knowledge to help solve the Andorian fertility crisis.

The Jem'Hadar are one of Star Trek 's most iconic creations , a powerful race of warriors motivated by their addiction to the chemical ketracel-white. During the Dominion War of 2373–2375, the Jem'Hadar were central to the Dominion assaults which nearly overwhelmed the Federation Alliance.

8 Best Starfleet Ships During The Dominion War

After the war's conclusion, Taran'atar , a Jem'Hadar without a ketracel-white dependency, was sent to Deep Space Nine as a cultural observer. Taran'atar's struggle to adjust to the Alpha Quadrant during peacetime makes for fascinating reading, as does seeing the fearsome warrior growing closer to his former enemies. Taran'atar's story takes some strange twists and turns, but he remains a fascinating character.

Mackenzie Calhoun

First appearence: star trek new frontier: house of cards.

• Author: Peter David
• Publication Date: July 1997

In 1997, Pocket Books published the first of Peter David's New Frontier books. While these novels included several characters from TV Trek (mostly notably Commander Shelby from "The Best of Both Worlds" ), they focused on a new hero ship, the USS Excalibur , and a new captain: Mackenzie Calhoun . Calhoun, an alien warrior modeled after Mel Gibson, was depicted as a tactical genius capable of beating Starfleet's toughest challenges–including the infamous Kobayashi Maru test.

Calhoun soon became a fan-favorite, with his New Frontier series including over 20 volumes. The Xenanian captain was even popular enough to be made into an action figure, the only example of this honor being bestowed on a character originating from any of Star Trek 's novels.

Created by Gene Roddenberry

First Film Star Trek: The Motion Picture

Latest Film Star Trek Beyond

First TV Show Star Trek: The Original Series

Latest TV Show Star Trek: Strange New Worlds

Creation Year 1966