star trek novels in chronological order

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Trek-Lit Reading Order Flow Chart

• Crossovers:
• To fully immerse yourself in the litverse, the big crossover event that really starting to bring things together was the Destiny trilogy - A  great place to jump in, leading to stories from several series set after it. One step back from Destiny is Articles of the Federation , which is the perfect introduction to the world of Federation politics which becomes prominent in Destiny and beyond.
• If you're looking to jump in further along, then  The Fall  is a good place to start; the five-part crossover brings together most of the 24th century series, and shakes up the status quo for the series as they continue independently after.
• A cohesive series of Mirror Universe stories builds to a grand finale that has knock-on effects in the prime timeline narrative. These stories begin in the anthology Glass Empire .
• DS9 was the first series to enjoy a post-TV relaunch; the main new DS9 adventures start from Avatar , which is also available in Twist of Faith , an omnibus of the first four books of the series.
• The ongoing TNG narrative really starts from the A Time to… series, but you could jump on from the first book set after Nemesis , Death in Winter . Later on in the run, other good jumping on points are the Cold Equations trilogy, or  Armageddon's Arrow , the first of a run of stories from the same mission for the Enterprise. 
• Another branch of TNG , Titan , featuring Captain Riker's ship, gets going from Taking Wing , or you can explore Picard's backstory in the run of Stargazer novels which begins with Reunion .
• Voyager 's first post- Endgame stories start from Homecoming , but the series got something of a second start later with the return to the Delta Quadrant in  Full Circle .
• Enterprise:
• Enterprise 's post finale adventures begin from The Good That Men Do . This series also has secondary relaunch with the post-Romulan War era in A Choice of Futures  beginning the Rise of the Federation series.
• TOS doesn't have quite the same sort of ongoing narrative as the other series, but there are a few books that form a loose continuity, and The Captain's Oath is a good place to start with those. 
• If you're looking for something more serialised in the 23rd century, then check out  Vanguard , which starts from Harbinger , and spawned a spin-off series Seekers , beginning with Second Nature .
• A side-step from regular TOS adventures gives us a linked series of books featuring the Star Trek universe of the 20th and 21st centuries. A good place to start exploring these is the Eugenics Wars duology.
• Other spin-offs
• New Frontier was the first major spin-off Star Trek book series, featuring the adventures of Captain Calhoun and the USS Excalibur. The series begins with House of Cards , but the first four books were all short, and are also available as a single omnibus .
• IKS Gorkon , retitled in its final book as Klingon Empire , is a Klingon series, which got it's first moment's in the TNG novel Diplomatic Implausibility . 
• Not listed in full on the chart is  Corps of Engineers , also known as SCE , this extensive series of novellas features the engineering specialists of the USS da Vinci and crosses over into other series every so often. Their stories begin with  The Belly of the Beast , or an omnibus of the first four books in the series,  Have Tech, Will Travel .
• Department of Temporal Investigations features the time traveling hijinks, and frustrated bureaucracy, of the Federation's time police. Their adventures start (depending on how you perceive time) with Watching the Clock .
• Prometheus is a unique series, the first tie-in to be originally written in German, but also available in English. A trilogy of books featuring the distinctive ship begins with Fire with Fire .

59 comments:

Thanks for the hard work !!! i do really appreciate it. Do you have plans on updating from time to time ??? regards

It's on version 2 at the moment, I'll probably do an update once The Fall is done and we know what effect that has on everything :)

Thank you so much for updating this. It is possible to find the info yourself on Memory Alpha etc but this is a much easier way to do it and a good way too not scare off new readers with them having to do too much own research.

Where is Spock Must Die in this? Also, you have a typo in the title of "Greater Than the Sum." But... wow, just wow. What a map.

Important question: where does "Planet X", the TNG/X-Men crossover, fit in?

Thanks for the note dwasifer, fixed that error now :) Rev, Planet X doesn't really much connect to the wider continuity as far as I know (I've not read it), but I believe it's a direct sequel to the TNG/X-Men comic Second Contact, which itself takes place immediately after First Contact.

This is an amazing reference. Thanks very much for putting it together. I've been using it to organise my Trek Books and for reading the 20 or so trek books that I've recently bought in the right order.

hi fantastic flow chart! ...what program did you use to create the chart?

I love you for making this. The Pocket Books Novel-verse is starting to become like it's own Star-Wars-Expanded-Universe-esque canon storyline.

This is really awesome! I love Star Trek and after watching everything 1000 times over I need new content so I figured I would dive into the book series for the first time. But where to start? This really helps answer that question and gives me a good reference! Thanks!

First, I absolutely love this thing. I've been trying to get caught up on Trek lit for a while now and this has been VERY HELPFUL. A couple constructive comments: #1 There's a dashed green line going to Serpents Among the Ruins/The Art of the Impossible/Alien Spotlight: Cardassians/Cardassia and Andor that doesn't have a beginning. It's all end arrows, so it's unclear which direction this is supposed to go. #2 Q Are Cordially Invited. I haven't read it yet so I don't know exactly where it goes but I'm thinking it needs to be included.

Hi Benjamin, apologies for the very slow reply, I hadn't spotted your comment! As you might see, we've just posted an updated version of the chart, which might help with your questions, but to expand on them: #1 We removed the multi-directional Cardassian story arrow because ti was a bit confusing indeed, but the idea was to show how all the Cardassian/Garak stories are generally a bit interconnected. But we can sort of communicate that with the series dots not, so we didn't need the confusing arrows to everywhere! #2 Q Are Cordially Invited... tells the story of the Picard/Crusher wedding, which took place some time before Greater Than the Sum. But there is a framing story on an unspecified wedding anniversary. As we couldn't spot a reference to which anniversary we've opted to put it down in almost publication order, with the other TNG ebook, just before The Fall.

Sadly the site that opens once I click on the flow chart stays blank.

Working fine for me. Anyone else having problems?

Thanks for this graphic, it really helps me and will from now on be my guide :) Do you have plans on updating it with the new novels that have been and will be released?

Of course, this is already version four, which includes most of the books coming out this year (that have connections to the wider continuity) and a few even further ahead already. As more books come we'll update accordingly, and also refine the chart once we know more connections in forthcoming books :)

@8of5 That's amazing to hear! Thanks again for your work it really helps!

Thank you for creating this. Watched all the shows, just now getting into the books! This helps a bunch!

I have watched the show, its better if you had created this flowchart with standard flowchart symbols

This is top-notch. Printed it off and have it laminated already! Been able to track all my reading and discover what else to read in some logical order. As a result, just bought 13 new books. Hunting down the older ones are a bit tricky - been using Abe Books but this can be a wee expensive when you live in Australia. Booktopia's great for the more popular and/or newer books. Just wanted to say thank-you

That should be Book Depository. Booktopia a place a hardly buy books from - but I do from time to time. Needless to say, I've never bought any Star Trek from Booktopia. Have a great day :)

I come back to this flow chart every couple of months. Just to find out which book(s) to read next. Thanks for the good work!

The DS9 upcoming book "The Empty Sack" is now titled "Rules of Accusation" and will be out in July, 2016

Thanks for the update Terry!

Hi, Any update incoming?

Working on an update right now in fact, I expect it will be up next week some time (complete with the final title for Terry's book!).

Excited to see it. thanks.

Thank you Baby Jesus I found this

This list is awesome. Unfortuantely, now that the color palette is up to 19, my mild color-blindness is making matching some of these difficult if not a lost cause. Guessing the circles are too teeny to use iconography, so probably not much to be done for it. Still, a minor issue with an awesome chart.

I did revise the colours this time around to try and make them distinct as possible, as someone made a similar remark at the last revision. But yes you're right, due to the rather large number of colours to mark all the different dots, and the dots being too small to do much else it would take a completely different design approach to make it easier to read. It's something we're aware of, but haven't found a solution yet.

A great effort / work! Kudos to you brave souls! :)

Where does the Genesis Wave fit in?

Ty for your hard work

Thanks for your work, I'm following this since version 2 and it's an amazing help for me. This is why I love Star Trek - the fans! (also: great that you included Prometheus!)

Been meaning to catch up with you - thanks for this updated and shared resource. Top-notch! Kimberley.

This has been a great resource for catching up on all of the books/series. I did find one error, though. Somehow, you've omitted A Time to Kill from the TNG:A Time To... saga in version 5. Thanks again for the hard work and maintenance!

This flowchart is really awesome. And thanks for adding "Star Trek Prometheus" But I found an error, too. "Star Trek: Prometheus: Into the Heart of Chaos" is volume III not II. "The Source of All Fury" is II. And: The connection to "Takedown" is the wrong way round. STP take place just before "Takedown" and while it was written later it references events, that take place at the beginning of "Takedown". Bernd

This chart is great, but do you have a merged list of everything in a single chronological order?

This chart is great and all, but... where's Corps of Engineers? Because I don't see it on there.

Im thinking of reading Section 31 Control. Do I need to read Disavowed first?

Absolutely. I think ~most (all) would agree. They are both great reads.

If I remember right, way back last year I had the following experience. I had Disavowed as being the next read on DS9 having been through all the others. But I had to stop reading it after a while - I felt I was missing something. So, I went a few steps back and read The Fall series (esp. A Ceremony of Losses - I think), and then went through Vanguard, Lovell and Seekers (in that order) - I'm now on Seekers #2. It's been really interesting getting familiar with all the backdrop as well as having some great reads. Anyway, whatever you do have a great read. I'm sure you'll be able to get any background info to fill in any detail behind both Disavowed & Control from the Internet (Memory Alpha or Beta) - and thanks for reminding me to order my copy of Control!

Any updates inbound?

Yeah, this list is a bit out of date right now. I'm currently reading "Available Light." (The latest TNG book as of April 2019)

Please could this list be updated, I used to rely on this as which book to read and in what sequence but its now outdated.

Also really looking forward to an update :) would be really appreciated.

Also looking for an update, I use this to find out when new stuff is out, I didn't even know about Collateral Damage

I only just found out about Collateral Damage as well. This graphic is quickly falling behind! I hope it gets updated, it has been a valuable resource.

Kudos to the flow chart. That is awesome and exactly what I was looking for.

Everyone that's been asking for an update, please check the page now :)

Thank you very much for taking the time to update and expand it. Been using it since version 1. I almost read all novels that are one the chart and feeling both sadness that the litverse as we know it will come to an end. But I'm looking forward to what's to come and if there will be one last novel to bring the novelverse in line with Picard.

Great chart!! Thanks for the update. Loving your work. #LLAP

This is fantastic! Thanks for all of the work you did putting this together!

Just a quick nitpick, the "Created By" section in the 2020 version has a typo (I'm assuming). It says "For the latest version, and additional notes, visit: TrekTrekCollective.com" Looks like there's an extra "Trek" in the url. That said, I love the chart. Thank you!

Is a new version planned for rhe chart? One that goes up to the upcoming Coda trilogy?

There are a couple references to the Enterprise-E’s recent experience with the Genesis Wave in A Time to Sow.

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Star Trek Novel Reading Order

Star Trek is one of the largest media tie-ins around, next to Star Wars novelizations.  Although released in multiple series such as The Original Series, The Next Generation, Section 13, etc you can read these books as one large, interconnected story line.  This is a reading order for all of the published Star Trek novels done more or less chronologically (there are several time travel novels where it is set in multiple time frames, in those cases it is placed chronologically where the majority of the issue takes place).

***Update****

I’ve reworked this order.  Reading it through, it wasn’t quite right, and really to be enjoyed it should be done with all the media (shows, comics, books, etc).  I’ve made a working order that you can not only follow, but create an account and track your reading & viewing.  It’s still a work in progress, so if an era you are looking for you don’t see, just be patient.  I am adding dozens of listings a day.

http://startrekreadingorder.com/

If you still only want the books, there is a listing of just books (still in progress also) here: http://startrekreadingorder.com/novel_reading_order.php

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Star Trek post-Nemesis novel reading order - Shastrix Books

Star trek post-nemesis reading order.

The following is a recommendation of a reading order for the novels that are set in and/or interact with the post-Nemesis era of Star Trek. This includes the ongoing adventures in the Next Generation, Deep Space Nine, Voyager, and Enterprise lines, along with spin-off series Titan and adventures of the USS Aventine.

This is based roughly on the idea that you want to read adventures mostly in the order they are set, however in some instances the publication order is different and it makes sense to read them slightly out of 'chronological' order.

Feel free to leave feedback, comments, or discussion on my books forum .

• The Good That Men Do
• Kobayashi Maru
• Beneath the Raptor's Wing
• To Brave the Storm
• Death in Winter
• Taking Wing
• Before Dishonour
• The Red King
• Orion's Hounds
• Articles of the Federation
• Greater than the Sum
• Sword of Damocles
• Gods of Night
• Mere Mortals
• Watching the Clock
• Losing the Peace
• Over a Torrent Sea
• Full Circle
• Children of the Storm
• A Singular Destiny
• Zero Sum Game
• Seize the Fire
• Rough Beasts of Empire
• Paths of Disharmony
• Fallen Gods
• The Struggle Within
• Indistinguishable from Magic
• Forgotten History
• Plagues of Night
• Absent Enemies
• Raise the Dawn
• The Eternal Tide
• Brinkmanship
• The Persistence of Memory
• Silent Weapons
• The Body Electric
• The Stuff of Dreams
• A Choice of Futures
• A Ceremony of Losses
• The Crimson Shadow
• Revelation and Dust
• The Poisoned Chalice
• Peaceable Kingdoms
• Tower of Babel
• The Light Fantastic
• Love's Latinum Lost (and Found)
• Q Are Cordially Uninvited
• Acts of Contrition
• The Collectors
• The Missing
• Uncertain Logic
• Armageddon's Arrow
• Sacraments of Fire
• Sight Unseen
• A Pocket Full of Lies
• Live By The Code
• Force and Motion
• Rules of Accusation
• Hell's Heart
• The Jackal's Trick
• The Hall of Heroes
• Headlong Flight
• The Long Mirage
• Hearts and Minds
• Enigma Tales
• Original Sin
• I, The Constable
• Fortune of War
• Architects of Infinity
• Available Light
• Collateral Damage
• To Lose The Earth
• Moments Asunder
• The Ashes of Tomorrow

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
• Untold Voyages: Renewal
• Infestation
• The Kobayashi Maru
• The Motion Picture: Echoes
• 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

Star Trek: The Original Series Books In Order

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Star Trek: The Original Series is a series of novels written by various authors and based on the science fiction genre. The novels of the series are adapted from the popular television series and movies of the same name that were telecast between the year 1966 and 1969. The original movies based on The Original Series television series were created and produced by Gene Roddenberry. The plots of the novels of the series are set on the starship named USS Enterprise, which is controlled by Captain James T. Kirk. Captain Kirk is assisted by his first officer named Spock. At the start of every mission on the USS Enterprise, Captain Kirk would utter the same message to his crew in order to make them aware of the mission as well as prepare them for the upcoming ups and downs in the mission. The missions of the USS Enterprise would normally be long voyages for exploring new and strange worlds and seek out new civilizations in the space.

Captain Kirk and his crew would always remain in search of a new life on their missions and go to places where no one else have ever gone to. The novels of The Original Series have been published by many publication houses, but the one published by the Pocket Books or the Titan Books in U.K is very popular. The Star Trek: The Original Series was started in the year 1979 when the first novel of the series was published by the Pocket Books. Since then, many authors have contributed to the series and have helped the series to be ongoing. The main character of The Original Series, Captain James T. Kirk is described by the authors of the respective novels as the youngest captain in the history of the Starfleet, taking command at the age of 34. HE goes on to exploit a career that lasts for more than 40 years. There are many tales that the authors have shared in the novels about the voyages of Captain Kirk, most of them being true in many senses. He was also the first captain who had brought his starship in a good condition after a 5 year mission. Kirk’s success as a captain can never be questioned by anyone as she has become an independent voyager.

Kirk was also involved in many violations of the rule of the USS Enterprise and has to his name a record 17 temporal violation. The ancestors of James Kirk have also served in various starships of the USS Enterprise and hence he has deep roots in the service of the USS Enterprise. He had an elder brother named George Samuel Kirk, who died along with his wife Aurelan in 2267 in Deneva. They are survived by a son named Peter, who is looked after by James Kirk. At the age of 13, James Kirk witnessed the massacre of around 4,000 people by the governor of Tarsus IV, during a famine. Even though he was a romantic person, he never indulged himself in long-lasting romantic relationships because he was devoted more towards his career. He had a short term relationship with Dr. Carol Marcus and had a son with from her named David. James eventually could not do the upbringing of David because of his service and so he did not know that his son had grown into a scientific genius, but was later killed. Kirk grieved the death of his son for a long time. He also had a relationship with a woman named Antonia for 2 years and regretted not being able to marry her.

James was helped in gaining entry into the Starfleet Academy by one of his family friends. Soon, he was able to earn starship duty as a fresh cadet. At one point in his career, James became an instructor for the fresh cadets and made friendships with them, who later saved his life on many occasions. He considers Captain Garth and Abraham Lincoln as his heroes. Because oh his dedication towards his duties, James was able to achieve the rare feat of beating Kobayashi Maru scenario, which was otherwise unbeatable. Actually, he had reprogrammed the system which allowed him to win in the scenario. James Kirk received his first mission after graduation on the USS Farragut as a new lieutenant. By the year 2267, Kirk had risen rapidly to the rank of the captain and had the opportunity to command a respectful and loyal crew of 430 members. During his successful career, he received many commendations and awards. On one of his missions, Kirk had accepted the offer of becoming the admiral in charge of the fleet operations, which he turned down later after regaining his command over the USS Enterprise in the year 2271. Just before his retirement from the Starfleet in the year 2293, James Kirk helped to maintain the peace in the galaxy by exposing a conspiracy from terrorists. He always involved in peace negotiations heavily with the Klingons.

One of the initial novels of The Original Series was published in the year 1981 by the Pocket Books. The novel was titled ‘The Entropy Effect’ and was written by the author Vonda N. McIntyre. The plot of the novel opens up with a mission in which the Starship Enterprise in order to transport Dr. Georges Mordreaux, who is a dangerous criminal and is being taken to rehabilitation. He is also one of the brilliant physicists by profession. He was taken under custody because of doing experiments on people by luring them to send back in time, but rather killing them. During the course of the transportation, Dr. Mordreaux manages to escape and bursts onto the bridge. He kills Captain Kirk in front of all the crew members of the starship. Kirk first officer named Spock decides to go back in time and stop Dr. Mordreaux from killing Captain Kirk. However, there is a great risk in doing so. Spock realizes that the experiments of Dr. Mordreaux have created a lot of chaos in the universe an he keeps fighting in order to bring peace back in the universe.

The other novel of the series was published in the year 1981 by the Pocket Books under the title ‘The Klingon Gambit’. The plot of this novel shows the Kingons trying to target the Enterprise and fight against its crew members. Captain Kirk gets the order to challenge the Klingon starship Terror, but he and his crew are unaware of the deadly effects of Terror. Other than fighting the Klingons, Captain Kirk is also on a mission to find an ancient city on the Alnath II mission. The Klingon does not let go their intention of destroying the Enterprise. Feeling stuck in the battle against the deadly Terror, Captain Kirk and his crew begin to lose their minds and do not know what to do. Slowly, they begin to become the targets of the Klingon gambit.

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Order of Star Trek: The Original Series Books

Although there have been multiple Star Trek: TOS series, on this page we have listed simply the series published by Pocket Books (Titan Books in the UK). Written by various authors, the Pocket Books series has been an ongoing publication since 1979. For other Star Trek series, please see Star Trek . Below we have listed the Star Trek: The Original Series Pocket Books novel series in order of when the books were originally published, as well as our best effort to list the novels in chronological order:

Publication Order of Star Trek: TOS: Yesterday Saga Books

Publication order of star trek: the original books.

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Publication Order of Star Trek: TOS: Rihannsu Books

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Publication Order of Star Trek: TOS: Fortunes Of War Books

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Publication Order of Star Trek: TOS: Worlds In Collision Books

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Publication Order of Star Trek: TOS: The Lost Years Saga Books

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Publication Order of Star Trek: Invasion Books

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Publication Order of Star Trek: Day Of Honor Books

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Publication Order of Star Trek: The Captain's Table Books

Publication order of star trek: tos: my brother's keeper books.

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Publication Order of Star Trek: TOS: New Earth Books

Publication order of star trek: section 31 books.

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Publication Order of Star Trek: TOS: The Eugenics Wars Books

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Publication Order of Star Trek: Gateways Books

Publication order of star trek: tos: the janus gate books.

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Publication Order of Star Trek: TOS: Errand Of Vengeance Books

Publication order of star trek: tos: vulcan's soul books, publication order of star trek: tos: errand of fury books.

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Publication Order of Star Trek: TOS: Crucible Books

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Publication Order of Star Trek: TOS (Original) Books

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Publication Order of Star Trek: TOS: Starfleet Academy Books

If you like star trek: the original series books, you’ll love….

• Star Trek: The Next Generation
• Star Trek: Voyager
• Star Trek: Deep Space 9

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2 Responses to “Order of Star Trek: The Original Series Books”

The Star Trek: New earth books (Wagon Train to the Stars through Challenger) take place between ST:TMP and Wrath of Khan. A big part of the plot of these books is that Chekov is preparing to leave to become first officer of the Reliant, which he does in book 4. That’s the post he held at the start of Star Trek II, and the Reliant was destroyed in that movie. It’s not possible for these books to be placed after Star Trek II.

Thanks for the correction!

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Star Trek timeline in complete chronological order, explained

Check our complete list of the Star Trek timeline in chronological with all movies and TV series to date, including the Kelvin timeline and Prime timeline.

Tom Percival

Published: Oct 24, 2023

Let’s journey through the Star Trek timeline in full chronological order . Ever since it began almost 60 years ago, Gene Roddenberry’s vision of humanity’s future shown in Star Trek has been igniting imaginations.

Now a sprawling franchise, Star Trek focuses on the human desire for exploration seen through the lens of Starfleet’s travels through the depths of space. But with 13 Star Trek movies and 60 years worth of Star Trek series , the expansive franchise has gotten pretty complex, with multiple and alternate timelines all being involved too, and a jumble of prequels and sequels and timelines. So, to clear things up, we’ve broken down every single movie and season of TV to create a clear image of the timeline in chronological order.

The complete Star Trek timeline so far

The current main Star Trek timeline begins in the year 2151, with the first season of Enterprise, and concludes over a millennium later in 3190 with the upcoming Star Trek Discovery season 5 .

After Enterprise kicked things off in 2151, the TOS-era begins in 2259, with the TOS prequel Strange New Worlds. It ends nearly 40 years later in 2293 with the final TOS movie, The Undiscovered Country.

Nearly 100 years later, the adventures of the USS Enterprise-D begin with Captain Picard in 2369. Over the next decade, the Dominion War begins and ends, and the USS Voyager is stranded in the Delta Quadrant and makes it back to Earth in 2378. This era of the Star Trek timeline concludes in 2379 with the final TNG movie, Nemesis.

Lower Decks and Prodigy round out the late 24th century, with the former being set around 2381 and the latter 2383. Then Star Trek Picard brings it into the 25th century, with the events of season 3 and the Borg attack on Frontier Day occurring in 2401, and the Captain Seven on Nine’s Enterprise-G beginning its service history a year later in 2402.

Finally, we have the latter seasons of Star Trek Discovery which have been set in the far-flung future of 3188 onwards after the huge time jump at the end of season 2.

A full list of the Star Trek timeline in chronological order:

• Star Trek: Enterprise seasons 1-4 (Year set in: 2151-2161)
• Star Trek (2009) ( Kelvin timeline – Years set in: 2233-2259)
• Star Trek: Discovery seasons 1-2 (Year set in: 2252)
• Star Trek: Strange New Worlds seasons 1-2 (Years set in: 2259-2260)
• Star Trek: Into Darkness ( Kelvin timeline – Years set in: 2259-2260)
• Star Trek: Beyond ( Kelvin timeline – Year set in: 2263)
• Star Trek: The Original Series seasons 1-3 (Year set in: 2265-2269)
• Star Trek: The Animated Series seasons 1-2 (Year set in: 2269-2270)
• Star Trek: The Motion Picture (Year set in: 2270s)
• Star Trek 2: The Wrath of Khan (Year set in: 2285)
• Star Trek 3: The Search For Spock (Year set in 2285)
• Star Trek 4: The Voyage Home (Year set in 2286)
• Star Trek 5: The Final Frontier (Year set in: 2287)
• Star Trek 6: The Undiscovered Country (Year set in: 2293)
• Star Trek: The Next Generation seasons 1-5 (Year set in: 2364-2369)
• Star Trek: Deep Space Nine seasons 1-2 (Year set in: 2369-2371)
• Star Trek: The Next Generation seasons 6-7 (Year set in: 2369-2370)
• Star Trek: Generations (Year set in 2371)
• Star Trek: Deep Space 9 seasons 3-4 (Year set in 2372-2373)
• Star Trek: Voyager seasons 1-2 (Year set in: 2371-2372)
• Star Trek: First Contact (Year set in: 2373)
• Star Trek: Deep Space Nine seasons 5-6 (Year set in 2373-2374)
• Star Trek: Voyager seasons 3-4 (Year set in: 2373-2375)
• Star Trek: Insurrection (Year set in: 2375)
• Star Trek: Deep Space Nine season 7 (Year set in: 2375)
• Star Trek: Voyager seasons 5-7 (Year set in: 2376-2378)
• Star Trek: Nemesis (Year set in: 2379)
• Star Trek: Lower Decks seasons 1-3 (Years set in: 2380-2381)
• Star Trek: Prodigy season 1 (Years set in: 2383-2383)
• Star Trek (2009) (Partly in the Prime timeline – Year set in 2387)
• Star Trek: Picard seasons 1-3 (Years set in: 2399-2402)
• Star Trek: Discovery seasons 3-5 ( Years set in: 3188-3190)

Every Star Trek series and season in the timeline in chronological order

Star Trek: Enterprise (Seasons 1-4)

The mainline Star Trek timeline begins with Star Trek: Enterprise. The four seasons of the show are set in the 22nd century, the earliest point in the Star Trek timeline and a hundred years before The Original Series.

Enterprise deals with the earliest days of humanity’s journey out into the stars, with the crew of the first starship to bear the name Enterprise, led by Captain Jonathan Archer (Scott Bakula). The show covered everything from the first contact with the Klingons to the foundation of The Federation and Starfleet, the Federation’s space force.

Star Trek: 2009, Into Darkness, Beyond (The Kelvin timeline)

The Kelvin timeline is an alternate timeline created by Spock which runs parallel to the events seen in the prime Star Trek timeline. Here, we have the three Chris Pine Star Trek movies in which we’re treated to different versions of Kirk and co. with their adventures playing out in a reshuffled order of events.

Chronologically speaking, the Kelvin timeline fits in approximately alongside TOS as it follows Kirk’s first adventures with the Enterprise, but as it begins with his childhood it technically precedes Discovery. It’s all pretty self contained, so if you just want to stick to the Prime timeline you can skip these for now.

Star Trek: Discovery (Seasons 1-2)

Set ten years before the original series, this prequel show follows the adventures of the USS Discovery and her crew as they use their unique spore drive to zip around the Alpha Quadrant (our section of the galaxy). The first season deals with war breaking out between the United Federation of Planets and the Klingons.

Meanwhile, in the second season, the crew (now joined by Captain Pike and a younger Spock) investigates strange signals and a mysterious figure known as the Red Angel. Ultimately the ship and crew are thrown forward in time (don’t worry, you’ll see them again) and presumed dead, while the event itself is covered up by Section 31.

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds (Seasons 1-2)

Following on the adventures of Captain Pike, Spock, and Number One in the aftermath of Discovery season 2, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds is another prequel to The Original Series, as it builds up to the events depicted in The Cage.

Strange New Worlds has taken Star Trek in a slightly new direction, and it has much more in common with, for example, The Next Generation, than is does with Discovery. This is because the sci-fi series is taking an episodic approach to storytelling, with each episode largely focussing on one member of the crew while adventures abound. Fun!

Season 2 of Strange New Worlds has continued on in this vein, bringing in Paul Wesley’s Kirk with a recurring role. It’s all leading up to Pike’s accident, and whereupon the command of the Enterprise will be handed over to Captain Kirk on a full-time basis for his five-year mission.

Star Trek: The Original Series (Seasons 1-3)

The original series, the definitive article, if you will, and probably the most recognisable of the Trek series. Set in the 2260s, the show follows the crew of the USS Enterprise on a five-year mission: to explore strange new worlds, to seek out new life and new civilisations, and boldly go where no man has gone before.

This is the show that defined what Star Trek is in the public consciousness as a progressive force, introducing the world to Kirk ( William Shatner ), Spock ( Leonard Nimo y), and Dr . Leonard ‘Bones’ McCoy (DeForest Kelley), as well as several iconic Star Trek villains, including the Klingons (although they didn’t have the bumpy foreheads), Romulans, and a genetically altered super soldier called Khan (he’ll become important later).

Star Trek: The Animated Series (Seasons 1-2)

Following the cancellation of the original series, Star Trek was resurrected as an animated show, with most of the cast returning to voice their respective characters. While the series was popular in its day, there are some questions about its canonicity.

Officially, the series isn’t canon. However, the events as seen in the show are increasingly being brought into series like Strange New Worlds, slowly making it canon by proxy.

Star Trek: The Motion Picture

A direct continuation of the original series, Star Trek: The Motion Picture, picks up after the events of Kirk’s five-year mission, in the 2270s. Now an admiral, Kirk and the gang assume command of the recently refitted Starship USS Enterprise to investigate and stop a mighty alien known as V’Ger, which is threatening to destroy the Earth.

A somewhat cynical attempt to cash in on the popularity of Close Encounters of the Third Kind and Star Wars, The Motion Picture received mixed reviews from critics who didn’t enjoy the movie’s slow pace and lack of drama.

Star Trek 2: The Wrath of Khan

Finally, we get to the good stuff. One of the best science fiction movies ever, The Wrath of Khan is Moby Dick in space, and it’s brilliant. Set in 2285, an older Admiral Kirk gets the Enterprise crew back together once again to stop the ruthless tyrant Khan (told you he’d come back) from getting his hands on the Genesis device, a machine capable of both terrible destruction and creating new life.

Wrath of Khan is perhaps best remembered for being ‘the one where Spock dies’, but it also introduces several other important plot beats, including the Genesis Device, and Kirk’s previously unknown son David,

Star Trek 3: The Search For Spock

Picking up right where The Wrath of Khan ends, the film deals with the fall out of Khan’s attack and the death of Spock. When Kirk learns that Spock’s Katra (his soul basically) is held in the mind of Bones, he and the crew steal the Enterprise and head off to return Spock’s body to the planet Vulcan so they can bring him back to life.

Things are complicated, though, by Kruge (Christopher Lloyd), a Klingon who wants to get his hands on the Genesis device to use as a weapon. The Search for Spock is famous for three things, destroying the original Enterprise, bringing back Spock, and killing off Kirk’s son David, which gives Kirk a serious dislike of the Klingons which will get him in trouble three movies from now.

Star Trek 4: The Voyage Home

Following the events of The Search for Spock, The Voyage Home sees the crew of the Enterprise return to Earth to face their punishment for stealing (and destroying) the Enterprise. Before they can get back home, though, a colossal alien probe arrives in Earth’s atmosphere and starts wreaking havoc.

Realizing that the probe is trying to communicate with the now-extinct humpback whales, the crew travels back in time to the ‘80s to try and find some whales in order to bring them forward in time to save Earth from the probe.

Star Trek 5: The Final Frontier

Probably the worst of the original film series, The Final Frontier sees the crew of the USS Enterprise as they confront Spock’s evil half brother Sybok (Laurence Luckinbill). The villainous Vulcan wants to travel to the mythical planet Sha Ka Ree which lies behind the Great Barrier, a seemingly impenetrable energy field near the galaxy’s centre.

Star Trek 6: The Undiscovered Country

The Undiscovered Country has the Enterprise crew working to figure out who’s trying to sabotage a potential peace treaty with The Federation’s longtime enemy, the Klingon Empire. Along the way, Kirk (who hates Klingons after the events of The Search for Spock) is framed for killing the Klingon chancellor and must escape a frozen penal colony.

Notable for being the final film to feature the entire original crew, the film ends with Kirk musing about a new generation crew continuing their legacy in an apparent reference to…

Star Trek: The Next Generation (Seasons 1-5)

The Next Generation, the best Star Trek series, focuses on the crew of the Enterprise-D. Led by Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) and his senior staff William Riker (Jonathan Frakes), Data (Brent Spiner), Deanna Troi (Marina Sirtis), Beverly Crusher (Gates McFadden), Geordi La Forge (LeVar Burton), and Worf (Michael Dorn), the show was far more of an ensemble than the original series but all the better for it.

During the first five seasons, the crew of this new Enterprise would encounter new species like the Bajorans, Cardassians, Ferengi, and more. It also introduced two of Star Trek’s best-known villains, the mischievous trickster Q, who became a series staple and the terrifying Borg, a race of cybernetic zombies obsessed with assimilating other societies and cultures into their own who took an unhealthy interest in the technical might of The Federation.

The Next Generation is the quintessential Star Trek series, and is the franchise at its finest hour. Everyone has their personal preferences, but if you look for Star Trek in the dictionary, you’ll find a picture of Captain Picard, in his ready room with an Earl Grey, aboard the Enterprise-D.

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (Seasons 1-2)

The first series not set on a starship, Deep Space Nine took place on a space station, the titular Deep Space Nine. Drawing upon the conflict between the Bajorans and the Cardassians introduced in The Next Generation, the series opens with the Bajorans inviting The Federation to run the station in the hopes they’ll protect them from the ruthless Cardassians who previously enslaved their people.

Led by Benjamin Sisko (Avery Brooks), the station’s crew discovers a stable wormhole close to Bajor that offers a way between the Alpha Quadrant and the unexplored Gamma Quadrant. The first two seasons dealt with the tensions between the Bajorans, Cardassians and Federation, while also teasing a greater threat lurking in the Gamma Quadrant known as The Dominion.

Star Trek: The Next Generation (Seasons 6-7)

The last two seasons of TNG run parallel with season 1 and 2 of Deep Space Nine. The writers used this in season seven to further explore the tensions between the Cardassians and Federation when the Bajoran Ensign Ro joins a group of resistance fighters known as the Maquis, a terrorist group who opposed the Cardassian Union and were first introduced in DS9’s second season.

The conclusion of The Next Generation, All Good Things… is a perfect finale balancing a look back through the past with an eye on the future.  If the Star Trek franchise had ended there, no one could have had any complaints.

Star Trek: Generations

The adventures of the crew of the Enterprise-D didn’t end with All Good Things… though, and the series led directly into a slew of films. This started with Generations, which saw the crossover Star Trek fans were waiting for, and the original crew meet the next generation gang.

Opening in the year 2293, way before the events of TNG, the film begins with the death of Captain Kirk, except not really he actually transported to the Nexus, an interdimensional realm that exists outside of normal space-time where all your dreams come true.

Fast forward to the 24th Century, and Picard is trying to deal with the villainous Tolian Soran (Malcolm McDowell), who plans on destroying a planetary system to get into The Nexus. Shockingly he succeeds, and Picard is trapped in the Nexus with Soran, forcing him to team up with Kirk to save the day.

Some people, apparently, love Generations because they get to see these two Starfleet goliaths working together. But, in truth, Generations is up there with the worst Star Trek movies. In a dreadfully dull film, the movie’s biggest claim to fame is Kirk’s anti-climactic death (he falls off a bridge and then Picard buries him under some rocks) as well as the destruction of the beloved, iconic Enterprise-D.

Star Trek: Deep Space 9 (Seasons 3-4)

Continuing the plot beats introduced in seasons one and two, DS9’s third season introduces the USS Defiant, Starfleet’s first warship, designed to fight the growing threat of the Borg. The Marquis become more of a threat, with more and more Starfleet officers leaving to join their cause.

Meanwhile, The Dominion makes themselves known to The Federation, a tyrannical race of shapeshifters that seek to impose order across the galaxy by subjugating species they see as lesser. It’s here we learn they’ve already infiltrated all the major governments in the Alpha Quadrant. The series ends with war breaking out between the Klingon Empire and The Federation once again thanks to their machinations.

Star Trek: Voyager (Seasons 1-2)

Star Trek: Voyager was a bit of a different show – the series opened with the USS Voyager and her crew being transported to the Delta Quadrant (a remote, unexplored region of the galaxy) while chasing a Marquis ship.

Trapped and with no other options, the crew of Voyager led by Captain Kathryn Janeway (Kate Mulgrew) and their Marquis enemies are forced to unite to survive and begin the long journey home (77 years at maximum warp). Along the way, they encounter new threats like the Kazon and Vidiians while a few familiar faces, like Q, make an appearance.

Star Trek: First Contact

The best Next Generation movie, First Contact picks up soon after the events of Generations with Picard and the crew in a brand-new ship, the Enterprise-E. Their new ship is put to the test almost immediately, though when the Borg launch an attack on Earth. While Starfleet manages to repel the attack, the Borg go back in time and assimilate Earth before they can ever achieve warp speed, effectively wiping out The Federation before it even began.

Thankfully the Enterprise-E manages to go back in time as well and put right what once went wrong. First Contact has the dubious honour of introducing the Borg Queen, who’d go on to become a recurring villain in Star Trek: Voyager.

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (Seasons 5-6)

Season five of DS9 picks up where the fourth left off with the Klingon’s declaring war on The Federation. Thankfully Sisko and the crew manage to expose the shapeshifter who started the whole thing and broker peace over the course of the season, but it’s all for nought.

The Cardassians join the Dominion and give the tyrannical despots a foothold in our part of the galaxy. The Dominion then wipe out the Marquis, and the cold war spills out into open conflict. The Dominion War has begun…

Star Trek: Voyager (Seasons 3-4)

Voyager’s third and fourth seasons are notable for revealing that the Delta Quadrant is actually the home of the Borg, and from this point on, they become something of a recurring foe for the Voyager crew. Although season three and four do briefly see the two enemies team up to fight off an even worse threat, the multidimensional beings known as Species 8472.

Inevitably though, the Borg betray our heroes, and in the scuffle, Voyager ends up with a new crewmember 7 of 9, a former Borg drone. We also get the interesting if slightly pointless Year of Hell during season four.

Star Trek: Insurrection

Set during the Dominion War, the Enterprise-E is being kept away from the front lines to perform diplomatic duties. This changes when the crew become aware of a plot to steal a planet with rejuvenating properties from its peaceful inhabitants, the Ba’ku. The gang go rogue and manage to save the Ba’ku while also dispatching the evil admiral and his alien allies.

Star Trek Deep Space Nine season 7

The final season of Deep Space Nine sees all the Alpha Quadrant powers, The Federation, Klingons, and Romulans, unite to finally win the war against The Dominion. All involved suffer catastrophic losses, and it’s only thanks to the Cardassian rebellion against their masters that the day is saved.

Star Trek: Voyager (Seasons 5-7)

The Voyager crew continues their long journey home, meeting various antagonistic alien species along the way. Finally, in season seven, the crew make it back to Earth thanks to an alternate version of Captain Janeway, and they cripple the Borg at the same time.

Star Trek: Nemesis

The last Next Generation movie, Nemesis, sees a clone of Picard, named Shinzon (Tom Hardy), overthrow the Romulan Empire and declare war on The Federation. A box office bomb, the film’s only noteworthy contributions to Trek lore is the death of Data, who sacrifices himself to save Picard, and Riker and Troi finally tying the knot before leaving the Enterprise-E to command the USS Titan.

Star Trek: Lower Decks (Seasons 1 – 3)

An animated comedy set on the least important starship in Starfleet, the U.S.S. Cerritos in the year 2380. While most Trek series center around a captain and their senior staff as they go on daring adventures, Lower Decks flips the usual formula on its head and instead focuses on low-ranking officers doing the grunt work.

While the nature of the show is incredibly funny (the ship’s unimportant in the grand scheme of things), it has little bearing on the series continuity, aside from frequent cameos. Still, it’s often very entertaining and the animated series is a worthy (if, very different) addition to the Star Trek timeline.

Star Trek: Prodigy (season 1)

Everyone wanted to see the return of Captain Janeway and explore where her life was taken after her ship’s return to Earth. Well, Prodigy gives us half of that, as a holographic Janeway tutors a group of young rascals who commandeer the abandoned USS Protostar.

Prodigy utilizes its position in the timeline by focusing a lot on Starfleet’s development of new technology, unimaginable even a few decades prior. Star Trek Prodigy season 2 will pick up the mantle.

Star Trek (2009)

J.J. Abrams’ Star Trek reboot mostly takes place in an alternate timeline called the Kelvin Universe. That said, it does actually let us know what happened to the galaxy after the events of Nemesis.

Apparently, the Romulan sun went supernova, and the best efforts of The Federation and Starfleet weren’t enough to save them, resulting in the destruction of their homeworld. This is what causes Nero, the film’s main bad guy, to go back in time in the first place and alter the timeline.

Star Trek: Picard (Seasons 1 – 3)

Set 20 years after the events of Nemesis, Picard’s first season deals with both the fallout from the destruction of Romulus and The Federation’s ban on building androids.

From there, there are mysteries around every corner which are only exacerbated when Q returns in Star Trek Picard season 2 to send Picard and his new-found crew back in time to 21st century Earth.

Star Trek Picard season 3 brought things to a close by reuniting the TNG crew and making the jump to the 25th century, promising more adventures still to come with a potential Star Trek Legacy series.

Star Trek: Discovery (Seasons 3 – 5)

The crew of USS Discovery arrive in the far-flung future (32nd Century) and find a galaxy in ruins with The Federation on its knees. The cause of this chaos? An event known as The Burn, during which most of the galaxy’s dilithium exploded, destroying almost every starship in use and making warp travel nearly impossible.

With The Federation reduced to just a handful of planets, the crew of The Discovery use their unique warp drive, the spore drive, to spread hope, rebuild The federation, and work out what caused The Burn.

Discovery season 4 continued the adventures on the frontier of the Star Trek timeline, and Star Trek Discovery season 5 release date promises to bring it all to a conclusion.

That’s it on the Star Trek timeline so far. For more on Star Trek, check out our guide to the Star Trek 4 release date , and see our rankings of the best Star Trek captains and best Star Trek characters. Or, read our  Star Trek Strange New Worlds season 2 review  as well as  our interview with Anson Mount and Rebecca Romijn .

You can also find our choices for the  best science fiction movies  of all time, and the  best sci-fi series  too before seeing what’s  new on Paramount Plus  this month. Alternatively, keep up to date with what’s going on by taking a look at our guide to every new movie coming out in 2023 and all the best streaming services to watch them on.

Tom Percival After graduating with an MA in journalism from the University of Salford, Tom set out to make a career for himself in the heady world of entertainment journalism. After spending six years working at UNILAD (and moonlighting at the BBC) where he interviewed the likes of Hugh Grant, Hugh Jackman, and Hugh Bonneville (plus other people not called Hugh) he left to find his fortune as editor at The Digital Fix where he spends his days trying to guess if the MCU's Doctor Doom will be in Avengers Secret Wars, thinking about Spider-Man , and watching Game of Thrones in a desperate attempt to untangle the Targaryen family tree . 

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Star Trek: Voyager — Multiple Authors

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The Star Trek: Voyager Series in Order (53 Books)

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Star Trek - Chronological order

All Star Trek movies and TV shows in chronological order. - last update December 2023

• Movies or TV
• IMDb Rating
• In Theaters
• Release Year

1. Star Trek: Enterprise (2001–2005)

TV-PG | 60 min | Action, Adventure, Drama

A century before Captain Kirk's five-year mission, Jonathan Archer captains the United Earth ship Enterprise during the early years of Starfleet, leading up to the Earth-Romulan War and the formation of the Federation.

Stars: Scott Bakula , John Billingsley , Jolene Blalock , Dominic Keating

Votes: 59,087

2. Star Trek: Discovery (2017–2024)

TV-14 | 60 min | Action, Adventure, Drama

Ten years before Kirk, Spock, and the Enterprise, the USS Discovery discovers new worlds and lifeforms as one Starfleet officer learns to understand all things alien.

Stars: Sonequa Martin-Green , Doug Jones , Anthony Rapp , Mary Wiseman

Votes: 134,821

Seasons 1 and 2: 2256-2258

3. Star Trek: Strange New Worlds (2022– )

TV-PG | 52 min | Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi

A prequel to Star Trek: The Original Series, the show follows the crew of the USS Enterprise under Captain Christopher Pike.

Stars: Anson Mount , Ethan Peck , Christina Chong , Melissa Navia

Votes: 58,855

4. Star Trek: Short Treks (2018–2020)

TV-PG | 10 min | Short, Action, Adventure

A series of stand-alone short films featuring characters and storylines from Star Trek: Discovery (2017).

Stars: Anson Mount , Rebecca Romijn , Ethan Peck , Jenette Goldstein

Votes: 3,141

5. Star Trek (1966–1969)

TV-PG | 50 min | Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi

In the 23rd Century, Captain James T. Kirk and the crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise explore the galaxy and defend the United Federation of Planets.

Stars: William Shatner , Leonard Nimoy , DeForest Kelley , Nichelle Nichols

Votes: 92,896

2265-2269. You can continue with alternative Kelvin timeline Star Trek movie from 2009.

6. Star Trek: The Animated Series (1973–1975)

TV-Y7 | 30 min | Animation, Action, Adventure

The further adventures of Captain James T. Kirk and the crew of the USS Enterprise, as they explore the galaxy and defend the United Federation of Planets.

Stars: William Shatner , Leonard Nimoy , DeForest Kelley , George Takei

Votes: 8,178

7. Star Trek: The Motion Picture (1979)

G | 143 min | Adventure, Mystery, Sci-Fi

When an alien spacecraft of enormous power is spotted approaching Earth, Admiral James T. Kirk resumes command of the overhauled USS Enterprise in order to intercept it.

Director: Robert Wise | Stars: William Shatner , Leonard Nimoy , DeForest Kelley , James Doohan

Votes: 96,600 | Gross: $82.26M

8. Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (1982)

PG | 113 min | Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi

With the assistance of the Enterprise crew, Admiral Kirk must stop an old nemesis, Khan Noonien Singh, from using the life-generating Genesis Device as the ultimate weapon.

Director: Nicholas Meyer | Stars: William Shatner , Leonard Nimoy , DeForest Kelley , James Doohan

Votes: 129,195 | Gross: $78.91M

9. Star Trek III: The Search for Spock (1984)

PG | 105 min | Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi

Admiral Kirk and his bridge crew risk their careers stealing the decommissioned U.S.S. Enterprise to return to the restricted Genesis Planet to recover Spock's body.

Director: Leonard Nimoy | Stars: William Shatner , Leonard Nimoy , DeForest Kelley , James Doohan

Votes: 86,156 | Gross: $76.47M

10. Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home (1986)

PG | 119 min | Action, Adventure, Comedy

To save Earth from an alien probe, Admiral James T. Kirk and his fugitive crew go back in time to San Francisco in 1986 to retrieve the only beings who can communicate with it: humpback whales.

Votes: 91,466 | Gross: $109.71M

2286 and 1986

11. Star Trek V: The Final Frontier (1989)

PG | 107 min | Action, Adventure, Fantasy

Captain Kirk and his crew must deal with Mr. Spock's long-lost half-brother who hijacks the Enterprise for an obsessive search for God at the center of the galaxy.

Director: William Shatner | Stars: William Shatner , Leonard Nimoy , DeForest Kelley , James Doohan

Votes: 64,195 | Gross: $52.21M

12. Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country (1991)

PG | 110 min | Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi

On the eve of retirement, Kirk and McCoy are charged with assassinating the Klingon High Chancellor and imprisoned. The Enterprise crew must help them escape to thwart a conspiracy aimed at sabotaging the last best hope for peace.

Votes: 80,894 | Gross: $74.89M

13. Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987–1994)

TV-PG | 45 min | Action, Adventure, Drama

Set almost 100 years after Captain Kirk's 5-year mission, a new generation of Starfleet officers sets off in the U.S.S. Enterprise-D on its own mission to go where no one has gone before.

Stars: Patrick Stewart , Brent Spiner , Jonathan Frakes , LeVar Burton

Votes: 135,945

14. Star Trek: Generations (1994)

PG | 118 min | Action, Adventure, Mystery

With the help of long presumed dead Captain Kirk, Captain Picard must stop a deranged scientist willing to murder on a planetary scale in order to enter a space matrix.

Director: David Carson | Stars: Patrick Stewart , William Shatner , Malcolm McDowell , Jonathan Frakes

Votes: 87,028 | Gross: $75.67M

15. Star Trek: First Contact (1996)

PG-13 | 111 min | Action, Adventure, Drama

The Borg travel back in time intent on preventing Earth's first contact with an alien species. Captain Picard and his crew pursue them to ensure that Zefram Cochrane makes his maiden flight reaching warp speed.

Director: Jonathan Frakes | Stars: Patrick Stewart , Jonathan Frakes , Brent Spiner , LeVar Burton

Votes: 132,035 | Gross: $92.00M

16. Star Trek: Insurrection (1998)

PG | 103 min | Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi

When the crew of the Enterprise learn of a Federation conspiracy against the inhabitants of a unique planet, Captain Picard begins an open rebellion.

Votes: 79,449 | Gross: $70.12M

17. Star Trek: Nemesis (2002)

PG-13 | 116 min | Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi

The Enterprise is diverted to the Romulan homeworld Romulus, supposedly because they want to negotiate a peace treaty. Captain Picard and his crew discover a serious threat to the Federation once Praetor Shinzon plans to attack Earth.

Director: Stuart Baird | Stars: Patrick Stewart , Jonathan Frakes , Brent Spiner , LeVar Burton

Votes: 83,916 | Gross: $43.25M

18. Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (1993–1999)

In the vicinity of the liberated planet of Bajor, the Federation space station Deep Space Nine guards the opening of a stable wormhole to the far side of the galaxy.

Stars: Avery Brooks , Rene Auberjonois , Cirroc Lofton , Alexander Siddig

Votes: 70,768

19. Star Trek: Voyager (1995–2001)

TV-PG | 44 min | Action, Adventure, Drama

Pulled to the far side of the galaxy, where the Federation is seventy-five years away at maximum warp speed, a Starfleet ship must cooperate with Maquis rebels to find a way home.

Stars: Kate Mulgrew , Robert Beltran , Roxann Dawson , Robert Duncan McNeill

Votes: 77,309

20. Star Trek: Lower Decks (2020–2024)

TV-14 | 25 min | Animation, Action, Adventure

The support crew serving on one of Starfleet's least important ships, the U.S.S. Cerritos, have to keep up with their duties, often while the ship is being rocked by a multitude of sci-fi anomalies.

Stars: Tawny Newsome , Jack Quaid , Noël Wells , Eugene Cordero

Votes: 24,956

21. Star Trek: Prodigy (2021–2024)

TV-Y7 | 24 min | Animation, Action, Adventure

A group of enslaved teenagers steal a derelict Starfleet vessel to escape and explore the galaxy.

Stars: Rylee Alazraqui , Dee Bradley Baker , Brett Gray , Angus Imrie

Votes: 5,582

22. Star Trek: Picard (2020–2023)

TV-MA | 46 min | Action, Adventure, Drama

Follow-up series to Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987) and Star Trek: Nemesis (2002) that centers on Jean-Luc Picard in the next chapter of his life.

Stars: Patrick Stewart , Michelle Hurd , Jeri Ryan , Alison Pill

Votes: 94,679

23. Star Trek: Discovery (2017–2024)

Seasons 3 and 4 (3188-TBD)

24. Star Trek (2009)

PG-13 | 127 min | Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi

The brash James T. Kirk tries to live up to his father's legacy with Mr. Spock keeping him in check as a vengeful Romulan from the future creates black holes to destroy the Federation one planet at a time.

Director: J.J. Abrams | Stars: Chris Pine , Zachary Quinto , Simon Pegg , Leonard Nimoy

Votes: 620,201 | Gross: $257.73M

First move of alternative Kelvin timeline

25. Star Trek Into Darkness (2013)

PG-13 | 132 min | Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi

After the crew of the Enterprise find an unstoppable force of terror from within their own organization, Captain Kirk leads a manhunt to a war-zone world to capture a one-man weapon of mass destruction.

Director: J.J. Abrams | Stars: Chris Pine , Zachary Quinto , Zoe Saldana , Benedict Cumberbatch

Votes: 497,044 | Gross: $228.78M

26. Star Trek Beyond (2016)

PG-13 | 122 min | Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi

The crew of the USS Enterprise explores the furthest reaches of uncharted space, where they encounter a new ruthless enemy, who puts them, and everything the Federation stands for, to the test.

Director: Justin Lin | Stars: Chris Pine , Zachary Quinto , Karl Urban , Zoe Saldana

Votes: 258,464 | Gross: $158.85M

27. Untitled Star Trek: Beyond Sequel

Action, Adventure, Mystery | Pre-production

Plot kept under wraps. The follow-up to Star Trek Beyond (2016).

Stars: Chris Pine , Karl Urban , Zoe Saldana , Simon Pegg

28. Star Trek: USS PAN

Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi | Announced

The USS Pan, the new flagship of the Federation. It is the year 3299, the dawn of a new century is about to begin. The Pan is a Desira class starship. Their enemy are the Chatacrons.

Director: Carl Miller

29. Star Trek: Starfleet Academy (2025– )

Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi | Pre-production

Centers on students at Starfleet Academy.

30. Star Trek: Section 31 (2025)

Action, Adventure, Drama | Filming

In Star Trek: Section 31, Emperor Philippa Georgiou, joins a secret division of Starfleet tasked with protecting the United Federation of Planets and faces the sins of her past.

Director: Olatunde Osunsanmi | Stars: Humberly González , Michelle Yeoh , Sam Richardson , Omari Hardwick

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How to Watch Every Star Trek Series (and Movie) in the Right Order

Ready for a rewatch but not sure where to start? We’ve got you covered.

Have you ever wondered what the best way is to stream Star Trek from start to finish? Look no further.

Approaching the chronological watch of a franchise that’s been on over fifty years can be daunting. Especially with a science-fiction universe that has time travel, multiple universes, concurrent shows and entirely new timelines.

Fear not, as we have created a handy binge-watch guide using the Stardate of each series and film. Here is our guide on how to watch every Star Trek series and movie in the right order.

Star Trek: Discovery Finally Gave Us A Closer Look At The Franchise's Most Mysterious Villain

Warning: This article contains spoilers for the latest episode of "Star Trek: Discovery."

"Star Trek" might represent an idealistic vision of a bolder and brighter future, but the last few seasons of "Discovery" have proven that there will always be bad guys with a penchant for muddying up those ambitions in unexpected ways -- even in the 32nd Century. While the Borg, Romulans, and the warlord Khan often have a stranglehold on the title of "Best 'Trek' villains," one alien species in particular has remained shrouded in mystery for decades. First mentioned in foreboding whispers in "The Next Generation" and finally seen in the flesh (well, so to speak) in "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine," the Breen have played a significant role throughout the franchise in the years since ... yet Trekkies still had to wait until now to actually see what lies underneath their distinctive helmets.

The advantage of never showing us a Breen's face, as it turns out, is that "Discovery" was able to hide one in plain sight all along.

So far, the addition of scavengers Moll (Eve Harlow) and L'ak (Elias Toufexis) has felt like a shoe waiting to drop. The close-knit pair continue to frustrate Captain Michael Burnham (Sonequa Martin-Green) and the rest of the Discovery crew (nowhere more dramatically than in last week's time-traveling bottle episode ), remaining one step ahead of our heroes in their quest to recover whatever Progenitor technological treasure hides at the end of this galaxy-spanning rainbow. About midway through episode 5, titled "Mirrors," the writers unleashed their big twist. L'ak, thus far considered an unknown type of extraterrestrial, actually reveals himself as a Breen. Or, rather, an emotional Moll lets this information slip by accident during a particularly fraught moment. In the process, "Trek" finally unmasked its most enigmatic aliens.

Read more: Every Star Trek Show And Movie In Chronological Order

Putting On A Brave Face (Or Two)

In the span of one episode, "Discovery" officially made "Star Trek" history.

Long treated as a mystery that left everything up to our own imaginations, the Breen reveal puts a specific face to what had previously only been a name ... actually, make that two faces. While Moll and L'ak come to a tense faceoff with Burnham and Cleveland Booker (David Ajala) on board the mirror-universe version of the USS Enterprise while trapped in multidimensional space (it's a long story), the writers treat this as the perfect opportunity to delve into the scavengers' shared past. In a series of flashbacks, we find out that L'ak was part of the Breen royal family and disgraced by his powerful Primarch uncle. Hoping to earn his way back to his people's good graces, all his plans are upended by a torrid romance with then-courier Moll. With their backs against the wall and nowhere else to turn, the lovers choose their own path altogether and, along the way, L'ak reveals his most private aspect of himself: his Breen face.

Of course, the episode adds another twist and introduces the concept of the Breen having two  faces -- a solid, corporeal form they can present to others if they so choose, and a more translucent one. (Really, it can only be described as  squishier. ) In fact, this creepy and altogether unique visage symbolizes a much more meaningful difference, as we learn when L'ak's uncle calls his chosen face an "insult to your heritage." Apparently, most Breen have moved beyond this "weak" form and consider this some sort of societal faux pas. In just a few minutes, we discover more about Breen culture than we've ever known before.

New episodes of "Star Trek: Discovery" stream every Thursday on Paramount+.

Read the original article on SlashFilm