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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 Apr 27, 2022

5 Star Trek Novels Every Fan Should Read

These adventures span the universe and tell stories we didn't have a chance to see onscreen

StarTrek.com

If there’s been one constant in Star Trek ’s 56-year history, it’s been the franchise’s presence on fans’ bookshelves. The first series of novels came from James Blish as he adapted certain episodes from The Original Series , and those books opened the floodgates for dozens of authors to inscribe hundreds of Star Trek stories on the printed page. A few are just fine, most are good, and some are excellent – but which are which?

For fans who want to explore the massive catalogue of Star Trek novels, here are five stories that you should definitely seek out at some point in your exploration of the wonderful Star Trek novel universe.

Star Trek: Discovery: Dead Endless – Dave Galanter, 2019

This first pick is one of the more recent Star Trek novels, based on Star Trek: Discovery, that spotlights the relationship between Paul Stamets and Hugh Culber, played by Anthony Rapp and Wilson Cruz in the show, respectively.  As his last book, the late Dave Galanter certainly delivers a quintessential Star Trek story – one that perfectly encapsulates the Star Trek ethos.

The adventures of the Discovery amid the mycelial network produces some fascinating science-based storytelling, but the real spirit of this book comes from the connection shared between two star-crossed lovers. The aforementioned men are coupled within the metaphysical fiber of the universe thanks to their loving connection, but the fact that the Stamets in Dead Endless is an alternate universe version of Culber’s real partner makes this connection much more complicated.  Galanter ensures readers will chuckle in awe of a smart, unexpected plot twist, smile at a clever or funny line of dialogue, or become misty eyed thanks to the author’s incredible description of love that defies space and time.

Star Trek: Coda: Book III – Oblivion’s Gate – David Mack, 2021

This book is one of the most recent entries in the Star Trek literary universe; in fact, in one sense, it’s the final one. Yes, you should probably read the first two entries in this amazing trilogy — Moments Asunder and The Ashes of Tomorrow — first, but the third book is extra special. Oblivion’s Gate serves as the final word in the long-running so-called Star Trek “novel-verse,” or “lit-verse,” the collection of non-canonical books by numerous authors since 2005 that deeply expand the adventures of familiar and new characters in the Star Trek universe. Therefore, Oblivion’s Gate is a herculean effort by Mack, as it is the final book in a series that is designed by its authors to shut the door on well-loved characters and their adventures. By itself, that’s a good reason to pick this one up.

But Mack steps up to the plate in an unexpectedly powerful way. He clearly deeply cares about the novel universe he and other authors have inhabited for so many years. Oblivion’s Gate sees Captain Picard and his allies stop an existential threat by the Devidians – even when that means destroying the universe they inhabit. Think about those stakes! Mack weaves a deeply emotional tale that adroitly balances intergalactic stakes amid interpersonal ramifications. For example, how does Captain Picard, a man who has fostered a loving family throughout multiple novel-verse books, have the courage to end their existence in service of a greater goal? And what exactly is that greater goal? You’ll have to read to find out.

Star Trek: Federation – Judith and Garfield Reeves-Stevens, 1994

Released in 1994, this is one of the oldest books on this list, but pay that no mind. Judith and Garfield Reeves-Stevens are legendary Star Trek novelists, producing some of the best fiction in this franchise. Federation features a centuries-spanning storyline that unites two of Starfleet’s most famous captains. The Reeves-Stevens duo tie together multiple canonical entries in the Star Trek universe, including a vital The Original Series episode, to craft a story that showcases their intricate knowledge of Star Trek lore using their densely detailed but highly readable writing style.

Readers will journey with Captains Kirk and Picard as a time and mind-bending mystery unfolds in a fashion that will keep readers blazing through the pages, only to find themselves at a remarkable ending that challenges their conception of what’s possible within the Star Trek universe. If that doesn’t sound like a fantastic book, what does?

Star Trek: New Frontier: House of Cards – Peter David, 1997

Peter David is a legendary author to Star Trek fans, and for good reason. He’s written 48 works of Star Trek fiction, the most prolific of which is the New Frontier series. This collection of novellas and story stories stand as fascinating additions to Star Trek lore, as the cover of the first New Frontier book promises, “A new ship, a new crew, a new mission!” Yes, most of the main players in this story are either new characters, ones that were only briefly introduced in Star Trek canon, or returning popular characters who help launch this new series.

In the spotlight is Captain Mackenzie Calhoun, the charming and roguish leader of the U.S.S. Excalibur . Thanks to David’s well-developed characterization of Captain Calhoun, he can confidently stand along franchise mainstays like Picard and Kirk just fine. What’s more, his crew bring their own wit, charm, and mystery to this short adventure that serves as the introduction to an entire literary franchise. House of Cards reached the top 10 of the New York Times best seller list in 1997, a testament to the grand new adventures David created with a mostly new crew. If you want to branch beyond the literary adventures of Picard, Kirk, and other franchise favorites, New Frontier is the place to do it.

Star Trek: The Eugenics Wars: Book One – Greg Cox, 2001

This list of novels was created before the recent episode of Star Trek: Picard featured the same kind of supervisors that permeate The Eugenics Wars trilogy, so it's a neat coincidence!

Cox, who scribes all three books in The Eugenics Wars trilogy, hooks readers immediately with the lengthy but fascinating inaugural entry in this series. The Eugenics Wars feels at once like an expertly told Star Trek story and a history lesson, a seemingly dichotomous feat for a science fiction novel. Cox chronicles the rise – and fall – of the infamous Star Trek villain Khan Noonien Singh during the 20th century and uses numerous real-world historical events to frame Khan’s tale.

Cox leans so much into history that he feels compelled to provide readers with a thorough afterward section that explains every little historical detail used in the book. His expert use of history to build a grand science fiction story is the main reason why readers shouldn’t sleep on this intelligent, thoughtful, and intriguing book – but beyond that, Khan’s story, even if it’s not strictly canonical, really helps add complexity to the character we see on screen.

Kyle Hadyniak (he/him) is a life-long Star Trek fan who lives in Gray, Maine. He is assistant editor for TrekNews.net, and can usually be found reading, playing video games, or arguing why The Final Frontier and Nemesis are the best Star Trek movies. You can find him on Twitter at @KHADY93

Star Trek: Discovery currently streams exclusively on Paramount+ in the U.S. Internationally, the series is available on Paramount+ in Australia, Latin America and the Nordics, and on Pluto TV in Austria, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Switzerland and the United Kingdom on the Pluto TV Sci-Fi channel. In Canada, it airs on Bell Media’s CTV Sci-Fi Channel and streams on Crave. Star Trek: Discovery is distributed by Paramount Global Distribution Group.

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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.

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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!

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.

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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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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.

Get notified when Keith R.A. DeCandido releases a new book at BookNotification.com .

Publication Order of Star Trek: Klingon Empire Books

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

Publication Order of Star Trek: The Next: Generation Myriad Universes Books

Publication order of star trek: seekers books, publication order of star trek: discovery books.

Get notified when Kirsten Beyer releases a new book at BookNotification.com .

Publication Order of Star Trek: Picard: Countdown Graphic Novels

Get notified when James Swallow releases a new book at BookNotification.com .

Publication Order of Star Trek: Picard Books

If you like star trek books, you’ll love….

• Miles Vorkosigan
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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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The Best Sci Fi Books

Find a great science fiction book, 25 best star trek books.

As one of the most popular franchises in movie and TV history, Star Trek is not lacking for extensive and thoughtful source material.

As of November 2019, approximately 850 novels, short story anthologies, novelizations, and omnibus editions have been published.

Star Trek books are often ignored (sometimes rightly so) by review sites like Kirkus Reviews and Publishers Weekly , so you’ll have to decide for yourself if a certain book sounds like your cup of Earl Grey tea (hot).

Section 31, the covert organization which has operated without accountability in the shadows for more than two centuries, has been exposed. Throughout the Federation, the rogue group’s agents and leaders are being taken into custody as the sheer scope of its misdeeds comes to light. Now Starfleet Command must decide the consequences for numerous officers caught up in the scandal—including Admirals William Ross, Edward Jellico, Alynna Nechayev, and Captain Jean-Luc Picard who, along with many others, are implicated in the forced removal of a Federation president.

Meanwhile, deep in the distant, unexplored region of space known as the Odyssean Pass, Picard and the crew of the starship Enterprise must put aside personal feelings and political concerns as they investigate a massive mysterious spacecraft. Adrift for centuries in the void, the ship is vital to the survival of an endangered civilization which has spent generations searching for a world to sustain what remains of its people. Complicating matters is a band of marauders who have their own designs on the ancient ship, with only the Enterprise standing in their way….

The ancient Thallonian Empire has collapsed, throwing an entire sector of the galaxy into chaos and unrest. Billions of sentient beings are faced with starvation, warfare, and worse. Faced with a tragedy of interstellar proportions, Starfleet assembles a new, handpicked crew to help where it can and report what it finds.

Captain Mackenzie Calhoun, recommended by Jean-Luc Picard himself, takes command of the USS Excalibur , which is manned by Starfleet’s best and brightest (including some familiar faces from the Next Generation series).

They are a race of warriors, a noble people to whom honor is all. They are cousin to the Vulcan, ally to the Klingon, and Starfleet’s most feared and cunning adversary. They are the Romulans—and for eight years, Federation Agent Terise LoBrutto has hidden in their midst.

Now the presence of a captured Starfleet officer forces her to make a fateful choice—between exposure, escape, maintaining her cover, or saving the life of Dr. Leonard McCoy.

Spock’s mother, Amanda Grayson, is dying. Spock returns to the planet Vulcan where he and Sarek enjoy a rare moment of rapprochement. But just as his wife’s illness grows worse, duty calls Sarek away, once again sowing the seeds of conflict between father and son. Yet soon Sarek and Spock must put aside their differences and work together to foil a far-reaching plot to destroy the Federation, a plot that Sarek has seen in the making for nearly his entire career.

The crew of the USS Enterprise journeys to the heart of the Klingon Empire where Captain Kirk’s last surviving relative has become a pawn in a battle to divide and conquer the Federation. With Sarek’s help, the crew of the starship Enterprise learns that all is not as it seems. But before they can prevent the Federation’s destruction, they must see the face of their hidden enemy, an enemy more insidious and more dangerous than any they have faced before.

The USS Enterprise is on a peaceful mission at Starbase 12 when a bizarre cosmic phenomenon causes a Klingon ship to suddenly vanish—with Spock aboard for the ride. Spock’s last message from the Klingon ship is cryptic and frightening. The Klingons are traveling into the past, searching for the one man who holds the key to the future. If they can kill that man, the course of history will be changed—and the Federation will be destroyed!

“Fifteen years ago…you led us out of the darkness. You commanded the greatest rescue armada in history. Then…the unimaginable. What did that cost you? Your faith. Your faith in us. Your faith in yourself. Tell us, why did you leave Starfleet, Admiral?”

Every end has a beginning…and this novel details the events leading into the Star Trek TV series, introducing brand-new characters featured in the life of Jean-Luc Picard—widely considered to be one of the most popular and recognizable characters in all of science fiction.

Starfleet’s most sacred commandment has been violated. Its most honored captain is in disgrace, its most celebrated starship in pieces, and the crew of that ship scattered among the thousand worlds of the Federation.

Spock, McCoy, and the rest of the former crew of the Starship Enterprise to Talin, the planet where their careers ended. A world once teeming with life now lies ruined, its cities turned to ashes, its surface devastated by a radioactive firestorm, because of their actions. There, they must find out how—and why—this tragedy occurred and discover what has become of their captain.

Trelane is revealed to be a member of the Q Continuum. He taps into the power of the continuum and uses this ability to tamper with time and reality, resulting in the intersection of three different parallel universes, which are also referred to as time “tracks.”

Track A is a universe in which Beverly Crusher’s husband Jack never died, and now serves as captain of the Enterprise with Jean-Luc Picard as his first officer; in this universe, Jack’s son Wesley died as a boy and Jack and Beverly divorced.

Track B is the traditional universe depicted on Star Trek: The Next Generation .

Track C is akin to the more militaristic alternate universe shown in the Next Generation episode “Yesterday’s Enterprise,” in which the Federation is at war with the Klingons.

Q, who had been charged with the task of “mentoring” Trelane (a task each “adult” Q must accept at least once for an “adolescent” Q), enlists the help of Picard and the crew of the Enterprise -D in the three different timelines in order to teach Trelane discipline, and eventually, to stop him from destroying the fabric of the universe by collapsing the alternate universes together.

The final frontier erupts into chaos as vast quantities of a rare energy source are discovered beneath the surface of Baldur-3, a remote planet beyond the outer fringes of Federation space. Now, an old-fashioned “gold rush” is underway as a flood of would-be prospectors, from countless worlds and species, races toward the planet to stake their claim.

The galactic stampede threatens the stability of neighboring planets and space stations, as widespread strife and sabotage and all-around pandemonium result in a desperate need for Starfleet assistance. Captain James T. Kirk and the crew of the Enterprise are dispatched to deal with the escalating crisis… which lies on the other side of a famously perilous region of space known as the Antares Maelstrom.

Half a decade after the Dominion War and more than a year after the rise and fall of Praetor Shinzon, the galaxy’s greatest scourge returns to wreak havoc upon the Federation—and this time its goal is nothing less than total annihilation.

Elsewhere, deep in the Gamma Quadrant, an ancient mystery is solved. One of Earth’s first generation of starships, lost for centuries, has been found dead and empty on a desolate planet. But its discovery so far from home has raised disturbing questions, and the answers harken back to a struggle for survival that once tested a captain and her crew to the limits of their humanity.

From that terrifying flashpoint begins an apocalyptic odyssey that will reach across time and space to reveal the past, define the future, and show three captains—Jean-Luc Picard of the USS Enterprise , William Riker of the USS Titan , and Ezri Dax of the USS Aventine —that some destinies are inescapable.

In this award-winner for cheesiest title, Kirk and McCoy accompany Spock to the Vulcan Academy Hospital seeking experimental treatment for a badly wounded Enterprise crew member. Spock’s mother is also a patient in the hospital, and Kirk soon becomes involved in the complex drama of Spock’s family.

Suddenly, patients are dying, and Kirk suspects the unthinkable—murder on Vulcan! But can he convince the Vulcans that something as illogical as murder is possible? Until the Killer is caught, everyone is in danger!

Five thousand years ago, on the planet Sarpedion, Spock knew a beautiful, primitive woman. When the USS Enterprise is called upon to protect the Guardian of Forever, a mysterious time portal, Spock uses it to journey to the past, and to discover his own son.

A spy for the Typhon Pact—a new political rival of the Federation—steals the plans for Starfleet’s newest technological advance: the slipstream drive. To stop the Typhon Pact from unlocking the drive’s secrets, Starfleet Intelligence recruits a pair of genetically enhanced agents: Dr. Julian Bashir, of station Deep Space 9 , and Sarina Douglas, a woman whose talents Bashir helped bring to fruition, and whom Bashir thinks of as his long-lost true love.

Bashir and Douglas are sent to infiltrate the mysterious species known as the Breen, find the hidden slipstream project, and destroy it. Meanwhile, light-years away, Captain Ezri Dax and her crew on the USS Aventine play a dangerous game of cat and mouse with a Typhon Pact fleet that stands between them and the safe retrieval of Bashir and Douglas from hostile territory.

In crystalline form, dilithium is the most valuable mineral in the galaxy. It powers the Federation’s starships and the Klingon Empire’s battlecruisers. Now on a small, out-of-the-way planet named Direidi, the greatest fortune in dilithium crystals ever seen has been found.

Under the terms of the Organian Peace Treaty, the planet will go to the side best able to develop the planet and its resources. Each side will contest the prize with the prime of its fleet. For the Federation, Captain James T. Kirk and the starship Enterprise . For the Klingons, Captain Kaden vestai-Oparai and the Fire Blossom .

Only the Direidians are writing their own script for this contest—a script that propels the crew of the Enterprise into one of their strangest adventures yet.

Aboard the starship Shenzhou , Lieutenant Michael Burnham, a human woman raised and educated among Vulcans, is promoted to acting first officer. But if she wants to keep the job, she must prove to Captain Philippa Georgiou that she deserves to have it.

She gets her chance when the Shenzhou must protect a Federation colony that is under attack by an ancient alien vessel that has surfaced from the deepest fathoms of the planet’s dark, uncharted sea.

As the menace from this mysterious vessel grows stronger, Starfleet declares the colony expendable in the name of halting the threat. To save thousands of innocent lives, Burnham must infiltrate the alien ship. But to do so, she needs to face the truth of her troubled past, and seek the aid of a man she has tried to avoid her entire life.

While Kirk and his crew struggle to free scientist Zefram Cochrane from captors, ninety-nine years in the future Jean-Luc Picard must rescue a mysterious individual who holds the key to the Federation’s ultimate survival.

For nearly a decade, Garak has longed for just one thing—to go home. Exiled on a space station, surrounded by aliens who loathe and distrust him, going back to Cardassia has been Garak’s one dream. Now, finally, he is home.

But home is a world whose landscape is filled with death and destruction. Desperation and dust are constant companions and luxury is a glass of clean water and a warm place to sleep.

Klingon Captain Krenn is a ruthless war strategist. But on a mission to Earth, Krenn learns a lesson in peace. Suddenly he must fight a secret battle of his own. His empire has a covert plan to shatter the Federation. Only Krenn can prevent a war—at the risk of his own life.

When a freak transporter malfunction during a Klingon attack creates an imposter Spock, Captain Kirk must discover how to save his friend from the machinations of his exact replica.

Hearing of the outbreak of hostilities between the United Federation of Planets and the Klingon Empire, Captain Christopher Pike attempts to bring the USS Enterprise home to join in the fight. But in the hellish nebula known as the Pergamum, the stalwart commander instead finds an epic battle of his own, pitting ancient enemies against one another—with not just the Enterprise, but her crew as the spoils of war.

Lost and out of contact with Earth for an entire year, Pike and his trusted first officer, Number One, struggle to find and reunite the ship’s crew—all while Science Officer Spock confronts a mystery that puts even his exceptional skills to the test, with more than their own survival possibly riding on the outcome.

Returning from its historic first voyage to the edge of the galaxy, the damaged USS Enterprise journeys through the Taurus Reach, a vast and little-known region of space in which a new starbase has been unexpectedly established. Puzzled by the Federation’s interest in an area so far from its borders and so near the xenophobic Tholian Assembly, Captain James T. Kirk orders the Enterprise to put in for repairs at the new space station: Starbase 47, also known as Vanguard .

As Kirk ponders the mystery of the enormous base, he begins to suspect that there is much more to Vanguard than meets the eye. It’s a suspicion shared by the Tholians, the Orions, and the Klingon Empire, each of whom believes that there are less than benign motives behind the Federation’s sudden and unexplained desire to explore and colonize the Taurus Reach.

But when a calamity deep within the Reach threatens to compromise Starfleet’s continued presence in the region, Kirk, Spock, and several key specialists from the Enterprise must assist Vanguard’s crew in investigating the cause of the disaster and containing the damage. In the process, they learn the true purpose behind the creation of Vanguard , and what the outcome of its mission may mean for life throughout that part of the galaxy.

The Enterprise is summoned to transport a dangerous criminal from Starbase prison to a rehabilitation center: brilliant physicist, Dr. Georges Mordreaux, accused of promising to send people back in time and then killing them instead.

But when Mordreaux escapes, bursts onto the bridge and kills Captain Kirk, Spock must journey back in time to avert disaster before it occurs.

Now there’s more at stake than just Kirk’s life. Mordreaux’s experiments have thrown the entire universe into a deadly time warp. Spock is fighting time, and the entire universe is closing in on itself.

On the planet Vulcan, a crisis of unprecedented proportion has caused the convocation of the planet’s ruling council, who summoned the USS Enterprise from halfway across the galaxy, to bring Vulcan’s most famous son home in its hour of need.

As Commander Spock, his father Sarek, and Captain James T. Kirk struggle to preserve Vulcan’s future, the planet’s innermost secrets are laid before the reader, from its beginnings millions of years ago to its savage prehistory, from merciless tribal warfare to medieval court intrigue, from the exploration of space to the development of o’thia—the ruling ethic of logic.

Spock, torn between his duty to Starfleet and the unbreakable ties that bind him to Vulcan, must find a way to reconcile both his own inner conflict and the external dilemma his planet faces, lest the Federation itself be ripped asunder.

Years ago, Lt. Uhura befriended a diplomat from Eeiauo, the land of graceful, cat-like beings. The two women exchanged songs and promised never to reveal their secret.

Now the USS Enterprise is orbiting Eeiauo in a desperate race to save the inhabitants before a deadly plague destroys them. Uhura’s secret songs may hold the key to a cure, but the clues are veiled in layers of mystery. The plague is killing humans, threatening other planets, and Kirk must crack the code before the Starship Enterprise succumbs.

Years before they became crewmates on the USS Enterprise , Commander William Riker and ship’s counselor Deanna Troi had a tempestuous love affair on her home planet of Betazed.

Now, as their passions have cooled, the two serve together as close friends. Yet the memories of what passed between them linger, and Riker and Troi remain Imzadi , a powerful Betazoid term that describes the enduring bond they still share.

On a delicate mission involving negotiations with an aggressive race called the Sindareen, Deanna mysteriously falls ill, and dies. But her death marks the start of an incredible adventure for Riker—an adventure that takes him across time, pits him against one of his closest friends, and forces him to choose between Starfleet’s strictest rule and the one he calls Imzadi .

9 thoughts on “ 25 Best Star Trek Books ”

Missing “Strangers from the Sky.”

Imzadi is my favorite read of the Star Trek universe. I don’t really remember how many I read, but it was a lot, mostly in Next Gen and DS9. Around the time Imzadi was published I was obsessed with the Star Trek universe and read nothing else but tie-in novels. Good times.

Would have been very disappointed had The Final Reflection not made the list. Awesome look into the Klingon Empire prior to the advent of the Next Generation

I was so happy to see Ishmael on the list. I still have the original copy I purchased back in 1985. I loved almost all the TOS books from around that time, but Ismael was my favorite. Only one I kept.

How is Destiny not on this list? You’ve got some wonderful titles here, but I think I’ve read the Destiny trilogy at least 5 times!

Zero for 25 here.

I did read the Star Trek Log books by Alan Dean Foster back in the 1970s. https://www.amazon.com/Star-Trek-Alan-Dean-Foster/dp/0345250427/

Best Destiny should be on here as a great alternative Kirk coming of age story versus the JJ trash. Probe would have been a good book to include, as would Strangers from the Sky as someone else pointed out. I’m also disappointed that Starfleet Year One wasn’t included. Otherwise, I agree with this list mostly.

So glad Federation made the list. It’s my all time favorite Trek novel. The Ashes of Eden is great too and deserved a spot but overall, it’s a solid list.

I am amazed the Uhura’s Song is rated second best book let alone it is on this list at all. That book is awful – probably the worst of all the Star trek books I’ve ever read and that is a lot. I’m glad to see Yesterday’s Son on the list and surprised the First Frontier is not.

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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.

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"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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The crew is on their way to Starfleet. Their shuttle is cramped, and everyone is cranky. That’s when Murf spots a moon that isn’t on their charts. Murf really wants to go there, so the crew decides to make a stop to stretch their legs and get some supplies. But a small detour turns into a big dilemma when the inhabitants of the moon ask Murf to stay with them. The rest of the crew begins to wonder if this is a sign. Could it be time for each of them to go their separate ways?

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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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7 Best Star Trek Novels, Ranked

With so many stories about the beloved series, Star Trek, it can be hard to pick the best novels, but here are some of the top contenders.

There have been Star Trek novels almost as long as there's been a show. The earliest books to take place in the Star Trek universe were released as early as 1967, and the trend continues right up until the present day. Given the popularity of the IP, there might be a new novel every day, and that's not including all the fan fiction.

Related: Star Trek: Saddest Deaths In The Franchise, Ranked

Given the breadth of choices when it comes to Star Trek novels, it's tough to choose only a few that could be the best . The following choices aren't novelizations of movies or shows, but unique stories that don't appear in other mediums. They do include settings or characters that have already been featured on the big and small screen even though most of them are considered non-canon.

7 Imzadi, By Peter David (1992)

The Next Generation fans will recognize Imzadi as a Betazoid term of endearment. Riker's mission to Betazed early in his career is alluded to on the show several times, but it was never really explored in detail like it is in this book. It's primarily an adventure, that involves time travel and the nature of the human soul.

The term "Imzadi" doesn't mean something casual like "honey" or even a more poetic term like "beloved." It's a deeply spiritual expression about the first being to touch your soul. Not to give away any spoilers , but the lesson here isn't one of universal diplomacy or stunning modern technology, just the ancient knowledge that love conquers all.

6 A Stitch In Time, By Andrew Robinson (2000)

Elim Garak is a familiar name to those who know their Star Trek lore, in particular Deep Space Nine . The character has an interesting history; he was intended as a one-off , but viewers and scriptwriters like the character so much that they wrote him in as a recurring plot device instead. In a further twist, the actor that portrayed the character also wrote this book, and since this novel evolved from a series of diary entries that were part of the show, that makes a lot of sense.

Related: Star Trek’s Planet Classes, Explained

Robinson wrote these diary entries, which go back to Garak's childhood and early training, to explore the character for his purposes as an actor. Another Star Trek and sci-fi writer, David R. George III, heard Robinson read part of the diary at a convention and thought it would make a good novel. The rest might not be canon, but it is history.

5 Rihannsu: The Bloodwing Voyages, By Diane Duane & Peter Morwood (2006)

This is a series of four shorter novels, which can be read separately, but this is an anthology that collects all four under one title. One edition was called Star Trek: Rihannsu but this was a version limited to certain book club members, so those looking for the title in modern bookstores are advised to look under Rihannsu: The Bloodwing Voyages .

The word "Rhannsu" is a word that means "Romulan" and the books follow a small group of characters while giving exposition on the lore in general. For viewers that are interested in Romulan lore, this novel is highly recommended reading, and for those who aren't, these books might change your mind about one of Star Trek's most notorious races.

4 Prime Directive, By Judith & Garfield Reeves-Stevens (1990)

Prime Directive is a novel of what could have been a typical The Original Series episode and features the classic team of Kirk, Spock, and McCoy. Instead of being flippant about the most important rule in Starfleet that nobody follows, this one takes it seriously and gives the reader some real-world consequences as to what happens when it's overlooked.

Related: Best Star Trek Admirals, Ranked

The plot revolves around an incident in which the crew decides to violate the Prime Directive, and the consequences are disastrous on a planetary scale. Spock helps the crew redeem themselves, however, and uncovers a much bigger plot and enemy in the process. The novel has some prescient ideas, like the beings that call themselves the One, who sound suspiciously like the Borg.

3 The Entropy Effect, By Vonda N. McIntyre (1981)

It's not just one of the oldest and best stories that focus on everyone's favorite Vulcan, it's the first original story in what would become an extensive library of Star Trek novels from Pocket Books publishing. Writer Vonda N. McIntyre was also a biologist, making The Entropy Effect higher on the reading list for those with an appreciation for the science fiction side of Star Trek.

The story revolves around two parallel stories that intertwine; one about Spock and his study of a naked singularity and the other about the transport of a dangerous criminal. The singularity, which is similar to a phenomenon like a black hole, was also the subject of study for the prisoner, Dr. Georges Mordreaux. The doctor, convicted of murder and other grisly crimes, is also a source of fascination for Spock, and as the story unfolds he has to confront and defeat a person he admires.

2 Dead Endless, By Dave Galanter (2019)

Dead Endless is one of the more recent additions to the Star Trek reading library, and it's based on one of the more recently released shows, Discovery . The story revolves around characters Hugh Culber and Paul Stamets, the latter of which uses his mind and consciousness to navigate the secret spore drive.

Related: Star Trek: Best Lieutenant Commanders, Ranked

The story explores the idea of the existence of human consciousness within the mycelial network, and it's not official canon it could fit into the Discovery timeline. For readers who are looking for more Discovery novels, Gallery Books has several others that take place in the same setting.

1 The Eugenics Wars: The Rise And Fall Of Khan Noonien Singh (2001)

This isn't a novelization of The Wrath of Khan movie but one novel in a larger series about the Eugenics Wars overall, and this volume focuses on the rise of Star Trek's most infamous villain. Considering that the movie came out in 1982, and the popularity of the character , it's amazing that it took so long to release a novelization of the same era.

The novel traces the very beginning of the eugenics projects that would eventually give rise to genetically augmented humans and begins on Earth in 1974. The Watchers have a team on earth who have been keeping an eye on the Chrysalis Project; Gary Seven, his human secretary Roberta Lincoln, and the shapeshifter Isis. These characters also appeared on the TOS episode "Assignment Earth" which was intended to be a backdoor pilot for a show featuring Gary Seven.

More: Star Trek: Times Seven Of Nine Saved The Day

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has published over 50 books, both fiction and non fiction, including the bestselling Star Trek series. She has written multiple articles, columns, case studies and essays, and has appeared on several TV and Radio programs on a wide range of subjects. She has also done considerable public speaking, including seminars on the subject of helping stray pets without getting hurt or getting stuck with keeping them per manently, instead finding new homes for them so the household is free to help the next one that comes along.

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Lost to Eternity (Star Trek: The Original Series) Kindle Edition

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• Publication date July 23, 2024
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• ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0CL5GY5W9
• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Gallery Books (July 23, 2024)
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About the author

Greg Cox (born 1959) is an American writer of science fiction, including works that are media tie-ins. He lives in Oxford, Pennsylvania.

He has written numerous Star Trek novels, including The Eugenics Wars (Volume One and Two), The Q Continuum, Assignment: Eternity, and The Black Shore. His short fiction can be found in such anthologies as Star Trek: Tales of the Dominion War, Star Trek: The Amazing Stories and Star Trek: Enterprise logs. His first "Khan" novel, The Eugenics Wars: Volume One, was voted best sci-fi book of the year by the readers of Dreamwatch magazine. Cox can be found in a bonus feature on the "Director's Edition" DVD of Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan.

Bio from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

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Weird Star Trek Novels That Are Enjoyable To Read

I n February 1970, Bantam Books published the first original Star Trek novel. James Blish's Spock Must Die! received mixed reviews from critics, but it laid the foundation for many hundreds of further novels . Perhaps the golden era of Star Trek prose was under Pocket Books, who produced an ambitious continuation of TNG and DS9 long before Star Trek: Picard .

Some of the tie-in novels are good, some are bad, and some are just plain strange. From vanity projects to starship-sized plot holes, Star Trek's authors went where no one had gone before (and sometimes where they shouldn't have gone). Though they may be on the stranger side, here are a few books that fans of the franchise will doubtless enjoy.

The Enterprise War - John Jackson Miller

John Jackson Miller's 2019 novel answers a pertinent question: where was the Enterprise during Star Trek: Discovery 's Federation–Klingon War? Miller shows Pike's Enterprise caught in a different war between the Boundless and the Rengru, aliens who hope to use the starship to tip the scales in their favor.

RELATED: Most Charismatic Star Trek: The Next Generation Characters, Ranked

The Enterprise War has an exciting plot, but stumbles slightly when it comes to reconciling the Pike era with the rest of contemporary Trek. Spock's references to Michael Burnham seem out of place alongside obscure characters from Star Trek 's failed pilot, while the Enterprise 's saucer separation recalls TNG rather than TOS or Discovery . Miller's novel walks a fine line between anachronisms and tropes. The result is a weird blend of eras, but one that readers are sure to enjoy.

The Good That Men Do - Andy Mangels & Michael A. Martin

Few fans were impressed when Star Trek: Enterprise ended by killing off one of its crew. In terms of both scriptwriting and direction, the noble sacrifice of engineer Trip Tucker is an anticlimax. This shortcoming inspired authors Andy Mangels and Michael A. Martin to consider an alternative: what if Tucker's death was a hoax?

RELATED: Star Trek: The Relationship Between Vulcans & Romulans, Explained

The Good That Men Do (2007) claims that Tucker never died; instead, he left the Enterprise to work for Section 31 . This coverup allowed him to investigate a new threat posed by the Romulans. The book holds a strange place in Star Trek canon: it is as much an apology as it is a novel, although the Romulans' machinations make for an entertaining read.

Disavowed - David Mack

While the Star Trek Relaunch series provided fans with some franchise highpoints, it had started to stumble by the time of David Mack's Disavowed (2014). Six years earlier, Mack had torn up the status quo with his Destiny trilogy, focusing on a massive Borg invasion . The trilogy is excellent—but its fallout left subsequent novels unsure of where to take the series.

Mack's story, centered on Julian Bashir, reinvents the Star Trek novel as a tense espionage thriller as the Starfleet doctor and Section 31 operative travels to the Mirror Universe to halt a scheme by the evil Breen. Mack's prose is propulsive, but Disavowed represents the Star Trek world at a crossroads. The book's weirdness lays not in its writing, but in its attempt to reinvigorate the series with a focus on espionage rather than exploration.

Broken Bow - Diane Carey

Star Trek 's writing has been the subject of parodies aplenty, from shows like The Orville to movies like Galaxy Quest . In 2020, the franchise itself got in on the fun, with cartoon series Lower Decks spoofing on Star Trek 's tropes. Yet Lower Decks was not the first time that Star Trek' s own writers took a swipe at the franchise. The 2001 novelization of "Broken Bow" derided the Star Trek: Enterprise episode it was meant to retell.

RELATED: Star Trek: Enterprise Actor Slams How Her Character Was Written

Author Diane Carey wrote extensively for Star Trek 's novels (the hero of her 2000 novel Challenger was written to resemble Enterprise 's Scott Bakula, though the book predated his casting). Yet when it came to novelizing Bakula's first real adventure, Carey was so unimpressed with the script that she used the characters' internal monologues to criticize the story's plot. The author was allegedly blacklisted for her mischief, but she turned an otherwise by-the-numbers novelization into a sneaky practical joke.

A Singular Destiny - Keith R.A. DeCandido

Readers might expect a sequel to TNG and DS9 to feature a hero like Captain Picard, or a fan favorite like Kira Nerys. Yet although Keith R.A. DeCandido's 2009 novel does feature DS9 's Ezri Dax, its star is diplomat Sonek Pran, a wholly original character. This stylistic deviation allows A Singular Destiny to interrogate the state of the Relaunch universe . The Borg may be gone, but a new threat is rising in the form of the Typhon Pact, an alliance of several hostile states including the Breen and the Gorn.

Despite the scope of its universe, Star Trek can become bogged down by revisiting the same characters and tropes. DeCandido's novel bucks this trend, making this immersive political thriller an essential chapter in the Relaunch saga.

Fearful Symmetry - Olivia Woods

Viewers of DS9 may recall the episode "Second Skin," in which Bajoran Kira Nerys was disguised as a Cardassian. Fearful Symmetry claims that the woman that Kira impersonated, Iliana Ghemor, was also altered to look like Kira, but fell into the clutches of Gul Dukat , who imprisoned and abused her. Driven mad, the impostor plots her revenge in Olivia Woods' 2008 novel.

While it's odd that Dukat never mentioned his prisoner, the novel's true weirdness is its two-in-one physical format. Fearful Symmetry is made up of two narratives: the front cover depicts Kira, while the rear is an alternate cover showing Ghemor. Starting the book in one direction shows Kira's investigation into her duplicate, while starting in the opposite direction provides the troubled life of Ghemor. This parallel structuring allows the novel's form to mirror its content, a clever gimmick.

Killing Time - Della Van Hise

The possibility of a deeper, potentially romantic bond between Kirk and Spock has intrigued fans for decades (the term "slash fiction" is attributed to stories about the pair), but Star Trek 's writers were unwilling to offer any confirmation. Father of the franchise Gene Roddenberry was particularly opposed to the idea. He was displeased, to say the least, when author Della Van Hise snuck suggestive material into her 1985 novel.

RELATED: Captain Kirk's Redemption Of Spock In The Mirror Universe

First editions of Killing Time (which involves the Romulans altering history to try and defeat the Federation) were recalled and destroyed, although some were purchased by fans. A revised edition removed the offending content. Rumors circulated that an even more explicit version existed, although Van Hise denied these claims. If nothing else, Killing Time demonstrates the importance of checking a book before it's sent to the printers.

The Return - Garfield Reeves-Steven & William Shatner

Actor Leonard Nimoy was so impressed by Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan , in which his character died, that he asked for Spock to return from the dead . William Shatner, on the other hand, was so unimpressed by Kirk's death in Star Trek: Generations that he decided to take matters into his own hands, co-writing a series of novels in which a resurrected Kirk continues the fight against evil.

The resulting Shatnerverse (comprising ten novels by Shatner and Judith and Garfield Reeves-Steven) is generally considered non-canon even by novel fans, with some regarding it as an ego trip for Shatner. Kirk's transition into a quasi-Messianic figure certainly has all the hallmarks of a vanity project, as does his role in the total defeat of the Borg in 1996's The Return . The Shatnerverse novels may not fit into any version of canon aside from their own, but they represent an interesting diversion for those who like their books heavy on fan-service and light on common sense.

MORE: Best Starfleet Ships Of The 23rd Century

Screen Rant

Ds9 actor nana visitor's book about women in star trek releases first look images.

The amazing women of Star Trek are explored in Open A Channel, a new, upcoming book by Star Trek: Deep Space Nine's Nana Visitor.

• Nana Visitor's new book celebrates women of Star Trek, inspired by Lt. Uhura, features interviews with numerous female stars.
• Open A Channel: A Woman's Trek showcases luminous women who portray iconic Star Trek characters, now available for pre-order.
• The book includes interviews with stars like Kate Mulgrew, Terry Farrell, Denise Crosby, Rebecca Romijn, and others from Star Trek.

Open A Channel: A Woman's Trek , a new book celebrating the women of Star Trek by Star Trek: Deep Space Nine actor Nana Visitor has released first-look images. Inspired by Nichelle Nichols' Lt. Nyota Uhura of Star Trek: The Original Series , Nana Visitor, who plays Colonel Kira Nerys on DS9 , interviewed almost every woman who has starred in Star Trek , including Star Trek: Voyager 's Kate Mulgrew, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine 's Terry Farrell, Star Trek: The Next Generation 's Denise Crosby, and Star Trek: Strange New Worlds ' Rebecca Romijn, Melissa Navia, and Christina Chong.

Now available for pre-order, new images of Nana Visitor's book, Open A Channel: A Woman's Trek , showcases many of the luminous women who portray some of Star Trek 's greatest characters . Open A Channel: A Woman's Trek releases on October 1, 2024. Check out the preview images below:

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Cast & Character Guide

Star trek boasts amazing female characters, there is no lack of great women in the final frontier.

Starting with Nichelle Nichols' Lt. Uhura, the Star Trek franchise boasts one of the greatest rosters of female characters in pop culture . Today, Star Trek features Starfleet admirals like Kate Mulgrew's Kathryn Janeway , starship captains like Sonequa Martin-Green's Michael Burnham and Jeri Ryan's Seven of Nine, doctors like Gates McFadden's Dr. Beverly Crusher, and nurses like Jess Bush's Christine Chapel, pilots like Melissa Navia's Erica Ortegas, scientists like Terry Farrell's Jadzia Dax, and heroic survivors like Christina Chong's La'an Noonien-Singh.

Star Trek 's iconic female characters have inspired countless women to pursue careers in science, medicine, engineering, technology, and the arts. Beyond the actors and creative visionaries of Star Trek , in Open A Channel, Nana Visitor also interviews many real-life women who have been inspired by Star Trek to become soldiers, doctors, scientists, and astronauts, including astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti while she was in orbit around Earth on the International Space Station. Open A Channel: A Women's Trek is a celebration of Star Trek 's women whose time has come.

Open A Channel: A Woman's Trek is available for pre-order at Amazon.com

Source: Amazon.com

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To Live Long and Prosper, Do What George Takei Does

For the “Star Trek” actor and author of the new children’s book “My Lost Freedom,” it’s all about green tea and antioxidants. “I drink it every day, all day. I am an addict,” he says.

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By Leigh-Ann Jackson

When George Takei talks about his childhood, he speaks of both anguish and beauty.

The actor best known as Sulu from “Star Trek” was only 5 when he and his family — like thousands of Japanese American citizens during World War II — were relocated from their Los Angeles home to a string of incarceration camps.

Takei captured some of his family’s wartime experiences — in a horse stall in Arcadia, Calif., a camp in Rohwer, Ark., another one in Northern California — in his picture book, “ My Lost Freedom ,” due out April 16. “This is an American story that Americans need to know about,” he said in a video call.

The book continues his mission to shed light on a dark chapter in U.S. history. It follows his 1994 autobiography “To the Stars,” his 2019 graphic memoir “ They Called Us Enemy ” and the 2015 musical production “Allegiance , ” which was inspired by his life.

Takei, 86, discussed meeting dignitaries with his husband, Brad, as well as the keepsakes he treasures and his one healthy addiction. These are edited excerpts from the conversation.

Seeing Your Work in Lights

I got a phone call that the marquee for “Allegiance” was going up at 8 a.m. Our apartment was so close to Longacre Theater, in Manhattan, we ran down there to see the letters being put there. It was thrilling — a life landmark experience! I wished both my parents could be there.

At Rohwer, my father arranged to borrow a record player from the camp administration every couple of months, and after dinner, the tables were dragged away, the benches were put off to the side, and the teenagers got to have a dance. My bedtime music was the music from the mess hall. I still get a lump in my throat when I hear big band music from the 1940s.

My parents loved sending me to summer school. There was a session in Tokyo at Sophia University. I think I was 17. One of the guys came up with this idea: “They allow people to climb up to the top of Mount Fuji. Would you guys want to do that?” About a dozen of us said, yeah. When you begin, they sell you this staff. At each station they have an old man with a branding iron who’ll mark the staff; that’s proof that you reached the station. I have the whole staff with the final branding.

Dining With Presidents

Brad and I are a gay couple, I was raised in American prison camps, and we went to a State Dinner, in the White House , as guests of President Clinton in 1999 to welcome Prime Minister Obuchi to Washington. And I got another invitation from President Obama to greet Prime Minister Abe and his wife in 2015. Obama put us up on the dais, I was seated next to the first lady of Japan, and Brad was seated next to Nancy Pelosi. How about that?

Sydney Opera House

A couple of years ago, we were in Australia, and Brad was dealing with jet lag by going to bed. My attitude is, you’ve got to walk around and get the blood coursing, and a sense of the place where you are. I was walking along, and there was this street lamp advertising “The Phantom of the Opera” at Sydney Opera House. So I rushed back to the hotel, woke Brad up and said, “We’re going to go to the theater!” It was a fantastic production.

Japanese American National Museum in Los Angeles

It’s one of the premier institutions in America — the place for anyone doing any kind of research on that chapter of American history. I’m a former chairman of the board, I’m still on the board of trustees, and I founded that museum with others.

Shellfish in Australia

For “Blood Oath,” we filmed right near Moreton Bay. They have these crustaceans that look like bugs, a midsize crab with a thousand tiny legs. They said this was a unique dish to Queensland. It’s a combination of the consistency of oysters and the flavor of lobster and shrimp. You have to taste it to know what it’s really like. It’s so indescribably good.

Olympic Torch

In 1984, the idea was having runners carry the Olympic flame every five kilometers all the way to the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. “Star Trek” producer Harve Bennett said, “Well, George, you’re a runner. Paramount would love to sponsor you.” It was the most heady run, and I got to keep the uniform and the torch.

Grauman’s Chinese Theater in Los Angeles

When we came out of camp in 1946, the whole world opened up, and the Chinese theater was a glamorous place for me. You’ll find my name, together with my “Star Trek” colleagues, right there on that sidewalk.

I carry Ito En Oi Ocha tea bags around. They have lots of antioxidants that help you live long and prosper! I drink it every day, all day. I am an addict.