Avron Reads Trek

I'm intending to read through all the Star Trek novels I own (nearly 350 as I started this sideblog - May 2025), mostly in the order they were initially published. (And I'll be buying secondhand copies to fill the gaps if I can find them.) There won't be many beyond the turn of the century unless I get more invested than I'm expecting.

First part of each post, after the link to the LibraryThing.com page for the work, will be four lines...

Page count (and how many days I took to read it)

First published, most books have a month as well as year indicated.

Where it comes in the series ordering. (More than 30 before something other than the Original Series is involved.)

Stardate: if I see and make note of such. And my understanding of where it would be in the timeline. (As has been known for decades, they weren't particularly consistent especially during the Original Series.)

Some commentary should follow before the "Read More" - after which I'll provide some potentially spoiler filled story recap. There won't be a lot of either. Maybe three or four paragraphs. I won't really be worried about Spoilers for the shows/movies. I figure if someone is reading the books they've seen most of it already. If someone is reading these posts, they're almost certainly aware of it all.

I don't intend to "rate" any of what I read. I have never felt inclined to rate books (or movies, etc.). I may reference the LT ratings etc.

Everything should be tagged "Star Trek novel" unless it's some sort of meta post (like this is). I'll also tag with the series and number, e.g. "ST: TOS 01", "ST: Voy Unnumbered", "ST: CT 1", etc.

What I've had to skip so far: (U) - unread, (P) - previously read, Un - unnumbered

TOS 14 - The Trellisane Confrontation (U)

TOS 23 - Ishmael (P)

TOS 26 - Pawns and Symbols (U)

TOS 29 - Dreadnought (U)

TOS 42 - Memory Prime (U)

TOS 44 - Vulcan's Glory (P)

Taking a break...

It's been just over a year since I finished reading the first book in this project I've undertaken. I no longer remember how long it took between deciding to (re)read my Star Trek books and actually beginning to do so. I had started the year thinking I would be attempting to read through the books I'd inherited from my father and got through a small number of them before starting this.

I didn't start buying any more, to fill the gaps, until nearly three months later when I saw an ad on FB (one of almost none that's ever been remotely relevant to me). Since then I've been to that second hand bookstore and another, three times each. And have probably acquired more than 20 books from each. The shelves beside me, which I've used for header image since early on, needed reorganized multiple times. More of what I acquired was published after what's on the shelves than I intended but it's almost all been shunted.

I created a spreadsheet to try and estimate how long the process was going to take, and it's fluctuated noticeably over the past year. By the time I got into everything and was reading somewhat consistently the estimate was about two years, now that I've slowed down (and begun leaving my home more often) it also indicates a couple of years, but from now, not then. The count of read books is now a little over one third of what I own. If I hadn't purchased any of the extras I have it would have been 40% - the change feels like more than the math indicates.

274 pages (seven days to read)

First published 1994-09

Pocket Books TOS 71

Stardate 6251.1 (three months before the end of the five-year mission)

I think with how long I took to read this it's time for another break. Nearly 24 years since my prior read, and one of the books I've owned the longest from my Trek collection. I had some subconscious memory/expectations of what was coming as I read the early parts and saw the need for a reset button well before the half way point, some of my disinclination to read.

The Enterprise is observing a area of space, the Crossroad Nebula, with unusual stellar issues, and a planet that's under quarantine due to Prime Directive reasons. When a ship comes out of the nebula. The narrative also introduces an alien that nests in ships, resulting in some of the lost ships over the years, although they've never really been seen.

Two authors Dave Galanter, Greg Brodeur

276 pages (three days to read)

First published 1994-08

Pocket Books TNG 31

Stardate: not given. Later season as O'Brien isn't present

Brodeur is married to Diane Carey, one of the most prolific Trek authors, especially last century. He was apparently often uncredited as part of the duo for some (many? most?) of her novels. Galanter credited her at the end of the novel with mentoring.

In this novel there's yet another race (Hidran) that have been at war with the Klingons for years. Fighting back and experiencing a culture shift because of it. Leading to Picard attempting negotiation for a cessation of hostilities. One side needing a plague cure.

The planet chosen for the negotiation is very dry (bad for the Hidran as they come from a very moist world) and possessing a "miracle grain" that seems to aid in physical recovery after illness or injury.

434 pages (three days of reading)

First published 1994-07

Pocket Books TNG unnumbered

Stardate: not given. "Main" timeline is about halfway through season seven.

Cover shows Picard flanked by Q and Trelane, I don't know if this was written before or after the fans started thinking Trelane was a 'Q' but the author had first thought about it during the first episode of TNG. The story is heavily focused on Trelane's impact on the Enterprise and less so Q.

Minor spoiler... alternate timelines (track A, B, C) are a feature of the story. In one of them Guinan is not present on the relevant ship, the Ten Forward hostess is instead a yeoman named Caryn Johnson. Which is the given name of Whoopi Goldberg.

275 pages (five days to read)

First published 1994-06

Pocket Books TOS 70

Stardate: not given (but every chapter starts with earth dates) December 2269 aside from epilogue of January 1

This is the third in what became known as the Lost Years saga, after the first proposal had it as only a trilogy. I gather the initial plan and the actual story have little in common. As with the others in the quad this is set between the series and the first movie. I also felt early that I'd take a while to read it; I'm not sure if that's subconscious memory, general depression, or awareness I'd be away from home a bit more than normal. Now I'm done there doesn't seem any inherent reason for me to struggle.

Prologue has Sulu and Chekov charged with Treason and Murder, Kirk is attempting to find evidence to disprove the charges. The first chapter time shifts back to nearly two weeks prior with Uhura, Sulu, and Chekov getting a meal together. Uhura is teaching at the Academy, Sulu is a test pilot for a cloak enabled ship, Chekov has gone to become a Security officer. All in the hope of being available when the Enterprise is out of refit.

248 pages (two days to read)

First published 1994-06

Pocket Books TNG novelisation

Stardate: 47988 (season 7 and show finale)

One of the novelisations so there's the obvious aspect of story being already known to (most) readers ... and the typical expansion of story as the author adds background. I haven't seen the episode in years but I read a number of sections that I don't think were filmed (even if they were scripted), one specifically involving a younger Wesley which wouldn't have been filmable due to Wheaton being seven years older.

Temporal anomaly, revisiting the pilot episode in part, and seeing personal blowback from issues in the potential future. Picard starts to experience snippets of time in three different time frames, with no obvious proof of it.

280 pages (two days to read)

First published 1994-05

Pocket Books DS9 06

Stardate: not given (first season?)

Someone is setting bombs on the station, away from inhabited areas so there aren't deaths. In the lead up to trade negotiations which are a backdoor discussion about Bajor entry to the Federation.

We also get insight into Cardassian military "discipline" towards a disgraced officer. Broken down the ranks, beaten by everyone and anyone of a slightly higher rank, and deprived of the opportunity to rest properly. Dukat was also disgraced due to government restructure, all those involved in the withdrawl from Bajor are blamed for the loss of the trade possibilities that the Wormhole is now providing Bajor.

274 pages (two days to read)

First published 1994-05

Pocket Books TNG 30

Stardate: not given (probably season six)

In the first season of the show the Enterprise found a sleeper ship, with three 20th century humans that had been put in cryostasis upon "death" - the cover shows one of those individuals. He's spent the subsequent half decade or so learning about the history he missed and has become an ambassador, dealing very well with the Ferengi due to his background.

The mission is to a world that the Ferengi have basically uplifted over the prior decade. Massive technological advance for unknown reasons. Both the advance, and the Ferengi, warrant the investigation. Especially when the Ferengi destroyed a Vulcan Science Academy probe.

278 pages (two days to read)

First published 1994-04

Pocket Books TOS 69

Stardate: 6769.4 (only given at conclusion of novel) Somewhere late in the series run?

The Federation has been asked for help in dealing with dissidents on a non-aligned world, after disruptors (presumed to be Klingon) start getting used in the attacks. An ambassador has been appointed to try and deal with the Prime Directive issues (cultural contamination) and negotiate for possible Patrian admission to the Federation. The Transgression of the title is the "Transgression of Intent", where people are criminals for intending to commit crimes.

The ambassador was a cadet at the same time Kirk was and they get reacquainted briefly before the bureaucratic issues intervene. The aide however, gets along very well with McCoy. I was momentarily wondering if the ambassador was named after a favourite author, Robert Jordon was already a few books into The Wheel of Time by the writing of this novel. There's also the standard disclaimer "any resemblance to actual people ... etc."

277 pages (four days to read)

First published 1994-03

Pocket Books TNG 29

Stardate: not given (with referenced episodes almost certainly season six. Memory Alpha indicates season five which seems too early to me.)

I'm fairly certain it was established in the first season that Troi can't "read" the Ferengi; at multiple points through this novel it's implied that she would be able to do so if not for the problem of the week.

Yet another planet with ecological disaster threatening to end sapient life is being investigated. While starting to observation the degredation another ship arrives in orbit, a pleasure cruiser, captained by a friend of Worf's (adoptive) parents.

448 pages (four days to read)

First published 1994-01

Pocket Books TOS unnumbered

Stardate: 9544.6 (after movie six)

I read the second half of the Signature Edition, which had Spock's World in the first half of the book; page count is taken from Memory Alpha instead (the hardcover which I had read 24 years ago). With larger pages, and smaller font, there was only 245 pages in what I read, messing with my timing and expectations for how long I'd be reading.

Focuses on a few interrelated issues that converge at end of story, seemingly very independent at the beginning. As well as ending with some nods to what had been recent ST: TNG episodes at the time of first publishing. It also provided some more background to the events of the sixth movie.

The author managed to reference a number of events shown during the show and movies. I was confused for a while about Sarek's first wife, completely forgetting Sybok. Specific years are mentioned as having passed, e.g. 25 since Kirk & Spock were on the Romulan ship. Spock reflects on having thought the first Romulan they saw looking a lot like his father (Mark Lenard was the actor for both).

282 pages (three days to read)

First published 1994-02

Pocket Books DS9 05

Stardate: 47234.3 (part way through the story)

This was probably one of the hardest novels to read, after more than 100. I'll put why behind the read more due to spoilers. Back of novel hints at what's happening, Alien invaders and time travel, but not the specifics.

Quark buys a century old storage box, and after Odo forces him to get it scanned, by both Bashir and O'Brien, it's opened. A few items inside including a device that neither recognize at all.

During the events it is revealed that both Jake and Benjamin scratch notes into the corridor walls; with their initials, the stardate, and their intended direction of travel. Apparently they saw in in a movie, one of the many retellings of Journey to the Center of the Earth.

273 pages (four days to read)

First published 1994-01

Pocket Books TOS 68

Stardate: not given. Shortly after the first movie.

During the series run there was an episode where the Enterprise was transporting a ruler (Dohlman) to her betrothed. And Kirk ended up in her thrall as a result of the biology of the ruler's tears. This novel is a follow on with that race wanting to take control of a planet that a research team is observing due to a massive volcano, and one scientist thinking there may be a new life form.

337 pages (two days to read)

First published 1993-12

Pocket Books TNG unnumbered

Stardate: 44002.2 ?? I didn't note any others, although the back cover states 44010.2 (Author note gives fourth season as timeframe)

My previous read of this was 19 years and 10 months ago, probably one of the last Trek books I read at my prior residence. I started reading it the day of acquisition and finished the day after, a similar span of time as this read but probably an hour less total reading time.

This is the first TNG take on the Mirror Universe that was first encountered during one episode (Mirror, Mirror) of the original series. And set one hundred years later, the same time Scott indicated would be possible to travel between the Universes if they weren't to hurry. Between the Hardcover and Paperback releases DS9 would air the second episode of such, giving a distinctly different history of that other universe. Even more than normal, this novel is not Canon.

The Enterprise experiences a moment of 'something' and their passenger (a cetacean) realises immediately that they are not in the "real" universe. As they try to discover what's actually going on they are boarded by a copy of one of their crew. Who is quickly caught and dies soon after due to the biologically tailored virus he'd been infected with. I noticed nothing in the way of ensuring the original wouldn't be infected.

275 pages (three days to read)

First published 1993-12

Pocket Books TNG 28

Stardate: not given (takes place just before episode Rascals)

Cover image has Riker and Data, in uniform. Considering the story it should probably have been Picard, and Data, in historical garb. The image of Data looks like Lore to me.

I tend to have YouTube/Twitch video playing as background sound while I read. Near the end of the novel I got to a portion of the book with discussion of the Prime Directive, and thus allowing cultures to develop on their own. While the video had the streamer commenting on how she doesn't tell people where to go in an exploration game because it spoils things for them. It's a fine line to walk, how much info is too much? In either case.

Author is pseudonym of married couple Kristine Kathryn Rusch and Dean Wesley Smith. (Chosen because "six names would not fit on a book cover".)

274 pages (three days to read, mostly today)

First published 1993-11

Pocket Books DS9 04

Stardate: not given, probably set near the end of season one

The station is undergoing disturbances; lights going out, air con too hot, communications ceasing, ... and the power core fluctuating to the point it might go boom.

Quark is finally able to host the mass poker game he'd wanted to run for years. With a cast of (bit) characters coming in from TNG as well as the Grand Nagus and various new characters. He's obviously aiming to skim off the top. Riker doesn't make it, due to saving a planet.

Early on Quark asks Odo "Do you own any other clothes?" hoping to have him wear something other than the Bajoran uniform. "Don't be stupid," ... "I don't own any clothes" I feel like the same basic line was used on screen at some point.

A bit more spoiler after the cut than is normal for me I think.