favourite book?

External Since: Jul 30, 2003 Posts: 15

Hi, I have been working my way through various ST novels and I find there is
quite a difference in the quality of the writing. I recently finished "Trek
to Madworld" by Stephen Goldin and found it so boring that I skipped most of
the pages and ended up giving up. I also read "Price of the Phoenix" by
Sondra Marshak & Myra Culbreath and am sorry to say I found it odd and
couldn't really follow what the whole point of the novel was. Didn't do
anything for me but turn me off those authors. This is just my opinion and I
don't mean to insult anyone who liked these novels

I am slowly gradually finding some authors I prefer although I can't say I
have read enough books yet to make a firm judgement.

I know everyone has their own tastes in books, but I would be interested in
hearing which is /are your favorite ST novels - any series - and why. I'd
like to follow some of the suggestions but also would be interested in what
people like best and why.
looking forward to hear about your favorites.

Erica Brandon
..

External Since: Jul 30, 2003 Posts: 31

In article <ZQKVa.281$bo1.238@news-server.bigpond.net.au>, ecriva
<ecriva DeleteThis @bigpond.com> wrote:

> Hi, I have been working my way through various ST novels and I find there is
> quite a difference in the quality of the writing. I recently finished "Trek
> to Madworld" by Stephen Goldin and found it so boring that I skipped most of
> the pages and ended up giving up. I also read "Price of the Phoenix" by
> Sondra Marshak & Myra Culbreath and am sorry to say I found it odd and
> couldn't really follow what the whole point of the novel was. Didn't do
> anything for me but turn me off those authors. This is just my opinion and I
> don't mean to insult anyone who liked these novels
>
> I am slowly gradually finding some authors I prefer although I can't say I
> have read enough books yet to make a firm judgement.
>
> I know everyone has their own tastes in books, but I would be interested in
> hearing which is /are your favorite ST novels - any series - and why. I'd
> like to follow some of the suggestions but also would be interested in what
> people like best and why.
> looking forward to hear about your favorites.
>
> Erica Brandon

The Price of the Phoenix is generally the most hated novel in Trek
history. Its authors are dismissed far and wide as dingbats. I myself
read it so long ago that I don't remember a thing about it.

A really good early one is The Final Reflection by John M. Ford. It
was written well before TNG premiered, and it went its own way on
Klingon history and culture. It is beautifully written and is well
worth your time despite this, or maybe even because of it. Another
really good early one is Time for Yesterday by A.C. Crispin, which is a
sequel to another book about the son of Sarabeth (ice age babe) and
Spock. The earlier book is called Yesterday's Son and is a fine read,
but not nearly as good as Time for Yesterday.

Barbara Hambly's novel Ishmael is a lot of fun if you're familiar with
the old TV series Here Come the Brides, which you're probably not if
you're under 45. The book, like the series, takes place in the Seattle
area just after the Civil War.

The Log series by Alan Dean Foster, which novelized the animated series
of the early 1970s, is still well thought of.

Most of the old novels are now out of continuity. It's a shame,
because what's in many of the novels is superior to most of what's been
seen in the movies and on TV. But life goes on.