# Recommend a good Star Wars or Star Trek book? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 11, 2007, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-good-star-wars-or-star-trek-book/403686 "2007-05-11T14:14:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2007, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-good-star-wars-or-star-trek-book/403686/1 "2007-05-11T14:14:40Z")
I’m going to Half Priced Books today and I’m in the mood for a good (familiar) sci-fi novel. Star Wars or Star Trek in particular. Any recommendations? Thanks in advance. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2007, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-good-star-wars-or-star-trek-book/403686/2 "2007-05-11T14:17:32Z")
[Imzadi](http://www.amazon.com/Imzadi-Star-Trek-Next-Generation/dp/0671867296) . The only one that I think is an actual well-written book that just happens to exist in the Star Trek franchise. Of course, I didn’t read a whole lot of them. But this one I was lent, read and loved, went out and bought a copy of my own, and years later moved in with my husband to find he had a copy - and it’s \*his \*only Star Trek novel, as well. How sweet is that? ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2007, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-good-star-wars-or-star-trek-book/403686/3 "2007-05-11T14:21:05Z")
**Star Trek:** _How Much For Just The Planet?_ - Peter David **Star Wars:** _Heir to the Empire_ - Timothy Zahn (warning: the first volume of the _Thrawn_ trilogy) ---
**Author:** ![JThunder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e95f7d/32.png) [@JThunder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JThunder)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2007, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-good-star-wars-or-star-trek-book/403686/4 "2007-05-11T14:26:58Z")
Any of Peter David’s novels are fun to read, and they display his great respect for Trek continuity (such as it is). ---
**Author:** ![JThunder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e95f7d/32.png) [@JThunder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JThunder)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2007, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-good-star-wars-or-star-trek-book/403686/5 "2007-05-11T14:28:57Z")
[QUOTE=silenus] **Star Trek:** _How Much For Just The Planet?_ - Peter David [/QUOTE] That was by John M. Ford, not Peter David. In fact, I’m pretty sure that it was written long before Peter David became a Trek novelist. ---
**Author:** ![Eleanor\_of\_Aquitaine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a88e4f/32.png) [@Eleanor\_of\_Aquitaine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eleanor_of_Aquitaine)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2007, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-good-star-wars-or-star-trek-book/403686/6 "2007-05-11T14:29:49Z")
It’s been a long time, but some of my favorite original Trek novels I can recall were: _The Final Reflection_, by John M. Ford _Uhura’s Song_, by Janet Kagan _Yesterday’s Son_, by A. C. Crispin _My Enemy, My Ally_, Diane Duane _The Wounded Sky_, Diane Duane ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2007, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-good-star-wars-or-star-trek-book/403686/7 "2007-05-11T14:39:37Z")
[QUOTE=JThunder] That was by John M. Ford, not Peter David. In fact, I’m pretty sure that it was written long before Peter David became a Trek novelist. [/QUOTE] You are correct. :smack: Read it anyway…it’s fun. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2007, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-good-star-wars-or-star-trek-book/403686/8 "2007-05-11T14:39:45Z")
> [@](#): > > Quote: > Originally Posted by silenus > Star Trek: How Much For Just The Planet? - Peter David > That was by John M. Ford, not Peter David. In fact, I’m pretty sure that it was written long before Peter David became a Trek novelist. Agree on this one. Joe Haldeman’s **Planet of Judgment** usually gets good reviews. I kinda liked **Dyson Sphere** , too. (I forget who wrote it) Not enough Dyson sphere novels out there, and this one brought back Hortas. ---
**Author:** ![chrisk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@chrisk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chrisk)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2007, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-good-star-wars-or-star-trek-book/403686/9 "2007-05-11T15:22:01Z")
from the next generation line: - Metamorphosis. A great Data ‘what if’ story, essentially - The first two of the ‘genesis wave’ three-parter. (#3 was kinduv a letdown for me.) - Spartacus is a silly but fun one about android slaves - Dark Mirror by Diane Duane, definitely! Who cares if it doesn’t fit with the DS9 mirror universe episodes. from voyager, I liked the ‘homecoming/farthest shore’ duology. Goes a little overboard with the Borg conspiracy stuff, but I just liked seeing some of what happened after they actually got home to the Federation. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2007, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-good-star-wars-or-star-trek-book/403686/10 "2007-05-11T15:24:55Z")
[QUOTE=silenus] \*\*Star Trek:\*\ ***Star Wars:** _Heir to the Empire_ - Timothy Zahn (warning: the first volume of the _Thrawn_ trilogy) [/QUOTE] Is that the trilogy where in it; they have a planet or some type of creature (I can’t remember which) that is immune to the effects of the force? That’s the only Star Wars trilogy I’ve read but I can’t remember the name of it. ---
**Author:** ![Helena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c68b51/32.png) [@Helena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Helena)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2007, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-good-star-wars-or-star-trek-book/403686/11 "2007-05-11T15:30:00Z")
_Uhura’s Song_ is very good. ---
**Author:** ![Sefton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@Sefton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sefton)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2007, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-good-star-wars-or-star-trek-book/403686/12 "2007-05-11T15:30:26Z")
Another recommendation for _Heir to the Empire_, and its trilogy. I think Thrawn is one of the finest villains in all of sci-fi. Not just cunning and ruthless, but a genuine thinker. Loved that trilogy. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2007, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-good-star-wars-or-star-trek-book/403686/13 "2007-05-11T15:34:52Z")
[QUOTE=SHAKES] Is that the trilogy where in it; they have a planet or some type of creature (I can’t remember which) that is immune to the effects of the force? [/QUOTE] Yep. The ysalimari “push back” the Force, leaving a Force-free bubble. The trilogy also introduced the Noghri. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2007, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-good-star-wars-or-star-trek-book/403686/14 "2007-05-11T19:22:57Z")
For Star Trek, just about any Peter David book is worth a read, but I’m particularly fond of _Q-in-Law_ and _Imzadi_ (I’d suggest you avoid _Imzadi II_, which was a very inferior followup). Diane Duane’s _Dark Mirror_ is also excellent. ---
**Author:** ![Eonwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eonwe/32/240_2.png) [@Eonwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eonwe)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2007, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-good-star-wars-or-star-trek-book/403686/15 "2007-05-11T19:32:28Z")
[QUOTE=JThunder] That was by John M. Ford, not Peter David. In fact, I’m pretty sure that it was written long before Peter David became a Trek novelist. [/QUOTE] Both of Ford’s Trek novels, _How Much for Just the Planet?_ and _The Final Reflection_ are, IMHO, the best Trek fiction written. In my entire collection, they are the two I reach for first to re-read. Smart, thoughtful, and witty. ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2007, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-good-star-wars-or-star-trek-book/403686/16 "2007-05-11T19:36:41Z")
I rather liked The Romulan Way. I don’t remember the author. About a Federation agent passing as a Romulan on their home planet. ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2007, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-good-star-wars-or-star-trek-book/403686/17 "2007-05-11T19:40:33Z")
In case anybody’s currious; I went with: “Imzadi” I was having a hard time choosing between that and “Spock’s World”. Maybe I’ll get that one next. (unless y’all tell me it sucks) ---
**Author:** ![Eonwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eonwe/32/240_2.png) [@Eonwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eonwe)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2007, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-good-star-wars-or-star-trek-book/403686/18 "2007-05-11T19:47:54Z")
[QUOTE=Baker] I rather liked The Romulan Way. I don’t remember the author. About a Federation agent passing as a Romulan on their home planet. [/QUOTE] \*They ar a race of warriors, a noble people to whom honor is all. The yare 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 and escape. Between maintaining her cover - and saving the life of Dr. Leonard McCoy. Here is a startlingly different adventure, is the truth behind one of the most fascinating alien races ever created in STAR TREK - the Romulans.\* (From the back cover). A novel by Diane Duane and Peter Morwood. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2007, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-good-star-wars-or-star-trek-book/403686/19 "2007-05-11T20:49:10Z")
I’m going to chime in and recommend just about any Peter David **Star Trek** book. I want to especially recommend: **Vendetta** - it has the Borg, Guinan, and a madwoman hunting down the Borg with a vessel similar to, but more powerful than the planet killing weapon from the **Doomsday Machine**. Geordi tries to separate a human Borg from the collective. (This is before they encountered Hugh.) Good epic novel. **Q-Squared** - This one has Trelaine from **The Squire of Gothos**. In this one Q is his mentor (Yes, I know the word tormentor is more commonly associated with Q). In it, an alternate dimension version of Trelaine causes chaos by erasing the lines between universes. An alternate universe in which Jack Crusher has survived and become captain of the Enterprise-D with Picard as his first officer is in existence. So is the alternate universe from **Yesterday’s Enterprise** in which the Federation is at war with the Klingon Empire. These exist alongside the familiar universe of TNG. Trelaine blurs the lines between universes and Picard (the “normal” one) must team with Q to defeat him. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2007, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-good-star-wars-or-star-trek-book/403686/20 "2007-05-11T21:06:31Z")
[Splinter of a Mind’s Eye](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Splinter_of_the_Mind's_Eye) by Alan Dean Foster. I found this accidently while reading some other works by Foster. Very early novel set in the Star Wars universe. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-good-star-wars-or-star-trek-book/403686.md?page=2)