You’re standing in the science fiction aisle of your favorite bookstore with a few extra bucks in your pocket and several shelves filled with Star Trek tie-in paperbacks. Some selections are reprints of classic Trek stories and some are relatively new.
From books set in the original series timeline to Deep Space Nine and Strange New Worlds, there are many different series to choose from, so how do you spend your money wisely and avoid picking a dud next time you’re at the bookstore? Keeping the following tips in mind can help you avoid book buyer’s remorse and the frustration of spending money on a book that you can’t connect with once you bring it home.
1. Cover art can catch the eye, but don’t depend on it
Star Trek book cover art is usually quite beautiful, with renditions of our favorite Federation ships and characters, but it usually doesn’t tell you much about the heart of the novel. Most cover art is about marketing, so while you might admire it, the writer probably had little input on its design.
2. Skip the jacket blurb and sample the first page instead
Rear cover and jacket blurbs might help you pick out a Star Trek book, as they usually answer the who, what, and where of a plot and whether your favorite character appears at all. However, I’ve had book jacket hook me only for the content to bore me.
To avoid getting hooked by the jacket copy, skim the first few pages of the book instead. This can give you some idea of the writer’s style. When I choose a Star Trek book, something in the first few pages has to grip me, or I move on.
Ask for recommendations
Star Trek blogs, other readers, and bookstore employees can all help recommend books that you might enjoy. Doing some research before you visit the bookstore can help you get started, or look for featured books in the science fiction aisle that you might have missed while skimming the shelves.
How do you pick out Star Trek books, and which would you recommend? Visit our X or Facebook page and let us know!