When Star Trek premiered on television in 1966, its popularity spawned a variety of toys, fan-made magazines, and by 1967, the paperback tie-in. Sci-fi author James Blish (1921-1975) penned the first paperback, based on a few of the series’ scripts. Blish would create 12 of these books, paving the way for future Star Trek authors who wanted to expand the series’ universe. To date, every series in the franchise has novel tie-ins, and as an avid reader, here are a few of my recommendations from each that may help you begin your journey into the world of Star Trek fiction.
The Three-Minute Universe, by Barbara Paul (Star Trek TOS)
This 1988 novel features a race of beings known to the Federation as the Sackers. They are repugnant to most other beings because they offend most of the senses with their awful smell, ear-splitting language, a disgusting appearance (at best, they look like rotting animated corpses that teem with maggots), and touch that causes burns on human skin. When the Sackers steal a dangerous new weapon and rip a hole in the fabric of space, they abduct Kirk, Uhura, Scotty, and Chekov to assist with the operation of their ship and to manage the tear. The crew’s relationships with the individual Sackers are amusing, touching, and even heartfelt in turns as each realizes what lies beneath the aliens’ terrible surfaces. The 3-Minute Universe is Barbara Paul’s only contribution to the Star Trek book universe, which is a pity because her writing style and the way she develops the Sackers through the eyes of Kirk and the crew over several chapters leads to a unique storyline.
Metamorphosis (the first giant Next Gen novel)
While this Star Trek: The Next Generation hardcover may share its name with a TOS episode, the two are not connected. Penned by Jean Lorrah in 1990, this is the first of the larger non-paperbacks released by Pocket Books, a division of Simon and Schuster. The story revolves around Data and takes place shortly after the events of “The Measure of a Man” (season 2, episode 9.) Enterprise visits the planet Elysia to investigate gravitational anomalies, and while doing so, Data becomes involved in a quest and the gods of Elysia grant him his greatest wish—to become human. This novel features a precursor to Spot, a cat named Mystery, who has an interesting role in Data's growth. Metamorphosis has a great deal to say about the human heart, what defines humanity, and how perception of the self can affect relationships with others.
By the Book (Star Trek: Enterprise)
While some fans think of Star Trek: Enterprise as the black sheep of the franchise, I enjoy its ideals and perceptions of how first contact can set the tone for species relations. By the Book, authored by Dean Wesley Smith and Kristine Kathryn Rusch in 2002, explores these ideas when Captain Archer and his crew come into contact with an unknown race, the Fazi, whose civilization is based on the extreme observation of rules and regulations, no matter the situation. The crew eventually discovers another species living on the alien world, unknown to and unlike the Fazi, and must bring the two species together despite their extreme differences. By the Book also has a side plot where some of the crew play an RPG, which tabletop or card gamers might enjoy.
With so many Star Trek books to choose from and new ones popping up on bookstore shelves, you may want to start off reading novels from your favorite series and then venture into others as you become familiar with each universe. Remember, you can never read too many books, so go seek out those strange new words today!