Voyages of Imagination
| Industry | Publishing |
|---|---|
| Products | Books, including Star Trek tie-in novels |
Voyages of Imagination: The Star Trek Fiction Companion (2006), authored by Jeff Ayers and issued by Pocket Books, serves as a comprehensive reference guide. It encompasses entries detailing the creation and publication history of Star Trek tie-in novels spanning from 1967 through 2006, accompanied by concise plot summaries.
Production
Previous efforts to produce a reference volume on Star Trek fiction were rejected by Pocket Books due to their emphasis on characters and storylines rather than the authors themselves.[1] Marco Palmieri, editor at Pocket Books, characterized Voyages as "a guide to the history of professionally-published [Star Trek] fiction," tracing works from Mission to Horatius (1967) onward under Pocket's management.Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name
Research commenced circa 2004, incorporating interviews with writers such as Alan Dean Foster, J. A. Lawrence, and the collaborative duo Sondra Marshak and Myrna Culbreath. Ayers credited industry connections that enabled access to these authors.[2]
Included within the book is an updated Pocket Books Star Trek Timeline, which had earlier appeared in Adventures in Time and Space (1999) and What Lay Beyond (2001). Finalizing this timeline involved cooperation with creators and contributors collectively known as the "Timeliners."Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad nameCite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name[2]
Ayers also collaborated with a local Star Trek book club based at a Barnes & Noble in Lynnwood, Washington, whose support affirmed the project's commercial viability.[2]
Completed in early 2006, Voyages of Imagination was first published in trade paperback format () on November 14, 2006, followed by an eBook release () on December 29, 2006.
Contents
- Introduction: Star Trek Fiction: Then and Now. Ayers contemplates the progression of tie-in fiction from its inception in 1967 through 2006.
- Part I: Star Trek Fiction Published by Bantam Books: 1967–1981. Features include James Blish’s widely-read episode novelizations alongside the original novel Spock Must Die! (1970), as well as twelve novels and anthologies such as The New Voyages (1976) and The New Voyages 2 (1978).
- Part II: Star Trek Fiction Published by Ballantine Books: 1974–1978. Provides an overview of the Star Trek Log series inspired by Star Trek: The Animated Series, including commentary from author Alan Dean Foster.
- Part III: Star Trek Fiction Published by Pocket Books: 1979–2006. This central section is subdivided into:
- Sections 1 & 2: Novels based on Star Trek.
- Sections 3 & 4: Works related to Star Trek: The Next Generation.
- Sections 5 & 6: Titles from the Star Trek: Deep Space Nine series.
- Sections 7 & 8: Publications connected to Star Trek: Voyager.
- Section 9: Novels pertaining to Star Trek: Enterprise.
- Section 10: Novelizations covering both the original Star Trek and The Next Generation films, plus adaptations of episodes from The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine, Voyager, and Enterprise.
- Section 11: "Original Fiction Concepts". Discusses series not directly linked to television or film, including New Frontier, Starfleet Corps of Engineers, Stargazer, I.K.S. Gorkon, Titan, Vanguard, alongside significant novels like Starfleet: Year One (2002).
- Section 12: "Miniseries". Covers crossover story arcs such as Invasion!, Day of Honor, Double Helix, and Section 31.
- Section 13: "Anthologies". Focuses on collections including the Strange New Worlds anthology series and others like The Lives of Dax (1999).
- Section 14: "Other Star Trek Fiction". Highlights unique publications such as Captain Proton: Defender of Earth (1999) and the fictional travelogue titled New Worlds, New Civilizations (1999).
- Section 15: "Young Adult Fiction". Examines the crossover series Starfleet Academy, featuring characters drawn from the first four television series.
- A comprehensive timeline of Star Trek fiction.
Reception
Marco Palmieri commended Ayers as "a seasoned scholar and passionate reader" possessing "the ideal credentials for undertaking such a monumental project." Jacqueline Bundy from TrekToday emphasized Ayers' expertise in bibliography and his adeptness at content selection, describing Voyages as "an outstanding reference work" that sheds light on the imaginative efforts behind the fiction.
Jeff Shannon of The Seattle Times likened the publication to an extensive directory, offering a comprehensive overview of Star Trek fiction while unveiling details about its publishing landscape. He highlighted that Voyages acknowledges the talented authors and editors responsible for preserving consistency and excellence throughout the franchise’s literary output.
Certain enthusiasts raised concerns about the absence of author annotations for specific titles, including works by Judith and Garfield Reeves-Stevens. Writer Greg Cox clarified that the reasons for these exclusions differ depending on the individual authors.
Within popular culture, Kevin O'Brien's 2017 novel Hide Your Fear features a character returning an overdue copy of Voyages of Imagination, demonstrating the book’s recognition beyond its immediate audience.