What one published work would you make canon?

[Uraniun235]

Quite simple. Paramount has written you saying you've won some bullshit contest, and your prize is that any published book, magazine article, even comic book, of your choice can be added to the roster of canon works.

I'm not sure what I'd pick yet. But it seemed an interesting question for such a quiet board these days.

[RedImperator]

Quite simple. Paramount has written you saying you've won some bullshit contest, and your prize is that any published book, magazine article, even comic book, of your choice can be added to the roster of canon works.

I'm not sure what I'd pick yet. But it seemed an interesting question for such a quiet board these days.

What was that one novel with the Borg and the Doomsday Machine? That one was pretty good, it explained the Doomsday Machine (and why it was such a pushover), and it had the badass TNG Borg, not VOY's space zombies.

[Alyeska]

I would look for something that is representative of Trek, but also something that tries correcting some of the flaws or contradictions. Not something technical oriented, something that could add to the universe.

[Srynerson]

Quite simple. Paramount has written you saying you've won some bullshit contest, and your prize is that any published book, magazine article, even comic book, of your choice can be added to the roster of canon works.

I'm not sure what I'd pick yet. But it seemed an interesting question for such a quiet board these days.

What was that one novel with the Borg and the Doomsday Machine? That one was pretty good, it explained the Doomsday Machine (and why it was such a pushover), and it had the badass TNG Borg, not VOY's space zombies.

I believe you're referring to Vendetta by Peter David, and that would be my choice too.

[FedRebel]

Quite simple. Paramount has written you saying you've won some bullshit contest, and your prize is that any published book, magazine article, even comic book, of your choice can be added to the roster of canon works.

The TNG Tech Manual

[Gil Hamilton]

What was that one novel with the Borg and the Doomsday Machine? That one was pretty good, it explained the Doomsday Machine (and why it was such a pushover), and it had the badass TNG Borg, not VOY's space zombies.

Yeah, I agree with you. "Vendetta" was pretty good and one of two StarTrek books total I've read. Plus, it would make Walpers head explode, because a Borg drone in it gets killed by a housewife with a kitchen knife.

[Dennis Toy]

anything to do with "New Frontier".

[Sharp-kun]

because a Borg drone in it gets killed by a housewife with a kitchen knife.

Elaborate, please

[Ghost Rider]

because a Borg drone in it gets killed by a housewife with a kitchen knife.

Elaborate, please

Literally a Penzatti Housewife, in a desperate bid to stop a Borg who taken a lot of blasts from some hand gun, lunges and nearly kills a Borg drone with a house knife.

Was not their proudest moment.

Though in that book they had brains, adaptability and actually were a threat. That alone makes the book superior to 99% of what the movie and TV shows of the Borg.

[Patrick Degan]

because a Borg drone in it gets killed by a housewife with a kitchen knife.

Elaborate, please

Literally a Penzatti Housewife, in a desperate bid to stop a Borg who taken a lot of blasts from some hand gun, lunges and nearly kills a Borg drone with a house knife.

Was not their proudest moment.

Though in that book they had brains, adaptability and actually were a threat. That alone makes the book superior to 99% of what the movie and TV shows of the Borg.

Unfortunately it also pinned part of the plot to a No-Limits fallacy: Borg "adaptation" to the planet-killer's main weapon.

[Darth Wong]

I'm tempted to side with the idea of making the Tech Manuals canon. It would simplify the tech arguments since so many people have differing opinions on using them, so you're stuck in an annoying situation of quoting them against some people and having to ignore them against others (either that, or getting into time-consuming and repetitive arguments about whether they should be used).

[Ghost Rider]

Elaborate, please

Literally a Penzatti Housewife, in a desperate bid to stop a Borg who taken a lot of blasts from some hand gun, lunges and nearly kills a Borg drone with a house knife.

Was not their proudest moment.

Though in that book they had brains, adaptability and actually were a threat. That alone makes the book superior to 99% of what the movie and TV shows of the Borg.

Unfortunately it also pinned part of the plot to a No-Limits fallacy: Borg "adaptation" to the planet-killer's main weapon.

Pfft, obviously the weapon was frequency based .

But you are right, it did have that flaw that was evident in everything. And sadly the Planet Eater's weapon wasn't the one that pissed me off...it was the adaption to the Warp Bubble, which on many levels was just a "WTF?!". Though funnily enough as the Borg adapted to the PE's weapon, it still succumbed to the BoBW weapon, albeit in a logical fashion...not enough energy to their shields.

[Lancer]

But you are right, it did have that flaw that was evident in everything. And sadly the Planet Eater's weapon wasn't the one that pissed me off...it was the adaption to the Warp Bubble, which on many levels was just a "WTF?!". Though funnily enough as the Borg adapted to the PE's weapon, it still succumbed to the BoBW weapon, albeit in a logical fashion...not enough energy to their shields.

that must have definitely been an "oh shit" moment for the Ent-D crew, and made them definitely a lot scarier than the Voy-Borg.

[Ghost Rider]

There is another effect that Vendetta did that you never see elsewhere in TNG trek.

The Borg sent more then one FUCKING SHIP. The Penzatti ship was nice to see because it was just doing it's thing, gets vaped and the Borg took notice. They actually went "Y'know that thing killed one ship, fuck this one ship at a time."

It's sad to see the zombies get elevated to something beyond Star Trek joke if for but one brief moment.

[JME2]

anything to do with "New Frontier".

Since I still haven't gotten around to reading the adventures of Calhoun and Excalibur, I nominate the DS9 Relaunch.

[Crazedwraith]

anything to do with "New Frontier".

Since I still haven't gotten around to reading the adventures of Calhoun and Excalibur, I nominate the DS9 Relaunch.

I believe it was one book not a line of books. Other wise I'd go for the Millenium DS9 series.

So just to canonise one book. It'd properly go with the first anthology of the first 4 NF books witch are really one story anyway.

Even the breif E-E section was quite awesome.

[SCVN 2812]

I'm rather fond of the Eugenics Wars duology, its a very enjoyable attempt to rationalize Star Trek canon with reality.

[JME2]

anything to do with "New Frontier".

Since I still haven't gotten around to reading the adventures of Calhoun and Excalibur, I nominate the DS9 Relaunch.

I believe it was one book not a line of books.

Oy. But there are so many...

Well, at least any of the post-Voyager novels aren't getting a nomination from me...

[Alyeska]

I'm tempted to side with the idea of making the Tech Manuals canon. It would simplify the tech arguments since so many people have differing opinions on using them, so you're stuck in an annoying situation of quoting them against some people and having to ignore them against others (either that, or getting into time-consuming and repetitive arguments about whether they should be used).

What would be nice is if they created a new TM encompasing TNG through Voyager (with historical mentions of ENT and TOS) which attempted to fix a variety of problems by using better explinations, more adhearance to science, and in the very least settle disputes between contradicting examples. And if such a TM were made canon or it was required any future writing and scripts must adhere to this TM and not violate it, that could be nice. Some consistency and logic would help tremendously.

[Darth Servo]

What was that one novel with the Borg and the Doomsday Machine? That one was pretty good, it explained the Doomsday Machine (and why it was such a pushover), and it had the badass TNG Borg, not VOY's space zombies.

Yeah, I agree with you. "Vendetta" was pretty good and one of two StarTrek books total I've read. Plus, it would make Walpers head explode, because a Borg drone in it gets killed by a housewife with a kitchen knife.

It really makes you wonder why they didn't make that book into one of the TNG films instead of some of the turds that DID make it to the big screen. I suppose there were copyright issues.

I thought the drone attacked with the kitchen knife was only crippled. It was taken aboard the E-D and de-borgified.

[Dennis Toy]

Though in that book they had brains, adaptability and actually were a threat. That alone makes the book superior to 99% of what the movie and TV shows of the Borg.

don't you mean any borg incident after First Contact?

[Lord Poe]

What would be nice is if they created a new TM encompasing TNG through Voyager (with historical mentions of ENT and TOS) which attempted to fix a variety of problems by using better explinations, more adhearance to science, and in the very least settle disputes between contradicting examples. And if such a TM were made canon or it was required any future writing and scripts must adhere to this TM and not violate it, that could be nice. Some consistency and logic would help tremendously.

I'd almost agree with making the TMs canon, but I really enjoyed "Star Trek; The Magazine" even more. It was amazing the amount of info found in those magazines, and it was great to have something of a min-tech manual for Kirk's ship in full color and updated graphics.

What I don't understand is why the TMs haven't been updated. Pocket Books seem to think there's no market for them anymore. I find that incredible.

[Alyeska]

What would be nice is if they created a new TM encompasing TNG through Voyager (with historical mentions of ENT and TOS) which attempted to fix a variety of problems by using better explinations, more adhearance to science, and in the very least settle disputes between contradicting examples. And if such a TM were made canon or it was required any future writing and scripts must adhere to this TM and not violate it, that could be nice. Some consistency and logic would help tremendously.

I'd almost agree with making the TMs canon, but I really enjoyed "Star Trek; The Magazine" even more. It was amazing the amount of info found in those magazines, and it was great to have something of a min-tech manual for Kirk's ship in full color and updated graphics.

What I don't understand is why the TMs haven't been updated. Pocket Books seem to think there's no market for them anymore. I find that incredible.

It is strange indeed. DS9 and Voyager along with Nemesis introduced us to some things that haven't been explained. I still say a post Voyager Starfleet Technical Manual should be made. Something that explains every ship of Starfleet, gives a history, and gives a canon description of it should be made. Have an Opfor ship section, a historical section. Canon or not, it would be a very cool TM to have. Something that detailed Starfleet.

[Darth Wong]

I think that ultimately, the writers and producers don't want more material than absolutely necessary to "tie them down" and "limit their creativity", which is why they tend to adopt a policy of making the least amount of material possible into canon. Hell, they don't even like dealing with the constraints of previous films and TV shows, which is why they so often don't.

[Durandal]

Without question, the book Q-In-Law by Peter David. What a shame it was never made into an episode.