As huge a fan of Star Trek as I am, I harbor no delusions about its inconsistency. Quality fluctuates wildly from episode to episode and book to book; so it has been since the very beginning of Star Trek, and so shall it always be. Also in keeping with a realistic outlook, not everyone can, will, or even should spend all their time and money reading every Star Trek novel ever published to determine which ones are actually worthwhile. A quick reference guide pointing directly to the very best seems prudent.
In the diamond industry, the first water is the highest echelon of diamond quality. Diamonds are rated by their translucency; the more a diamond resembles water, the more valuable it is. So, I’ve adapted the concept for my site. In this section you will find links to reviews of those books that received the strongest possible recommendation (i.e., a rating of Excellent) from me. These are the top of the pops. If you wish only to experience Star Trek at its finest, I recommend choosing from among the titles on this list.
NOTE (5/2/22): In converting from numerical scores to the TBAGE scale, some titles have dropped from numerical scores that previously qualified them for this list to non-Excellent ratings that don’t. These are marked by an asterisk in parentheses (*) and have been allowed to remain on the list, because they’re still pretty great, after all.
The Entropy Effect (TOS #2), by Vonda McIntyre
Yesterday’s Son (TOS #11), by Ann Crispin
The Wounded Sky (TOS #13), by Diane Duane
The Final Reflection (TOS #16), by John M. Ford
My Enemy, My Ally (TOS #18), by Diane Duane
The Tears of the Singers (TOS #19), by Melinda Snodgrass
Uhura’s Song (TOS #21), by Janet Kagan
Dwellers in the Crucible (TOS #25), by Margaret Wander Bonanno
Mindshadow (TOS #27), by J.M. Dillard
Enterprise: The First Adventure (TOS event novel), by Vonda McIntyre
Strangers from the Sky (TOS event novel), by Margaret Wander Bonanno (*)
The Romulan Way (TOS #35), by Diane Duane
Time for Yesterday (TOS #39), by Ann Crispin (*)
The Three-Minute Universe (TOS #41), by Barbara Paul
Spock’s World (TOS event novel), by Diane Duane
Power Hungry (TNG #6), by Howard Weinstein
The Cry of the Onlies (TOS #46), by Judy Klass
The Kobayashi Maru (TOS #47), by Julia Ecklar
A Rock and a Hard Place (TNG #10), by Peter David
Doctor’s Orders (TOS #50), by Diane Duane
Prime Directive (TOS event novel), by Judith and Garfield Reeves-Stevens
Spartacus (TNG #20), by T.L. Mancour
The Disinherited (TOS #59), by Peter David, Michael Jan Friedman, and Robert Greenberger
Imzadi (TNG event novel), by Peter David
Sanctuary (TOS #61), by John Vornholt
Relics (TNG episode), by Michael Jan Friedman
The Starship Trap (TOS #64), by Mel Gilden
Shadows on the Sun (TOS event), by Michael Jan Friedman
Dark Mirror (TNG event), by Diane Duane
Sarek (TOS event), by Ann Crispin
The Star Ghost (DS9 YA #1), by Brad Strickland
Debtors’ Planet (TNG #30), by W.R. Thompson
All Good Things… (TNG episode), by Michael Jan Friedman
Capture the Flag (TNG YA #4), by John Vornholt
Q-Squared (TNG event), by Peter David
Crossroad (TOS #71), by Barbara Hambly
Federation (TOS/TNG event), by Judith and Garfield Reeves-Stevens
Prisoners of Peace (DS9 YA #3), by John Peel
Balance of Power (TNG #33), by Dafydd ab Hugh
The Escape (VOY #2), by Dean Wesley Smith and Kristine Kathryn Rusch
Starfall (TNG YA #8), by Brad and Barbara Strickland
The Murdered Sun (VOY #6), by Christie Golden
Rogue Saucer (TNG #39), by John Vornholt
Objective: Bajor (DS9 #15), by John Peel
Time’s Enemy (DS9 #16, Invasion! #3) by L.A. Graf
Infiltrator (TNG #42), by W.R. Thompson
Flashback (VOY episode), by Diane Carey
Mudd in Your Eye (TOS #81), by Jerry Oltion
Breakaway (TNG YA #12), by Bobbi JG Weiss & David Cody Weiss
Mind Meld (TOS #82), by John Vornholt
Into the Void (NF #2), by Peter David
Vulcan’s Forge (TOS event), by Josepha Sherman & Susan Shwartz
The Two-Front War (NF #3), by Peter David
Honor Bound (DS9 YA #11, Day of Honor) by Diana G. Gallagher
Martyr (NF #5), by Peter David