View source for Shatnerverse

{{Infobox book series
| name = Shatnerverse
| books =
| author = {{Ubl
  |[[William Shatner]]
  |[[Judith and Garfield Reeves-Stevens]]
}}
| image = Dark Victory (novel).jpg
| image_caption = Cover art of ''Dark Victory''
| country = United States
| language = English
| genre = [[Science fiction]]
| publisher = [[Pocket Books]]
| pub_date = 1995{{Snd}}2007
| media_type = Print (Hardback)
| number_of_books = 9, 1 tie-in<ref name="GameRant">{{cite web |last1=Maddox |first1=James |title=8 Weird Star Trek Novels That Are Enjoyable To Read - The Return - Garfield Reeves-Steven & William Shatner |url=https://gamerant.com/weird-star-trek-novels-enjoyable/ |website=[[Game Rant]] |publisher=[[Valnet]] |access-date=30 October 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231124094706/https://gamerant.com/weird-star-trek-novels-enjoyable/ |archive-date=November 24, 2023 |date=September 18, 2023 |quote=The resulting Shatnerverse (comprising ten novels by Shatner and Judith and Garfield Reeves-Steven) is generally considered non-canon even by novel fans [...] |url-status=live}}</ref>
}}
The '''Shatnerverse''' is the informal, [[fannish]] nickname given to a series of loosely connected ''[[Star Trek]]'' novels written by [[William Shatner]], with co-writers [[Judith and Garfield Reeves-Stevens]]. The novels were conceived by Shatner during the filming of ''[[Star Trek Generations]]''.<ref name="DenOfGeek1">{{cite web |last1=George |first1=Joe |date=November 29, 2023 |title=The Star Trek Stories That Brought Captain Kirk Back to Life to Fight the Borg |url=https://www.denofgeek.com/books/the-star-trek-stories-that-brought-captain-kirk-back-to-life-to-fight-the-borg/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231130004835/https://www.denofgeek.com/books/the-star-trek-stories-that-brought-captain-kirk-back-to-life-to-fight-the-borg/ |archive-date=November 30, 2023 |access-date=29 October 2024 |website=[[Den of Geek]] |publisher=AABBCC}}</ref> Published from 1995 to 2007 by [[Pocket Books]], each novel features Shatner's [[James T. Kirk]] in scenarios ''[[Den of Geek]]'' calls "goofy and self-indulgent", yet Shatner's bluster "is part of his charm".<ref name="DenOfGeek2">{{cite web |last1=George |first1=Joe |date=17 September 2024 |title=The Star Trek Shatnerverse Still Features the Wildest Version of Captain Kirk Ever |url=https://www.denofgeek.com/books/star-trek-shatnerverse-captain-kirk-william-shatner/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240917220932/https://www.denofgeek.com/books/star-trek-shatnerverse-captain-kirk-william-shatner/ |archive-date=17 September 2024 |access-date=28 October 2024 |website=[[Den of Geek]] |publisher=DoG Tech LLC}}</ref>

== Development ==
The series explores [[James T. Kirk]]'s life after the events of ''[[Star Trek Generations|Generations]]'' (1994).<ref name="DenOfGeek1" /> Created by William Shatner, the novels were co-written by [[Judith and Garfield Reeves-Stevens]], who were not credited until ''Captain's Peril'' (2002).

Simon & Schuster never applied a series brand or name to the novels. The informal title or nickname for the series is "Shatnerverse" which was created by fans and later adopted by unofficial sources.<ref name="SFE">{{cite web |date=February 20, 2023 |title=Shatner, William |url=https://sf-encyclopedia.com/entry/shatner_william |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240420100433/https://sf-encyclopedia.com/entry/shatner_william |archive-date=April 20, 2024 |access-date=October 28, 2024 |website=[[The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction]]}}</ref><ref name="TrekMovie-Interview">{{cite web |last1=Pascale |first1=Anthony |date=October 16, 2007 |title=The Reeves-Stevens Talk Books With TrekMovie.com |url=https://trekmovie.com/2007/10/16/the-reeves-stevens-talk-books-with-trekmoviecom/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071017213730/https://trekmovie.com/2007/10/16/the-reeves-stevens-talk-books-with-trekmoviecom/ |archive-date=October 17, 2007 |access-date=October 28, 2024 |website=[[TrekMovie.com]] |publisher=SciFanatic Network}}</ref><ref name="CBR1">{{cite web |last1=Vaux |first1=Robert |date=April 6, 2021 |title=Star Trek: The Next Generation - Here's What We Know About the Borg's Bizarre Origins |url=https://www.cbr.com/star-trek-tng-borg-origin/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220914155702/https://www.cbr.com/star-trek-tng-borg-origin/ |archive-date=September 14, 2022 |access-date=October 29, 2024 |website=[[Comic Book Resources]] |publisher=[[Valnet]] |quote=a series of novels co-written by William Shatner (which fans have dubbed the "Shatnerverse")}}</ref><ref name="DenOfGeek2" /> Novels are organized by fans into three trilogies: "Odyssey", "Mirror Universe", and "Totality".<ref name="SFE" /> The continuity within the series is independent of other ''Star Trek'' book lines.

''Preserver'' (2000) was inspired by Shatner's experience following the death of his wife.<ref name="DailyNewsKentucky">{{cite magazine |author1=[[Associated Press]] |date=September 18, 2000 |title=Grief inspires book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0foaAAAAIBAJ&dq=%22Preserver%22+%22shatner%22&pg=PA7&article_id=2470,2291547 |journal=[[The Daily News (Kentucky)]] |publisher=[[Boone Newspapers]] |location=[[Radnor, Pennsylvania]] |page=2-B |issue=260}}</ref><ref name="ReadingEagle">{{cite magazine |last1=Spelling |first1=Ian |date=August 26, 2000 |title=Latest 'Trek' novel reflects life events of author |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xlAlAAAAIBAJ&dq=%22Preserver%22+%22shatner%22&pg=PA11&article_id=2312,5728821 |journal=[[Reading Eagle]] |publisher=[[MediaNews Group]] |page=B8}}</ref>

The related novel, ''Collision Course'' (2007), was the launch title of a proposed ''Star Trek: Academy'' series but the planned sequels were canceled following poor sales.<ref name="WhatCulture">{{cite web |last1=Clery |first1=Adam |date=June 3, 2020 |title=10 Scrapped Star Trek Releases You Never Got To See - 8. Star Trek: Academy |url=https://whatculture.com/tv/10-scrapped-star-trek-releases-you-never-got-to-see?page=3 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20241028190346/https://whatculture.com/tv/10-scrapped-star-trek-releases-you-never-got-to-see?page=3 |archive-date=October 28, 2024 |access-date=October 28, 2024 |website=[[WhatCulture]] |publisher=[[Future plc]]}}</ref><ref name="ScreenRant">{{cite web |last1=Rector |first1=Seth |date=September 8, 2022 |title=Star Trek: 10 Scrapped Projects That Should Be Revived |url=https://screenrant.com/star-trek-scrapped-projects-revived/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220909073308/https://screenrant.com/star-trek-scrapped-projects-revived/ |archive-date=September 9, 2022 |access-date=October 28, 2024 |website=[[Screen Rant]] |publisher=[[Valnet]]}}</ref>

==Novels==
The books are organized into three unofficial trilogies. Numbering of the novels varies by language and market.

=== Odyssey ===
The trilogy's name is taken from an [[omnibus edition]] originally planned as [[Science Fiction Book Club]] exclusive.<ref name="Odyssey">{{cite book |author1=[[William Shatner]] |title=Star Trek: Odyssey |author2=[[Judith and Garfield Reeves-Stevens]] |date=1998 |publisher=[[Pocket Books]] |isbn=0671025473 |pages=1072}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
!Title
!Author
!Date
!ISBN
|-
|''[[The Ashes of Eden]]''
| rowspan="4" |William Shatner
|June 1995
|{{ISBNT|0-671-52035-0}}
|-
|''[[The Return (Shatner novel)|The Return]]''
|April 1996
|{{ISBNT|0-671-52610-3}}
|-
|''Avenger''
|May 1997
|{{ISBNT|0-671-55132-9}}
|-
|''Odyssey'' (omnibus)
|September 1998
|{{ISBNT|0-671-02547-3}}
|}

=== Mirror Universe ===
Novels set primarily in ''Star Trek''{{'s}} [[Mirror Universe]].
{| class="wikitable"
!Title
!Author
!Date
!ISBN
|-
|''Spectre''{{Hsp}}<ref>{{cite book |author=Pamela Dear |url=https://archive.org/details/isbn_9780787630959/page/373 |title=Contemporary authors: New revision series |date=1 January 2000 |publisher=Gale / Cengage Learning |isbn=978-0-7876-3095-9 |page=[https://archive.org/details/isbn_9780787630959/page/373 373] |url-access=registration}}</ref>
| rowspan="3" |William Shatner
|May 1998
|{{ISBNT|0-671-00878-1}}
|-
|''Dark Victory''
|April 1999
|{{ISBNT|0-671-00882-X}}
|-
|''Preserver''
|July 2000
|{{ISBNT|0-671-02125-7}}
|}

=== Totality ===
Also known as the '''Captain Kirk''' or '''Captain's''' trilogy.<ref name="DenOfGeek2" />
{| class="wikitable"
!Title
!Author(s)
!Date
!ISBN
|-
|''Captain's Peril''
| rowspan="3" |William Shatner,{{Indent|2}}with Judith and Garfield Reeves-Stevens
|October 8, 2002
|{{ISBNT|0-7434-4819-7}}
|-
|''Captain's Blood''
|December 9, 2003
|{{ISBNT|0-671-02129-X}}
|-
|''Captain's Glory''
|August 22, 2006
|{{ISBNT|0-7434-5343-3}}
|}

==Reception==
''[[Den of Geek]]'' wrote the "Shatnerverse" novels are "very goofy and self-indulgent", yet they are a fun continuation of ''[[Star Trek: The Original Series|The Original Series]]''.<ref name="DenOfGeek2" /> Shatner's bluster "is part of his charm. It's exactly what makes James Kirk so fun". ''[[Library Journal]]'' reviewed ''Avenger'', stating "Shatner's team has created a compelling and satisfying morality play with a wiser Kirk and more emotional Spock".<ref name="LibraryJournal-Avenger">{{cite web <!-- Citation bot bypass--> |date=1997 |title=Star Trek: Avenger - Editorial Reviews |url=https://www.amazon.com/Star-Trek-Avenger-William-Shatner/dp/0671551329 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160111063050/https://www.amazon.com/Star-Trek-Avenger-William-Shatner/dp/0671551329 |archive-date=January 11, 2016 |access-date=29 October 2024 |website=[[Amazon (company)|Amazon]] ([[Library Journal]])}}</ref> ''Library Journal'' also reviewed the audiobook version of ''Spectre'', saying: "Shatner does his usual adequate job, offering a melodious reading with a hint of apathy".<ref name="LibraryJournal-Spectre">{{cite web |last1=Weiss |first1=Charlie |title=Star Trek Mirror Universe Saga #1: Spectre - Editorial Reviews |url=https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/star-trek-mirror-universe-saga-1-william-shatner/1100308250 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20241029005822/https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/star-trek-mirror-universe-saga-1-william-shatner/1100308250 |archive-date=29 October 2024 |access-date=28 October 2024 |website=[[Barnes & Noble]] ([[Library Journal]])}}</ref>

L.D. Meagher, whilst writing for [[CNN]], said that ''Dark Victory'' was not easy for the casual fan to get into as it wasn't intended to be a standalone novel and needed to be read as part of the series. He thought fans of the series would be pleased with it.<ref name="CNN">{{cite web |last1=Meagher |first1=L.D. |title=Reviews - He keeps going, and going ... |url=http://edition.cnn.com/books/reviews/9905/19/Shatner.book/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040104020207/http://edition.cnn.com/books/reviews/9905/19/Shatner.book/ |archive-date=January 4, 2004 |access-date=October 28, 2024 |website=[[CNN]]}}</ref>

''[[Publishers Weekly]]'' reviewed the audiobook version of ''Captain's Glory'', writing: "Shatner ably embodies the voice of Kirk, but his characterizations of Picard, Riker, Worf and several others are mediocre and pale in comparison to the actors who created them".<ref name="PublishersWeekly-CaptainsGlory">{{cite web |date=2 October 2006 |title=Star Trek: Captain's Glory |url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/9780743539623 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240827235913/https://www.publishersweekly.com/9780743539623 |archive-date=27 August 2024 |access-date=28 October 2024 |website=[[Publishers Weekly]] |publisher=PWxyz, LLC}}</ref>

''[[Screen Rant]]'' noted that the idea of placing ''Collision Course'' within [[Starfleet Academy]] is a solid one, but it falters in its execution.<ref name="ScreenRant" /> 

== Related novels ==

=== ''The Ashes of Eden'' graphic novel ===
''Star Trek: The Ashes of Eden'' is a 100 page, square-bound, graphic novel by Steve Erwin and Jimmy Palmiotti. Unlike the prose novel, [[Judith and Garfield Reeves-Stevens]] were credited as co-writers. No other ''Star Trek'' tie-in novel has been adapted as a graphic novel. Published by [[DC Comics]].
{| class="wikitable"
!Title
!Author(s)
!Pencils
!Inks
!Date
!ISBN
|-
|''Star Trek: The Ashes of Eden''
|William Shatner,{{Indent|2}}with Judith and Garfield Reeves-Stevens
|Steve Erwin
|Jimmy Palmiotti
|May 18. 1995
|{{ISBNT|1-56389-235-9}}
|}

=== ''Millennium'' (2000) ===
'''''Star Trek: Deep Space Nine'''{{Snd}}'''Millennium''''' miniseries explores an alternate-timeline accidentally created by the crew of the {{USS|Defiant|3=2}}. The series was partially adapted as ''[[Star Trek: Deep Space Nine: The Fallen|The Fallen]]'' (2000), a [[third-person shooter]] video game developed by [[The Collective (company)|The Collective]]. An omnibus edition was published in 2002. The miniseries is not directly linked to the Odyssey or Mirror Universe trilogies, however the novels include references to ''Spectre'' (1998).
{| class="wikitable"
!{{Abbr|No.|Number}}
!Title
!Author(s)
!Date
!ISBN
|-
|1
|''The Fall of Terok Nor''
| rowspan="3" |Judith and Garfield Reeves-Stevens
| rowspan="2" |{{Dts|2000|3}}
|{{ISBNT|0-671-02401-9}}
|-
|2
|''The War of the Prophets''
|{{ISBNT|0-671-02402-7}}
|-
|3
|''Inferno''
|{{Dts|2000|4}}
|{{ISBNT|0-671-02403-5}}
|}

=== ''Collision Course'' (2007) ===
'''''Star Trek: Academy''''', originally pitched as a new television series for [[UPN]] in 2003, was intended to be a new flagship novel series featuring a young Midshipman [[James T. Kirk|Jim Kirk]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=June 10, 2011 |title=Oh!! That's What Shatner's 2003 STAR TREK TV Pitch Was About?? |url=https://legacy.aintitcool.com/node/49996 |access-date=2024-11-02 |website=Aint It Cool News |language=en}}</ref><ref name="TrekMovie-Academy">{{cite web |last1=Pascale |first1=Anthony |date=August 6, 2007 |title=Shatner On 'Collision Course' – His Vision Of Kirk and Spock's Early Years + Preview |url=https://trekmovie.com/2007/08/06/shatner-on-collision-course-his-vision-of-kirk-and-spocks-early-years-preview/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121021102257/https://trekmovie.com/2007/08/06/shatner-on-collision-course-his-vision-of-kirk-and-spocks-early-years-preview/ |archive-date=October 21, 2012 |access-date=29 October 2024 |website=[[TrekMovie.com]] |publisher=SciFanatic Network}}</ref> Shatner and the Reeves-Stevenses rewrote the proposed pilot episode as ''Collision Course''. A sequel novel, ''Trial Run'', was announced in 2007 but was never published.<ref name=":22">{{Cite book |last1=Shatner |first1=William |author-link=William Shatner |url=https://archive.org/details/startrekacademy00shat/page/452 |title=Collision Course |last2=Reeves-Stevens |first2=Judith |author-link2=Judith and Garfield Reeves-Stevens |last3=Reeves-Stevens |first3=Garfield |author-link3=Judith and Garfield Reeves-Stevens |date=October 16, 2007 |publisher=[[Pocket Books]] |isbn=9781416503965 |series=Star Trek: Academy |location=New York |pages=[https://archive.org/details/startrekacademy00shat/page/452 452]}}</ref> In 2019, a new novel, ''Third Class'', briefly appeared in bookseller listings but no official release date was announced. ''Collision Course'' ties into ''The Ashes of Eden'' (1995).
{| class="wikitable"
!Title
!Author(s)
!Date
!ISBN
|-
|''Collision Course''
|William Shatner,{{Indent|2}}with Judith and Garfield Reeves-Stevens
|October 16, 2007
|{{ISBNT|978-1-4165-0397-2}}
|}

=== ''Forged in Fire'' (2007) ===
''Star Trek: Excelsior'' – ''Forged in Fire'' was planned as the introductory novel of a new flagship series set aboard ''Excelsior'' (NCC-2000) under the command of [[Hikaru Sulu]]. The novel includes references to ''The Ashes of Eden'' (1995) and ''Collision Course'' (2007).
{| class="wikitable"
!Title
!Author(s)
!Date
!ISBN
|-
|''Forged in Fire''
|Michael A. Martin and Andy Mangels
|December 26, 2007
|{{ISBNT|978-1-4165-4716-7}}
|}

== See also ==
* [[List of Star Trek novels|List of ''Star Trek'' novels]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Memory Alpha|Shatnerverse}}
* {{ISFDB series|id=12314}}
{{portal bar|1990s|2000s|Novels|Science fiction|United States}}
{{William Shatner}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:1990s science fiction novels]]
[[Category:2000s science fiction novels]]
[[Category:Novels based on Star Trek]]
[[Category:Science fiction novel series]]
[[Category:Science fiction novel trilogies]]