Star Trek: I.K.S. Gorkon: Honor Bound By Keith R.A. DeCandido - Defending Honor Klingon Style

Star Trek: I.K.S. Gorkon: Honor Bound by Keith R.A. DeCandido

This is the second of three books in the I.K.S. Gorkon series of novels, and it is an action packed continuation immediately following the first of the series, A Good Day To Die.

Captain Klag of the Gorkon follows orders to find world's that the Klingon Empire can annex for resources to help rebuild after the war with the Dominion from the Gamma Quadrant. Chancellor Martok has sent a fleet to the Beta Quadrant to seek planets that are rich in the resources needed, and to conquer any populations that might be there. Klag found San-Tarah, a planet that is ideal in what it has to offer the rebuilding effort, however, it is also populated by a race of canine-like beings that fight as fiercely as any Klingon. While it should have been an easy matter for the crew of the Gorkon to follow through with the taking of San-Tarah, the situation is complicated by a series of anomalies that prevent the Klingons from using anything more than their hand-to-hand weapons for the fight, their advanced technology is useless. The odds are even as the Klingon landing party finds that the Children of San-Tarah, who have no technology other than their own, are amazing warriors in their own right.

Klag takes notice of this and after performing five contests, which the San-Tarah wing the majority of, has to keep a promise that no Klingons will ever step foot on their planet again. Klag’s commander, General Talak, takes exception to this and tells Klag that he and several other ships are on their way to San-Tarah, and that Klag and the Gorkon will participate in the conquering of the planet. Talak tells Klag that he has no right to make such arrangements on the Empire’s behalf, but he also has an axe to grind with Klag that involves the dishonor of Talak’s kinsman, so Talak will use the situation to take his revenge. Add to that, Klag’s own brother, Dorrek will also take advantage to right wrongs that he feels Klag has done.

Honor Bound begins with Klag calling on his fellow members of the Order of the Bat’leth to help him uphold his own personal honor as well as the honor of the Empire. While some come to his aid, a battle ensues both in space and on the planet that reaches epic proportions that finds many on both sides losing their lives. Many ships are damaged. And there is glory for all who come out on top, but is honor served?

Once again, honor is being tested on various fronts in this story. As the commanding officer of a ship, Klag is well within his bounds to make promises and enforce them, his sense of honor will not allow him to follow the orders of Talak, who will appear to follow Martok’s orders, but he uses this to cover his vendetta against Klag. It is a matter of orders versus what is right, and Klag will always err on the side of what is right and just because he holds his honor above all else.

This story is one of battles being fought on many different fronts. Klingons fighting against Klingons, Klingons defending the promises made to the San-Tarah, Klingons fighting alongside the San-Tarah, and then there is the battle in space between ships holding crews numbering in the thousands. There are also the personal battles that all of the Klingons fight within themselves as they take up arms against their fellow warriors based on orders received, and not knowing the real reasons behind the fight. This is a fast paced and multifaceted story that is exciting to its core and never lets up until the very end, where there is an interesting twist.

As I have stated before, Keith DeCandido knows Klingons and how to write their stories and present them as believable, colorful, and exciting to read. This is a real page-turner and I did not want to stop reading once I started. On several occasions, Keith fills in the blanks by giving just enough backstory on various characters adding to the understanding of the motivations behind individual actions and attitudes. His descriptions of the places in the story are well done so that the reader can visualize what the arena of action might look like.

I guess what I am trying to say is that if you want to read about Klingons in action, and about Klingon honor, then Honor Bound is what you are looking for, however I do recommend reading the first book in the series to better understand how this conflict came to be.

Well, there it is…

Qaplah!

Star Trek: I.K.S. Gorkon: A Good Day To Die - Glorious And Worthy Of Song!

Star Trek: I.K.S. Gorkon: A Good Day To Die By Keith R.A. DeCandido

In this first of three books in the I.K.S. Gorkon series, the major powers of the Alpha Quadrant are experiencing a shortage of resources to rebuild the depleted fleets following the war with the Dominion. There is an uneasy peace in the quadrant and the Klingon Empire is ready to take advantage of the lull to go in search of materials in the Beta Quadrant. Chancellor Martok and General Talak dispatch the fleet to search out worlds rich in resources. If the worlds are inhabited, the fleet is to conquer the beings on the planet and make them subjects of the Empire.

The Gorkon approaches a planet that has no indications of technological development and and is rich in the raw materials that the Empire is in need of. Looks like pretty easy pickings until a landing party is faced with a warrior race that is every bit as fierce as the Klingons. On top of that, some unnatural phenomenon is interfering with the operation of the Gorkon’s weapons and communications.

Captain Klag is an honorable Klingon and truly admires the San-Tarah as a warrior race. At the same time, the San-Tarah feel the same about the Klingons. A deal is made that will either bring the San-Tarah into the Empire as jeghpu’wI (a term that means more than slaves and less than citizens), or the Gorkon will leave and the San-Tarah will never be conquered by the Empire.

Once again, Keith DeCandido give us a look into the internal workings of the Klingon Empire. This story takes a closer look at a Klingon ceremony that bestows on of the highest honors a warrior can receive, as well as some of the workings of how rivalries develop and escalate to further the cause of revenge. Some are all too willing to set aside their honor, and the honor of the Empire to advance their own causes.

As I have mentioned in previous reviews of this author’s works, chief among Keith’s many strengths is his ability to bring characters alive and make them seem like real people. Although A Good Day To Die is obviously a work of fiction, it seems real as one reads mainly owing to the vivid character development. One major example of this is the main character, Klag. We know from the TNG second season episode “A Matter Of Honor” that he was first officer of the Pagh. After serving aboard that ship for ten years under Captain Kargan, we learn that Kargan became well known thanks mostly to actions of Klag. Later during the War against the Dominion, the Pagh crashes killing everyone aboard except for Klag, who lost an arm in the crash. Armed with only a mek’leth, Klag defeats seven Jem’Hadar soldiers. While he probably could have gained by telling the truth of how he was the power behind the legend that Kargan was becoming, Klag never really talks about Kargan, seeing no need to dishonor his former captain after he died.

In this story, Klag agrees to face five challenges with the San-Tarah. Whichever side wind the majority of the challenges will determine whether the Klingons get the resources of the planet, which are of no interest to the San-Tarah, or whether the Klingons leave the planet alone honoring a fellow warrior race. When he is questioned about whether he is sincere in his promise to leave, he explains to the leader of the San-Tarah that a Klingon’s word is his bond and Klag will not break his word, even though he most likely has sufficient personnel on board the Gorkon to hold the San-Tarah at bay until the rest of the fleet arrives.

I have always found the Klingons to be a fascinating people, but this book has heightened my knowledge and piqued my interest in the fictional race far beyond what I know from the television series. Keith writes Klingons with the passion of a warrior and it is obvious that he wants to get it right, which he does in spades.  I give my highest recommendations to those with similar interests as mine, such a reader will find a well written and compelling story.

Well, there it is…

Qaplah!