6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Enjoyable Early Trek Novel, December 23, 2001
This is a fun Star Trek - The Original Series novel, as long as you keep it in perspective. This was written before there was a Next Generation, and even before The Wrath of Khan Movie. It was actually written before Star Trek the Motion Picture, but was published after the movie's release. What this all means is that we are privvy to a lot more Star Trek history and backstories than the author was at the time he wrote this novel.
Anyway, to get to the plot. Captain Kirk's past catches up with him as the King of Shad, that he originally transported into exile years ago, must be returned to his planet to help the Shaddan empire return to its former glory. The King trusts no one other than Captain Kirk to take him back home. The reunion between the King and Kirk is bittersweet, as the King is quite old and frail.
In order for the King to regain his throne, he must have the Crown of Shad. The King had put the crown into hiding 18 years ago when he was being sent into exile. Now the Kings only daughter, Mr. Spock and Dr. McCoy must go to the harsh world that hides the crown to recover this royal relic.
There are some very nice character moments between Spock and McCoy as they try to recover the crown and protect the royal princess. There is also an amusing side story with Chekov. The one negative thing about the novel is there are a few loose ends - such as a female Klingon - what did they do with her, and another subplot involving the royal retainers. Otherwise this is a brief, taut and interesting story. Fans of the original television series will enjoy this book.
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A great story, April 18, 2003
Call me sentimental but I really liked this story. Spock and McCoy work together to protect and facilitate the ascension of a young woman to the throne of her war torn world. Part adventure story, part coming of age story, and not a bad commentary on the subject of leadership, this story held my attention throughout and may even warrant additional readings. Even staunch fans of the venerable Captain James T. Kirk will be pleased to see that the team of Spock and McCoy are themselves capable of not only saving the day - but also carrying a storyline through the majority of the novel. Recommended.
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Covenants and Crowns, January 6, 2003
Howard Weinstein is a long-time Trek fan, and the writer of the animated episode "The Pirates of Orion," so it isn't surprising that he has a feel for the characters of Star Trek. He also has a deft touch as a writer. This is the first of several novels he has written, in addition to comic books, and the result is the best ST book since David Gerrold's effort.
A surprise birthday party for Dr. McCoy is interrupted by a call from Starfleet Command to divert to Starbase 22. When there, Admiral Harrington informs them that the civil war on Shad has turned, and it is time for the exiled king to return. Captain Kirk had been stationed on Shad at the time of his exile, year before, when the war had been going badly enough that the royal family was deemed endangered enough to go into exile on a planet some parsecs away. The Klingons had been quietly supplying the rebels, hoping to disrupt the entire sector by the fall of Chad's government.
When the Enterprise reaches Orand, the queen has died, and the king is aged and infirm. But their daughter is now an adult, and will be the one to assume the monarchy. But first, the ritual crown must be retreived from a different world. Only the true ruler of Shad can wear the crown, so the question will be, can young Kailyn perform the task? It won't be easy, with Klingons trying to disrupt the mission, as subtly as possible. To circumvent the surveillance, Spock and McCoy set off in a shuttlecraft with Kailyn to retrieve the crown, while the Enterprise proceeds. But, there is a spy on the king's staff, and the Klingons follow the shuttle. Now, Kirk must find the spy, and Spock and McCoy must keep the young princess safe while they deal with both the natural forces of the planet and the troublesome Klingons.
Weinstein has a good ear for dialogue, and nothing about this story feels forced, as many of its predecessors were. The characters flow along with nary a ripple, and the comic relief of Chekov and the extra ten pounds is deftly handled. Weinstein has a special feeling for McCoy, and his feelings of growing old in the story are very well-written. The characters who enter the path of the Enterprise crew, from King Stevvin to Shirn O'tay, are natural and do not seem out of place in the Star Trek universe. This is simply a good story, and an excellent setup for the regular characters.
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