Customer Reviews

Killing Blow: Errand of Vengeance Book Two (Star Trek The Original Series)

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Mr. Ryan has continued his fine saga in this book. A very good read, and if you're a hardcore Trek fan (and I can't stress this enough) the entire series is a MUST READ. Mr. Ryan masterfully ties in many stories from many original series episodes and characters. Trek fans always love a familiar reference, and Mr. Ryan passes out plenty. But more importanly, they're neatly giftwrapped in an extremely well-written book and finely crafted story lines.

This is the second in the series (a trilogy) dealing with Lt. Jon Anderson, a security officer aboard the USS Enterprise under the command of Captain James T. Kirk. Lt. Anderson is a Klingon spy, surgically altered to pass as a human (or, in Klingon parlance, an "Earther"). His mission: to assassinate Captain Kirk.

This story, like the first novel in the series, is told largely from the perspective of Lt. Anderson. Anderson shows the reader the Klingons from the Klingons' own perspective. Even more interesting, he shows us the Federation from the Klingon's perspective. And even more interesting, this novel succeeds in showing the reader the Klingons as Lt. Anderson comes to perceive them. For Anderson is undergoing a cathartic transformation in this story well beyond the intention of his Klingon masters. While he was indoctrinated to believe that humans and other Federation races are honorless scum, he comes to understand human beings from the perspective of a human being. While somewhat predictable, author Ryan handles this transformation very well.

I bought this series via my Kindle. It was great being able to finish one novel, and instantaneously download the next installment thereby continuing through the series uninterrupted.

This is a pretty well-written novel, and an engaging, quick, and enjoyable read. Perfect for a beer and chips afternoon, which is precisely what I intended it for. For those of us who love the "Star Trek" universe, it does not get any better than this.

Recommended for all Star Trek fans.

Star Trek-The Original Series, Killing Blow: Errand of Vengeance written by Kevin Ryan is the second installment of a trilogy called the "Errand of Vengeance." This is a Klingon story, but what a "Klingon Story" indeed, one filled with a plot to kill Captain Jasmes T. Kirk.

This book is filled with action and below decks workings of the crew of the Enterprise as they prepare to set things right in the STAR TREK UNIVERSE. As from the first book in the trilogy, "The Edge of the Sword," we found out about the plot to kill Captain Kirk and the inflitration of security on the Enterprise by cosmetically changed Klingons. If this wasn't enough we also learned of a Klingon plan to start a war with the Federation. To accomplish this, the Klingons needed starship grade dilithium crystals to power the ships for the invasion, thus a mining operation commenced on the thrid planet in System 7348, even though in has a pre-warp civilization of humanoids, which is close to the Klingon-Federation boarder.

Of course, Kirk and company is now sent to investigate and as suspected the Orions are doing the Klingon Empires bidding here and mining the dilithium crystals and shaking the planet in doing so. But remember, Kell (the Klingon) posing as Jon Anderson, sent to kill Kirk and who worked in Klingon intelligence, still has a mission to accomplish.

With all of the twists, turns, convolutions and surprises found in this book... well you get the picture... you are engrossed in the story to find out what happens next. Keven Ryan writes a compelling and artful story that keeps your interest.

I found that most, not all, but most second books are not as good as the first and third of the trilogy... well... I was pleasently, bolt out of the blue, surprised, as this book, not only carried the story well, but brought us along to want to read the third book.

If you like Klingon stories... this is your cup of "Bloodwine." Filled with intrigue, treachery, debauchery, deception, mystery along with Kahless's honor and truth as a well written story telling the tale well.

In the meantime... live long and prosper... see you in book three of the trilogy "River of Blood."

Disguised through surgery as a human Starfleet security officer on board USS ENTERPRISE, Kell maintains the secrecy of his true Klingon nature. However, he is conflicted about his covert mission. Captain James T. Kirk has long been a foe of the Klingon Empire, marked for death on more than one occasion, yet somehow surviving through-what the Klingon Empire has insisted-cowardly ways. During his tenure aboard ENTERPRISE, though, Kell has found the abrasive young captain to be anything but cowardly. In fact, Kirk embodies the teachings of honor of Kahless the Warrior. Striking such a man down from behind, as the Klingon Empire has charged Kell to do, would be a supreme act of cowardice and leave the young Klingon warrior bereft of honor himself. In addition to the unsettling realization about Kirk, Kell has also fallen in love with Leslie Parrish, a human security officer also assigned to ENTERPRISE. Kell's friendship with Benitez, another starship security officer, also pulls at him. Even as he's struggling with what he's supposed to do, Kell goes on a mission that reveals some of the underhanded play the Klingon Empire has been promoting. Meanwhile, on the Klingon battle cruiser D'K TAHG, Kell's brother Karel has his own problems with promoting from within and getting caught up in a major bid for captaincy aboardship. Back on Earth, Lieutenant West pursues his research for some way to settle the coming war between the Federation and the Klingon Empire, a war which all resources say the Federation may well lose and that will definitely see a huge number of losses.

Kevin Ryan had co-authored two Star Trek novels before the ERRAND OF VENGEANCE trilogy for the original Star Trek series. In addition, he was an editor on the line for a number of years. Next year will see the publication of two ROSWELL novels he has authored.

With a sure hand and a deep working knowledge of the Star Trek universe(s), Kevin Ryan has skillfully engineered another Star Trek novel that will keep readers glued to the pages. The overall punch of the ERRAND OF VENGEANCE trilogy is awesome, combining the history of the Klingons tightly interwoven with the Star Trek history diehard fans are so familiar with. The pacing of the novel, like the previous one, feels very much like an episode of the television series, never dwelling too long on any one character or situation, then moving on quickly to another set of characters. Ryan also manages to pull off a romance that is realistic and touching, yet never slow the pace of the stories that he's unfolding. His actions scenes are real grabbers, reaching out and pulling the readers into the battle. The bar fight was great and set up the tragedy at the end very well.

The only things that jarred in this novel were the remembrances of Lieutenant Justman (Admiral Justman) that happened in the past. Those sequences kept running through on-going action encountered by the other characters. Perhaps if they had been framed differently, or if a header had been placed in the text to warn the reader of the impending time jump, they would have gone more smoothly. Still, the scenes and story were interesting and showed more history of the Klingon interaction with the Federation as well as Justman's own motivation.

As the second novel in the ERRAND OF VENGEANCE trilogy, KILLING BLOW doesn't stand on its own. It shouldn't. The novel is a piece of an intricate whole that is a mesmerizing tale. Editor John Ordover's vision in creating Star Trek TOS novels that weave new tales through the known mythos from the eyes of regular crewmen rather the more traditional viewpoints of the stars is a grand experiment that is succeeding. The concept brings freshness to the series that is fun and plays fast and loose because anything can happen-and probably will-to the primary characters outside of Kirk, Spock, and McCoy. Anyone looking for a really well done Star Trek trilogy or well-done space opera in general should put these three novels on the required reading list.

This book was a bit disappointing, although it was a good book. Like most sequels, the first was the best. There are a few typos. For example, one time it says "Mr. Parrish" when it should be "Ms. Parrish". I think that Kevin Ryan did a good job, although I prefer Peter David. I also think that he shouldn't have killed off Kell's roommate. He was a really good fighter and deserved to live.

This is a reasonably good novel, but not nearly as good as the first of the series. For one thing, it is less able to stand on its own merit without reading the rest of the series than the first was; for another, the writing/editing was sloppier. There are a few of the typical mass-market paperback errors, which I don't remember seeing in the first book, things like saying "seceded" when "succeeded" was intended, or "face" instead of "fact". Also, there is one place where Kell is referred to by his brother Karel's name, and one where Karel is referred to as Kell. These are minor quibbles, but still annoying, and when added to the fact that the book suffers from a mild case of "middle-book-itis", the bane of second books in trilogies, it keeps it from being rated quite so highly as the first. Still, it is an enjoyable read, and the characterization, plot, dialogue, and pacing are all quite good.

The second book in this trilogy is even more action packed than book one, with more exciting battles and heroic deeds, but the cracks also begin to show. While the continuity with the first book is maintained there are more technical and historical flaws in this work which to me weakens the plot slightly (*that's the trouble when you are an obsessed, nit-picking fan like me !!!). The Star Trek regulars are present but only Kirk and Spock make any significant contribution to the story, and there are fewer references to the original series events. The main character "Kell", is starting to lose his appeal which I suspect is to set up his end in the last book. It is ironic that as he becomes more "human" he becomes less interesting !!! However the thing that bothers me about this novel is the breakdown of logical storytelling elements, as this suggests the plot is being stretched too far. I have however rated this book the same as book one because although the first one had a more solid story base, this one pumps up the action to an even higher level. So if you're into Star Trek that gets the old pulse racing, this one is for you !!!

This is the second in a series of 3 with the series plot of Kell (a Klingon posing as a crew member) on board the Enterprise to kill Kirk. Although it could be read without reading the first of the series, I would recommend reading them in sequence. The first book was good but this one is better, since their is more interaction between the crew and more action is encountered. Kell is still on the Enterprise and considering how to complete his mission of killing Kirk but he is having second thoughts. The main action in this books revolves around protecting the third planet of System 7348 possessing a non-advanced population from the Orions (employeed by the Klingon) that are destroying the planet to extract Dilithium crystals. However, interacting and helping the natives of the planet make Kell rethink again.

Although good, I found bad that is this book just feeds into the third (the first in the series more finished a story with just the series subplot open). Secondly, Kell makes choices and decisions and seems to change them much too easy.

I'm really looking forward to the third and final.

Kevin Ryan has done it again with the Errand of Vengeance series. This one details the plot who infiltrates the Enterprise to turn the course of the war in favor of the Klingons. There is nothing friendly about these guys. This one tells the story from the lower decks point of view.