Customer Reviews

In the Name of Honor (Star Trek, No 97)

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

After winning the first Strange New Worlds short story contest and publishing two other Trek short stories in the subsequent volumes, Dayton Ward turns his attention to his first full-length Star Trek novel. In the Name of Honor is set between Star Trek V and Star Trek VI and attemtps to examine the shift in Kirk's attitude toward the Klingons as well as to answer a few questions of how the Klingons evolved from their portrayal on the original series to the time of Next Generation.

For a first time author, Ward does an admirable job of creating a page-turner of a novel. The book weighs in at well over 300 pages but it never feels long or as if it were being padded. If anything, at the end of the novel, you'll feel the book is too short because of the attention and care Ward has given to each of the plotlines. Ward takes the original series cast and runs with them, giving each character something to do and pairing them with another Klingon who is equally interesting and brings a lot to the novel. It's to Ward's credit that his secondary characters that he created himself are both interesting and memorable--I've read far too many Trek Klingon tomes where the secondary Klingon characters tend to jumble together. This is not the case here. Ward also litters the storyline with nice references to the Original Series and TNG. There's even a reference to Enterprise as well!

In my mind, there are three types of Trek books:

1. The type that tells a story that is a good sci-fi story but may not necessarily fit the Trek universe.
2. The type that tells a good Trek story with the characters acting the way we've come to expect based on the series but doesn't try and break any new ground.
3. The type that has the characters acting like they should but also tries to answer some unanswered questions and may draw upon several episodes of one series or attempt to try together some strings from various series into a coherent book.

Wards first effort falls into the category of the third novel, something that is, at times, extremely rare in today's Trek fiction. In a lot of ways, this book had me thinking of one of my favorite older Trek novels, The Final Reflection for what it attempts to do with the backstory of the Klingons. And Ward pulls off the transition between the end of the original crews days and the beginning of TNG with remarkable wit and style.

Finally, the book is just plain fun to read. The writing style is light and accessible and never heavy-handed. Ward has a sense of humor--and while it's not as broad as Peter David's it still works well.

All in all, a good start to the Trek publishing year.

I've been out of the Star Trek novel business for awhile. I used to buy them religiously, but they just never seemed to be worth the money to me. I was at the library recently, though, and there were a bunch of more recent Star Trek books there, so I checked them out.

The first book I looked at was In the Name of Honor, by Dayton Ward. The first thing that struck me was the dynamic cover. The Klingon war ship swooping over the canyon, firing away, was just beautiful. The insides were pretty good, too. I think you should probably be a Star Trek fan, or at least follow the series a bit, before you pick this up. The book just wallows in continuity.

The basic plot is that there is a peace conference going on between the Federation of Planets and the Klingon Empire. They have been hostile toward each other since before the time of the original Trek series. About six years ago, a Federation ship was attacked by a Klingon cruiser. Prisoners were taken, but it was done secretly. Only a few high-ranking people knew about them. The Federation thought the ship was destroyed with no survivors. Now, with the peace talks happening, word has reached other Klingons that these prisoners exist. The Empire is undergoing some radical philosophical changes (in series terms, they're moving from the evil-doers of the Original Series to the honourbound Klingons of the Next Generation TV series), and the taking of these prisoners and holding them secretly is not honourable. The original higher-ups would make the problem go away if it was ever discovered.

Koloth, one of Kirk's Klingon enemies from the episode "The Trouble with Tribbles," brings this information to Captain Kirk, at the request of Councilor Gorkon. He wants a full disclosure to the Federation, but realizes that the original conspirators would have the prisoners killed if it was brought up. So Koloth brings the information to Kirk and they hatch a plan to launch a daring rescue of the prisoners. Meanwhile, opponents of the peace talks (including these conspirators) are trying to disrupt the conference. Kirk and Sulu go on the rescue mission while Spock and the rest of the crew deal with the crisis at the peace talks.

This book takes place between the movies Star Trek V and Star Trek VI. If you follow the Star Trek mythos, then this is important because it helps you place the personalities of some of the characters, as well as some of the events. Gorkon is the Klingon Chancellor in Star Trek VI, but he's a relatively new councilor in this book, for example. The book tries very hard to set everything up for the beginning of the sixth movie. For awhile, I was wondering how he was going to do that in Kirk's instance, because Kirk seemed to be learning to tolerate Klingons, and at the beginning of the sixth movie, he was virulently anti-Klingon. However, Ward does do a good job of setting that up so it makes sense. Circumstances occur that make it logical.

As I said earlier, though, the book just oozes continuity. I counted references to at least 10 original series episodes (Koloth and another Klingon are from one episode, and Commander Garrovick is from another episode). Unfortunately, the book grinds to a halt every time Ward has to give a short plot summary of that episode. It's especially annoying when you already remember the episode and get the reference without the explanation. Many of these references are just off-hand remarks, which makes them even more avoidable. I'm not even going to get into Ward's hinted explanation for the differences in appearance between the Original Series Klingons and the Movie/Next Generation Klingons (i.e. the ridged foreheads), because I'd never be able to do it justice in this limited space. Let's just say that the hinting was a bit too cute for my taste. Unfortunately, given the story, it was unavoidable. It would have been nice, at the very least, to not have to deal with why Koloth changed in appearance from an Original Series Klingon to a Movie Klingon.

The book does have its good points, though. It's well written for a first book (Ward has been previously published in the three fan anthologies published by Pocket Books). It's not standout writing, but it's certainly readable and not annoying. The story is interesting and the regular characters are well done. There are no glaring characterization problems, which can sometimes be a hazard with TV tie-in fiction. I definitely enjoyed my time reading it, but then I'm a Trekkie at heart. If you don't follow the series, however, I can't see that much in this story that would make you want to change that.

This is the first novel by Dayton Ward and it is a superb accomplishment. The plot centers around a peace conference with the notorious Klingons, and also an undercover mission deep in Klingon space. The plot was very well executed, and character development was first rate. This is the kind of writing that could easily be made into a movie, it is that good.

There are several references in this novel to events that have taken place in Star Trek movies of yesteryear, Dayton Ward achieved this seamlessly and to great effect. But to me the best points in this book was it's strong personal and emotional content, and philosophical musings. Every Star Trek fan understands the relationship Kirk has with the Klingons, ever since his son David Marcus was murdered by one of them, and this relationship affects Kirk as he deals with this new crises involving Klingons and the Federation. The Klingon Empire is in a state of disarray, with honor, as the Klingons define it, at stake. It is interesting to read about how members of the Federation and of the Klingon Empire view things differently.

I found this to be one of the better Star Trek novels I have read, and I highly recommend it.

Any fan of either TOS or the Klingons will find this book extremely satisfying. Set between the 5th and 6th movies this book fills a perfect nitch in the Star Trek universe. "In the Name of Honor" finds Kirk and his old foe Koloth working together to free a group of Federation prisoners from a Klingon prison.

With a well balanced and skillfully paced plot the story is wonderful. The characterizations of the familiar characters are spot on and the various Klingon personalities interesting three dimensional characters. As the story unfolds it not only fills in the gaps left by the series and movies about that era of Klingon history, but helps explain the dramatic change in Kirk's attitude toward his long time adversaries. Pick up a copy of this book today. It is a thoroughly enjoyable adventure.

It's about time. I used to love the Star Trek novels to the point that every other book I read was Star Trek. But lately, it seems that they are just cranking them out to capitalize on the franchize without any concern for quality. Many of the recent novels have been poorly written, with characters that don't act or speak like their on-screen counterparts. Most of the books are written by the same few names who, it's obvious, have grown tired of the work but still want the paychecks. It's gotten to the point that I rarely buy the Star Trek books, and then only if I can pick them up used. And even then, most of the newer ones aren't worth the quarter spent at a garage sale.

But In the Name of Honor is different. Dayton Ward isn't a writer looking to make a quick buck. He's not an author who's bordom shows through with every new Star Trek book he spits out. He's a fan who genuinely cares about the series, and it really shows in this novel. Kirk was Kirk. Sulu was Sulu. And the Klingons were both believable and multi-faceted, not just the flat one-dimensional villains that often pop up in these pages. The plot was well-conceived and Ward keeps you turning the pages.

I've pretty much given up on Star Trek, and only read this book because it was given to me as a gift. Most of my attention has lately focused on quality young adult books, like Harry Potter and King Fortis the Brave written by authors who, like Dayton Ward, really love what they are doing and it shows in their work. But if a few more books like this are published, instead of the gruel that Pocket Books has lately been trying to force-feed us, I may start buying these books again.

This is how Star Trek should be written. Without the long winded plots that go by the wayside. Dayton Ward is right up there with Peter David, R.A. DeCandido, and Judith and Garfield Reeves-Stevens as great Trek writer. And lets not forget S.D. Perry...For the first time we get to know why the Klingons have bumpy foreheads. The bumps are explained in this one! I just wish the books would take more chances. How about a six part Borg saga? That would truly be a subject worthy of a long paperback series.

I, for one, am happy to see more novels taking place in Klingon space. It gives more of an insight into the evolution of their culture, and the era of "The Original Series" is a time of epocal change in the philosophical bent of the Empire. There are those who want to go back to the teachings of Kahless, while at the same time, negotiations are ongoing with the Federation. However, there has been a nasty little secret that some in the Empire don't want to come to light, while others believe that it is a slight on the empire regardless if it comes to light or not.

This brings one to the essence of the philosophical battle ongoing within the empire. The novel "Kahless", which takes place in the era of "The Next Generation" provides even more insight on this philosophy.

This novel is highly readable even if it lacks imagination at times. Those familiar with storylines of TOS and the novels will be so accustomed to Kirk playing the hero that his exploits in this novel will surprise no one. However, what I like about this novel is that it is one that is continually opening up the realm of the Klingon Empire. While Gene Roddenbery was not happy with the Klingons in his day, I think he would be happy with how they have evolved and developed with the continual expansion of the Star Trek universe.

Dayton Ward wrote some great short stories for the first three Strange New Worlds collections. I was very excited to see his first full length novel come out and I was not disappointed after I finished it, which is more than I can say about the Gateways series debacle. I can't wait to see more of Dayton's work, he seems to have a real affinity for making the "bad guys" come to life, with a rich and varied history of their own. Gene Roddenberry would have liked Dayton's style I think.

This is an excellent book to fill in the gaps from TOS to several movies. It gives the reader an overview of the time with the Klingon's... how ruthless and how embarrassed and the cover-up of a prison camp that is not supposed to exist.

We are taken back to the border skirmishes between the Federation and the Klingons. Klingon border patrols crossing the neutral zone and taking prisoners and putting them to work on a jungle planet in the mines. A Klingon gulag and the only way out is death.

The survivors from the Gagarin are at the camp but under strange auspices of the Higher Command in the Klingon government. When Captain James T. Kirk hears about the prisoners, he mounts a resuce mission... but who does he trust in the Klingon government to help him... will Starfleet disavow any and all knowledge of the attempt if caught.

This book is action packed and has great background for the Star Trek reader. We have an adversary, unexpectedly turning to help Kirk in his quest. We have Klingon vs Klingon... Kirk trying to get the job done... and the Klingon government determined to obliterate any knowledge of the gulag.

The is a good action adventure... bad vs good with an overall theme of honor running through it... what is the honorable thing to do. There is excellent characterizations and good thought and emotions come to a boiling point.

If you like Kirk et. all and Klingon treachery and later absolution. This novel brings us to the early beginnings of trust between the Federation and the Klingon Empire. Trust to do the right thing and bring honor to ones house.

This sets the framework for an alliance in future albeit tenuous at best.

A good read... read and enjoy

From the moment I began reading this book, I found myself thinking, "There's a basic flaw here; this book is set between "Star Trek V: The Final Frontier" and "Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country", but if the events in this book happened, I don't see how the reactions of the characters to the suggestion of peace with the Klingons in Star Trek VI would have existed; surely, their reactions would have been far more positive, as the groundwork for peace had been established already.

The author TRIED to address that issue in the last chapter or two, but really, it was a lost cause. Maybe, if one is willing to give Kirk far less credit for good sense than I'm inclined to, one could justify HIS reaction in Star Trek VI, but it would take a lot of effort. And it would in no way justify McCoy, Uhura, Chekov, & Scotty being as dubious as they were. If nothing else, SURELY, the events in this book would have been referred back to during that movie if they had happened shortly before it.

This is the risk one runs in trying to write a prequel; it's almost impossible to do well. If one is inclined to treat this as an "alternate timeline" story, which happens in a mirror universe that is the same as the established Star Trek timeline prior to the events in it, but which clearly does NOT lead to the events that the "normal" timeline says follow this point in time, it is an excellent story, with good action, characterization, and philosophical outlook. But if one tries to force it into the normal timeline, it just doesn't work.