Customer Reviews

Rules of Engagement (Star Trek, Book 48)

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

 

 

I use this book in my organizational behavior class called "Task Group Dynamics." The stark contrast between leadership styles, use of power, ethics, and motivational tactics between the Federation crew and the Klingon crews make it a great vehicle for application of organizational behavior concepts. It's a brief enough book that students don't object too much, even if they don't particularly appreciate science fiction. I find it useful to recommend seeing the first Star Trek movie if they are unfamiliar with the characters.

This book is tolerably well-written, and I can't really say that the characters are badly handled. But the plot is not really very interesting, (a study in how the conflict between the Federation and the Klingons played out under the Organian Peace Treaty -- basically, the Klingons are reduced to behaving like unruly children on the schoolyard, trying to goad their opponents into attacking first, so that they can get them in trouble with the teachers, or in this case, the Organians).

If you're one of those fans of the Klingons who absolutely must read anything that allegedly illuminates the alleged working of the alleged Klingon mind, then this is a must. Otherewise, it's definitely a mid-range Star Trek book; better than many, but not at all high on the list of Star Trek books to read.

I enjoyed the book How Much is for Just the Planet, another of John M. Ford's books.

But Rules of Engagement is a bit better than the Mr. Ford's sequel to the wonderful book Final Reflection. Mr. Morwood's Rules of Engagement proves to be a truly inspirational sequel to the Final Reflection.

Perhaps it is proof that Ford's legacy will not be forgotten.

If you already read Final Reflection, you'll want to buy this book.

May the Black Fleet commend John M. Ford and Peter Morwood. They shall be remembered with honor.

If you read both Final Reflection and Rules of Engagement, you would be surprised to find exactly everything related to Final Reflection is included in the Peter Morwood's awesome book.

I would recommend you Final Reflection fan buy this book.

Peter Morwood is one of the better "Star Trek" novelists, and this one does not disappoint. It features the Klingons, Federation-Klingon politics, and the Organians. Thus, there is a lot here to like.

The use of the Organians (see TOS "Errand of Mercy"), who are an all-powerful race bent on preventing a Federation-Klingon war, always runs the risk of creating a cop-out ending, where things escalate and then the Organians step in, constituting a "magic bullet" ending. That is not the case here; more would be telling.

This is an entertaining Star Trek novel. Decent characterizations, and interesting insights into the nature of the Klingons. A great afternoon read for the beach or whatnot.

I'm not a huge fan of Star Trek novels, but I make an exception for this one. Morwood starts from a funny premise--a Klingon captain whose career was ruined by the tribbles incident spends the next couple of decades plotting his revenge and the restoration of his honor--but the story is actually kind of poignant, as the futility of the Klingon's single-mindedness causes Kirk to reflect on how he has spent his own life. Approaching the ends of their careers, both captains feel to some extent used and abused by their respective governments.

Morwood has the Trek novel mastered--it's just too bad more of the series' writers can't learn from his style.
He puts the reader in the scene without preamble for exposition. Does the reader of a Trek novel need to know who Kirk or Bones is? Of course not. So Morewood just gets the story rolling along. He also gets within the skin and minds of these characters expertly.

The story is a good old-fashioned showdown--almost like a Western--as the Enterprise and Klingons engage in a game of brinksmanship over a world caught up in revolution. Throw in an old enemy of Kirk's with a prototype battleship, and you've got the makings of a knock-down, drag-out fight.

If you're a fan of TOS, you can't miss this book.

It's spellbinding.

Peter Morwood has woven a fine book based on the critically-acclaimed Final Reflection.

There's no better sequel to John M. Ford's Final Reflection than this book.

Not a bad book. Has a lot of insight into klingon culture and politics. The Klingon leader almost seems to be a good guy when you get to know him, except for wanting to kill Kirk. Only flaw is a somewhat abbreviated ending in which the secuence seems to be a little hurried. All in all a solid and fairly enjoyable book.