6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A cautionary tale,, September 20, 2002
a parable if you will, on the dangers of placing to much importance on the historical literality of our mytho-historical cultural icons.
Most people would understand and agree, for instance, that it neither lessens nor invalidates the importance of either George Washington or the quality of honesty if he did not, in fact, chop down a cherry tree and then unequivocally plead guilty to having done so as a child, nor does it lessen his importance in the winning of the American Revolution if he did not, in fact, throw a silver dollar across the Delaware (Potomac?) River.
Yet unfortunately, just as this books finds many Klingons struggling with the validity of the qualities that they've been brought up to believe in -- honor and courage and valor -- when it is discovered that their mytho-historical proto-Klingon, Kahless, did not in literal fact climb an erupting volcano in order to singe a lock of his hair, nor spin the first bat'telh, a Klingon edged weapon deadlier than a sword, out of said lava-singed strands of hair, and worse, was not a paragon of honor himself, but just a (reasonably decent) fellow, struggling to get from day to day until fate caught him up in a revolution, so many people of our own culture feel that it would somehow invalidate the value of "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you" if the historical Jesus Christ did not, in fact, literally, physically, rise from the dead after three days. That it would render "Love thy neighbor as thyself" less meaningful if he did not, literally, feed a multitude with a few loaves and fishes. That if he was not literally born of a virgin, or did not literally raise Lazarus from the dead, it would make "The meek shall inherit the earth" or "blessed are the peacemakers" any less valid.
Those portions of the Bible (and there are many of them) that contain beauty, truth, and wisdom, do so regardless of the literal inerrancy of the "history" recorded. And those parts that do not (such as "Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live") are vile and invalid, regardless. The message is neither improved nor damaged by the accuracy of the story it is set in.
And this story is a marvellous vehicle for making that point. Well-told, well-written, it's truly a joy to have read.
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
A great star trek book, January 24, 2003
To those who are not familiar with Star Trek. During the Next Generation series the original Kahless was cloned by some Klingon clerics by using his DNA. The cloned Kahless was made a figurehead emperor. Michael Jan Friedman novel is about this Kahless. Apparently a Klingon cleric has found a scroll that reveals that the legend of Kahless is not what everyone assumed it to be. Instead of being a great warrior he was a man pushed into a situation beyond his control. The validity of the restored emperor becomes suspect. This threatens to throw the Klingon empire into a civil war (WHAT ELSE IS NEW !! ).
The story goes back and forth between the present and the time of the original Kahless. Of course Lt. Worf is at the center of the controversy. He was appointed to analyze the documents ( a copy was sent to him on the Enterprise). The documents were found to be authentic. The real Kahless wrote and left the documents in order to clarify the legend that was growing about him.
This book is one of the better Star Trek novels. Michael Jan Friedman is probably the best Star Trek author. He does an excellent job in describing (or better yet creating) Klingon culture, especially ancient Klingon culture that is not described in any of the Star Trek series or movies.
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Not the best Star Trek novel, but offers some perspective, September 13, 2005
If you are looking for the greatest bit of prose ever offered in the genre, you will be disappointed. Michael Jan Friedman is not my favorite Star Trek writer. However, despite the fact that this novel does what I HATE Star Trek novels to do, bounce back and forth between the "present" of Tne Next Generation and the past of the Klingon Empire 1500 years ago, it does offer an insight into the history of the Klingon Empire.
What are Kingons? What is their legacy? In "In the Name of Honor," which takes place in the time period of "The Original Series," we learn of the ideological struggle and change going on within Klingon society. In that novel, the teachings of Kahless gain a new vigor in Klingon society. However, decades later, that "fundamentalist" Kahless teaching comes under assault. The present-day Picard is off on a mission to determine that is going on within the Klingon Empire. In this novel, we learn the truth about Kahless. This novel isn't about fighting, it is about doing what is honorable. What we don't know at the conclusion of this novel is the eventual long-term impact on Klingon society due to what has been discovered about Kahless's life.
This isn't the best written Star Trek novel, and I really hate bouncing from a past time to the present. However, if you want to get a look at Klingon culture, this is one of the few novels that afford that opportunity.
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