Faces of Fire

Star Trek: The Original Series #58

by Michael Jan Friedman

Faces Of Fire
En route to Alpha Malurian Six to settle a dispute between two religions, the U.S.S. Enterprise™ first stops to do a routine check on the progress of a terraforming colony on Beta Canzandia Three -- a colony whose inhabitants include Carol and David Marcus.
While Spock is left behind at the terraforming colony to continue his scientific studies, the rest of the crew heads to Alpha Malurian Six to find the dispute has turned to war.
As Kirk, McCoy, and Scotty search for a solution to end the conflict, a ship piloted by a Klingon faction arrives at the terraforming colony to take control of the facility. When colonists are imprisoned, Spock and David must defeat the Klingons or face certain death...

Genres: Star Trek, Science Fiction, Fiction, Star Trek Original Series, Ebooks, Fantasy, Science Fiction Fantasy

279 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 1, 1992

About the author

Michael Jan Friedman is an author of more than seventy books of fiction and nonfiction, half of which are in the Star Trek universe. Eleven of his titles have appeared on the New York Times Best Seller list. Friedman has also written for network and cable television and radio, and scripted nearly 200 comic books, including his original DC superhero series, the Darkstars.

Reviews

[Jerry (Rebel With a Massive Media Library) · Rating 3 out of 5]

So, Kirk has a son. Not surprising, given his tendency for wild living.

As for the book, it was good but not great. It kept my interest the whole time, but it still could have been shorter.

[Jammin Jenny · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this Star Trek story featuring Spock, Bones and Kirk. This story also involves Carol and David Markus, Jim's erstwhile lover and his son. Fun story and some of my favorite characters from the sci-fi world created in the 60s by Gene Roddenberry. Great fun to revisit these characters in almost any adventure.

[Brayden Raymond · Rating 3 out of 5]

Unfortunately I was only mildly engaged in the different plot threads of this TOS entry. The additional relationship drama between Kirk and the Marcus's was good though, not to mention the Klingon political "chess match" that was going on throughout. I've just simply read much better Trek recently. 3 stars flat.

[Daniel Kukwa · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Star Trek" comfort food of a very high quality. There are no less than three plots, and they are juggled with confidence. Diplomatic shennanigans, Klingon intrigue, and a Kirk-family-fanwank prequel, all in one novel...yet each plot strand manages to engage & entertain in equal measure. Michael Jan Friedman's strength definitely lies with the Original Series crew.

[LeePS · Rating 3 out of 5]

A well thought out backdrop for the "Wrath of Khan" storyline that helps fill in some of the character colour for Carol and David Marcus. Given David is 10 in this story it is a milestone in his life and explains why David is anti Starfleet when we meet him at 23 in the movie.

[Frank Davis · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've had nice things to say about MJF in the past. This is not my favourite but I did like the story generally. I wasn't really impressed by the reasons for secrecy. Especially in Kirk's family storyline, but also for the Klingons who I would expect to be more direct in their dealings - they had a little Romulan in them in this book.

Actually, the highlight of this might be Spock hanging out with some courageous kiddos.

[Nicolas · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting to see an early version of the Kirk/Carol/David relationship, but overall this Wrath of Khan prelude feels a little tame.

[Timothy McNeil · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay...first thing's first. I picked a good time to read this. An hour of after work reading on Sunday, a round trip on the El, and another hour after I got home and the book was done. Two days work, and it didn't feel like work.

It wasn't a great book. Yes, Friedman managed a couple of great instances of the Bones-Spock back and forth, and his Kirk felt around 80% true to TOS Kirk. The plot seemed a retcon contrivance to justify David's feelings toward's Kirk in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan , with little at stake in the political crisis happening underneath the Enterprise.

I had trouble keeping the Klingons straight. Maybe because only a few had (what I deem to be) Klingon-sounding names. Now, I am wholly of the opinion that ALL KLINGONS MUST DIE. Not sure if that applies to Torres from Voyager , because I like that character -- and I like that Tony Todd got to be a part of the Star Trek universe -- but the Klingons are the worst of Imperial Japan and Soviet Russia rolled into one. I don't root for Klingons. I don't try to understand Klingons. They exist to be the bad guys. Why Roddenberry backtracked on that, I have no idea.

Still, for its weaknesses, the book still entertains. Friedman could have found more for Uhura to do. Hiding a grin behind her hand (demurely) and answering the phone seem more outdated and chauvinistic when the story is coming from the 1990s than the 1960s. He also could have given more personality to Spock (since the character shines in his moments of quiet humanity more so than his rote Vulcan personality). But at no point did I find myself thinking that the story didn't belong in the Star Trek universe. It certainly is not the abomination the last two movies have been.

[Michael T Bradley · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found out my library has downloadable audio books of a lot of these older ST books, so HELL YES I am listening to them. Heavily abridged, of course.

This is a pretty ridiculously cookie-cutter Star Trek story: courage & pluck & a refusal to give in to violent means wins the day (mostly). Kirk does some lateral thinking & averts a holy war; Spock stars in "Red Dawn" with some children at a terraforming colony with some Klingons playing the part of the Russians ... oh, and did I mention that one of the children is KIRK'S UNKNOWN SON???? I really wonder if David Marcus comes back at some later point. Hm. A quick search reveals that, yes, David is a large part of ST II & III. I thought the name seemed familiar. Weirdly, Memory Alpha says nothing about this novel, and apparently Kirk has forgotten David's his son by the time the movies roll around? HAHAHAHA, NEVER MIND. Weirdly, this book apparently came out in '92, and those movies obviously came before, so .... OK, anyway, tangent.

Nothing amazing here, but abrdiged, this is a breezy three-hour listen, all the high points are hit, and whatever. Sadly Bibi, the narrator, can't do voices worth a damn, but nobody gets many lines anyway. Also, a pity the Klingons are so one-dimensional here.

[Soren · Rating 2 out of 5]

I find myself at a lost for a proper adjective to describe my disappointment. The Klingon (wrong era design btw) on the cover misleads you to believe that something will occur during this novel. There are two parallel narratives that really have nothing to do with each other. Carol and David Marcus show up, against established canon, to force the reader to root for the colonists. The Klingons end up running away and there isnt even a climax to either subpar story line. Why are these two stories even in the same novel??

[Doris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Friedman has pulled together a really good story which not only focuses on the Star Trek universe, but has as it's main focus the ordinary people from that universe. The starship's crew is involved, but minimally, with only the first part of the book set in space, during the voyage to a planet where science experiments are underway. There, they are supposed to check on the scientists and then leave to deliver an ambassador to another planet.

Both missions are important, although the blustering ambassador feels his is more so. This of course raises hackles and possibly even causes the captain and crew to find excuses not to hasten. Finally though, after making sure to cover all the possible needs of the scientific group, and visiting with a former lover, Kirk takes his ship forward on it's ambassadorial visit, where of course there is a problem requiring the scientific skills of the crew.

Meanwhile, back on the first planet, the Klingons come visiting and wreck havoc and mayhem, chasing the missing people (children and Spock) while trying to find the device they know the people have hidden from them. Kirk and crew to a belated rescue (the children had already won the day) and peace and goodwill reign supreme - for the most part.

There were a couple of major quibbles I had with the storyline itself. First there was the population of the first planet. Although the author refers to them as colonists, they are not, they are scientists with a mission, that, as soon as it is completed, will move on. The definition of a colonist is someone who moves in with intent to stay.

Second, there was the background of the Klingon story, where the Emperor was sending out hit men. Yes, it's plausible, but the way it is accomplished makes the Emperor weak, and the Klingon mindset would not tolerate that.

Finally though there is the entire concept of Carol and David Marcus. Those familiar with the movies know the pair. However, this book was written nearly a decade after the movie release (1992 and 1984 respectively) and the author (or at least the publisher) should have taken better care with the backstory. There is a large part of Faces of Fire which deals with and reveals David's paternity, to pretty much everyone, but it was a long held secret in the movie franchise. The book does however make the father a little more savvy than the movie did!

There were also editorial glitches, missing words in sentences, misspellings and a few behavioral tics that felt out of place.

Overall though this is a very good read, and for those not fans of the original series and the movies, most of the concepts that I object to would not be obvious.

[Patrick Hayes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Halfway through the original five-year mission of the Enterprise, Kirk is ordered to pick up an ambassador to stop an impending crisis on Alpha Malurian Six. Because the Federation doesn't think this crisis is imminent, the ship will first stop to perform routine medical scans of the scientists at a terraforming colony on Beta Canzandia Three, where Carol Marcus and her ten-year-old son David are stationed. Kirk isn't told of David's father, but someone learns of it and promises to keep it secret from the captain. As this is occurring, a familiar race plots against the Federation, dragging in a younger version of a film antagonist. It was impossible not to hear one of the villain's dialogue spoken with the actor's instantly recognizable tones.

The characters' dialogue and actions are absolute true to their television and film counterparts. I enjoyed the intrigue on Beta Canzandia Three, as well as the religious conflict on Alpha Maluiran Six--which surprised me because I didn't think any tension could be raised on this world, yet Friedman did so well.

I did not like the reveal in Chapter Twenty-two because it lessened the impact of a reveal in one of the films. It's extremely well written and I definitely felt the emotion between the two people involved, but it weakens one of the most powerful moments in Trek cinema. This is the only slight I can give to this book, but it did gnaw at me after I had finished it.

This is definitely a book worth reading to see the early lives of three important Star Trek characters.

[Reesha · Rating 3 out of 5]

Generally, I enjoyed the story and its various facets. There were, however, an unreasonably high number of characters and a couple of side plots that were weirdly similar enough to make some points confusing (the exact same side plot happening on 2 different ships for some reason), that I had to take notes to keep everyone straight.

For me, the worst thing was that the text badly needs edited. If I ever have to read about another character biting their freaking lip, it'll be too soon. Everyone in this book bites their lip to indicate just about any emotion. It doesn't matter if you're human, Klingon, or an original species, it doesn't matter if you've been on screen for 79 episodes and multiple movies and never once been seen biting your lip - you will bite your lip in this book. It was so frustrating to be rolling my eyes every other page over such lazy and obvious repetition. Sure, an author might turn in a manuscript like this, but where the heck was the editor?

All that said, I found the narrative smooth and the multiple plots believable and easy to follow (with the afore-mentioned notes on which character is which), though with the usual suspiciously convenient contrivances that are endemic of ST:TOS. I liked the background on characters we only got to know on-screen much later on in their lives and appreciated that our main 3 were mostly in character. I did find David's sudden misplaced fury difficult to believe, and even more difficult to buy as the reason for his anger over a decade later in the films.

A solid 3 stars from me.

[Call me Jeeves · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kirk and the crew of the Enterprise are En Rout to Alpa malurian Six to settle disputes that are turning into an all out war very quickly. Kirk finds Carol and David Markus are caught in the middle of these disputes. But even from the very beginning David Markus has a very angry attitude towards Kirk that is heartbreaking to know that he doesn’t know that Kirk is his father. But in this world as much as Kirk does he can do no right in the eyes of this child.
Meanwhile the Klingons are attempting to takeover terraforming the colony and Spock must defeat and thwart them at every turn. Spock with all his logic is able to turn things around.

Wow these books are packed with drama and action all while only being a few hours long.
The great thing about the Star Trek universe is that it takes for granted that you know the history of the universe so everything is drama and action. You don’t need to worry about world building. You just get all the action. And you just get the action you get special effects and music just like the old television shows. It does sound a little bit cheesy but it is still fun book to hear.

[Andy Stjohn · Rating 2 out of 5]

TOS #58: Faces of Fire by Micheal Jan Friedman


Bit of a random read as I suffered from not being able to sleep this week. So I decided to pick this up off my bookshelf and give it a read. Honestly… this book is just kinda there. I finished it over three nights and it was better fare than the usual Micheal Jan Friedman fare when it comes to TOS. I read Double, Double by him earlier this year and it was terrible.

But this one is a bit interesting as it features David Marcus and Kruge and establishes some of their backstory more. It explained why David hates Starfleet so much and his distrust of it. It also provides a bit of an origin story for the Genesis Device. But the book beyond that was fairly forgettable. I don’t know if it was my lack of sleep, but I’ve honestly already forgotten this book. It was just that.
6/10

[Craig · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't expect much from this but it turned out better than I thought. The ambassador was appropriately irritating but more to the characters than the reader which is the way it should be - I want to be entertained while I read, not irritated. Seeing a younger David Marcus struggling in his youth could have gone so poorly but I liked him in this book. I didn't care for Kruge to be there and he really didn't have to be and that's where some of the faults lie in this book. Written after the events of Star Trek II and III there was too much emphasis on how things would be in the future than it needed to be and should have just focused on THIS story. However, for being a story that could have been lazily written, this one surprised me and I appreciated how the events unfolded for the backstory of Kirk and Carol Marcus.

[The Honest Book Reviewer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Continuing on my Star Trek adventure, I really enjoyed this book. It had three main engaging plots filled with action, adventure, and drama. There is a bit of comedy thrown in here and there to lighten the load. All in all, this is a top read. I'm glad Spock has a bigger role this time.

The Klingon-Starfleet rivalry plays a bit role in this story, and makes for some nail-biting scenes. Probably the only thing that spoiled this for me was the fact that the one "can't be named here" child is too clever and too brave. I get the while have to make it this way aspect of it all, but it annoyed me.

As an average Star Trek fan, I've been surprised by how much I've enjoyed reading the novels. I only hope I can get my hands on many more.

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Was this good? No.
But 4 stars for just giving the slashers something to write about.

Carol Marcus, mother of Captain Kirk's only child (that we know of), is featured here working on an early version of Project Genesis from Wrath of Khan. Kirk is reasonably distraught about the road not taken, but for some reason every single time he thinks of her safety he also lumps Spock in. The woman he considers giving up Starfleet and captain adventures for (his reason for being) is casually put alongside his 1st officer.

And we all know who he rides off into space with at the end without a second look back at his son who is only starting to hate his guts (more of than on WoK). The fics write themselves really.

[Stasia Bruhn · Rating 4 out of 5]

A story within a story..So the first story starts like many others I have read The Enterprise is taking a ambassador to a planet to stop a dispute(In this story it's between two different religions) But on their way there Kirk gets new orders they have to stop at Beta Canzandia -A research facility where Dr. Mccoy will be giving them routine checkups and Mr.Spock will be getting data to write a report on their progress. It just so happens that a old Girlfriend of Kirk's is on the planet and Surprise she has a son!!Is it Kirk's? and if so Does Kirk know? Now it's getting juicy throw in some Klingons and some plucky children and now we have a good book!!

[V · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm not sure if I liked this book so much because the last Star Trek novel I read was so awful or if this is genuinely really good but this was a fun romp. Sure some of the conflict in the story was a little simplistic and to me the child characters read as a little wooden at times, but interactions between the members of the crew felt satisfying. There were three threads of plot at any given time so the pacing progressed at a pretty steady clip.

I don't really have much to say except this was the perfect sort of book to read at work to pass my free time. Felt true to the series.

[Lois Merritt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not sure if it wrapped up quickly because it was abridged or not, but still, this was an interesting look at teenage David Marcus, the beginnings of the what was obviously the Genesis project - but also McCoy, Spock and yep, Kirk, find out that is his son. The side story with the klingons was good too, particularly since they bring Kruge in, but the main thing about this one was David - and seeing how he takes after dad.

[Kieran McAndrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

A diplomatic mission to Alpha Maluria VI allows McCoy and Spock to conduct routine examinations on the scientific project on Beta Canzandia III - a project led by Dr Boudreau, whose ultimate goal is to terraform lifeless planets with his scientific partner, Dr Carol Marcus. A woman who seems quite eager to keep her son away from Captain James T. Kirk.

Friedman's novel flows well and the characters behave true to form, making this a fine example of 'Star Trek' on the page.

[Kaotic · Rating 5 out of 5]

It felt a lot like watching one of the old episodes, filled with action and intrigue.

It was fun to go back to a time when Klingons were our enemies and see the inner workings of their government.

As well to see some Spock heavy moments and the unique sollutions to problems on both worlds.

A fun read.

[Wayne Solberg · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very good story with a very good background to the movie that was basically based on this story line. The character's were carried on and it gave a very good background to what happened in the movie and why it happened. I would recommend this book to anyone that has an interest in the Star Trek movies and the stories that are out there now.

[Yosef Shapiro · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book tries to fill in some of the back story that leads up to TOS Wrath of Kahn. It does give us a reason for David to hate the Federation. But, it also does not fit too smoothly into continuity.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stardate 3998.6 A routine stop on Beta Canzandia Three to report on the work of the scientists which include Carol Marcus and her son David. Spock decides to stay to help. After the Enterprise has left the Klingons arrive. Meanwhile the Enterprise travels to Alpha Malurian Six to stop a religious dispute accelerating into warfare.
An entertaining re-read

[Ian Banks · Rating 3 out of 5]

A lot of fun, with a plot-relevant amount of Trek Bingo. It’s a pretty routine adventure but Friedman manages to invest quite a bit of tension into it despite the pieces all falling into place quite easily at the end.

[Chris Friend · Rating 2 out of 5]

Too contrived and insignificant.

[Rob · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great book with the adventures of Spock and Captain Kirk's young boy David Marcus. This was a Good Read.

[Katrina Veerkamp · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this one very much. Explains Carol Marcus and son David. Two separate serious problems taking place at once. Spock with children very interesting.