Dragon's Honor

Star Trek: The Next Generation #38

by Kij Johnson, Greg Cox

Captain Picard and the crew of the USS Enterprise must ensure the success of a high-stakes royal wedding that has the power to end a civil war, but not everything goes as planned...Isolated for centuries, the exotic Dragon Empires finally ready to join the United Federation of Planets. But first the emperor's eldest son must marry the only daughter of his oldest enemy, bringing to an end decades of civil war. Without the wedding, there can be no peace—and no treaty with the Federation. As honored guests of the Dragon Empire, Captain Picard and the crew of the Starship Enterprise must ensure that the royal wedding occurs on schedule, despite the Empire's complicated and difficult codes of honor. And Dr. Beverly Crusher finds her loyalties torn when she wins the confidence of the unusually reluctant bride-to-be. More than just a treaty is at stake, for a vicious race of alien conquerors will stop at nothing, from assassination to invasion, to keep the Empire out of the Federation. Picard must now use all his skills to save the Empire...and preserve the Dragon's Honor.

Genres: Star Trek, Science Fiction, Star Trek The Next Generation, Fiction, Media Tie In, Ebooks, Fantasy

288 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1996

About the author

Kij Johnson is an American writer of fantasy. She has worked extensively in publishing: managing editor for Tor Books and Wizards of the Coast/TSR, collections editor for Dark Horse Comics, project manager working on the Microsoft Reader, and managing editor of Real Networks. She is Associate Director for the Center for the Study of Science Fiction at the University of Kansas, and serves as a final judge for the Theodore Sturgeon Memorial Award.

Johnson is the author of three novels and more than 38 short works of fiction. She is best known for her adaptations of Heian-era Japanese myths. She won the Theodore Sturgeon Memorial Award for the best short story of 1994 for her novelette in Asimov's, "Fox Magic." In 2001, she won the International Association for the Fantastic in the Art's Crawford Award for best new fantasy novelist of the year. In 2009, she won the World Fantasy Award for "26 Monkeys, Also The Abyss," which was also a finalist for the Hugo and Nebula awards. She won the 2010 Nebula Award for "Spar" and the 2011 Nebula Award for "Ponies," which is also a finalist for the Hugo and World Fantasy awards. Her short story "The Evolution of Trickster Stories Among the Dogs of North Park After the Change" was a finalist for the 2007 Hugo, Nebula, Sturgeon, and World Fantasy awards. Johnson was also a finalist for the 2004 World Fantasy Award for her novel Fudoki, which was declared one of the best SF/F novels of 2003 by Publishers Weekly.

Reviews

[Victor · Rating 1 out of 5]

I really wish I could find out more about the writing process for this book. I haven't read anything by Greg Cox but I have read a few things by Kij Johnson. I don't think Kij Johnson would have been okay with a lot of this book. So I dug around to see if either of them talked about it and I couldn't find anything. Only a little blurb from Johnson in 2000 saying how writing the novel helped her realize she could write novel-length fiction. It made me think that Greg Cox did a big rewrite or something.

Okay let me try to explain a little bit about the text. The TNG crew, sometime during the 7th season has to go to a planet that for reasons unknown is populated (apparently) by a race of people seemingly made up of Asian stereotypes. A society where honor is a big deal, things have long mystical titles, the food is weird, women are subjugated, etc. It's... very tacky. I know Kij Johnson has written books set in Japan. I haven't read them but I have to hope and assume they are written with a little more respect.

So this world is being threatened by aliens, because it's Star Trek. The TNG crew is trying to get the ruler of Pai (the Asian themed world) to join the Federation. The ruler (the Dragon, of course) won't do it until his daughter is married off. The aliens threaten the world and Picard and company can't intervene until the treaty is singed because of that holy idea, the Prime Directive.

There were a lot of Prime Directive stories in televised Trek and a lot of them serve to point out how flawed (but still treasured) the Prime Directive is. Dragon's Honor doesn't do that. It's a plot device to allow the shenanigans to occur. That's fine, in and of itself, as long as the shenanigans are fun or interesting or whatever. They aren't.

Picard spends most of his time by the Dragon's side trying to ingratiate himself and ensure that the treaty gets signed. He eats horrible food, plays a boring game, and (most out of character and also just awful) puts up with the Dragon's treatment of women, including Deanna Troi. This last bit is just inexcusable. Picard sets his crew to be around the various characters involved in the wedding, to protect them or whatever. Troi takes it upon herself to keep the Dragon occupied by apparently going back with him to his room and having sex. This is after the Dragon spends all of his scenes ogling Troi and complimenting Picard on his women and whatnot. It's completely baffling and terrible.

Riker spends the entire duration of the book teaching the Pai to play poker. For some reason this is what most of the book's pages are dedicated to. It's a gag that was never funny and never ends. The Pai don't understand bluffing or folding because it is dishonorable. Riker wins a lot of money despite not wanting to. Meanwhile there's a character who only exists to spew unintelligible imitation aphorisms like "a frosted mirror reveals only grapefruits" or some such nonsense.

Earlier, the guy Riker is chaperoning says "my first wife died a few years ago. It was quite irresponsible of her, but one can seldom depend on women." Riker is taken aback and we get an insight into his thinking. He's not sure what to say... Really?? Tell him to fuck off! The Prime Directive doesn't prohibit you from telling people not to treat other people like shit! Cultural relativism doesn't begin to excuse it.

At the risk of writing far too much about this book I'm going to just wrap things up. After spending so long with Riker's dumb poker game, the book begins to end and everything gets tied up amazingly quickly. All the characters who were preventing the wedding from taking place and the treaty from being signed basically just sit back and say "well the book's gotta end so we don't care anymore." The wedding happens. The treaty happens. The end.

I was hoping for there to be some reveal about why this planet existed or why its people were a hodgepodge of Asian stereotypes. No such luck. It's a bad book. Don't read it.

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a lot of fun to read, though perhaps I should have watched the final season of TNG before reading this. The ending was a little more convenient than I was hoping it to be, but overall it was extremely enjoyable to be with these characters in print form.

[Daniel Kukwa · Rating 2 out of 5]

In spite of its easy-to-ready, fluid prose, and its solid hold on the TNG characters, this is a novel that takes immitation-as-flattery to an unfortunate level. TNG has a rather sad history of ethnic planets: planet of the black people (distasteful shudder), planet of the women (pulp SF cliche shudder), planet of the Irish people (let's not go there), and planet of the Scottish people (ok, we did go there). This novel decides to add a planet of the medieval Chinese into the mix, and as much as I try to like it...it just makes me sigh very, very deeply and shake my head.

[Craig · Rating 1 out of 5]

So this whole book you are waiting for something to actually happen... and then nothing ever does. The plot and assassin are predictable and the story and events are harder to choke down than the food that the Dragon gives Picard. I don't want to call this the "Code of Honor" of the Star Trek novels but it does come pretty close.

[Angela · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an amusing book, with some funny moments. The crew have to attend a wedding on a Chinese style planet, but things do not go smoothly. Picard is sometimes not in character, but the rest of the crew are handled very well. A fun, quick read.

[Tammy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cheesy, but interesting, in particular because of the Chinese/Asian references.

[Patrick Hayes · Rating 1 out of 5]

The Enterprise is sent into the Dragon Empire, remote for centuries, to witness a wedding that will stop two warring factions, unite the empire, and result in a treaty signed with the Federation. Stopping the wedding is a traitor in the Dragon's midst as well as a hostile alien race, the G'kkau, literally giant lizards (not as humanoid as Gorn) who want to destroy the empire and eat its inhabitants.

I had strong concerns about the G'kkau, who initially appeared to be just another reptile race, but I was really impressed with what was done with them, especially the interiors of their ships and how they communicate. They were extremely interesting. I wish they had a bigger part in this tale.

The action on Pai, the throneworld of the empire, has everything one would expect of a people based on ancient Chinese aristocracy: the ceremonies, the elaborate names, honor, odd food, and an ancient leader who is full of himself. There is an overabundance of humorous moments that fall flat. The arrogance and stream of maxims was overwhelming. If only this wasn't the first 196 pages of the book. I grew tired of successfully predicting how each citizen of the empire would behave towards the crew. It became old quickly.

That said, Riker has an incredible fight scene, but that's the only interesting moment with the crew. Picard is blocked on his missions by an ever sickening supply of food that tops the monkey brains from Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, Data commands the Enterprise, Geordi is preparing a gift, Beverly gives a young woman "the talk", Troi avoids being conquered, and Worf constantly tries to one up a security guard.

I just wanted this adventure to end. I was very disappointed. I think Star Trek books with "Dragon" are cursed.

[Gale · Rating 4 out of 5]

DRAGON’S HONOR: Star Trek—The Next Generation

“The Wedding Must Go On!”

This is one blockbuster of a Sci-Fi thriller; new and exotic alien races conspire to generate murderous mayhem for the Pai empire—seemingly modeled on ancient China. Disgusting reptilians fiendishly plot with one traitor to take over their world AND destroy the Federations’ delicate negotiations for a valuable treaty. Yet Picard and his crew are hampered by the strict tenets of the Prime Directive. How can the valiant officers save the Pai from utter annihilation, while outwardly protecting their sacred, oriental Honor?

While trying to prevent assassination, Picard’s is forced to eat gross excuses for cuisine and learn a complex Pai board game; Troi must instruct the teenage bride in wedding night rituals as acting mother of the bride; Geordie frets over providing a worthy display of celebratory fireworks; Data could be sacrificed as a wedding gift to the greedy Emperor; poor Will Riker regrets teaching poker to the drunk but eager Pai nobles; Beverly is pursued by the lecherous Emperor, who craves her as a wedding gift. It proves a delectable dance at cross purposes to ferret out the traitor and pull off a wedding—The Treaty depends on it!

Star Trek TNG fans will be delighted in the interstellar exploits of the innovative Enterprise crew. What a kick to hear their actual voices in my head… Readers, settle in for one page-turner of a literary ride—ENGAGE!
March 21, 2018

[Cameron Turnbull · Rating 5 out of 5]

I went in to this novel thinking it was not going to be great. However, I came out really surprised at this. Kij Johnson and Greg Cox did a really good job at bringing this novel to life.

The planet felt real and the Dragon Empire seemed very grandiose. The design of the Palace really struck me as vivid and very imaginative whilst sticking to Chinese architecture. It was incredibly colourful, vivid and just so lovely to read. I could get lost in the descriptions of doors alone from Johnson and Cox.

The plot was also interesting. The clash of honour and collaboration was interesting, though the possible political and philosophical debates are left to the wayside. Which was a nice breath of fresh air, given the current climate around politics.

From reading this novel, it is very much a comedy. Different members of the Enterprise are placed in different scenarios, where hijinks usually ensues. It was all quite funny.

Plus it is quite unique, from both a reading perspective and a storyline one. Basing a future civilisation off of Ming Dynasty China is a lot more interesting than just another Medieval Era civilisation.

With so much going on in the novel, I believe enough was done to tie up the storylines and give enough characterisation to each character.

There is a lot I love about this novel. Don’t expect much in-depth talks about alliance or honour. This is just a really fun ‘sit back, relax and have a really fun time’ kind of book. Kind of like the TNG TV series in that way.

[Justin · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's a fun little book to read with stock characters. Contrary to the blurb, the Dragon and his entourage and also his enemies are almost akin to Shakespearean comedy of errors that ends well with the right people on the throne and married. Change the setting from Venice to a distant planet in the galaxy, with the cast still being 17th century China with the flashy robes and hats, and the invaders are not the Moors but a reptilian race with its own 2D leaders. Oh, the Dragon is a debauched, lecherous old man played for laughs.

Meanwhile, Riker is teaching them how to play poker. Also funny.

There are elements of Romeo and Juliet, the TNG episodes The Outrageous Okona, and allusions to the episode where Data has been kidnapped to be part of someone's collection. Read it for laughs, not galactic intrigue.

[Jean Wetmore · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story took me a long time to get into. The sociology was interesting, but little else kept me going for about the first 180 pages. It was only when the bride revealed that she was in love with someone else and the wedding gifts came up missing that I gained some real interest in the plot. Later when the bride come up missing as well that I was really hooked. As for the conclusion, a bit messy, but since everything worked out in the end it wasn't too bad. I won't say what happened for those who haven't read it.

[Christina Farr-Thompson · Rating 4 out of 5]

VERY predictable, but well written

[Cornholio1980 · Rating 1 out of 5]

The horror, the horror...

[Eric Hersh · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was a good book. It had some interesting twists though some were forseeable

[Zauberlehrling! · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hat sich teilweise wie eine Slapstick Komödie gelesen.

[Cheryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quite a lot of fun. Do take the cultural references as intended, tongue-in-cheek - the people of Pai have no idea what their ancestors and role models were really about.

[Brittany T · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lots of poker.

[Camille · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun, silly novel.

[Hanne G · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty good addition to the cannon, with the Enterprise crew dragged in to finalise a treaty with a lost human-ish planet based on old Chinese culture, nasty reptile aliens set to destroy and conquer. Cue individual trials as Picard tries to finalise treaty through an endless series of disgusting foods he must eat in the name of diplomacy, Riker must make friends with cranky princes, Worf must negotiate honour with the local security chief on whose toes he is ordered to step, and Beverly must give the blushing bride the birds and bees talk while protecting her from assassins. Meanwhile someone is trying to kill the emperor and hand the planet over to the lizards.

As common, the story focuses on the male crew members (Troi kind of disappears for a while, when not being wall paper), and the planet’s culture is an excuse to have near-naked young female slaves all over Riker. No warrior women here. Women are to be seen not heard, when they are to be seen at all. Funny how it almost always goes that way, but it could also have been written differently.

Better than a lot ST in terms of the prose and action (here’s looking at you Vornholdt), not the best. The plot does go a bit silly just like some of the TV episodes did, but fun nonetheless.

[Aaron Murphy · Rating 3 out of 5]

took a while for the story to come to live. almost put it down.

[Theresa]

One of my favorite books.

Enjoyable story, personable and likeable characters, and enough mystery and twists and turns. Very entertaining and reread able book. TT

[Doreen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hilarious piece of work due to the culture of the alien planet... somehow reminds me of those westernized Chinese stories that tries very hard to describe the culture... almost each of the senior officers are tested of their capabilities to adapt to this culture and that is to me the hilarious parts.

[Tobias · Rating 4 out of 5]

Der Roman "Die Ehre des Drachen" ist ein typisches Star Trek Abenteuer der TNG - Crew rund um Jean-Luc Piccard. Das Raumschiff Enterprise fliegt zum Planeten der Pai um an der Hochzeit zwischen dem Sohn des Drachenkaisers und der Tochter des Rebellenführers teilzunehmen. Durch die Hochzeit soll der Bürgerkrieg beendet werden und der Beitritt zur Föderation besiegelt werden. Mordanschläge, der Diebstahl der Hochzeitgeschenke und das Verschwinden der Braut werfen die Planung leider über den Haufen. Zu allem Überfluss tauchen auch noch die G'kkau auf. Eine kriegerische Echsenrasse, die nix gutes im Schilde führt.

Die Geschichte fängt etwas schwach an, wird im Laufe der Handlung aber immer spannender und fesselnder. Auch eine Priese Humor fehlt nicht. Die Charaktere sind so wie im Film und in anderen Star Trek Romanen.

[Scarlett Sims · Rating 2 out of 5]

This one wasn't nearly as good as the other one I just read. The plot was a lot more cartoony, drawing on basically every Asian stereotype. The dialogue and actions didn't seem quite as true to the characters and it basically read more like a fanfic than an episode of the show. It wasn't so bad I couldn't finish it; it was just a bit goofy.

[Daniel · Rating 3 out of 5]

While I enjoyed this book to an extent it seems really problematic. Like the characters from the "Dragon Empire" were honestly mocking caricatures of most Asian cultures. I would say it wasn't as bad as the episode "Code of Honor".

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

in and out and done, with a laugh or two (admittedly, usually at riker's expense).

[Jenny · Rating 5 out of 5]

I laughed out loud -- no small feat for scifi. Good read.

[Melvin Lance]

Good easy book to read.