Serpents in the Garden

Star Trek: The Original Series

by Jeffrey J. Mariotte, Jeff Mariotte

Early in his five-year mission commanding the USS Enterprise, Captain James T. Kirk found himself caught up in a growing conflict on the planet Neural. To maintain the balance of power against a force being armed by the Klingons, he provided weapons to his friends, the Hill People. Years later, Admiral Kirk learns that the Klingon presence on the planet has grown considerably, in possible violation of the Treaty of Organia. Did his impulse as a young captain turn out disastrously wrong? Should he–could he–have done more to eliminate the Klingon threat? To find out, he embarks on a secret mission back to Neural–where he might just be the only person who can prevent an interstellar war.

Genres: Star Trek, Science Fiction, Media Tie In, Star Trek Original Series, Ebooks, Science Fiction Fantasy

349 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published May 1, 2014

About the author

Also writes as Jeff Mariotte

Jeffrey J. Mariotte is the bestselling, award-winning author of more than 70 novels, including the Cody Cavanaugh western series, historical western epic Blood and Gold: The Legend of Joaquin Murrieta (with Peter Murrieta), thrillers Empty Rooms and The Devil's Bait, supernatural thrillers Season of the Wolf, Missing White Girl, River Runs Red, and Cold Black Hearts, horror epic The Slab, and the Dark Vengeance teen horror quartet. With wife and writing partner Marsheila (Marcy) Rockwell, he wrote the sf/horror/thriller 7 SYKOS and Mafia III: Plain of Jars, the authorized prequel to the bestselling video game. His most recent release is the short story collection Byrd's Luck & Other Stories, comprising five "traditional" Western tales and five horror-Western stories, two of them brand-new for this edition.

He also writes occasional nonfiction, short fiction (some of which is collected in Nine Frights), and comic books, including the long-running horror/Western comic book series Desperadoes and graphic novels Fade to Black and Zombie Cop. With Marsheila Rockwell, he has published several short stories and is working on more. He has worked in virtually every aspect of the book business, as a writer, editor, marketing executive, and bookseller.

Learn more at www.jeffmariotte.com, and follow him at https://www.facebook.com/JeffreyJMari... and @JeffMariotte on Twitter.

Also writes as Jeff Mariotte

Reviews

[Alejandro · Rating 3 out of 5]

It could be better.


This is a novel of "Star Trek: The Original Series" which is a sequel to the classic TV episode "A Private Little War".


NEURAL, TIME AND TIME AGAIN

You don't need to know about the episode since on the novel you will get here and there a reconstruction of what happened then. However, I can't deny that it wouldn't hurt if you were acquainted with the TV episode to avoid having to get the details in separate parts.

The story is set at 2273, some months before of the events of Star Trek: The Motion Picture.

James T. Kirk visited twice the planet Neural. The first time quite early on his Starfleet career but already a lieutenant and he recommended that the planet has to be protected by the Prime Directive due the primitive development of the indigenous species. The second time, already as captain of the USS Enterprise, doing a following to the progress of the civilizations there, however in this ocassion he found out that the Klingons were "contaminating" those civilization giving flintlocks to one of the two main villages, affecting the natural technological development there.

James Kirk took a polemic decision to deal with the situation: Giving flintlocks to the other village to balance the chances of survival of them.

Nothing like cowboy diplomacy!


SINS OF THE PAST

Now, as an admiral, Kirk is in charge of Starfleet Operations, and he is getting info that there is Klingon activity again around the sector where Neural is.

Along with wanting to know why the Klingons returned to such primitive planet, he is worried if his decision was the right one. So, he got permission to do a secret travel to Neural and checking if the Klingons are indeed contaminating again the civilization of that planet.

The premise of the novel sounded good, taking in account such polemic decision that Kirk did on the classic TV episode. And while the book is good enough, it wasn't all that I expected.


KIRK WITH NO CREW AND NO STARSHIP

One of the main troubles was the writer's decision to set this tale just prior to the events of Star Trek: The Motion Picture, since that implies that the USS Enterprise is on drydock getting its refitting, Spock is at Vulcan doing the Kolinahr and McCoy is working on the private sector.

So, why the heck doing a novel where James Kirk isn't able to use his starship and counting the help of his closest friends?

If you are a huge fan of James T. Kirk maybe you will enjoy better the book than me, and don't get me wrong, I like Kirk but without the complete formula, it wasn't the same.

Moreover that he will be working with invented characters for this book without any of his known colleagues.

I have to admit that at some moment, you will get some of the classic crew on the story but honestly for the intro made to explain how they got there, their participation in the main story is too short.

[Christopher Backa · Rating 1 out of 5]

The book had promise at the start, then midway through just fell apart. It was boring and I just flipped through to finish it. I didn't care at all about the story around chapter 26. This book didn't not feel like it was set between the end of the series and the motion picture. Kirk was written more like the Kirk we would see in the wrath of khan. Pass on this one, there are better Star Trek novels out there.

[C.T. Phipps · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've always wanted to see a follow-up to "A Private Little War" so I picked this one up and devoured it over the course of a day or two. It works very much as a literary episode, often more so than other books because it doesn't attempt to use the medium to get into much bigger and complicated conflicts than could be handled by the show. I mean, it has a bigger effects budget but a lot of this could have been filmed as a one or two parter.

For those who remember, it was an episode where the Klingons were arming one side and Kirk had to make the agonizing choice of arming the other (potentially making the volatile situation worse) or leaving them to be overwhelmed. He chooses to give them weapons before leaving the planet and we never did find out how things shook down. It's one of the most controversial moments in Star Trek history because we have no clear answer as to whether it was the right decision or not.

Here, we find out the Klingons continued working on supporting the locals and the situation has deteriorated despite (or because of) Captain Kirk's help. It felt realistic, though not necessarily the most interesting plot choice, to have the war having forced both societies to become more advanced technologically while also bloodying up things. Eventually, it does end on a pretty decent note that's better than saying they wiped each other out but I kind of wish they'd gone a bit deeper.

I was also a bit confused about the nature of the Organian Treaty since I never got the impression they made much of an effort to enforce things past the initial rules. I don't think the Klingons and federation were running to tattle on each other after being forced by space gods to work together in the Neutral Zone. So the idea Kirk is gathering evidence to present to them seemed a little off since you'd think he would have done that in the original episode.

Still, overall, recommended.

[Kieran McAndrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

Years after supplying weapons to the Hill People of Neural in order to maintain a fragile balance of power, Admiral Kirk learns of a further escalation of tensions caused by the Klingon Empire and returns to investigate.

Mariotte's novel very much feels like a television episode and is faithful to the source story when exploring the consequences of Kirk's actions.

[Tom · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm sure Jeff Mariotte is a nice person, but i don't think he should be allowed to write Star Trek Books.

[Jesse A · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not bad. Good characterization of Kirk with almost no involvement from the rest of our crew.

[Donna Lombardo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Small break in Star Trek tech rules at the very end, but otherwise a somewhat bland book. I wish there had been more focus on the Neural natives created for the book.

[Doug Lenz · Rating 4 out of 5]

I haven't ready (m)any fan-fics, but was pleasantly surprised by this one. I wasn't expecting much going in, but it was a nice break from some more intense subject matter I have been reading. It really reminded me of a continuation of the episode this book follows. It wasn't super creative as far as story goes but I honestly did not care. It was an enjoyable read, obviously it is not going to reshape the world.

[James Caterino · Rating 4 out of 5]

The second season of classic "Star Trek" featured a trio of action-packed planet bound adventures loaded with social and political subtext: "The Omega Glory", "Friday's Child", and one of my all time favorites, "A Private Little War".

This novel is a sequel to "A Private Little War" and takes place just as the events depicted in "Star Trek: The Motion Picture" are about to happen. Extended universe novels to popular shows are notoriously difficult to get right, especially when they are direct sequels to individual episodes. I am happy to report that Jeff Mariotte nails it. Not only is his portrayal of Kirk, Tyree, and classic era Klingons spot on, this is an expertly paced action adventure that could be read by someone who did not know "Star Trek" from "Star Search" and they would still find it an entertaining read.

The only thing that could have made this book better is if the Nona (murdered in the TV episode) were able to come back. She was played by outrageously beautiful and sensual Nancy Kovack in the classic episode and is perhaps the most seductive and unforgettable in a long line of classic "Star Trek" beauties.

[David Hamilton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Of all the Star Trek: The Original Series books I've known.... this was the most.... human.

Actually, I really enjoyed this read even though the focus is on Kirk and not the entire Enterprise crew. Kirk returns to Neural, the planet where he previously supplied the Hill People with flintlock rifles so as to keep up with the Klingon-backed Villagers. This is a darker time, though, and author Jeff Mariotte picks on themes of slavery, loyalty, honour, and finally hope. Natch, there's an epic battle at the end, well-written I thought, if not predictable. Then again, that's what we like in our hero's journey stories.

For the TOS fan looking for Spock, McCoy and the others, you won't find it here. Instead, you'll see another side of Kirk that you may not have noticed before.

[Dan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Serpents in the Garden is ultimately about consequences. Kirk must face the consequences of his decision in “A Private Little War,” and the consequences of his decision to return to Neural. What the novel has to say about this topic is not particularly profound or unique, but it does a fairly good job in revisiting the situation in “A Private Little War” and providing a satisfying conclusion. Not necessarily on my list of “essential” Trek reads this year, but still a very entertaining novel that I would recommend you to read.

Full review: http://treklit.blogspot.com/2014/06/s...

[Robert D · Rating 1 out of 5]

This really is not a Star Trek novel, it's an Admiral Kirk goes off on his own adventure novel. This takes shortly before the events of "Star Trek The Motion Picture". While I would have welcomed a story about what happened to Neural after the episode "A Private Little War" sadly this was not a good effort.

Admiral Kirk decides to go off on a secret covert mission, when he discovers what appears to be a line of space traffic between the Klingons and Neural. While the book does explain why the Klingons were interested in Neural, overall the book was dull and uninspiring. I found myself forcing my way through it just to get it read.

[R Z · Rating 2 out of 5]

I liked it fine enough. Kirk's voice got a little—un-Kirk like sometimes, but I can't fault all that much. It wasn't amazing but I didn't hate it; it was, unfortunately, mediocre.

[Laura Chambers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Surprisingly compelling. I really expected McCoy to make an appearance, though, and when he didn't, it was disappointing. Of course, Kirk ALWAYS has time for a woman. And if anyone can stop a war single-handedly, he can. All the redshirts died, too, which left a sour taste in my mouth. Couldn't at least ONE make it? Why does Kirk have to be the ONLY invincible officer?

[Daniel Kukwa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am not a fan of the episode "A Private Little War", for which this novel acts as a sequel. I'm still not a fan of the setting and the situation (the Mugato is forever a blight in my memory), but I'll give Jeff Mariotte credit for making me care about all this far more than Gene Roddenberry ever did. I particularly liked the character of Kirk's aide Rowland, and it's certainly an easy read.

[Cheryl]

Can't rate as I'm not fan enough to know if the characters we know felt authentic. It was engaging, but unsatisfying, as story in itself. Kinda YA, as the issues raised are ones adults are all-too familiar with. :shrug:

[John Yelverton · Rating 4 out of 5]

An enjoyable "Star Trek" novel which takes place between the original series and the motion picture. It stretches believability in a couple of places, but on the whole, it's still a fun read.

[Jerry (Rebel With a Massive Media Library) · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not nearly as good as some of the other novels.

[Mark Oppenlander · Rating 2 out of 5]

Serpents in the Garden takes place after the Enterprise's original five-year mission and before the events of Star Trek: The Motion Picture. It is a follow up to the episode "A Private Little War" and the title is a reference to a line near the end of that story.

In this novel, Admiral Kirk learns of increased Klingon activity near Neural and makes the decision to take a covert team to the planet and investigate. (The way he talks his superiors into letting him leave Earth to attempt this dangerous mission is one of numerous creaky plot points in this story.) Once there, he finds that the Klingons have once again influenced the conflict between the various factions on the planet by setting up an ore smelter. The villagers have built a city called Victory and are conscripting the hill people to work in pits, mining leutrinium. Kirk's old friend Tyree has gathered a number of autonomous tribes together into a settlement called Freehold that wages occasional war with the villagers, working together to avoid being enslaved. Kirk and his team must try to uncover evidence of the Klingons' involvement - evidence that they can use to show that their mortal enemies have broken the Organian treaty.

There is nothing fundamentally wrong with this book, but there is also nothing particularly innovative or new. Mariotte follows well delineated plot pathways, with Kirk falling in love with a local woman, losing members of his security detail, getting captured, and eventually having to talk a group of natives into open rebellion. It reads a bit like a primer for how to write a TOS episode; it's fine, but awfully generic.

I might have cared more about this book if I had liked "A Private Little War" better, but it was never one of my favorite episodes. Released during the Vietnam War, the story seemed to like a lumbering allegory for the proxy wars between the US and the Soviet Union. And I found the mugato a ridiculous creature, its makeup and design poor even by the standards of a 1960's sci-fi show. And yes, before you ask, Mariotte brings the mugato back too.

There are many better Star Trek novels out there. So unless you love the source material, or are a completist, this one can probably be skipped.

[V · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wan't to preface this by saying that even though I'm giving 2 stars this isn't a bad book. It's well written and the pacing is good. It's just kind of a bummer for me personally just emotionally.

First off this is a book that seeks to tie up some loose ends left by the episode "A Private Little War". The characters in the episode make a reappearance, and Kirk learns that things have in fact become worse since he made the decision to supply Tyree and his people with flintlock rifles. Kirk is now an admiral and he has to essentially sneak away on a secret mission to be able to do a followup on the situation. Personally I found that very strange. I know if they didn't allow him he would have gone anyway because he's Kirk and hot dogging around the galaxy is what he does, but it seemed like such an unnecessary risk to take with his life and that of his little away team. In fact none of the party besides Kirk survives the mission.

This book is kind of brutal in its violence and depictions of Kirk getting taken into slavery. Narratively the being enslaved thing had to happen, I think, but I really REALLY do not like reading that kind of stuff so I probably wouldn't have picked this as my book to read at work had I known that was in there. Honestly the Red Shirt effect was so strong I felt discouraged from liking any of the new characters or returning ones from the TOS episode because I was afraid they were going to die. Scotty, Uhura, and Chekov make a small appearance, but mostly this is just a story about Kirk. I just like stories with the whole or most of the bridge crew in them better I guess.

I don't know. I feel like I've just used a bunch of words to say essentially: this book isn't bad but it's not to my tastes personally.

[Nabil Hussain · Rating 5 out of 5]

A well composed novel which was very entertaining! !

This book was superbly written and engrossing. There was a fair deal of intrigue, drama and action. It was riveting to read. Jeff Mariotte wrote a beautiful story. It was original and scintillating. The only negative point was that the ending was quite predictable. Anyone could have seen how the story would have ended. But it was an enjoyable tour de force and was interesting to read nevertheless.

[Kevin Hughlett · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun read. It was a good tie-in to a really good TOS episode, and reflected well the internal struggles with a desk-bound Kirk. I thought the side story of Scott, Uhura, and Chekhov was a little forced and unlikely, but excusable. The time no of this novel (before) and “Ex Machina” (after) provide a fun sequence for “The Motion Picture”. I would recommend this book.

[Jade · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gosh, it's been a long time since I just sat and enjoyed a Star Trek book. And this was such a great throwback to the original series! Typical Kirk being Kirk, with a dash of Scotty, Uhura, and Chekhov! I loved this!

[Allison · Rating 5 out of 5]

The cover hides how good this one was. The cover made me giggle with glee, but the story really delivered in this one. (Although the team that Kirk took with him in this story were all red shirts, which might be its one flaw). Recommend this one.

[Bob Mcbride · Rating 4 out of 5]

The novel was good but sometimes a bit slow in parts but it took the reader back in time to Captain Kirk's past revisiting a planet he had visited during the original tv series. The story is not for everyone but for some it is a good read

[Deborah Canaday · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reads just like an episode of the original show!!!!!

[Barry Barreras · Rating 4 out of 5]

I also wanted to see what happened when Kirk asked scooty for the serpents now I know and Like I always say there is no such thing as bad star trek, live long and prosper

[Nicolas · Rating 3 out of 5]

The writing was good, and the characterization of Kirk was just right. The original episode this was based on was not a favorite of mine, so revisiting those characters and setting wasn't high on my list. The story was solid, just not interesting to me.

[Paul Lunger · Rating 3 out of 5]

The follow-up to "A Private Little War", Jeff Mariotte's "Serpents in the Garden" takes now Admiral Kirk back to the planet Neural to investigate a potential violation of the Organian treaty by the Klingons. There along with 4 aides he meets up with Tyree yet again & the people of the town of Freehold who are fighting people in the town of Victory which is under Klingon oversight. Mariotte's story is actually very well written & for the most part well done as the inhabitants of Neural are the primary focus of things with the majority of the Enterprise crew left out. The brief use of those 3 characters doesn't seem to diminish from a book that is all about Kirk & proving that the Klingons are up to no good. Where the book goes awry is the ending that goes way to fast & contains more action than the entirety of the book put together. The ending is then rushed with a quick toast to our heroes & then it just ends. Overall "Serpents in the Garden" is a solid Kirk only story something lacking in the Original Series novels as of late that is only spoiled by an ending that should've been longer.

[Jimyanni · Rating 3 out of 5]

A sequel to the original series episode "A Private Little War", this book sees Kirk return to Neural to follow up on what has developed there since the events in the episode, during the time he spent as an Admiral between the end of the five-year mission and the first movie. The plot was preposterously implausible, the characterizations a touch off, and the ending ludicrous. On the plus side, the rest of the writing itself was quite good, and that manages to get the book up into the "ok read" rating. Part of me feels like I really should only rate it 2 stars, but it was just enjoyable enough of a read that I can't manage to be quite that harsh with it.