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Star Trek: The Original Series #97
In The Name Of Honor: Star Trek The Original Series
The crew of the USS Enterprise arrive on a remote Klingon planet and soon discover that the crew of the USS Gagarin, which was viciously attacked by Klingons ten years ago, have been held prisoner there ever since. With the assistance of the brave and honourable Koloth -- the Klingon captain from the viewer-favourite original series episode, "The Trouble with Tribbles" -- Captain Kirk sets out to rescue them, knowing that, should he fail, the Federation will deny all knowledge of his mission. What's more, powerful factions in the Klingon goverment are determined not to give up the prisoners, even if it means obliterating every last one of them -- and anyone who attempts to save them! Undeterred by the odds that are stacked against him, Kirk proceeds with his audacious plan. In the course of the rescue he discovers the secrets behind many Klingon mysteries -- mysteries that Star Trek fans have been waiting to find out. Why, for instance, did the Klingons originally encountered by Captain Kirk appear physically different to those encountered by later Starfleet crews? For the first time IN THE NAME OF HONOR answers the question that has puzzled the Star Trek universe for years.
356 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2002
10 people are currently reading
287 people want to read
About the author
Dayton Ward
111 books316 followersDayton is a software developer, having become a slave to Corporate America after spending eleven years in the U.S. Marine Corps. When asked, he’ll tell you that he left home and joined the military soon after high school because he’d grown tired of people telling him what to do all the time.
Ask him sometime how well that worked out.
In addition to the numerous credits he shares with friend and co-writer Kevin Dilmore, he is the author of the Star Trek novels In the Name of Honor and Open Secrets, the science fiction novels The Last World War and The Genesis Protocol, and short stories which have appeared in the first three Star Trek: Strange New Worlds anthologies, the Yard Dog Press anthology Houston, We’ve Got Bubbas, Kansas City Voices Magazine and the Star Trek: New Frontier anthology No Limits. Though he currently lives in Kansas City with wife Michi and daughters Addison and Erin, Dayton is a Florida native and still maintains a torrid long-distance romance with his beloved Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Ask him sometime how well that worked out.
In addition to the numerous credits he shares with friend and co-writer Kevin Dilmore, he is the author of the Star Trek novels In the Name of Honor and Open Secrets, the science fiction novels The Last World War and The Genesis Protocol, and short stories which have appeared in the first three Star Trek: Strange New Worlds anthologies, the Yard Dog Press anthology Houston, We’ve Got Bubbas, Kansas City Voices Magazine and the Star Trek: New Frontier anthology No Limits. Though he currently lives in Kansas City with wife Michi and daughters Addison and Erin, Dayton is a Florida native and still maintains a torrid long-distance romance with his beloved Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
May 22, 2016
Now this is much more to my taste. A story set in my beloved TOS movie era, some expert retconning in the lead up to "Star Trek VI" and beyond, plenty of fanwank elements that avoid being simply gratuitous, all wrapped up in an exciting (if not exactly original) action adventure plot. After reading this, you'll definitely agree that we all need a bit more Koloth in our Trek literary outings.
June 16, 2022
IN THE NAME OF HONOR is a prequel to STAR TREK: THE UNDISCOVERED COUNTRY and the peace treaty between the Klingons as well as the Federation. It's also meant to reflect on the transition from the TOS scheming untrustworthy Klingons to the Kahless-obsessed honorable ones of TNG.
Personally, I think Dayton Ward goes a bit overboard showing the "nicer" Klingons as it seems to go poorly with Captain Kirk's relative decency to them. Kirk and the Klingons have a falling out at the end but I feel he should be more overtly prejudiced as well as hostile through the book. Still, it is a very entertaining book and I enjoyed it greatly. Then again, I always love movie-era Trek tie-ins.
Personally, I think Dayton Ward goes a bit overboard showing the "nicer" Klingons as it seems to go poorly with Captain Kirk's relative decency to them. Kirk and the Klingons have a falling out at the end but I feel he should be more overtly prejudiced as well as hostile through the book. Still, it is a very entertaining book and I enjoyed it greatly. Then again, I always love movie-era Trek tie-ins.
December 31, 2020
At Federation / Klingon peace talks following the events at Nimbus III, Captain Koloth reveals to Captain Kirk that the crew of the 'U.S.S. Gagarin' was captured by the Klingon Empire eight years ago. As Koloth feels this is a dishonourable act of cowardice, he offers to help Kirk in a rescue mission.
Ward knows 'Star Trek' and his plotting is excellent. The characters are fresh and vibrant, but consistent with those established in the series.
Ward knows 'Star Trek' and his plotting is excellent. The characters are fresh and vibrant, but consistent with those established in the series.
April 2, 2017
Set between Star Trek V and VI, this was a decent read... although the plot was a bit too close to Star Trek VI for my tastes.
July 4, 2023
great story that deals with racisim on kirks part and fleshes it out. good one off book to be sure
September 26, 2014
I would have finished this book sooner, but I forgot to take it with me when I had to go on a business trip. It is a fun read; it takes place between Star Trek V: The Final Frontier and Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country. It has a nice flow to it; it utilizes characters from the original series; it keeps one's interest throughout. It also has an unlikely pairing of Sulu, Kirk, and Koloth in the course of the story.
The Klingons are seeking a peace treaty with the Federation; the Klingon Council is split between those who seek peace and those who are not happy with the process. During the peace process, Kirk and Co. discover that the Klingon have Federation POWs in their power kept hidden from the Federation; they were to have been used as bargaining chips. Now, though, most Klingons have forgotten they exist and some wish them dead as they have become an embarrassment to the Klingon High Council. There are also Klingons who do not wish for peace to occur and seek to sabotage the peace talks. So we have the interesting pairing of Spock talking with some Klingon ambassadorial aides and considering becoming an ambassador himself, Chekov working with a Klingon security officer to solve the mystery of who is trying to sabotage the peace process, Uhura working with a Klingon communications officer to IMPROVE some Klingon programs, and Scotty working with a Klingon engineer to save a Klingon vessel. So it was interesting to see these various groups working together for a common cause despite having such enormous cultural differences they have to overcome. Kirk, Sulu, and Koloth head to a specific prison planet that Gorkon has learned houses eight surviving Federation crew in members, including a member from the TOS crew. Their intent is to rescue these prisoners and return them to the Federation.
It is interesting to read how Kirk has to handle his emotions over his son being murdered by Klingons in light of the Klingons claiming to value honor and hold honorable actions in such high esteem. It also helps tie the book into the sixth movie rather well.
The book attempts to explain the differences between the Klingons in the original series episodes and the movies [and Next Gen/DS9 episodes], but it does so in a fashion that does not really explain anything. That was kind of a disappointment, on the one hand. At the same time, it is somewhat funny as Koloth does not want to talk about why there are two groups of Klingons; he makes it very clear to Kirk at various times it is an uncomfortable topic and not fit to discuss with a human.
Overall, I enjoyed the book. One of the better books in the series, in my opinion.
The Klingons are seeking a peace treaty with the Federation; the Klingon Council is split between those who seek peace and those who are not happy with the process. During the peace process, Kirk and Co. discover that the Klingon have Federation POWs in their power kept hidden from the Federation; they were to have been used as bargaining chips. Now, though, most Klingons have forgotten they exist and some wish them dead as they have become an embarrassment to the Klingon High Council. There are also Klingons who do not wish for peace to occur and seek to sabotage the peace talks. So we have the interesting pairing of Spock talking with some Klingon ambassadorial aides and considering becoming an ambassador himself, Chekov working with a Klingon security officer to solve the mystery of who is trying to sabotage the peace process, Uhura working with a Klingon communications officer to IMPROVE some Klingon programs, and Scotty working with a Klingon engineer to save a Klingon vessel. So it was interesting to see these various groups working together for a common cause despite having such enormous cultural differences they have to overcome. Kirk, Sulu, and Koloth head to a specific prison planet that Gorkon has learned houses eight surviving Federation crew in members, including a member from the TOS crew. Their intent is to rescue these prisoners and return them to the Federation.
It is interesting to read how Kirk has to handle his emotions over his son being murdered by Klingons in light of the Klingons claiming to value honor and hold honorable actions in such high esteem. It also helps tie the book into the sixth movie rather well.
The book attempts to explain the differences between the Klingons in the original series episodes and the movies [and Next Gen/DS9 episodes], but it does so in a fashion that does not really explain anything. That was kind of a disappointment, on the one hand. At the same time, it is somewhat funny as Koloth does not want to talk about why there are two groups of Klingons; he makes it very clear to Kirk at various times it is an uncomfortable topic and not fit to discuss with a human.
Overall, I enjoyed the book. One of the better books in the series, in my opinion.
April 26, 2015
This is the first Star Trek book I've picked up in a long time, and I'm glad that I did, as this book is really good! Set between the fifth and sixth books looks at the drive for peace between the Federation and the Klingons while also exploring the way the Klingons changed between the original series and the Next Generation from a Federation viewpoint. I enjoyed the way he dealt with the stark differences in attitude between TOS and TNG Klingons and managed to make the transition between the two believable, and the book presents a good back story for the developments that occoured in The Undiscovered Country.
I'll have to say that, in my opinion, the author really knows how to write Klingons. It never felt like he was forcing the issue, there was never a "Look, they're doing Klingon things, look at how Klingon they are" moment, but he also wasn't shy about using the trappings that have developed for the race when it was appropriate. I also enjoyed the pairing of Kirk and Sulu for the mission (that I won't spoil in this review), it's not a standard team up in most TOS crew Trek books and it was good to see.
I'll have to say that, in my opinion, the author really knows how to write Klingons. It never felt like he was forcing the issue, there was never a "Look, they're doing Klingon things, look at how Klingon they are" moment, but he also wasn't shy about using the trappings that have developed for the race when it was appropriate. I also enjoyed the pairing of Kirk and Sulu for the mission (that I won't spoil in this review), it's not a standard team up in most TOS crew Trek books and it was good to see.
May 6, 2020
Another outstanding Star Trek read! A Federation starship is captured by Klingons and prisoners are taken. Eight years later, prior to the events of Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country, the Federation and the Klingon Empire are starting to become allies due to the political maneuvering of a Klingon named Gorkon. An iconic Klingon captain appears to give Kirk information on the survivors and rescue them from their prison before they are killed by those who captured them, saving them from the public embarrassment of their captivity.
Outstanding characterization from author Ward with the Enterprise crew at their best, but the Klingons absolutely incredible. I really liked how Ward paved the way for ST VI and outstandingly moved these fierce foes more into line with how they are portrayed in the Next Generation. The dialogue from the Klingon captain is wonderful, impossible not to read without hearing it in the voice of the actor who played this character.
This is the perfect mix of action, intrigue, and Star Trek heart. Fanastic!
Outstanding characterization from author Ward with the Enterprise crew at their best, but the Klingons absolutely incredible. I really liked how Ward paved the way for ST VI and outstandingly moved these fierce foes more into line with how they are portrayed in the Next Generation. The dialogue from the Klingon captain is wonderful, impossible not to read without hearing it in the voice of the actor who played this character.
This is the perfect mix of action, intrigue, and Star Trek heart. Fanastic!
July 24, 2025
I really wanted to like this book as I like Dayton Ward but I just couldn't bring myself to do so. This is basically Star Trek VI if you shuffle the deck. I liked the idea of the Klingons going through their change of ideology but this is too soon and Kirk having a rescue mission WITH a Klingon prior to Undiscovered Country just didn't seem plausible. That's the whole point of that story is that Kirk is blinded by his own prejudices and here he sets them aside for a minute and then remembers them at the end. McCoy and Spock are underutilized here as well. There was some good moments and I didn't hate the book but there were just a few too many times where I couldn't turn my brain off and accept what was written.
April 1, 2018
In the Name of Honor (first published in 2002) by Dayton Ward – This is an enjoyable, but not exceptionally enjoyable, Star Trek novel that pits the crew of the USS Enterprise in a desperate effort to free the crew of the USS Gagarin, who have been held hostage by the Klingons for ten years. Of course the Klingons do not want to release the USS Gagarin crew members and the situation becomes extremely difficult and dangerous. It’s an interesting Star Trek novel that also reveals the secrets of some Klingon mysteries that Star Trek fans have long been curious about. It’s a worthwhile read for any Star Trek fan.
June 30, 2023
An excellent story told by one of the greats. Mr. Ward has managed to, once again, capture the voice of the characters and provide a thrilling story, that ties into the TV shows and movies, providing deeper background into the Klingon culture. Showing them as a diverse population, not just a warriors but as having people who do very similar tasks as humans and other species. The TV show, I felt, never did enough to show that a society that only has fighters, would have a hard time surviving if there were not others to do those jobs. Mr. Ward has done a great job showing that, while keeping the action coming and not getting into the small detail that could have made this story boring. This is a great book and I highly recommend.
December 4, 2022
I don’t know what it is about the book, but I didn’t really enjoy it. It just wasn’t doing it for me. It just felt kinda limp in terms of energy although the characterization of all the characters were spot on. The writing wasn’t very good. Also, making the Klingons more in line with how they are represented on TNG was appreciated and explains how they changed from TOS. Also, I’m just not very big on Klingons as a species as I’ve always found the Romulans and Cardassians more interesting. 6.5/10
April 21, 2025
A dash of realpolitik as seen by the mere mortals that experience its effects flavours the tone of this book. It works itself neatly between Treks V and VI and calls back to the events of earlier events easily without labouring the Trek Bingo beloved of some authors. That said, the plot does labour a little and leans a little heavily on coincidence and timing. A lot of fun, though, and a tad meatier in theme than other books in the series.
May 14, 2018
Too much jabbering referencing the movies. (Casual fans like me don't care, and avid fans already know.) Some very amateur bits of writing that another reader could have suggested needed help. Interesting Klingons. Our favorite original series characters were all there, but doing & thinking stereotypically.
I think I've finally outgrown the franchise.
I think I've finally outgrown the franchise.
August 29, 2020
Excellent! Great story, perfect lead up to The Undiscovered Country. Just an all round great Star Trek novel.
February 13, 2022
A pretty good prequel to the story line of Star Trek 6. Highly enjoyed this one!
July 2, 2024
Oh my god when hamlet is dead the play is over
February 24, 2025
A really solid book that bridges the gap between movies V and VI without getting bogged down in the continuity minutae that Trek novels so often fall into.
March 28, 2019
Reasonable Star Trek adventure
Pretty good. A few implausible plotlines. First of all are we to believe Kirk is happy to engage in the peace process with the Klingons just prior to Star Trek 6 where he is pretty bitter towards them? Also as a rule prefer adventures set during TOS rather than later stuff but not bad.
Pretty good. A few implausible plotlines. First of all are we to believe Kirk is happy to engage in the peace process with the Klingons just prior to Star Trek 6 where he is pretty bitter towards them? Also as a rule prefer adventures set during TOS rather than later stuff but not bad.
March 15, 2013
An exciting, action-packed, and well-written novel from Dayton Ward. I especially liked his take on the Klingons, and his writing lent them a diversity and depth that is sometimes lacking in other works. The turnaround for Kirk at the end, while necessary for the setup to Star Trek VI, felt a little off. Again, though, that is not the fault of the writer, but rather where the character is in the film. The scenes in the prison camp were particularly well-written, and I found myself empathizing with the minor characters who had been created for this story. I also enjoy seeing characters who had minor roles in televised Trek showing up in the novels and given a bit more to do, and In the Name of Honor uses a number of those characters very well. A truly solid novel, and one of the better TOS novels from this era that I've had the pleasure of reading!
Full review: treklit.blogspot.com/2013/03/in-name-...
Full review: treklit.blogspot.com/2013/03/in-name-...
August 21, 2011
I enjoyed this. It fits in a unique spot between the last two Original Cast movies and actually sets up film VI. It uses a two person away team which was not as common in the series and made for an interesting pairing of Kirk and Sulu with Klingons as partners in a mission of mutual interest. The characters and storylines worked well for me and I thought it felt authentic more so than several other Trek novels I have read as far as the feel. It also had Spock, McCoy, and Scotty in lesser roles than Sulu, Chekov and Uhura which was a nice switch for using those characters. If you enjoy Star Trek novels, you'll enjoy this, the last numbered novel in the TOS series.
October 12, 2013
"In the Name of Honor" was very entertaining; I thoroughly enjoyed the book. The Federation and the Klingon Empire talking peace, Kirk and Sulu jumping on a Klingon vessel to rescue Starfleet prisoners on a jungle planet deep within Klingon space, Klingons sabotaging the peace talks, Scotty disarming bombs... all make for a good, entertaining Star Trek novel. My older brother gave me this book for Christmas years ago. Inside, he wrote, "Merry Christmas 2001. Hope you enjoy the book! Live long and prosper!" Almost 12 years later: I did enjoy the book and I will live long and prosper! Thanks for the blessings! I recommend this book. It is Gabe-approved!
September 18, 2012
Ward weaves a good story that is quite evocative of the setting and the characters used. I particularly liked his characterization of Koloth. Just completed my second read and it was just as enjoyable as the first time.
May 27, 2015
Good story!!!
The characters are well developed in this story,with a good plot,makes me think about all the peace talks man has held,but this 20th century is filled with violence,only God's Kingdom can bring about lasting peace on this beautiful earth!!!
The characters are well developed in this story,with a good plot,makes me think about all the peace talks man has held,but this 20th century is filled with violence,only God's Kingdom can bring about lasting peace on this beautiful earth!!!
October 18, 2016
Very dramatic, 'noir', book. Well-written, nicely fitting in the series and bridging a gap between stories from the past and the future, but not 'nice' at all. Absolutely necessary to be read and certainly worth it. Plays for a big part in Klingon space.
August 15, 2008
Follows on from the adventure at the centre of the galaxy in the fifth Star Trek movie. More readable than some others in this series.
July 4, 2011
A great star trek book. A must read for a fan
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews