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Star Trek: The Next Generation #61
Diplomatic Implausibility
200 YEARS AGO: The expanding Klingon(TM) Empire found a frozen world rich in deposits of the mineral topaline. They named the planet taD -- Klingon for "frozen" -- and they called the people "jeghpu'wI'" -- conquered. FOUR YEARS AGO: The Klingon Empire invaded Cardassia, breaching the Khitomer Accords and causing a break with the Federation. On taD, depleted Klingon forces were overthrown in a small coup d'etat, and the victorious rebels took advantage of the disruption to appeal for recognition from the Federation.
NOW: The Klingons have returned to taD and re-established their control. But the stubborn rebels insist on Federation recognition. A solution to the diplomatic impasse must be found, a task that falls to the Federation's new ambassador to the Klingon Empire -- Worf.
Worf thinks of himself as a fighter, not a negotiator, but the Federation disagrees. Now, for the sake of the Federation and the Empire, a Klingon warrior must weave a fragile peace out of a situation ripe for war!
NOW: The Klingons have returned to taD and re-established their control. But the stubborn rebels insist on Federation recognition. A solution to the diplomatic impasse must be found, a task that falls to the Federation's new ambassador to the Klingon Empire -- Worf.
Worf thinks of himself as a fighter, not a negotiator, but the Federation disagrees. Now, for the sake of the Federation and the Empire, a Klingon warrior must weave a fragile peace out of a situation ripe for war!
246 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published February 1, 2001
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401 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews
July 10, 2025
Worf is not my favorite character, but this was good for what it was.
September 1, 2024
KRAD really knows his Klingons! Here we see Worf face an interesting conundrum in his first diplomatic assignment as Starfleet's new ambassador to the Klingon Empire, requiring him to get quite creative. Jean Luc would be proud.
As much, if not more time is spent with the crew of the IKS Gorkon, an eclectic group that comes to life, including a few surprise appearances that viewers of TNG and DS9 will appreciate. Among the most entertaining parts were watching Worf deftly and fiercely handle the slights and disrespect he receives from other Klingons, who don't think much of his upbringing among humans and service in Starfleet, nor the perceived nepotism of belonging to the house of Martok, the current Klingon emperor.
Overall, a solid story with some meaningful Worf character development, and one that has perhaps whet my appetite to spend more time with the Gorkon crew in KRAD's IKS Gorkon series.
As much, if not more time is spent with the crew of the IKS Gorkon, an eclectic group that comes to life, including a few surprise appearances that viewers of TNG and DS9 will appreciate. Among the most entertaining parts were watching Worf deftly and fiercely handle the slights and disrespect he receives from other Klingons, who don't think much of his upbringing among humans and service in Starfleet, nor the perceived nepotism of belonging to the house of Martok, the current Klingon emperor.
Overall, a solid story with some meaningful Worf character development, and one that has perhaps whet my appetite to spend more time with the Gorkon crew in KRAD's IKS Gorkon series.
October 9, 2017
I originally created the UNITED FEDERATION OF CHARLES review site to talk about nothing but the Star Trek: Expanded Universe but like SF Debris, it just sort of wandered in every which way but the one I intended to review. But I do love the Star Trek Expanded Universe and while I'll never be able to review a hundred of the books I want to review, I still have time to read some of them.
I've decided, since I fell behind on the Typhon Pact books, I would read the Klingon Empire series by Keith R.A. Decandido. Ironically, that meant I couldn't start with book one because the series ACTUALLY starts with this book as they were originally guest stars of a ST:TNG novel. It's a bit like how you need to watch Star Trek: The Next Generation to understand who the Marquis are and why they hate the Federation.
The premise of this book is Worf has been promoted to ambassador of the Federation to the Klingon Empire. Given he straight up murdered the people who killed his wife, his career to Captain of the Enterprise was derailed anyway. It was a good trade-off anyway. Assigned an impossible mission by both the Federation and Empire (specifically, make everyone happy in a disputed planet where the locals are raging an insurgency against the Klingon government), he is sent on a klingon vessel to serve as mediator. Worf, a mediator? Wow, that would be so very funny if not for the fact it was actually a fairly good choice since he's Ghandi compared to most Klingons.
Worf episodes were always my favorite of the TNG series with the Duras plot, his ill-fated romance, and the fact he was a horrible parent. I love the Klingons and he's my favorite Klingon of them all. Watching him work as a statesman actually "works" in a way you wouldn't associate with him. I especially liked how he played off of his much more rough and tumble Klingon companions.
The real stars of the book are the crew of the I.K.S Gorkon. Following Captain Klag and his oddball crew, it has a lot of interesting characters ranging from two technicians in the otherwise anti-intellectual Klingon culture but who hate each other (one hating innovation due to not wanting to be here from the beginning and half-assing her job, the other being the innovator) to Martok's bully of a son to a completely normal Klingon woman suffering hero worship of Worf.
I was fond of the aliens here as they're basically a planet of polar bears who walk on four legs almost all of the time. The novels have always done a good job of being more inventive with alien species since they don't have to deal with a show's budget. The situation with them and their resistance is resolved a bit too easily but Star Trek isn't the kind of show (or novel series) which should ever get too much into the chaos of real life. It's space fantasy as well as science fiction for a reason.
I will say this novel does deal with one thing I've always had a bit of a problem with: specifically, the fact the Klingons act like ancient Romans with slavery, mass executions, torture, and all the other things which despotic regimes like their inspirations do in real life. The thing is, they're close allies with the Federation and that doesn't make much sense. I mean, in real life, the United States is allied with Saudi Arabia at the harsher side of things and China at the softer side of things but the Federation is supposed to be above that sort of realpolitic. I mean, you'd think the Klingons would be required to give up slave planets as part of the Khitomer Treaty.
Overall, I found the book to be extremely entertaining but a bit on the short side. It basically reminded me of a TNG episode and that's not a bad thing. Certainly, it caused me to want to purchase the Klingon Empire novels which continue following the adventures of the crew. Plus, I'll read or watch virtually anything with Klingons on it.
8.5/10
I've decided, since I fell behind on the Typhon Pact books, I would read the Klingon Empire series by Keith R.A. Decandido. Ironically, that meant I couldn't start with book one because the series ACTUALLY starts with this book as they were originally guest stars of a ST:TNG novel. It's a bit like how you need to watch Star Trek: The Next Generation to understand who the Marquis are and why they hate the Federation.
The premise of this book is Worf has been promoted to ambassador of the Federation to the Klingon Empire. Given he straight up murdered the people who killed his wife, his career to Captain of the Enterprise was derailed anyway. It was a good trade-off anyway. Assigned an impossible mission by both the Federation and Empire (specifically, make everyone happy in a disputed planet where the locals are raging an insurgency against the Klingon government), he is sent on a klingon vessel to serve as mediator. Worf, a mediator? Wow, that would be so very funny if not for the fact it was actually a fairly good choice since he's Ghandi compared to most Klingons.
Worf episodes were always my favorite of the TNG series with the Duras plot, his ill-fated romance, and the fact he was a horrible parent. I love the Klingons and he's my favorite Klingon of them all. Watching him work as a statesman actually "works" in a way you wouldn't associate with him. I especially liked how he played off of his much more rough and tumble Klingon companions.
The real stars of the book are the crew of the I.K.S Gorkon. Following Captain Klag and his oddball crew, it has a lot of interesting characters ranging from two technicians in the otherwise anti-intellectual Klingon culture but who hate each other (one hating innovation due to not wanting to be here from the beginning and half-assing her job, the other being the innovator) to Martok's bully of a son to a completely normal Klingon woman suffering hero worship of Worf.
I was fond of the aliens here as they're basically a planet of polar bears who walk on four legs almost all of the time. The novels have always done a good job of being more inventive with alien species since they don't have to deal with a show's budget. The situation with them and their resistance is resolved a bit too easily but Star Trek isn't the kind of show (or novel series) which should ever get too much into the chaos of real life. It's space fantasy as well as science fiction for a reason.
I will say this novel does deal with one thing I've always had a bit of a problem with: specifically, the fact the Klingons act like ancient Romans with slavery, mass executions, torture, and all the other things which despotic regimes like their inspirations do in real life. The thing is, they're close allies with the Federation and that doesn't make much sense. I mean, in real life, the United States is allied with Saudi Arabia at the harsher side of things and China at the softer side of things but the Federation is supposed to be above that sort of realpolitic. I mean, you'd think the Klingons would be required to give up slave planets as part of the Khitomer Treaty.
Overall, I found the book to be extremely entertaining but a bit on the short side. It basically reminded me of a TNG episode and that's not a bad thing. Certainly, it caused me to want to purchase the Klingon Empire novels which continue following the adventures of the crew. Plus, I'll read or watch virtually anything with Klingons on it.
8.5/10
November 30, 2018
Diplomatic Implausibility, more than anything else, is an introduction to the crew of the Gorkon, setting them up for more adventures to come. However, it is also an interesting story featuring Worf's first assignment as a diplomat. I love the character of Worf, and it's fun to see him in a new role with which he is unfamiliar. The characters in this novel are at the heart of what makes it great, and even though the fact we have seen so many of them before contributes to a "small universe" feeling, the characters themselves are interesting enough that I can easily forgive the author that indulgence.
Full review: http://www.treklit.com/2018/11/tng61....
Full review: http://www.treklit.com/2018/11/tng61....
February 2, 2017
It's weird that for a book that's ostensibly about Worf, it almost seems that his story was just the 'B' plot and that the crew of the Gorkon was the 'A' plot. Which was fine, but I felt like this quite short book could have done with another hundred pages or so to flesh it out. Also, as it was written before 'The Left Hand of Destiny' it feels awkward in how it follows on from those books.
Worf was fun to get to see as an ambassador, and I liked his aide, Wu. The aliens he dealt with have some potential to be quite interesting, but in many ways they felt like a side-show that didn't really get satisfactorily resolved. I'd like to see them turn up again.
I did like the Gorkon crew though, as they were a real mix of archetypes, some traditionally Klingon, many not. A minor negative might be that it is just a coincidental get-together of any Klingons that might have appeared on TNG, though. It's just a shame that some of the more entertaining crewmembers seem to have been written out at the end of this book; I'm hoping they come back in the IKS Gorkon series of books that follow this, as I'm not sure the crew will have the same depth without them.
Worf was fun to get to see as an ambassador, and I liked his aide, Wu. The aliens he dealt with have some potential to be quite interesting, but in many ways they felt like a side-show that didn't really get satisfactorily resolved. I'd like to see them turn up again.
I did like the Gorkon crew though, as they were a real mix of archetypes, some traditionally Klingon, many not. A minor negative might be that it is just a coincidental get-together of any Klingons that might have appeared on TNG, though. It's just a shame that some of the more entertaining crewmembers seem to have been written out at the end of this book; I'm hoping they come back in the IKS Gorkon series of books that follow this, as I'm not sure the crew will have the same depth without them.
December 7, 2019
This was an enjoyable TNG licensed novel. Keith really understands Klingons and this dealt well with their internal honor-based culture and their desire to not lose face by surrendering the planet they had previously subjugated. The characters were written well, particularly Worf, Toq, and Klag. I could have done with a few less characters shoehorned in from other novels and the TV shows, but all in all this was an enjoyable romp that would have made for a fun two-part episode of the TV series, which is how I best enjoy my Star Trek novels.
I've previously read the first book in Candido's I.K.S. Gorkon series, I will definitely check out his other novels based on this one.
I've previously read the first book in Candido's I.K.S. Gorkon series, I will definitely check out his other novels based on this one.
July 10, 2024
I will start this review with a confession, my favorite character in Star Trek is Worf and my favorite race is the Klingons. There i said it, I know I should be ashamed but i hold my head high.
This is a good worf/Klingon novel so it is imho in the top tier of star trek books. It also sets up the further adventures of the Gorkon which I will be reading as I find them.
Interesting story, solved in a very Star Trek way worth the read
This is a good worf/Klingon novel so it is imho in the top tier of star trek books. It also sets up the further adventures of the Gorkon which I will be reading as I find them.
Interesting story, solved in a very Star Trek way worth the read
April 12, 2021
beta canon syndrome of including every random one-episode Klingon as a crew member. features Worf, hooray, but he was lacking in personality imo. I liked the bear aliens and the plot resolution, but overall too low stakes. good pacing, clear writing, and infused original characters with personality though.
March 4, 2012
It is obvious that Keith R.A. DeCandido loves Star Trek and is extremely familiar with the show. If I hadn't known that already, I would have discovered it reading this book. Diplomatic Implausibility features Worf after he has become the Klingon ambassador for the Federation after the Dominion War. This is, essentially, his first assignment: find a diplomatic solution to the problems arising at the planet of taD. The planet was conquered by the Klingons ages ago, but during the Dominion War, for a brief period when the Federation and the Klingons were no longer allies, a rebellion occured, the Klingons were overthrown, and the native inhabitant appealed to the Federation for help. Unfortunately, the Federation could not respond because of the war, and by the time they COULD respond, the Klingons and the Federation were allies again, and so the Federation could not interfere. But the rebellion hasn't ended, the rebels now causing problems for the current Klingon overseer. Worf is sent in on the Klingon ship Gorkon in order to find a solution that doesn't involve eradicating the entire population, or forcing the Klingons to leave.
As Worf begins to take on the role of ambassador, we get to meet the crew of the Gorkon, an interesting and odd assortment of Klingons. One of the best aspects of the book is that the crew contains characters that fans familiar with the show will recognize, characters that we've met during the episodes of The Next Generation and Deep Space Nine. These familiar characters are placed well with new characters, creating a crew that is one most will want to follow further. The good news is that you CAN follow them beyond this book, since they end up with their own short series called the I.K.S. Gorkon.
In fact, the plot of the book is almost negligible here, as it seems to be mostly focused on meeting this new crew and establishing some of the interplay that I hope to read about further in the other series. Worf, of course, solves the problem in a diplomatic way, and it reestablishes him as a member of the Federation who just happens to have a Klingon heart, a conundrum played off of in both TNG and DS9.
So, a well-written book, with interesting characters, a mildly interesting plot, but overall a good read. I look forward to reading about Klag and his new crew in the future.
As Worf begins to take on the role of ambassador, we get to meet the crew of the Gorkon, an interesting and odd assortment of Klingons. One of the best aspects of the book is that the crew contains characters that fans familiar with the show will recognize, characters that we've met during the episodes of The Next Generation and Deep Space Nine. These familiar characters are placed well with new characters, creating a crew that is one most will want to follow further. The good news is that you CAN follow them beyond this book, since they end up with their own short series called the I.K.S. Gorkon.
In fact, the plot of the book is almost negligible here, as it seems to be mostly focused on meeting this new crew and establishing some of the interplay that I hope to read about further in the other series. Worf, of course, solves the problem in a diplomatic way, and it reestablishes him as a member of the Federation who just happens to have a Klingon heart, a conundrum played off of in both TNG and DS9.
So, a well-written book, with interesting characters, a mildly interesting plot, but overall a good read. I look forward to reading about Klag and his new crew in the future.
September 19, 2013
Worf is sent on his first diplomatic mission as ambassador to the Klingon Empire. A planet wants to stop being a part of the empire. First off this is not a Next Gen book, it is solely about Worf and Klingons. Worf is great in his new role, and there are some classic moments. The Klingon ship's crew all seem to have appeared in previous TNG episodes, and there is a likeability factor to them. A very good read, especially for Worf fans.
February 16, 2014
While the book posed an interesting story, I didn't enjoy the over usage of the klingon language in the book. The glossy in the back what a nice set of definitions, but it got annoying having to check it so often. Perhaps if I knew klingon, it would have been more enjoyable. That aside, the story was enjoyable.
January 7, 2013
Always fun to read.
August 30, 2019
A solid introduction to Worf's new role as the Federation Ambassador to Qo'noS, "Diplomatic Implausibility" proves to be an enjoyable character-piece which avoids the overly stale Klingon tropes that normally plague both Star Trek TV and literature.
Worf must act as a Federation diplomat on the planet taD, where the al'Hmatti - subjects of the Klingon empire - have requested Federation assistance amidst a rebel uprising.
One of the things that has always worked well with Worf as a Star Trek character is the notion of him being trapped between two worlds, two societies, two cultures: Humans and Klingons. This simple yet inescapable fact lends itself to fantastic storytelling, whether it be Worf's involvement in the Klingon Civil War (TNG: "Redemption") or his protestations about the Empire's invasion of Cardassia (DS9: "Way of the Warrior"). The same is true here: Worf is sandwiched firmly in the middle, tasked with aiding the subjugated al'Hmatti by the Federation, while simultaneously ordered to ensure Klingon honor and integrity is upheld by Chancellor Martok. It's a rather unenviable position to be in.
DeCandido is a pro when it comes to writing interesting Klingon stories, and he isn't afraid to take his time fully fleshing out the crew of the new IKS Gorkon who are tasked with ferrying Worf to his assignment. Captain Klag is lifted straight from TNG's "A Matter of Honor" and proves a satisfying foil for Worf to work against, especially in the first half of the novel. Similarly, DeCandido borrows Leskit (DS9: "Soldiers of the Empire"), Kurak (TNG: "Suspicions"), Toq (TNG: "Birthright"), Drex (DS9: "Way of the Warrior") and even Rodek (aka Kurn, DS9: "The Sword of Kahless") to flesh out the command crew of the Gorkon. This ragtag mixture of Klingons is surprisingly effective, and DeCandido manages to give each one their own voice which is consistent with their on screen appearances.
Which the al'Hmatti are interesting enough as a new race, I have to confess to being more invested in the Klingon elements of this stories. Worf's interactions with Klag and Governor Tiral are particularly enjoyable, and I really got a sense of his transition from Starfleet officer to Ambassador unfolding in front of my eyes. It's an awkward fit for Worf, and he clearly chastens under the burden of the role, yet that - in many ways - is half the fun of it. Forcing such a bold character to constrain himself while still holding on to the traits that make him special is no mean feat, but it's pulled off with evident panache here.
I confess to not being a fan of Klingon stories in general, and so approached this novel with some trepidation. Thankfully that was misplaced, and I am looking forward to reading some of the other DeCandido novels focusing on the crew of the IKS Gorkon!
Worf must act as a Federation diplomat on the planet taD, where the al'Hmatti - subjects of the Klingon empire - have requested Federation assistance amidst a rebel uprising.
One of the things that has always worked well with Worf as a Star Trek character is the notion of him being trapped between two worlds, two societies, two cultures: Humans and Klingons. This simple yet inescapable fact lends itself to fantastic storytelling, whether it be Worf's involvement in the Klingon Civil War (TNG: "Redemption") or his protestations about the Empire's invasion of Cardassia (DS9: "Way of the Warrior"). The same is true here: Worf is sandwiched firmly in the middle, tasked with aiding the subjugated al'Hmatti by the Federation, while simultaneously ordered to ensure Klingon honor and integrity is upheld by Chancellor Martok. It's a rather unenviable position to be in.
DeCandido is a pro when it comes to writing interesting Klingon stories, and he isn't afraid to take his time fully fleshing out the crew of the new IKS Gorkon who are tasked with ferrying Worf to his assignment. Captain Klag is lifted straight from TNG's "A Matter of Honor" and proves a satisfying foil for Worf to work against, especially in the first half of the novel. Similarly, DeCandido borrows Leskit (DS9: "Soldiers of the Empire"), Kurak (TNG: "Suspicions"), Toq (TNG: "Birthright"), Drex (DS9: "Way of the Warrior") and even Rodek (aka Kurn, DS9: "The Sword of Kahless") to flesh out the command crew of the Gorkon. This ragtag mixture of Klingons is surprisingly effective, and DeCandido manages to give each one their own voice which is consistent with their on screen appearances.
Which the al'Hmatti are interesting enough as a new race, I have to confess to being more invested in the Klingon elements of this stories. Worf's interactions with Klag and Governor Tiral are particularly enjoyable, and I really got a sense of his transition from Starfleet officer to Ambassador unfolding in front of my eyes. It's an awkward fit for Worf, and he clearly chastens under the burden of the role, yet that - in many ways - is half the fun of it. Forcing such a bold character to constrain himself while still holding on to the traits that make him special is no mean feat, but it's pulled off with evident panache here.
I confess to not being a fan of Klingon stories in general, and so approached this novel with some trepidation. Thankfully that was misplaced, and I am looking forward to reading some of the other DeCandido novels focusing on the crew of the IKS Gorkon!
March 24, 2022
I hadn't read this book since if first came out in 2001, and remembered nothing from it, other than having a good feeling knowing this was written by Keith R.A. DeCandido. This was nothing short of brilliant for Star Trek fans, fans of The Next Generation, Worf, or Klingons.
Set after the events of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine's finale, Federation diplomat Worf is sent to the Klingon world of taD, a frozen world conquered years ago, where the native people ask the Federation for help to break away from Klingon rule. When the request was sent the Klingons and the Federation were not allies. Now that the war with the Dominion has ended, the Federation has the time to see what's going on. Word must walk a razor thin line between Federation desires for independence and not offending the once-again-allies Klingon Empire.
The characters are like a Who's Who in Star Trek, though DeCandido does a superb job of summarizing characters and events that super fans would be aware of so that new readers won't feel lost. I absolutely loved the crew of the I.K.S, Gorkon and could have spent the entire novel just on this crew (and was happy to instantly recall that appear in other Trek novels).
Every page has a golden moment with a character, dialogue, or action. Seriously, this is the novel you encourage fans to read because it's that good. It made me want to revisit every episode that featured one of the characters from the novel so I could see them in action again. I was glad to have reread this book and can't wait to revisit other books written by DeCandido. He's up there with Peter David's writing, in my opinion.
Set after the events of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine's finale, Federation diplomat Worf is sent to the Klingon world of taD, a frozen world conquered years ago, where the native people ask the Federation for help to break away from Klingon rule. When the request was sent the Klingons and the Federation were not allies. Now that the war with the Dominion has ended, the Federation has the time to see what's going on. Word must walk a razor thin line between Federation desires for independence and not offending the once-again-allies Klingon Empire.
The characters are like a Who's Who in Star Trek, though DeCandido does a superb job of summarizing characters and events that super fans would be aware of so that new readers won't feel lost. I absolutely loved the crew of the I.K.S, Gorkon and could have spent the entire novel just on this crew (and was happy to instantly recall that appear in other Trek novels).
Every page has a golden moment with a character, dialogue, or action. Seriously, this is the novel you encourage fans to read because it's that good. It made me want to revisit every episode that featured one of the characters from the novel so I could see them in action again. I was glad to have reread this book and can't wait to revisit other books written by DeCandido. He's up there with Peter David's writing, in my opinion.
November 21, 2020
A Deep Space Nine novel used as a back door pilot for the I.K.S. Gorkon series masquerading as a Next Generation novel.
I started reading Star Trek novels again 6 or 7 years ago to catch up with DS9. The after series set of books. That expanded to anything shortly afterwards. This would have been a great addition to the relaunch had I known that it existed.
The reason I know now is because of Keith R.A. DeCandido. He had authored some of the DS9 relaunch series. Articles of the Federation is where I was sold on him.
I started to read the Brave and the Bold books by him. He does a fantastic job of fleshing out characters who we have seen for part of an episode. Or even characters that he has created for his own works.
That’s where this novel shines. Klag. Drex. Kurak. Leskit. All Klingons that we have met at various points in Trek television. Put together and shaped, molded and intermingled.
Seeing Worf in his post DS9 role and in his first diplomatic mission. Seeing him interact with Klag. Hearing his thoughts about Jadzia and even K’ehlyr. All well done.
This story works well for all the characters. Great crisis for Ambassador Worf. Good conflict for Captain Klag to to christen his command.
A very solid read! Also, Wu is a damn fine character that I would love to see again!
I started reading Star Trek novels again 6 or 7 years ago to catch up with DS9. The after series set of books. That expanded to anything shortly afterwards. This would have been a great addition to the relaunch had I known that it existed.
The reason I know now is because of Keith R.A. DeCandido. He had authored some of the DS9 relaunch series. Articles of the Federation is where I was sold on him.
I started to read the Brave and the Bold books by him. He does a fantastic job of fleshing out characters who we have seen for part of an episode. Or even characters that he has created for his own works.
That’s where this novel shines. Klag. Drex. Kurak. Leskit. All Klingons that we have met at various points in Trek television. Put together and shaped, molded and intermingled.
Seeing Worf in his post DS9 role and in his first diplomatic mission. Seeing him interact with Klag. Hearing his thoughts about Jadzia and even K’ehlyr. All well done.
This story works well for all the characters. Great crisis for Ambassador Worf. Good conflict for Captain Klag to to christen his command.
A very solid read! Also, Wu is a damn fine character that I would love to see again!
April 10, 2025
When referencing the Lit-verse flowchart the IKS Gorkon series is pretty self-contained in the Star Trek EU. The Left Hand of Destiny duology sets up the background for this series, which I haven't read, and The Brave and the Bold duology is a crossover that loops back into the IKS Gorkon.
This series isn't required for me to continue through the EU but damn if I don't love insanely massive book series. I have learned that I really don't like Klingons. I didn't take any notes or highlights for this book, I finished it a while back and don't remember much of it. The rebellion didn't feel like it really had any stakes. The aliens weren't given much detail or personality so I found it hard to care about that plot line. The klingons though? Yeah I need a character list because I can't keep their names right.
Well onto The Left Hand of Destiny, which I should have started with.
This series isn't required for me to continue through the EU but damn if I don't love insanely massive book series. I have learned that I really don't like Klingons. I didn't take any notes or highlights for this book, I finished it a while back and don't remember much of it. The rebellion didn't feel like it really had any stakes. The aliens weren't given much detail or personality so I found it hard to care about that plot line. The klingons though? Yeah I need a character list because I can't keep their names right.
Well onto The Left Hand of Destiny, which I should have started with.
March 21, 2021
Ambassador Worf (with the help of the crew of Klingon vessel IKS Gorkon) attempts to solve the problem of the planet taD in this excellent novel set after the events of Deep Space Nine.
Despite featuring cameos from the Enterprise E crew, this felt more like a DS9 novel rather than a TNG adventure with frequent references to DS9 events and characters. Was it changed to a TNG novel for sales purposes?
The book is a 4.5, the characters are well realised and the story is good (although it takes a while to get going). I felt that a new Klingon ship crewed by so many returning characters seemed unlikely and it felt distracting to the story, especially when each character needs an introduction or a reminder of what they did in TNG or DS9.
I have the IKS Gorkon series that follows this and I am now really looking forward to reading those books!
Despite featuring cameos from the Enterprise E crew, this felt more like a DS9 novel rather than a TNG adventure with frequent references to DS9 events and characters. Was it changed to a TNG novel for sales purposes?
The book is a 4.5, the characters are well realised and the story is good (although it takes a while to get going). I felt that a new Klingon ship crewed by so many returning characters seemed unlikely and it felt distracting to the story, especially when each character needs an introduction or a reminder of what they did in TNG or DS9.
I have the IKS Gorkon series that follows this and I am now really looking forward to reading those books!
May 27, 2021
Keith DeCandidos böcker brukar inte göra mig besviken och det hände inte heller denna gång. Jag brukar personligen tycka att Worfs karaktär blir lite löjeväckande i särskilt de tidiga årens Star Trek: The Next Generation och den känslan har dröjt sig kvar i många av de böcker som behandlar denna (bland andra trekkers mycket uppskattade) karaktär. DeCandido lyckas skapa ett liv i karaktären som gör att jag nagelbitande följer storyn från början till slut.
Arten al'Hmatti känns som en trovärdig skapelse och lösningen på det uppkomna diplomatiska problemet blir ett värdigt slut på boken, värdigt en sinnets krigare - Worf.
Boken är även en god start för att lära känna besättningen i den sedermera bokserien Klingon Empire.
Arten al'Hmatti känns som en trovärdig skapelse och lösningen på det uppkomna diplomatiska problemet blir ett värdigt slut på boken, värdigt en sinnets krigare - Worf.
Boken är även en god start för att lära känna besättningen i den sedermera bokserien Klingon Empire.
May 6, 2024
While this book serves as a stand-alone novel about Worf's first mission as Federation Ambassador to the Klingons, this book also introduces the I.K.S. Gorkon & the Klingon crew who serve on the vessel. There are some brief appearances from select crew members of Enterprise-E. As a stand-alone novel, it works well. The ultimate solution to the situation presented in the book is quite interesting. I primarily read it as a prologue to the stories about the I.K.S. Gorkon & its crew. It works quite well on both levels (Worf's first foray into the "peace-making" world & learning about the crew of the Gorkon)—quite a nice little read. (I am interested to see if Worf's ambassadorship bisects the Gorkon crew's adventures at a later point in time.)
August 12, 2022
One of the best Star Trek novels I have ever read. Seriously, phenomenal.
I love Worf and Martok so much, and I think this book really encapsulates their characters well. DeCandido seems to get the cadence of their voices perfect and the dialogue is just stunningly written.
The plot is pretty fun, nothing crazy though. I can easily see this being an episode, and even had me wishing there was an Ambassador Worf TV show at times.
I'm really excited to read more about the I.K.S Gorkon, especially if DeCandido is writing. He seems to really 'get it' and it made the reading experience all that much more enjoyable.
If you are a Worf fan, read this for sure.
I love Worf and Martok so much, and I think this book really encapsulates their characters well. DeCandido seems to get the cadence of their voices perfect and the dialogue is just stunningly written.
The plot is pretty fun, nothing crazy though. I can easily see this being an episode, and even had me wishing there was an Ambassador Worf TV show at times.
I'm really excited to read more about the I.K.S Gorkon, especially if DeCandido is writing. He seems to really 'get it' and it made the reading experience all that much more enjoyable.
If you are a Worf fan, read this for sure.
June 13, 2022
Crisp, concise, exciting storytelling, heavy on character development. I'm not the biggest fan of Klingons, but Keith DeCandido's enthusiasm will enchant even those who aren't interested in their species. A solid continuation of the events post-Ds9, and a great "pilot" episode for Mr. DeCandido's IKS Gorkon books.
April 19, 2025
An enjoyable Klingon romp, though not as polished as other Klingon-centric books I've read. "I should kill you," and variants thereof are yelled frequently. We get the return of some old characters and I believe this ship and crew are given their own series which I'm looking forward to reading in the future as I've heard very good things about it.
October 19, 2018
Really fun to see what Worf got up to after becoming an ambassador. An interesting planet, a fun dilemma, and despite Worf being one of my least favorite characters from Star Trek, it was cool seeing how all his different influences played into how he handled things.
August 22, 2020
I loved this tale of Worf after his tenure at DS9. I thought it was a well put together story that weaved elements from past TNG episodes and DS9. I look forward to reading the Klingon stories by DeCandido.
November 22, 2024
Worf! Klingons! Usine Uprising!
This was a fun read and a great way to dissociate from the current political turmoil we find ourselves in...and live vicariously through Worf and Klag dealing with political turmoil.
This was a fun read and a great way to dissociate from the current political turmoil we find ourselves in...and live vicariously through Worf and Klag dealing with political turmoil.
May 17, 2020
This book focuses on Worf in his new role as Ambassador. It does feature the rest of the Enterprise crew in an extended cameo.
October 31, 2020
I am Jorn. To listen to my podcast on this book, check out KAG.org/series/bound-by-honor/
October 18, 2022
Superb book!
February 25, 2024
I love Worf. I wish there was more of his family stuff, but definitely fun to follow him and the Klingons for a while.
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