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Star Trek: The Original Series #26
Star Trek: Pawns and Symbols
Under threat of a deadly famine, the power-hungry Klingons enter into what becomes an insane fight to the death.
288 pages, Paperback
First published November 1, 1985
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews
January 4, 2024
A rough start, but got better as it went on.
EDIT: This was actually better than I remember it being. I'm glad this was available for a mere ninety-nine cents as part of a monthly promotion.
EDIT: This was actually better than I remember it being. I'm glad this was available for a mere ninety-nine cents as part of a monthly promotion.
June 7, 2022
The story of Jean Czerny, an agricultural scientist, who is captured by the Klingons. How she interacts with her captors, survives and ultimately helps them overcome a famine that is spreading amongst their worlds. Kirk and crew seem to be relegated to secondary characters that really play no part in the main storyline.
May 30, 2018
So here's the synopsis: An English noblewoman is kidnapped by a lusty pirate and she spends the entire book saying:"No! No! I Will never love you!" All the while, the lusty pirate is hovering nearby with a villainous grin saying: "Yes you will my sweet!"
Oh, wait. That was a harlequin romance book I had to read for English class.
Here's the real synopsis: A high ranking Federation Scientist is kidnapped by a lusty Klingon and she spends the entire book saying: "No! No! I Will never love you!" All the while, the lusty Klingon is hovering nearby with a villainous grin saying: "Yes you will my sweet!"
Yeah, that's more like it!
I'm sure anyone reading this review is saying: "This is a Star Trek book, so where are Kirk and Co?" No need to fear, I'll tell you. While the High Ranking Federation scientist (with a top secret project only she has the key to no less!) is in the vile clutches of the lusty Klingon, Kirk and friends are busying themselves singing songs and playing chess while Chekov finds himself in the embrace of the lusty Romulan.
For those who haven't figured it out by now, this was a painful read and no, I couldn't finish it. It just hurt. This book read less like a Star Trek book and more like the harlequin romance I was forced to read for a class.
Worse yet, there was a lot of potential for a really good story. The Federation Sceintest was kidnapped by Klingons because of her work in agricultral bio-engineering in the belief that she would help to stop a famine that was sweeping several Klingon planets. Now, that is a cool idea! Coupled with some good world building ideas the author threw in this could have been a really good book. Instead, the excitement and drama that such a plot should create was almost absent as our doormat-like protaganist spends the book (or at least the part I was able to get through) as far away and oblivious as can be from the tense political and social atmosphere on the Klingon planet she was on. Instead, we treated to the high drama of her trying to resist General Kang's lusty Klingon charms. The world building was somewhat more interesting, but again the potential falls flat since it seems more like a Wikipedia style info dump than an engaging exploration of a Klingon world. Groan.
Oh, yeah. Kirk & Co were in this as well. No, really. They were.
This is a good book if you're interested in seeing how NOT to write, but otherwise, if it's excitement and drama you're looking for, stick to the Wikipedia article. Don't waste your time on this one.
Oh, wait. That was a harlequin romance book I had to read for English class.
Here's the real synopsis: A high ranking Federation Scientist is kidnapped by a lusty Klingon and she spends the entire book saying: "No! No! I Will never love you!" All the while, the lusty Klingon is hovering nearby with a villainous grin saying: "Yes you will my sweet!"
Yeah, that's more like it!
I'm sure anyone reading this review is saying: "This is a Star Trek book, so where are Kirk and Co?" No need to fear, I'll tell you. While the High Ranking Federation scientist (with a top secret project only she has the key to no less!) is in the vile clutches of the lusty Klingon, Kirk and friends are busying themselves singing songs and playing chess while Chekov finds himself in the embrace of the lusty Romulan.
For those who haven't figured it out by now, this was a painful read and no, I couldn't finish it. It just hurt. This book read less like a Star Trek book and more like the harlequin romance I was forced to read for a class.
Worse yet, there was a lot of potential for a really good story. The Federation Sceintest was kidnapped by Klingons because of her work in agricultral bio-engineering in the belief that she would help to stop a famine that was sweeping several Klingon planets. Now, that is a cool idea! Coupled with some good world building ideas the author threw in this could have been a really good book. Instead, the excitement and drama that such a plot should create was almost absent as our doormat-like protaganist spends the book (or at least the part I was able to get through) as far away and oblivious as can be from the tense political and social atmosphere on the Klingon planet she was on. Instead, we treated to the high drama of her trying to resist General Kang's lusty Klingon charms. The world building was somewhat more interesting, but again the potential falls flat since it seems more like a Wikipedia style info dump than an engaging exploration of a Klingon world. Groan.
Oh, yeah. Kirk & Co were in this as well. No, really. They were.
This is a good book if you're interested in seeing how NOT to write, but otherwise, if it's excitement and drama you're looking for, stick to the Wikipedia article. Don't waste your time on this one.
December 17, 2012
This review needs a title! Two choices: A guilty pleasure, but a pleasure nonetheless. Or: Yes, Jean Czerny is a Mary Sue. Yes, this is fanfic. It's a good story, anyway!
In brief, I'd like to point you to Matthew Schiariti's review on amazon. He does a good job pointing out the book's strengths and weaknesses, and I agree with him. In particular, I, too, loved the exploration of "classic", pre-ridge Klingon society, and loved that almost no one in the book was exactly what they seemed to be. Larson doesn't do this sort of thing quite as well as Megan Whalen Turner, true. She still handles her main plot pretty well.
She also does a good job with her Klingons. Whereas I could never understand, watching TNG and DS9, why the heck the Klingons hadn't blown themselves to kingdom come ages ago, Larson gives us a workable society with bonds and restraints, and positive as well as negatives. Finally, I thought Larson did a fine job exploring two of my three favorite TOS Klingons, Kang and Mara, and I liked her original characters - even Jean Czerny, most of the way through.
Aernath, her original MC, basically rocks. He's a Klingon who's not a warrior, but who accepts the soldier's ethos without question. He's clever, funny at times, fiercely loyal, and - as Paul Delgardie said of Peter Wimsey - he's got the devil's own pluck, the sort of courage that sees the risks clearly and takes them anyway.
I'll have more to say about this book and its strengths and weaknesses elsewhere. As to the rating, as I've said before, I'm trying to judge books based on what they try to achieve. Other four star books have more literary merit than this one. It's a series novel based on a TV show, and its flaws are obvious, but so are its strengths. I thoroughly enjoyed it when I first read it more than twenty years ago, and I found it worth rereading. My two cents!
In brief, I'd like to point you to Matthew Schiariti's review on amazon. He does a good job pointing out the book's strengths and weaknesses, and I agree with him. In particular, I, too, loved the exploration of "classic", pre-ridge Klingon society, and loved that almost no one in the book was exactly what they seemed to be. Larson doesn't do this sort of thing quite as well as Megan Whalen Turner, true. She still handles her main plot pretty well.
She also does a good job with her Klingons. Whereas I could never understand, watching TNG and DS9, why the heck the Klingons hadn't blown themselves to kingdom come ages ago, Larson gives us a workable society with bonds and restraints, and positive as well as negatives. Finally, I thought Larson did a fine job exploring two of my three favorite TOS Klingons, Kang and Mara, and I liked her original characters - even Jean Czerny, most of the way through.
Aernath, her original MC, basically rocks. He's a Klingon who's not a warrior, but who accepts the soldier's ethos without question. He's clever, funny at times, fiercely loyal, and - as Paul Delgardie said of Peter Wimsey - he's got the devil's own pluck, the sort of courage that sees the risks clearly and takes them anyway.
I'll have more to say about this book and its strengths and weaknesses elsewhere. As to the rating, as I've said before, I'm trying to judge books based on what they try to achieve. Other four star books have more literary merit than this one. It's a series novel based on a TV show, and its flaws are obvious, but so are its strengths. I thoroughly enjoyed it when I first read it more than twenty years ago, and I found it worth rereading. My two cents!
March 15, 2023
Oh boy...this book was...awful. Firstly, we've got a whole bunch of Klingon lore that is trying to build on previous novels...and ends up portraying the Klingons completely differently than they would later be developed - which is funny considering that TNG was in pre-production during this novel's publication. You think somebody, somewhere would be communicating this information to someone. But, on to the story.
A lady-scientist, and former Starfleet Officer, nearly dies in an earthquake on a world near the Federation-Klingon Empire border, and is subsequently rescued by Klingons. Specifically Kang. of TOS fame, who is also apparently next-in-line to be Emperor. You see, lady-scientist, Jean, has been developing a new strain of that magical Trouble With Tribbles wheat, and the Klingons want it desperately because the entire Empire is currently suffering a famine due to a blight, and magic wheat is the cure, but it's also super secret and no one can know about it. At any rate, Kang decides that the best way to handle his captive is by forcing himself on her - 'cause he's a real hero type. But it's okay, because Jean realizes that she secretly likes people who imprison her and try to rape her, so she starts banging him and then Kang decides he wants to make her his new Consort...although, she's still under the Klingon-version of the life debt, so even if she accepts his offer, which spoiler she does, she still can't consent seeing as how she has no freedom...but, I digress.
Eventually, Jean escapes back to the Federation and convinces both them and Kang that they need to negotiate in peace because the Federation will happily help them solve their famine issues, no questions asked, but, of course, Klingons are too proud to accept charity, so, blah, blah, blah, posturing and penis-measuring between Kirk and Kang. Oh, at one point, another Klingon, who coincidentally has sworn a life debt to Jean, accidentally wanders into a restricted area on the Enterprise, because, we later learn, Klingon's don't see all of the visible spectrum, a.k.a. they can't see red, but they can see two colors into the ultraviolet range that we can't - tuck that lore away in the "will never be talked about again" category. But, Security stops him and then proceeds to torture him with fists to the face while questioning him until Spock tells everyone about the "no see red thing" and it's all been a misunderstanding...no hard feelings, right friend? Sorry we in the Federation, who have been trying to convince how fun and friendly and happy and not evil we are beat the shit out of you because you were walking around a place we didn't bother to put door locks on.
Oh, Jean also gets captured by some other Klingons too as she is escaping the Empire and is tortured to the point of death six times, they resuscitate her every time...but, it's okay, because Kang didn't know about it, and is sexy and she wants to bang him, even though he doesn't really punish the torturers, well, maybe a slap on the wrist. We just really need to understand Klingon culture, the book keeps telling us, to see how truly amazing and compassionate they are.
During the climax phase, at the negotiations, Kirk somehow accidentally and unknowingly combines all the words together that activated Jean, who turns out wasn't just a humble lady-scientist after all, but was actually a super-spy, Starfleet agent, who was planted into the Klingon Empire to convince them to negotiate with the Federation, because the Federation knew about the famine all along and wanted to help the Empire, but knew they wouldn't accept charity, so they sent Jean to contact a pro-Federation group in the Empire...and also to get raped, tortured, and killed...just like the peaceful, enlightened, humanitarians they are.
I swear...these TOS books are like the absolute worst. In an alternate history, where The Next Generation never existed, Star Trek would be one of the those best forgotten chapters in science fiction history...
A lady-scientist, and former Starfleet Officer, nearly dies in an earthquake on a world near the Federation-Klingon Empire border, and is subsequently rescued by Klingons. Specifically Kang. of TOS fame, who is also apparently next-in-line to be Emperor. You see, lady-scientist, Jean, has been developing a new strain of that magical Trouble With Tribbles wheat, and the Klingons want it desperately because the entire Empire is currently suffering a famine due to a blight, and magic wheat is the cure, but it's also super secret and no one can know about it. At any rate, Kang decides that the best way to handle his captive is by forcing himself on her - 'cause he's a real hero type. But it's okay, because Jean realizes that she secretly likes people who imprison her and try to rape her, so she starts banging him and then Kang decides he wants to make her his new Consort...although, she's still under the Klingon-version of the life debt, so even if she accepts his offer, which spoiler she does, she still can't consent seeing as how she has no freedom...but, I digress.
Eventually, Jean escapes back to the Federation and convinces both them and Kang that they need to negotiate in peace because the Federation will happily help them solve their famine issues, no questions asked, but, of course, Klingons are too proud to accept charity, so, blah, blah, blah, posturing and penis-measuring between Kirk and Kang. Oh, at one point, another Klingon, who coincidentally has sworn a life debt to Jean, accidentally wanders into a restricted area on the Enterprise, because, we later learn, Klingon's don't see all of the visible spectrum, a.k.a. they can't see red, but they can see two colors into the ultraviolet range that we can't - tuck that lore away in the "will never be talked about again" category. But, Security stops him and then proceeds to torture him with fists to the face while questioning him until Spock tells everyone about the "no see red thing" and it's all been a misunderstanding...no hard feelings, right friend? Sorry we in the Federation, who have been trying to convince how fun and friendly and happy and not evil we are beat the shit out of you because you were walking around a place we didn't bother to put door locks on.
Oh, Jean also gets captured by some other Klingons too as she is escaping the Empire and is tortured to the point of death six times, they resuscitate her every time...but, it's okay, because Kang didn't know about it, and is sexy and she wants to bang him, even though he doesn't really punish the torturers, well, maybe a slap on the wrist. We just really need to understand Klingon culture, the book keeps telling us, to see how truly amazing and compassionate they are.
During the climax phase, at the negotiations, Kirk somehow accidentally and unknowingly combines all the words together that activated Jean, who turns out wasn't just a humble lady-scientist after all, but was actually a super-spy, Starfleet agent, who was planted into the Klingon Empire to convince them to negotiate with the Federation, because the Federation knew about the famine all along and wanted to help the Empire, but knew they wouldn't accept charity, so they sent Jean to contact a pro-Federation group in the Empire...and also to get raped, tortured, and killed...just like the peaceful, enlightened, humanitarians they are.
I swear...these TOS books are like the absolute worst. In an alternate history, where The Next Generation never existed, Star Trek would be one of the those best forgotten chapters in science fiction history...
August 22, 2019
This wasn't really a star trek novel.
It was more of a historical-style romance / YA romantasy type book, just with scifi instead of fantasy elements, and quite a clichéd and campy one, too. The author clearly wanted to write her own kind of story and used the ST brand as a selling point.
I still enjoyed a lot of it, though.
There were some insights on how the author imagined Klingon culture, there was the slight mystery of what Kang's plans with Jean really were, I found the writing style to be quite enjoyable and Jean's relationships to the two Klingon men were nice to read about, too.
There was also a "so bad it's good" element e. g. about how useless the segments with the enterprise crew were in this. They basically (except the in the ending) just sang a song, played chess and discussed colour perception.
But it's also trash in a way. Jean is either totally weak or a badass depending on what the plot demands. The plot didn't always seem consistent and some of the author's decisions didn't entirely work for me and I already mentioned there were tons of tropes that weren't done in a new way. Also, the Enterprise elements felt like they were tagged on later.
I wouldn't call it a good book, to be honest, but there is definitely an audience for it.
It was more of a historical-style romance / YA romantasy type book, just with scifi instead of fantasy elements, and quite a clichéd and campy one, too. The author clearly wanted to write her own kind of story and used the ST brand as a selling point.
I still enjoyed a lot of it, though.
There were some insights on how the author imagined Klingon culture, there was the slight mystery of what Kang's plans with Jean really were, I found the writing style to be quite enjoyable and Jean's relationships to the two Klingon men were nice to read about, too.
There was also a "so bad it's good" element e. g. about how useless the segments with the enterprise crew were in this. They basically (except the in the ending) just sang a song, played chess and discussed colour perception.
But it's also trash in a way. Jean is either totally weak or a badass depending on what the plot demands. The plot didn't always seem consistent and some of the author's decisions didn't entirely work for me and I already mentioned there were tons of tropes that weren't done in a new way. Also, the Enterprise elements felt like they were tagged on later.
I wouldn't call it a good book, to be honest, but there is definitely an audience for it.
April 30, 2024
Famine
An interesting bonding of races. Seeming foes find a mutual cause in a most round about way.I've been a Star Trek fan since the 60'sand still enjoy it. The original series holds a special place for me but I enjoy all the iterations of it. I've read many of the books and hope to read many more. These are fun for any fan.
An interesting bonding of races. Seeming foes find a mutual cause in a most round about way.I've been a Star Trek fan since the 60'sand still enjoy it. The original series holds a special place for me but I enjoy all the iterations of it. I've read many of the books and hope to read many more. These are fun for any fan.
July 24, 2019
Bit of a disjointed mess with a story that only peripherally involves the Enterprise and her crew
Read
December 21, 2019Really enjoyed this one. It made me think quite a bit of The Final Reflection, which also tries to show more complexity to Klingon culture. What separates this for me was in how much more entertaining the overall story is. It’s an engaging plot that moves along nicely. Also, as I have also been rewatching the original episodes - there are quite a bit of references in here.
September 27, 2017
'Pawns and Symbols' is an icky entry Synopsis: The Enterprise is called to Sherman's Planet, where agricultural scientist Jean Czerny is adapting a new quadrotriticale seed (The Trouble with Tribbles, anyone?). However, by the time they arrive, Jean has been taken captive by Commander Kang, a ruthless Klingon who will do anything to get the new seed to his starving worlds, including using force on the scientist. But Jean is not all that she seems and the situation is not a simple case of kidnapping. Jean is forced to live among the Klingons, working to end the famine that threatens their empire. But even as she adapts to her brutal new surroundings, new dangers and intrigues threaten to overwhelm her and her newly adopted mission of mercy. Will she ever see the Federation again?Pawns and Symbols is... frankly, a weird entry in the series. It reads more like a historical romance book than a Star Trek episode: an intelligent young woman is captured by a powerful, but still attractive half-savage and uses both her brains and her body to survive the encounter, learning, as she does, that the man and the culture are not quite as bad as she first thought. It reminded me a lot of the 1919 novel The Sheik, and that's no compliment. The Sheik, the story a man who captures and brutalizes a woman who eventually falls in love with him, was a sensation in it's time, spawning a popular movie and sequel. In Pawns, after his attempt to rape Jean is interrupted, Kang forces her into a sort of concubine role and she is used and abused throughout the rest of the book, beaten quite severely at times. I may be oversensitive, but I found this to be an uncomfortable read. Abusive characters like the Sheik and Kang are next to impossible to redeem and encouraging fantasies about them and excusing their behavior is a dangerous game to play.Anyhoo, preaching aside, Kirk and crew are hardly in the book at all, though they are well written when they appear (there's an odd episode with them in the middle book that seems more like a short story than a necessary part of the novel). The author goes into great detail about the Klingon Empire, but while she spends a lot of time on Jean and Kang, she leaves her other new characters short on personality and backstory. In sum, the book feels more like better-than-most fan-fiction written by a woman who had a lot of fantasies about Klingons (in particular, the commander from Day of the Dove) and probably should talk to someone about that. Not recommended: skip this and go see next week's theater showings of Wrath of Khan instead.
January 15, 2018
I want to at least start on a charitable note: I can see what this book may have been aiming for, and I do appreciate the expanded universe's attempts to show Klingons and Romulans from another angle than that of the antagonist of the week, even though in this case they often fell a little flat for me and jarred against what other books established. Still, the attempt saves it from getting one star.
That said, *what even was the relationship between Kang and Jean meant to be?* I'm sorry, but I'm not buying something that starts with a marriage where one of the partners isn't even aware it is one, followed by an assault that gets explained away as "if he wanted to rape you he would have", as the kind of relationship the book seemed to be trying to sell it as.
That said, *what even was the relationship between Kang and Jean meant to be?* I'm sorry, but I'm not buying something that starts with a marriage where one of the partners isn't even aware it is one, followed by an assault that gets explained away as "if he wanted to rape you he would have", as the kind of relationship the book seemed to be trying to sell it as.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 27, 2012
I mostly remember it for it's meandering plot, some odd focus on the medical differences between the eyesight of Klingons and Humans, and...something else? There was a plot, I swear. Something to do with the grain we saw on the 'Trouble with Tribbles' episode, and starving people, that we don't see. Really odd, not very good.
April 10, 2011
This could well be the dullest, least enjoyable Star Trek novel ever written. Did anything worthy of note actually OCCUR in this novel? I certainly can't recall...and I have no desire to go back and try again. Perhaps one day, when my courage is up to it.
December 31, 2015
Interesting primarily due to its exploration of Klingon society and culture at a time when very little was canon. Of course, nearly everything posited in this book has since been contradicted by later Trek shows, but that's common to many of the Trek novels.
August 4, 2008
One of the weaker Star Trek novels. The Klingons are too nice!
May 3, 2010
Less time is spent with the original characters than with the exploration of various cultures of the Klingon worlds, through the eyes of a Federations scientist who has been taken prisoner.
May 9, 2011
I am amazed that people consider this a great book. Actually, I'm amazed it got published as a ST novel -- even with as uneven as the early ones were.
January 20, 2024
Pawns and Symbols by Majliss Larson
Challenging, emotional, funny, inspiring,
reflective, and tense.
Medium-paced
Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5 Stars
This story revolves around the The Original Series Klingons. The ones that look like swarthy humans.
In this novel, we learn a LOT about them (for which I have NO idea why we actually need it, since by this time...Klingons have been shown with the ridges on their foreheads).
Commander Kang, which was on TOS S3:E7 Day of the Dove.
One of the things that I did like about the book...was the extensive worldbuilding within the Klingon Empire. It started to explain the idea of honor (which the previous Klingons within TOS were not really known for). Their representation to me...reminds me more of our view of Arabia. This is what came to mind...while reading this book. It doesn't mean that it is a perfect "one to one" representation, but there are similarities (at least in my knowledge).
The colour blindness was an interesting thing...that I questioned before its reveal (so I thought that was cool).
The way Kang treated Jean Czerny, reminds me how Khan treated the historian (crew member of the Enterprise) that eventually became his lover. He treated her roughly, and with very little care for her safety IF she wasn't devoted to him.
The use of mindmelds by Spock...and what could actually happen/remain happening was interesting. Not sure if this is explored any more within the books.
I'm really interested how the TOS novels are going to deal with the humanoid looking Klingons...when they introduce the Klingons with the ridges and the warrior cast and honour. It was started here, but I'm interested how they will explain it.
I used to run (MANY years ago the Star Trek FASA rpg...and they explained the more human-like Klingons as a thing that was done purposefully, to deal with the humans...near the border...with the REAL Klingons further into the Empire...and more aggressive, but highly honourable.
The story also deals with a character that is suffering from amnesia, which is always an interesting plot point.
Also, the use of the crew of the Enterprise was good to see, above and beyond the core group from the TV and movies. These crewmen are integral, so it was cool to see the author write unique and interesting characters.
This wasn't one of my favourite novels within the Star Trek TOS era, but I did believe it was a good book...just with some narrative frustrations for me.
Challenging, emotional, funny, inspiring,
reflective, and tense.
Medium-paced
Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5 Stars
This story revolves around the The Original Series Klingons. The ones that look like swarthy humans.
In this novel, we learn a LOT about them (for which I have NO idea why we actually need it, since by this time...Klingons have been shown with the ridges on their foreheads).
Commander Kang, which was on TOS S3:E7 Day of the Dove.
One of the things that I did like about the book...was the extensive worldbuilding within the Klingon Empire. It started to explain the idea of honor (which the previous Klingons within TOS were not really known for). Their representation to me...reminds me more of our view of Arabia. This is what came to mind...while reading this book. It doesn't mean that it is a perfect "one to one" representation, but there are similarities (at least in my knowledge).
The colour blindness was an interesting thing...that I questioned before its reveal (so I thought that was cool).
The way Kang treated Jean Czerny, reminds me how Khan treated the historian (crew member of the Enterprise) that eventually became his lover. He treated her roughly, and with very little care for her safety IF she wasn't devoted to him.
The use of mindmelds by Spock...and what could actually happen/remain happening was interesting. Not sure if this is explored any more within the books.
I'm really interested how the TOS novels are going to deal with the humanoid looking Klingons...when they introduce the Klingons with the ridges and the warrior cast and honour. It was started here, but I'm interested how they will explain it.
I used to run (MANY years ago the Star Trek FASA rpg...and they explained the more human-like Klingons as a thing that was done purposefully, to deal with the humans...near the border...with the REAL Klingons further into the Empire...and more aggressive, but highly honourable.
The story also deals with a character that is suffering from amnesia, which is always an interesting plot point.
Also, the use of the crew of the Enterprise was good to see, above and beyond the core group from the TV and movies. These crewmen are integral, so it was cool to see the author write unique and interesting characters.
This wasn't one of my favourite novels within the Star Trek TOS era, but I did believe it was a good book...just with some narrative frustrations for me.
Read
August 5, 2018I've decided to add the old Star Trek books I have read to my Goodreads profile. I'm not going to give them star ratings, though.
Pawns and Symbols was always one of my favorite Star Trek novels. I re-read it today, and it's much more complex than I remembered.
Most of the book is spent not with the Enterprise crew, but with an original character, Jean Czerny, an agricultural specialist who is kidnapped by Klingons. For an original character, Czerny was a nuanced, interesting, and not at all a Mary Sue.
I really liked the portrayal of most of the Klingon characters, especially Aernath and Kang. The author did a great job of expanding on Klingon culture, although most of the details in this book are, sadly, probably not considered Star Trek canon.
The author seems to enjoy tying random Star Trek facts from the show into her book. (I'm assuming the author is a woman, but I haven't been able to find any info.) Two of the main characters, Kang and Mara, are from the episode "Day of the Dove," and Cyrano Jones from "The Trouble with Tribbles" makes an unfortunate, unnecessary appearance. Numerous other minor characters from the show are also included.
One incident kind of disturbed me:
The parts of the book that did focus on the Enterprise were the worst parts. In particular, I'm talking about one completely skippable chapter right in the middle of the book that was obviously tacked on at the last minute to add to the book's page length and to feature the Enterprise crew enough for this to be considered a Star Trek novel. This chapter involves the Enterprise rescuing a female Romulan, a cringeworthy romance between Chekov and said Romulan, and another cringeworthy romance for Doctor McCoy. It adds nothing to the plot and has no place being in this book. It even feels like it was written by someone else.
Although Pawns and Symbols isn't very well written, I found it fun to read, especially the parts about Klingon culture and Czerny's interactions with the Klingon characters.
Pawns and Symbols was always one of my favorite Star Trek novels. I re-read it today, and it's much more complex than I remembered.
Most of the book is spent not with the Enterprise crew, but with an original character, Jean Czerny, an agricultural specialist who is kidnapped by Klingons. For an original character, Czerny was a nuanced, interesting, and not at all a Mary Sue.
I really liked the portrayal of most of the Klingon characters, especially Aernath and Kang. The author did a great job of expanding on Klingon culture, although most of the details in this book are, sadly, probably not considered Star Trek canon.
The author seems to enjoy tying random Star Trek facts from the show into her book. (I'm assuming the author is a woman, but I haven't been able to find any info.) Two of the main characters, Kang and Mara, are from the episode "Day of the Dove," and Cyrano Jones from "The Trouble with Tribbles" makes an unfortunate, unnecessary appearance. Numerous other minor characters from the show are also included.
One incident kind of disturbed me:
The parts of the book that did focus on the Enterprise were the worst parts. In particular, I'm talking about one completely skippable chapter right in the middle of the book that was obviously tacked on at the last minute to add to the book's page length and to feature the Enterprise crew enough for this to be considered a Star Trek novel. This chapter involves the Enterprise rescuing a female Romulan, a cringeworthy romance between Chekov and said Romulan, and another cringeworthy romance for Doctor McCoy. It adds nothing to the plot and has no place being in this book. It even feels like it was written by someone else.
Although Pawns and Symbols isn't very well written, I found it fun to read, especially the parts about Klingon culture and Czerny's interactions with the Klingon characters.
January 31, 2024
Any resemblance to a Star Trek story is purely coincidental. This is a story about the Stockholm Syndrome times two. Two different women but similar stories. One story is fleshed out, the other is a stem of a story. There is a twist at the end but it makes no sense and is very un-Federation. Why not ask the Klingons directly instead of all the cloak and dagger.
Spock mind-melds with everyone he meets and Klingons are rapists without honor. For some reason there is a section where we learn in detail about Klingon eyesight. We learn Kirk doesn’t tell his security chief what is going on on his own ship. If that wasn’t enough, McCoy and Chekov don’t have a problem slapping a woman for no explainable reason. A serious danger to the ship is solved by a mind-melding Spock without a clear explanation.
I was surprised the author was a woman. As a man, I wouldn’t write such a book and am surprised a woman would write something where our heroine falls in love with the man who tried to rape her and used his dagger to cut through her clothes. This is the oddest choice for a Star Trek book and I wonder how it was approved. Guess it was released in that time when no-one had say about what would be published. Finally, I can’t recommend this book to anyone.
Spock mind-melds with everyone he meets and Klingons are rapists without honor. For some reason there is a section where we learn in detail about Klingon eyesight. We learn Kirk doesn’t tell his security chief what is going on on his own ship. If that wasn’t enough, McCoy and Chekov don’t have a problem slapping a woman for no explainable reason. A serious danger to the ship is solved by a mind-melding Spock without a clear explanation.
I was surprised the author was a woman. As a man, I wouldn’t write such a book and am surprised a woman would write something where our heroine falls in love with the man who tried to rape her and used his dagger to cut through her clothes. This is the oddest choice for a Star Trek book and I wonder how it was approved. Guess it was released in that time when no-one had say about what would be published. Finally, I can’t recommend this book to anyone.
November 3, 2019
For what it is - a book that is a loosely "Star Trek" inspired re-shell of what is (apparently) a high-concept bit of romantic, historical fiction, this seems a decent enough effort. For a nominal "Star Trek" book, it is a bit of loss. The series characters are largely relegated to glorified cameos, and there is an odd planet-based midsection which seems vastly out of line with "traditional" Trek themes or style. The extrapolation of Klingon culture (this was written well before later series, especially through Worf's various character arcs) is reasonable enough - given what "Trek" had established to this point, but feels (now) somewhat at odds with a lot of what later series (through to "Discovery") have established.
In the end, it depends on what you are looking for. As a "Star Trek" book, this is a mediocre, if not outright poor, effort. For a vaguely "Trek-like" inspired bit of melodramatic/historical fiction, it generally is readable - although to be honest, it occasionally felt like it was restraining itself from wanting to go "50 Shades of Star Trek", you know, before such things were popular and more widely accepted.
In the end, it depends on what you are looking for. As a "Star Trek" book, this is a mediocre, if not outright poor, effort. For a vaguely "Trek-like" inspired bit of melodramatic/historical fiction, it generally is readable - although to be honest, it occasionally felt like it was restraining itself from wanting to go "50 Shades of Star Trek", you know, before such things were popular and more widely accepted.
February 11, 2018
An illustration of the Stockholm syndrome packaged in a poltical intrige against the background of intergalactic famine. While it is easy to understand that having sex is a small price to pay for survival and a chance on freedom later, the author brings this in a way that makes it difficulet to digest as a reader. The psychological fights and several planes take a large part of this book, even when there is continuously violent action. A complex plot where the last secrets are only revealed at the very end that forms a missing link in the creation of a world where both Klingons and Terrans live together.
The use of a child as the ultimate bait gives more that a bit of déjà-vu in todays' world dominated by islamic terrorism - many years before it got to be omnipresent in the headlines.
A books that grabs you from the beginning and plays all your emotions...
The use of a child as the ultimate bait gives more that a bit of déjà-vu in todays' world dominated by islamic terrorism - many years before it got to be omnipresent in the headlines.
A books that grabs you from the beginning and plays all your emotions...
April 5, 2020
Set after the classic episode "Day of the Dove", this book focuses on Star Fleet Agriculture Specialist Jean Czerny's after being "rescued" by Kang and his crew from an incident on Sherman's planet. How Czerny deals/survives with Kang and the other Klingons is interesting, but, as with previous early Trek novels I've read, there's not enough Kirk and the Enterprise crew for me.
The last quarter of the book has an infamous character appear, along with some iconic creatures, that seemed inserted to satisfy readers like me. This individual and the animals were completely unnecessary to the plot, adding an unbelievable comedic level to the story. There's also an odd scientific revelation about something the Klingons can't see, which also added nothing to the plot.
I enjoyed reading about Kang, but wanted more of the familiar protagonists.
The last quarter of the book has an infamous character appear, along with some iconic creatures, that seemed inserted to satisfy readers like me. This individual and the animals were completely unnecessary to the plot, adding an unbelievable comedic level to the story. There's also an odd scientific revelation about something the Klingons can't see, which also added nothing to the plot.
I enjoyed reading about Kang, but wanted more of the familiar protagonists.
August 19, 2018
I don't understand these kinds of Star Trek stories. For me it feels like an author has idea for a story, world and a character and just slightly adapts to fit Star Trek so they can sell it as a Star Trek novel. The book hardly deals with the Enterprise and Kirk and mostly focuses on a girl abducted by Klingons and her story. The parts that actually had the Enterprise in it were interesting enough with a short story of Chekov and some Romulans thrown in there for some mysterious reason (I know the Klingons were "distracting" the Enterprise but it really was a pointless story). Overall the story was interesting enough and I had to put aside my annoyance into being duped into a Star Trek novel that is Star Trek in name only. But I have read better and I am mad at it so... it's okay.
November 19, 2024
I didn’t enjoy this one very much. Perhaps it was because there was so little Kirk, Spock, and McCoy, or maybe it was the constant extreme violence against women! I suppose it was easier to tolerate the image of a woman’s heart being tortuously stopped and restarted dozens of times under the guise of “see how insanely brutish these Klingons are!?!”, but overall the story wasn’t much fun.
The highlight of the book was the brief utilization of menace-of-the-universe Cyrano Jones (from The Trouble with Tribbles) to aid in a particular mission.
The highlight of the book was the brief utilization of menace-of-the-universe Cyrano Jones (from The Trouble with Tribbles) to aid in a particular mission.
”…once upon a time I found myself in a rather nasty planet—natives weren’t too friendly.”….
…“Spock greeted the end of the story with both eyebrows raised”.
December 28, 2018
Agricultural Specialist Jean Czerny is captured by the Klingons, along with her new strain of quadrotriticale. As she enters captivity, she discovers the Klingon Empire is on its knees due to a severe famine and her grain may be their only hope for survival.
Majliss Larson has created an interesting view of the Klingons and, although some of her ideas are superceded by the later series, there is a sense of honour as a driving force in this Empire for the first time in 'Star Trek' lore.
Majliss Larson has created an interesting view of the Klingons and, although some of her ideas are superceded by the later series, there is a sense of honour as a driving force in this Empire for the first time in 'Star Trek' lore.
September 27, 2025
See the mixed reviews below, some too high, some too low? Yeah, that about sums it up. Worth reading, if only for Aernath. But I don't blame the readers who are frustrated with it, or hostile towards it, as there's just too much world-building that contradicts earlier works and also that will not be kept in later ones (so, yeah, not 'really' a ST book but more akin to a bodice-ripper [at least twice, literally, her tunic is slit open]).
January 28, 2022
Okay,... Nope. This was far from a good novel. I mean, none of the behaviour makes sense. And I'm not just talking about the Klingons. Even the human behaviour was so off, that without internal monologue to explain it, I'm at a loss to make sense of it. This novel is what I mean when I say that neurotypical storytelling is sometimes inaccessible for non-neurotypical people.
July 16, 2021
This one reads like it was written by a quite young person drafting a fan fiction. We see our own crew very little, and the main character—an original character, of course—seems to be the author's avatar (i.e. a Mary Sue).
Having said that, there is some great character building. Several of the Klingons and even our perfect (except for when we need her not to be, of course) heroine have fully fleshed out personalities. The famine plot is also not bad at all.
There is quite a bit of Stockholm Syndrome and ongoing rape disguised to look like sex with consent which, if you weren't aware, is literally not possible when you're holding the person prisoner and refusing to ever let them go home. This is not easy to read and often turned my stomach, not because of what was being done, but because our Mary Sue seemed not to ever recognize what it actually was. It makes my skin crawl when an author seems completely oblivious to the fact they are writing rape scenes while treating them like love scenes.
The writing tends to go off the rails sometimes, waxing poetical as if the author believed it was considerably more poignant or fascinating than it was. But I have seen worse, certainly in Star Trek novels.
If for nothing else but its exploration of Klingons and their culture, I think this book earns about 2.75 stars. If you don't mind a bit of ham-fisted fanfic now and then, you might like it.
Having said that, there is some great character building. Several of the Klingons and even our perfect (except for when we need her not to be, of course) heroine have fully fleshed out personalities. The famine plot is also not bad at all.
There is quite a bit of Stockholm Syndrome and ongoing rape disguised to look like sex with consent which, if you weren't aware, is literally not possible when you're holding the person prisoner and refusing to ever let them go home. This is not easy to read and often turned my stomach, not because of what was being done, but because our Mary Sue seemed not to ever recognize what it actually was. It makes my skin crawl when an author seems completely oblivious to the fact they are writing rape scenes while treating them like love scenes.
The writing tends to go off the rails sometimes, waxing poetical as if the author believed it was considerably more poignant or fascinating than it was. But I have seen worse, certainly in Star Trek novels.
If for nothing else but its exploration of Klingons and their culture, I think this book earns about 2.75 stars. If you don't mind a bit of ham-fisted fanfic now and then, you might like it.
August 5, 2023
Good fun but this is really just a retelling of any number of romance novels with a Klingon swapped over for the brooding squire with a heart of gold. Throw in a bunch of subplots that never go anywhere and a ton of Trek Bingo and you have something that is less competent than it should have been.
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