Star Trek: Next Generation-Kahless

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a parable if you will, on the dangers of placing to much importance on the historical literality of our mytho-historical cultural icons.Most people would understand and agree, for instance, that it neither lessens nor invalidates the importance of either George Washington or the quality of honesty if he did not, in fact, chop down a cherry tree and then unequivocally plead guilty to having done so as a child, nor does it lessen his importance in the winning of the American Revolution if he did not, in fact, throw a silver dollar across the Delaware (Potomac?) River.Yet unfortunately, just as this books finds many Klingons struggling with the validity of the qualities that they've been brought up to believe in -- honor and courage and valor -- when it is discovered that their mytho-historical proto-Klingon, Kahless, did not in literal fact climb an erupting volcano in order to singe a lock of his hair, nor spin the first bat'telh, a Klingon edged weapon deadlier than a sword, out...Read more

To those who are not familiar with Star Trek. During the Next Generation series the original Kahless was cloned by some Klingon clerics by using his DNA. The cloned Kahless was made a figurehead emperor. Michael Jan Friedman novel is about this Kahless. Apparently a Klingon cleric has found a scroll that reveals that the legend of Kahless is not what everyone assumed it to be. Instead of being a great warrior he was a man pushed into a situation beyond his control. The validity of the restored emperor becomes suspect. This threatens to throw the Klingon empire into a civil war (WHAT ELSE IS NEW !! ). The story goes back and forth between the present and the time of the original Kahless. Of course Lt. Worf is at the center of the controversy. He was appointed to analyze the documents ( a copy was sent to him on the Enterprise). The documents were found to be authentic. The real Kahless wrote and left the documents in order to clarify the legend that was growing about him. This...Read more

If you are looking for the greatest bit of prose ever offered in the genre, you will be disappointed. Michael Jan Friedman is not my favorite Star Trek writer. However, despite the fact that this novel does what I HATE Star Trek novels to do, bounce back and forth between the "present" of Tne Next Generation and the past of the Klingon Empire 1500 years ago, it does offer an insight into the history of the Klingon Empire.

What are Kingons? What is their legacy? In "In the Name of Honor," which takes place in the time period of "The Original Series," we learn of the ideological struggle and change going on within Klingon society. In that novel, the teachings of Kahless gain a new vigor in Klingon society. However, decades later, that "fundamentalist" Kahless teaching comes under assault. The present-day Picard is off on a mission to determine that is going on within the Klingon Empire. In this novel, we learn the truth about Kahless. This novel isn't about fighting,...Read more