By BWilliams / 10:49, 25 November 2003 / Reviews - Books

Let's get it out of the way right at the start: Now this is a STAR TREK adventure series! Keith R.A. DeCandido has stepped up to the plate and once again hit a home run out of the ballpark, this time with A GOOD DAY TO DIE, the first book in the all-new I.K.S. GORKON series.

For quite some time fans have wondered what a STAR TREK series would be like if it focused exclusively on the Klingons. One rumor that floated around a few years back even mentioned the possibility of an all-Klingon television series. Now DeCandido has filled in that gap with I.K.S. GORKON, and once again he has established himself as one of a select handful of premiere Klingon writers in the STAR TREK expanded universe.

A GOOD DAY TO DIE is set shortly after the conclusion of THE BRAVE AND THE BOLD, which spotlighted the crew of the I.K.S. Gorkon, among others, in search of the Malkus Artifacts. They have returned home to Qo'nos to a warrior's welcome, complete with Klingon blood wine, head-butting, and much song and praise. Only the ancient Danes of BEOWULF lore would fit in just as well to such a celebration. Also returning home is Chancellor Martok who, at the end of the powerful THE LEFT HAND OF DESTINY series, successfully recaptured his right to rule the Klingon Empire and has come to celebrate his victory in welcome company.

But the celebration doesn't last for long, as Martok orders a group of Klingon vessels to explore the Kavrot system for possible colonization, supply, and restocking of needed resources in order for the continued survival of the Klingon Empire. Leading the exploratory fleet is the I.K.S. Gorkon, under the command of Captain Klag (from TNG's "A Matter of Honor"). On their months-long journey they discover a planet inhabited by the Children of San-Tarah, an aggressive animal-like species whose nature may in fact rival or better the Klingons. Their request is simple: the crew of the Gorkon will engage the San-Tarah in several martial art contests. If the Klingons win, the planet is theirs, and the San-Tarah will become part of the Klingon Empire. If the Klingons lose, then their empire must leave the San-Tarah alone. Always up to the challenge, Klag orders his crew to participate in the gladiatorial contests.

DeCandido brings to life the crew of the I.K.S. Gorkon and fleshes them out as fully three-dimensional Klingons with their warrior mentality and senses of honor and duty intact, just as we have seen them over the years. He capably sets up the opening chapters by introducing us to all of the key players of the series -- among them Klag, first officer Kornan, second officer Toq, Dr. Bo'raq, science officer Kurak, troop officer Wol, chief engineer Vall, and Rodek, the officer formerly known as Kurn who underwent a memory wipe to eradicate all memories of his past and his ties to his brother Worf, and who now struggles to regain his lost memories -- and their environment.

Unlike the Enterprise, the Gorkon is no luxury liner. DeCandido presents the Klingon equivalent of a naval submarine environment: cramped, several officers per quarters, yet plentifully stocked and battle-ready. In setting up the events of the series, DeCandido also presents the loneliness and even boredom aboard the Gorkon that permeates the first third of the novel. That is so often the case with many military vessels gone for months at a time, with very little or no means of diversion. Even the lower-class crewmen take to fighting among themselves over petty issues. But once the exploration of the Kavrot system gets underway, we see the Klingons return to true warrior fashion.

There is no Prime Directive at work here; therefore, the Klingons have free reign to do whatever they wish, wherever they go. Such is the case in A GOOD DAY TO DIE, as their confrontations with the San-Tarah become bloody and violent. Then again, it wouldn't be in their nature if the Klingons didn't enjoy a good fight. And the San-Tarah put up one incredible challenge. Very much akin to lions or tigers or bears (oh my!), their beliefs are very basic: survival of the fittest.

Keith DeCandido scores another winner with A GOOD DAY TO DIE and sets up the events that will unfold in future volumes in the I.K.S. GORKON series. With his latest novel he establishes himself in the upper echelon of STAR TREK and Klingon storytelling, amid welcome company such as John M. Ford, Ronald D. Moore, and J.G. Hertzler. This is one series I'm looking forward to enjoying! Qapla'!

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