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"Culture And Agriculture On The Klingon Homeworld"
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A book by Keith R. A. DeCandido
< read all 1 reviewsCulture And Agriculture On The Klingon Homeworld
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Oct 6, 2010
- by kfontenot
- posted in Where No Website Has Gone Before
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Keith R.A. DeCandido brings fans of the IKS Gorkon series deep into the lives of Klingons in "A Burning House." Picking up after the events of the third IKS Gorkon novel ("Enemy Territory") left off, "Empire" finds Captain Klag and the crew of his Chancellor-class ship returning home for a bit of shore leave while the ship is being repaired.
+4
It gives the reader a very unique look into the lives of an alien race that has almost always been seen as nothing more than barbaric, feudal warriors.
From poverty to local celebrations, DeCandido covers it all. Sounds boring, right? But as he always does, KRAD makes the story work. He makes the it work by splitting up members of the Gorkon's crew and putting them into what might appear to be mundane situations.
Of course, this is Qo'noS, so nothing is truly mundane. Klag spends most of this story in the background until the last quarter of the book. His family problems are addressed once again (fans of the series know what I'm talking about already). The Gorkon's doctor, B'Oraq, faces her contemporaries at a Klingon medical summit where she defends her grafting of Klag's father's arm onto Klag's body. Members of the proud Fifteenth Squad are also placed into tough situations. G'joth visits his old community in the Kenta district, and finds that it isn't necessarily the same as he remembers. In his tale, we get a glimpse at poverty and the Klingon opera. Wol and Goran show us Klingon farm life when they accompany Kagak to his old home on Pheben III. Rodek seeks out a cure (or at least an explanation) for his dreams in which he recalls memories that shouldn't be his. Klag's story is intertwined with Rodek's.
In fact, Rodek's story is the meatiest of the bunch, revealing a number of secrets in the Klingon empire that include such recognizable characters as Worf, Dr. Bashir, and Ezri Dax. B'Oraq's tale is essentially a look into political power plays in Klingon culture. It includes a subplot that involves Leskit and Kurak. G'joth's adventure shows the relationship between the haves and the have-nots. Goran, Kagak, and Wol's story is primarily used as a light interlude between the tougher stories of Rodek and Klag.
Fans of the IKS Gorkon series will recognize all of these characters. Fans of Star Trek in general, in particular Deep Space Nine, will recognize many of the key characters in this book as well. As always, DeCandido builds his characters with solid descriptions. It is very easy to visualize not only the characters who have made appearances on television, but those who have only appeared in the books as well. Once again, Goran is my favorite despite have a somewhat smaller role in this book than he had in some of the others. Wol and G'joth stand out as well.
If you haven't read any of the other IKS Gorkon books, you'll be able to grasp most of what's going on by the end of the first few chapters. With just a few words, DeCandido catches up readers new and old alike on what happened before this book.
A Klingon dictionary is provided in the back of the book to give the reader a bit of assistance on the many Klingon words used in the book.
Overall, "A Burning House" is a wonderful addition to the Klingon world of KRAD. He has expanded and developed the Klingon culture to an extent not even touched upon by other authors or any of the television shows. Highly recommended.
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About the reviewer
Kendall Fontenot (kfontenot)
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Despite looking extremely cool, I have to admit that I'm a dork. I grew up on the outskirts of the small town of Oberlin, LA. I have since relocated to the Lake Charles, LA area.I love my home state … more
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About this book
They have been the Federation's staunchest allies, and its fiercest adversaries. Cunning, ruthless, driven by an instinct for violence and defined by a complex code of honor, they must push ever outward in order to survive, defying the icy ravages of space with the fire of their hearts. They are the Klingons, and if you think you already know all there is to learn about them...think again.
From its highest echelons of power to the shocking depths of its lowest castes, from its savagely aggressive military to its humble farmers, from political machinations of galactic import to personal demons and family strife, the Klingon Empire is revealed as never before when the captain and crew of the I.K.S. Gorkon finally return to their homeworld of Qo'noS in a sweeping tale of intrigue, love, betrayal, and honor.
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