So should we expect a character to mention that it's Thanksgiving on Earth at one point?
Spoilers Star Trek: Prey Trilogy - general discussion thread
- Thread starter Kertrats47
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"Captain, the Klingons are activating they're weapon systems!"
"Lieutenant, all power to the shiel..."
"By the way sir, it is thanksgiving now. Shall I send your family on Earth a subspace post card?"
"Now that you mention it that would be very nice. Make it so, Lieut..."
Then they all died.
There are lasting effects as I would regard them, but of course it'
Well, it's spring in 2386, so we're not quite at the same spot in the calendar. (But maybe they moved the holiday!) It's more that, as you start Book 3, you're about two months out from the 2386 events that begin Book 1.
As to lasting effects, there are, at least as I would regard them. But I suspect several post-Prey books were already in the can by the time I finished Hall of Heroes, so references might not have a lot of detail. That's on me; real life intervened between each of the three books, pushing my start dates on each one ahead of plan. (The running not-so-funny joke in our house was "Prey that it's on time!") But we made tomorrow's release, I'm delighted to say.
Well, it's spring in 2386, so we're not quite at the same spot in the calendar. (But maybe they moved the holiday!) It's more that, as you start Book 3, you're about two months out from the 2386 events that begin Book 1.
As to lasting effects, there are, at least as I would regard them. But I suspect several post-Prey books were already in the can by the time I finished Hall of Heroes, so references might not have a lot of detail. That's on me; real life intervened between each of the three books, pushing my start dates on each one ahead of plan. (The running not-so-funny joke in our house was "Prey that it's on time!") But we made tomorrow's release, I'm delighted to say.
Just finished Book 3--WOW, that's how you finish up a trilogy! I won't say much for now, I just want to wait to hear back from more readers of the final installment.
It does appear that Klingon culture has been changed by the events in this book. The idea of who gets discommendation in Klingon society will never be the same, that's for sure.
I think another part of the fallout from this series is the Typhon Pact. The Breen's scheme falls apart and the Romulans certainly aren't happy about this. Combined with the upheaval within Kinshaya society, the Typhon Pact has definitely suffered a serious setback.
I think another part of the fallout from this series is the Typhon Pact. The Breen's scheme falls apart and the Romulans certainly aren't happy about this. Combined with the upheaval within Kinshaya society, the Typhon Pact has definitely suffered a serious setback.
Hmm. "Buxtus Cross." Sounds like an allusion to the traditional North American road sign signifying a railroad crossing a highway at-grade (i.e., a "crossbuck").
My kid's a huge rail fan, but I admit I hadn't heard that term before today. Neat connection, though. As for the name, I just liked the sound of it.
And thanks, Titus!
And today's the day: The third and final PREY book, The Hall of Heroes, is in general release and available for download for mobile devices! Thanks for coming along on this ride; did my best to make sure it finished strong.
And while I do not have a bonus photo of a story element to share with this board as I did for the previous two books, there is a fun little thing you can go back and see after reading:
And while I do not have a bonus photo of a story element to share with this board as I did for the previous two books, there is a fun little thing you can go back and see after reading:
There are many references to magic words in the trilogy, of course, but there's also a word game present in the section titles. See if you can find it!
Well, I read The Hall of Heroes, and enjoyed it. It was a solid story, and sometime in the future, I plan to read the entire Prey series back to back to see how they fare together (considering I enjoyed each of the three, it should be pretty good all together). There were a couple of little things that I think could've been better - and the I.K.S. Gorkon definitely deserved more screen time - but when everything said and done, it was resolved well, with at least one loose thread that I can certainly see getting pulled out at a later date. Hopefully, there is some sort of, if not direct follow up, then at least references back to this story with regards to the politics or characters in this story - maybe we'll see Titan's protocol officer, Lt. Xaatix, more, or something on the state of the Federation-Klingon alliance.
By the way, the book consistently referred to Klag as a Captain, when at last seen (back in A Singular Destiny), he held the rank of General (although it was never specified if he was a Major General, Lieutenant General, or full General - nor has any particular source made mention of a two-, three-, or four-star General in the Klingon Defense Force) and commanded an entire battle fleet. Did he get a demotion in the last five years, or is it like what happened in Christopher Bennett's book Ex Machina, where Rear Admiral Kirk was always called Captain while in command of the Enterprise? I know some sources say that Kirk took a voluntary demotion to Captain for the duration of his command in the 2270s and was subsequently reinstated as a two-star Rear Admiral when he returned to Starfleet Command as the Chief of Starfleet Operations circa 2278, but that was never explicitly said in either Ex Machina or Forgotten History.
I'm still a little bummed we didn't see anything with President zh'Tarash, Fleet Admiral Akaar, or the rest of Starfleet Command or the Federation government, but, hey, Klag showed up!
In particular, I wonder how Rear Admiral Riker's "threat" of promoting Captain Dax for her actions during this book (not to mention her entire command) will play out, if they ever do.
Another interesting notion that I might like to see how it plays out is Valandris' romantic interest not in Worf, but in Alexander. And one could probably write a whole story about Ardra's and the others' "parole". (By the way, if this is an actual story on the drawing board, I apologize and offer nothing further on the subject.)
By the way, the book consistently referred to Klag as a Captain, when at last seen (back in A Singular Destiny), he held the rank of General (although it was never specified if he was a Major General, Lieutenant General, or full General - nor has any particular source made mention of a two-, three-, or four-star General in the Klingon Defense Force) and commanded an entire battle fleet. Did he get a demotion in the last five years, or is it like what happened in Christopher Bennett's book Ex Machina, where Rear Admiral Kirk was always called Captain while in command of the Enterprise? I know some sources say that Kirk took a voluntary demotion to Captain for the duration of his command in the 2270s and was subsequently reinstated as a two-star Rear Admiral when he returned to Starfleet Command as the Chief of Starfleet Operations circa 2278, but that was never explicitly said in either Ex Machina or Forgotten History.
I'm still a little bummed we didn't see anything with President zh'Tarash, Fleet Admiral Akaar, or the rest of Starfleet Command or the Federation government, but, hey, Klag showed up!
You're misremembering. I did overtly state in Ex Machina that Kirk took a reduction in rank to captain as the trade-off Admiral Nogura demanded for giving him the Enterprise back. After all, Kirk spent most of TMP in a uniform with captain's stripes on the sleeves, suggesting it was his actual rank, not just a title.
Thanks for the clarification/correction. I guess I just didn't remember that line, and thought that it was simply a matter of the commanding officer of a ship is called "Captain", regardless of their actual rank.
Klag's rank remains general; I was referring to him as CO of his ship, as you suggest, but I should have switched to the other.
There are a number of future threads that could be followed, for sure; time will tell.
As to the text itself, there was a balancing act as to how many characters to bring in, given that all three books were to be of equal length; this is the first book, I believe, that adds no new POV characters (as Dax had briefly been one in #2) in order that we could further elaborate on the Unsung and Korgh's family. Klag was introduced to underscore the expanding scope of the conflict and get a familiar Martok ally on the scene, but we decided not to go onto his bridge. We got Akaar in Book 2, but I deliberately tried to limit the Federation political power players to offscreen worried-voices-on-the-phone, so we would feel it was Riker's problem -- and those of his crews -- as the officers on the scene to deal with.
Given another hundred pages, there are many more parts of the canvas that could be filled -- but given another hundred pages, the book would have been late!
As to the text itself, there was a balancing act as to how many characters to bring in, given that all three books were to be of equal length; this is the first book, I believe, that adds no new POV characters (as Dax had briefly been one in #2) in order that we could further elaborate on the Unsung and Korgh's family. Klag was introduced to underscore the expanding scope of the conflict and get a familiar Martok ally on the scene, but we decided not to go onto his bridge. We got Akaar in Book 2, but I deliberately tried to limit the Federation political power players to offscreen worried-voices-on-the-phone, so we would feel it was Riker's problem -- and those of his crews -- as the officers on the scene to deal with.
Given another hundred pages, there are many more parts of the canvas that could be filled -- but given another hundred pages, the book would have been late!
I also find that I can't help but think of Amelinda Lukarian and the Warp Speed Classic Vaudeville Company, from Vonda McIntyre's Enterprise: The First Adventure. Of course Lindy used her conjuring (as a certain character created by Don Adams would put it) for goodness and niceness instead of evil and rottenness.
The two cheapest copies on Alibris appear to be the book club hardcover (I upgraded from the paperback to the book club hardcover myself; its dust jacket features the complete cover painting, only part of which was used for the first edition paperback.)
Don't ask me why the Alibris listing appears to show the audiobook packaging.
Don't ask me why the Alibris listing appears to show the audiobook packaging.
I realized looking at my shelf why I keep thinking I've got it. It's because I remember the cover as being blue, and right where it should be alphabetically is where Federation is, which is also thick and blue.
(Of course, what I really need to do is start carrying a lit checklist with me when I'm out. I used to be in the checklist business, so I should know better...)
(Of course, what I really need to do is start carrying a lit checklist with me when I'm out. I used to be in the checklist business, so I should know better...)
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Klag's rank remains general; I was referring to him as CO of his ship, as you suggest, but I should have switched to the other.
There are a number of future threads that could be followed, for sure; time will tell.
As to the text itself, there was a balancing act as to how many characters to bring in, given that all three books were to be of equal length; this is the first book, I believe, that adds no new POV characters (as Dax had briefly been one in #2) in order that we could further elaborate on the Unsung and Korgh's family. Klag was introduced to underscore the expanding scope of the conflict and get a familiar Martok ally on the scene, but we decided not to go onto his bridge. We got Akaar in Book 2, but I deliberately tried to limit the Federation political power players to offscreen worried-voices-on-the-phone, so we would feel it was Riker's problem -- and those of his crews -- as the officers on the scene to deal with.
Given another hundred pages, there are many more parts of the canvas that could be filled -- but given another hundred pages, the book would have been late!
Thanks for the clarification on Klag - although I personally think he should've been referred to as "General", you're the writer and it's your choice.
I don't mind that Riker was Starfleet and the Federation's point person for the crisis, but considering the stakes involved, it felt weird only seeing three starships (plus a few extra hands) dealing with it; I know the Federation's a big place and other people have their own jobs (DS9 and Defiant's guarding the wormhole, Voyager and the Full Circle fleet are exploring the Delta Quadrant (although that was designated a three-year mission in 2381, and this book takes place in 2386), Excalibur is probably still patrolling Sector 221-G, the Everett's shuttling DTI across the Federation while the Atlas provides more military-type support, etc.) and it's only been five years since they lost 40% of the Fleet, but surely somebody like the T'Kumbra (although that ship was destroyed in Destiny, if I recall correctly) could be spared for additional support.
By Book 3 there are quite a few Starfleet vessels on the hunt, and others being called in; the opening 2386 section with Aventine was an allusion to that, and the kind of welcome that many new arrivals to the search are running into as they cross Klingon lines. But the other Starfleet searchers are spread across the Empire, while our ships of name had previously established plot reasons to be nearest to the action in the Rebuke.
There would have been quite a few ships covering Qo'noS and off scouring the Klingon territory nearest the Briar Patch, which are both logical places to expect the Unsung to go after Ghora Janto; those locations were the complete wrong places to stop the Kinshaya, and the book remarks on how far away aid is.
Again, I would have loved to include a map, and when I do my notes, I may do something on my site illustrating where I believe Kruge's territory stretches, locating new places like Ghora Janto.
There would have been quite a few ships covering Qo'noS and off scouring the Klingon territory nearest the Briar Patch, which are both logical places to expect the Unsung to go after Ghora Janto; those locations were the complete wrong places to stop the Kinshaya, and the book remarks on how far away aid is.
Again, I would have loved to include a map, and when I do my notes, I may do something on my site illustrating where I believe Kruge's territory stretches, locating new places like Ghora Janto.
In recent years I've cut back on namedropping a lot of ships -- or crewmembers, or planets -- if that's the main purpose in doing so, because it's the most common source of continuity error. Often the online databases (and this isn't just Trek, but also other franchises I've worked on) might not have the latest mention indexed, which is how destroyed ships, outdated ranks, and planets that haven't been discovered yet in that part of the timeline sometimes slip into print. For a character or ship with a larger role I will do an additional search of the digital book files I have on hand, but that too is reliant on the indexers having caught everything. And you can imagine a ship with a name like Atlas is going to come up with a lot of false-positives when running a global search of the book files.
Just some of the odder occupational hazards of commuting to the future!
I can imagine. It's hard enough to keep continuity straight across multiple works of fiction when you're not sharing a milieu with a dozen or more other authors.
And something like 18 Trek novels came out between when I initially pitched Prey and when I turned in the final version. My editor knew about those and I was provided manuscripts for key ones, like the most recent Titan novel. But yes, it's always a moving target.
Licensors have gotten increasingly more sophisticated over the years in monitoring continuity on that level, but there are all sorts of ways things can slip past even the best safeguards. Comics get even crazier, because well-intentioned artists might add ships or aliens to background scenes where they shouldn't be -- and it's a lot harder to cut those. You haven't lived until you've figured out a story explanation for why a ship class that won't exist for 4,000 years appeared in a scene.
Licensors have gotten increasingly more sophisticated over the years in monitoring continuity on that level, but there are all sorts of ways things can slip past even the best safeguards. Comics get even crazier, because well-intentioned artists might add ships or aliens to background scenes where they shouldn't be -- and it's a lot harder to cut those. You haven't lived until you've figured out a story explanation for why a ship class that won't exist for 4,000 years appeared in a scene.
