Questions about Forged in Fire

[ryan123450]

I'm almost finished with Forged in Fire and I'm pretty sure these questions aren't going to be resolved in the last 50 or so pages, so could anyone help me out?

Who was the other student that Sarek refered to as almost as, or just as, troublesome as Curzon?

When were the two other times that Sulu had been to Qo'noS, as refered to toward the beginning of the book?

When did Sulu met Kang before and had a chance to study bat'leth skills under him? I'm sure it's a book I haven't read yet, but which one?

Has there been any other fiction that referenced Curzon's past hosts "whispering in his ear" like they did in this novel?

Thanks. Great read by the way. I hope there are more Excelsior novels in the future!

 

[Therin of Andor]

When did Sulu met Kang before and had a chance to study bat'leth skills under him? I'm sure it's a book I haven't read yet, but which one?

We know, canonically, that Sulu knew Kang well from their scene (set between parts of ST VI), in VOY's "Flashback". So presumably, they built up a mutual respect sometime between "Day of the Dove" and ST VI.

 

[JD]

Presumably some of that comes from Forged in Fire, which was set between those two.

 

[ryan123450]

We know, canonically, that Sulu knew Kang well from their scene (set between parts of ST VI), in VOY's "Flashback". So presumably, they built up a mutual respect sometime between "Day of the Dove" and ST VI.

Yes, but was the encounter mentioned in the book, where Kang taught Sulu bat'leth maneuevers, around the time of 2287-2288, a reference to another book, or was that something made up just to give some extra detail to the narrative?

And now that I've finished the book, I have one other question. There is mention towards the end of Checkov and Scotty having some kind of experience with a Triskelion ambassador. Was this a reference to something else, or another bit of info just thrown in that the authors created?

 

[Christopher]

Yes, but was the encounter mentioned in the book, where Kang taught Sulu bat'leth maneuevers, around the time of 2287-2288, a reference to another book, or was that something made up just to give some extra detail to the narrative?

Are you sure the reference was to Kang and not Koloth? Because In the Name of Honor takes place in 2287 and features the E crew teaming up with Koloth.

And now that I've finished the book, I have one other question. There is mention towards the end of Checkov and Scotty having some kind of experience with a Triskelion ambassador. Was this a reference to something else, or another bit of info just thrown in that the authors created?

That's a reference to the story "The Lights in the Sky" from the first Strange New Worlds anthology. The Triskelion ambassador was Shahna, and the story depicted her reaction to Kirk's apparent death in the prologue of Generations (hence the involvement of Chekov and Scotty).

 

[Andy Mangels]

Answers from Mike and I...

I'm almost finished with Forged in Fire and I'm pretty sure these questions aren't going to be resolved in the last 50 or so pages, so could anyone help me out?

Who was the other student that Sarek refered to as almost as, or just as, troublesome as Curzon?

The other "troublesome" student was a sly reference to Spock.

When were the two other times that Sulu had been to Qo'noS, as refered to toward the beginning of the book?

Mike:
I don't remember specifically that we mentioned two previous visits to Qo'noS for Sulu, but Sulu had a previous adventure with Koloth in Dayton Ward's In the Name of Honor.

When did Sulu met Kang before and had a chance to study bat'leth skills under him? I'm sure it's a book I haven't read yet, but which one?

Sulu didn't study bat'leth with Kang; he took some on-the-fly bat'leth lessons from Koloth in In the Name of Honor. The only time he'd met Kang previously, at least canonically, would have been in TOS "Day of the Dove."

Has there been any other fiction that referenced Curzon's past hosts "whispering in his ear" like they did in this novel?

Mike:
Dunno about past Trek fiction showing Dax's previous hosts "whispering in his ear," but we did see Ezri unconsciously picking up tics from prior hosts in Demons of Air and Darkness, and probably elsewhere as well (this happened to an extent during season 7 of DS9 as well).

Thanks. Great read by the way. I hope there are more Excelsior novels in the future!

Thanks, and ditto that we both have hopes to write more Excelsior books in the future.

 

[JD]

I know you aren't actually writing anything, but if you did do more Ex would they be in The Sundered's time frame or Forged in Fire's? Because I really liked all of the characters from The Sundered and would love to see them again.

 

[ryan123450]

Answers from Mike and I...

The other "troublesome" student was a sly reference to Spock.

Thanks so much for the answers you two. I really appreciate your time. I couldn't think of anyone but Spock or Sybok that Sarek could be refering to, but I wasn't sure.

I don't remember specifically that we mentioned two previous visits to Qo'noS for Sulu, but Sulu had a previous adventure with Koloth in Dayton Ward's In the Name of Honor.

Sulu didn't study bat'leth with Kang; he took some on-the-fly bat'leth lessons from Koloth in In the Name of Honor. The only time he'd met Kang previously, at least canonically, would have been in TOS "Day of the Dove."

I guess I was misremembering which Klingon it was, so that would explain why I couldn't figure out what the reference was about.

Dunno about past Trek fiction showing Dax's previous hosts "whispering in his ear," but we did see Ezri unconsciously picking up tics from prior hosts in Demons of Air and Darkness, and probably elsewhere as well (this happened to an extent during season 7 of DS9 as well).

Thanks both of you, and Christopher for the answers. And I have to say again, I loved the book and hope to read more in the future.