Star Trek Klingon Empire: A Burning House (Spoiler)

[JAG]

Not at all.

Now that I look like an idiot with the author saying they are. To me, they were not the most important part of the story. The part of the story that struck such a chord with me was not them but was Bekk Wol and her group.

 

[KRAD]

I loved the Klingon grandmother, she actually reminded me of my paternal grandma and some of the things she said and did are exactly like things my grandma did. So even though you don't know me and most likely didn't know her, thanks KRAD for given me a chance to relive some of my memories of her.

You're very welcome. Tabona was based primarily on my ex-wife's grandmother, but I think there's a little bit of everyone's Grandma in her.

I can't wait to see what happens next, at first I though the head of I.I. might be getting ready to make a bid for the Chancellor's chair, but the more I think about it the more I don't think that's his plan. I'm thinking the big plot may be to move I.I. into a position of power over the military and use Toq's and Rodek's history into some kind of weapon against Martok to try to blackmail him. If I'm right I think it will be cool to see Klag, Martok, and Worf fighting against something like that. Course I'm probably wrong but all that means is that I need the next book in this series ASAP!

Heh. The only thing I will say in response to this is that Lorgh is not the head of I.I. He's merely a very high-ranking operative.

So do Worf and Martok play a fairly big role in this book then?

Yes.

 

[Christopher]

I just finished the book, and it was my favorite one in the series yet. Frankly, I don't have a lot of respect for the Klingons and their way of life; I don't think there's anything remotely honorable in killing over trivial affronts and starting wars for the sake of warring. And all their macho posturing and obsession with death gets really tiresome. But Keith, you manage to make your Klingon characters interesting and likeable even to me -- even when they do embrace the values I find contemptible.

But I do think it's great that you showed us other facets of Klingon life here, including Klingons who actually scoffed at the Defense Force's incessant prattling about honor and glorious deaths. I mean, people like the farmers on Pheben were still Klingon, still tending to be more aggressive and uninhibited than humans, but they weren't just stamped out of the same stereotypical mold. Plus it was great to see people from other walks of Klingon life -- performers, doctors, commoners -- and learn more about Klingons whose lives aren't defined solely by war and battle and politics. I'd love to see more.

On Klag's decision to dismiss Rodek, I can agree with his central reason. Confused or not, Rodek should've known better than to trust anything Dorrek said without verification. He had ample prior reason to mistrust Dorrek and to be aware that Dorrek had it in for Klag. So his actions here show a grave failure of judgment. Sure, he was confused and under great stress, but the crew of a battleship is bound to be under stress frequently, and so a soldier who's demonstrated a tendency to lose his judgment under stress, to the point of turning against his commanding officer, is a liability. At the very least, he'd need to undergo extensive therapy before he'd be trustworthy again. And unlike a Starfleet officer, a Klingon soldier can't get that kind of therapy while serving aboard a starship. Anger and betrayal aside, Klag made a pragmatic command decision.

Although it did sadden me to see Kurn/Rodek decide that he was happier where he was than he'd ever been in his life, and then to have it all taken away from him. The poor guy can't catch a break.

Meanwhile, I'm still trying to get over the existence of a Klingon named "Kenni." That gave me pause. I kept expecting him to get murdered, after which someone would say, "You killed Kenni! You bastard!" But I guess that wasn't what you were going for.

And about that general named Kriz... he wasn't named after anybody in particular, was he...?

 

[KRAD]

I just finished the book, and it was my favorite one in the series yet.

Thanks muchly!

Although it did sadden me to see Kurn/Rodek decide that he was happier where he was than he'd ever been in his life, and then to have it all taken away from him. The poor guy can't catch a break.

He really can't. And it's all Worf's fault.

Meanwhile, I'm still trying to get over the existence of a Klingon named "Kenni." That gave me pause. I kept expecting him to get murdered, after which someone would say, "You killed Kenni! You bastard!" But I guess that wasn't what you were going for.

That's why I didn't kill him. I actually named him after one of the guys in my dojo (who's nothing like that, of course, which was part of the fun).

And about that general named Kriz... he wasn't named after anybody in particular, was he...?

Yes, he was. But not you. That's the Klingon name of one of the (many) Klingons I hung out with at the Camp Dover Peace Conference in 2005.

 

[Durek]

I just finished the book, and it was my favorite one in the series yet. Frankly, I don't have a lot of respect for the Klingons and their way of life; I don't think there's anything remotely honorable in killing over trivial affronts and starting wars for the sake of warring. And all their macho posturing and obsession with death gets really tiresome. But Keith, you manage to make your Klingon characters interesting and likeable even to me -- even when they do embrace the values I find contemptible.

What you feel about the Klingons is what I feel about the Federation. A bunch of G** D** hypocrites that pretend to respect the values of other, but want everyone to kiss their a**. Michael Eddington was right, they're worse than the Borg. The Federation makes me want to vommit, much like the US Governement does, but that's another topic. Anyway, as for this particular novel, and KRAD's other Klingon novels, I love it. By the way, Klingons are my favorites.

 

[Stevil2001]

By the way, Klingons are my favorites.

Thanks for pointing that out; I don't think I would have noticed otherwise.

 

[captcalhoun]

great book. very reminiscent of both "Family" and "Home". want more

 

[Sci]

I just finished the book, and it was my favorite one in the series yet. Frankly, I don't have a lot of respect for the Klingons and their way of life; I don't think there's anything remotely honorable in killing over trivial affronts and starting wars for the sake of warring. And all their macho posturing and obsession with death gets really tiresome. But Keith, you manage to make your Klingon characters interesting and likeable even to me -- even when they do embrace the values I find contemptible.

You know, I'd tend to agree with you about the particular values of the Klingon warrior caste -- and I think we should note that the extreme violence and militarism you object to is more of a warrior caste phenonmenon than it is with other casts -- but, there was a line in a book that always struck me. I don't even remember which book it was from, but it featured an adult Klingon remembering that one of the first lessons his mother ever taught him was that one day he was going to die -- and that, therefore, he had an obligation to die well.

I kinda like that idea -- that the martial values of the Klingon Empire are there because Klingons are, as a culture, preoccupied and obsessed with death to an extent that "we" aren't.

I just finished the book, and it was my favorite one in the series yet. Frankly, I don't have a lot of respect for the Klingons and their way of life; I don't think there's anything remotely honorable in killing over trivial affronts and starting wars for the sake of warring. And all their macho posturing and obsession with death gets really tiresome. But Keith, you manage to make your Klingon characters interesting and likeable even to me -- even when they do embrace the values I find contemptible.

What you feel about the Klingons is what I feel about the Federation. A bunch of G** D** hypocrites that pretend to respect the values of other, but want everyone to kiss their a**.

Probably a fair criticism of the Federation -- though I don't see how that invalidates the Federation's other values and its achievements as a constitutional liberal democracy. A man can be an arrogant jackass but still be a good guy.

Michael Eddington was right, they're worse than the Borg.

Right, 'cuz, ya know, a bit of arrogance and nonviolent persuasion that other cultures should adopt some of their political philosophy (backed up by humanitarian aide) is totally worse than the violent, nonconsentual conquest of indigenous societies by an invading force, and it's worse than the subsequent use of mind control and enslavement on the population. Totally, totally worse, that.

 

[KRAD]

You know, I'd tend to agree with you about the particular values of the Klingon warrior caste -- and I think we should note that the extreme violence and militarism you object to is more of a warrior caste phenonmenon than it is with other casts -- but, there was a line in a book that always struck me. I don't even remember which book it was from, but it featured an adult Klingon remembering that one of the first lessons his mother ever taught him was that one day he was going to die -- and that, therefore, he had an obligation to die well.

I kinda like that idea -- that the martial values of the Klingon Empire are there because Klingons are, as a culture, preoccupied and obsessed with death to an extent that "we" aren't.

That scene as you describe it doesn't ring a bell (I thought it might be from the prologue to The Art of the Impossible, but it wasn't), but that theme is something I've come back to in several of my Klingon stories, and it grows mostly out of "A Matter of Honor," this notion of dying well.

And it makes sense from a cultural standpoint. After all, death is life's only inevitability.

Here's one bit from one of the S.C.E. stories I wrote, Breakdowns, where Captain Gold is visiting with his extended family (including Khor, the Klingon politician his granddaughter is dating). Gold has just finished telling his family about what happened in Wildfire, including the sacrifices made by half his crew:

Silence descended upon the living room for many minutes. Finally, Khor spoke up. "They died well, Captain."

"Like that's a comfort," Jared said.

"It should be, human," Khor said sharply. "Death is the one inevitability of life, the one thing on which we all may rely."

"If it's such a foregone conclusion," Jessica asked, "what difference does it make how we go to it?"

"Every possible difference," Khor said. "Captain Gold's brave crew died doing their duty, sacrificing themselves so that others might live. Were they Klingons--and indeed, even though they are not--I can say with pride that they would be welcomed in Sto-Vo-Kor among the honored dead." He held up a mug of bloodwine, which he and Esther had brought as their contribution to the meal, and which only the two of them had partaken of. "I salute them."

Rachel held up her own glass of eis wine. "I join the salute." At the surprised looks of most of her family--except Gold--she said, "Khor is right. They did what they had to do, and what many people would not have been able to do. I would rather they were still alive, but if they had to die, it's best that this is how they did it. So I salute their memories."

Quietly, Gold said, "As do I." He held up his own mug, which just had coffee in it.

One by one, the rest of the remaining family also raised their drinks.

 

[Christopher]

^^The problem is, Klingons often seem to be so culturally obsessed with death that they embrace it -- or, worse, inflict it -- far too readily. Just because it's inevitable doesn't mean it should be treated as desirable, and it sure as hell doesn't mean that homicide should be a normative social behavior.

 

[Sci]

^^The problem is, Klingons often seem to be so culturally obsessed with death that they embrace it -- or, worse, inflict it -- far too readily. Just because it's inevitable doesn't mean it should be treated as desirable, and it sure as hell doesn't mean that homicide should be a normative social behavior.

Oh, I agree completely. I am by no means saying that I agree with their violent value system. But I understand it and can empathize with it to a point; it makes perfect sense that in a universe where life's only inevitability is death, there would be a culture that would embrace violence as a means of coping with it. And whilst the Klingons take it too far -- embracing homicide as a normative social behavior -- the Klingon notion of the need for one's death to be meaningful in some sense deserves some respect.

 

[BrotherBenny]

First, let me say that I'm disappointed that I didn't have to read through pages and pages of posts to get to this point.

Secondly, WOW! KRAD, you outdid yourself this time. I was hooked from first page to last and wanted to keep turning the pages at the end. I loved the different facets of the Empire, but I'm glad that my grandmother wouldn't put me to death for not eating her food, she's an awful cook

I thought the Rodek/Kurn storyline was rather interesting and I was hoping that he would be allowed to join the House of Martok, and then retain his position on the Gorkon as Kurn, Son of Mogh, of the House of Martok, but hey, there's plenty of stories that can be told.

B'Oraq has always been irrascible, a Klingon McCoy, and I thought her scenes at the KPE were brilliant, and her interactions with Klag were well done. I've been reading the book on my way to and from work and been looking forward to journey more than work itself. It's a shame that we don't know if or when the next KE book is coming out, but rest assured I shall buy and have my friends do so as well.

I recommended "A Burning House" to a friend of mine who teaches sociology and he told me that he might include it in the next semester's curriculum - when he looks at foreign cultures and how their behaviour may seem "alien" to us but acceptable to themselves. He felt it served as a greater allegory than the dry text books he usually reads. How's that for kudos??

 

[David Mack]

I recommended "A Burning House" to a friend of mine who teaches sociology and he told me that he might include it in the next semester's curriculum - when he looks at foreign cultures and how their behaviour may seem "alien" to us but acceptable to themselves. He felt it served as a greater allegory than the dry text books he usually reads. How's that for kudos??

Great jumpin' Jehosaphat, they're gonna start teaching KRAD's books in school? The guy wearing the sandwichboard on the corner this morning was right — the end is near.

 

[Dayton Ward]

^ The end already came and went. Click here.

The link takes you to a .pdf file located at the website of Northbridge High School in Whitinsville, Massachusetts.

Read the opening paragraphs.

Next, scroll the list of titles under "English II."

 

[KRAD]

^ Dayton, your link is messed up -- there's an asterisk after "pdf" for some reason, and that's making the link bad.

As for the list, I'm much more frightened of the fact that English III includes three Dan Brown books and three John Grisham books..... *shudder*

 

[KRAD]

Xeris, thank you so much for the kind words!

Regarding Rodek/Kurn -- where would the fun in that be?

Have you read The Brave and the Bold? In Book 2 of that duology, we get B'Oraq and McCoy together....

Finally, I'm even more impressed that you had such praise for A Burning House, given that you're reading it alongside the magnificent George Pelecanos (I just finished Hard Revolution yesterday....).

 

[BrotherBenny]

Finally, I'm even more impressed that you had such praise for A Burning House, given that you're reading it alongside the magnificent George Pelecanos (I just finished Hard Revolution yesterday....).

I find Pelecanos a little hard to wade through but I'm enjoying the book - it's a Three Great Novels doorstop, the Strange and Quinn books - and I'm taking my time with it.

Have you heard anything about whether the KE series is continuing?

 

[Dayton Ward]

^ Dayton, your link is messed up

Fixed. Thanks!

 

[KRAD]

I find Pelecanos a little hard to wade through but I'm enjoying the book - it's a Three Great Novels doorstop, the Strange and Quinn books - and I'm taking my time with it.

I actually discovered Pelecanos from his work on the TV show The Wire. I can see why he was recruited for that show, as his novels and the show have similar sensibilities. One thing I particularly like is that Pelecanos writes about lower-class people -- and I mean that in the economic sense. It's a nice change.

Have you heard anything about whether the KE series is continuing?

Not yet, no.

 

[BrotherBenny]

I find Pelecanos a little hard to wade through but I'm enjoying the book - it's a Three Great Novels doorstop, the Strange and Quinn books - and I'm taking my time with it.

I actually discovered Pelecanos from his work on the TV show The Wire. I can see why he was recruited for that show, as his novels and the show have similar sensibilities. One thing I particularly like is that Pelecanos writes about lower-class people -- and I mean that in the economic sense. It's a nice change.

Have you heard anything about whether the KE series is continuing?

Not yet, no.

Right as Rain is a very dark book about the institutional racism in the DCPD from the pov of two former cops. One African-American cop who left a long time ago and one White cop who was essentially forced out after killing an off-duty African-American cop. I recommend it, KRAD, if you like Pelecanos' style. And The Wire does have a similar feel to it, like Right as Rain.

Let's hope we get a second (or is it fifth?) KE novel.