The Final Reflection

[Smiley]

I tried reading TFR this fall. I got through one of the nine chapters before giving up in disgust. I know this novel is highly praised on these boards, so I'd be interested in knowing why people like it or love it.

 

[The Mule]

because it makes the Klingons seem like an interesting and deep culture instead of a bunch on Conan the Barbarian parodies that they were from TNG on

 

[foravalon]

Once I got past the live "chess game" scene I absolutely loved it. The book definitely picks up once Dr. Tagore gets into the mix and Krenn's crew starts interacting with humans. What was it that about the story that disgusted you?

 

[Defcon]

Because it gave the Klingons a real backstory beyond being the enemies of the week. Of course lot of it was overwritten by the various 24th Century series since it was written 20 years ago, but that takes nothing away from the great work Ford has done.

 

[foravalon]

Is that Andy Mangels in your avatar?

 

[RonG]

I found it to be a refreshing and insightful novel, exploring the Klingon culture in much the same way Spock's World explored the Vulcans and My Enemy, My Ally explored the Romulans: a lot of it was ignored and re-imagined later on, but that still doesn't detract from the novels themselves.

One thing I found curious abot The Final Reflection though, is the later omnibus that reprinted alongside Friedman's Kahless .

Last, I know that both The Final Reflection and How much for just the Planet? were later re-branded as a "series". Anyone know why (other than the fact both were written by Ford?)

 

[KRAD]

Last, I know that both The Final Reflection and How much for just the Planet? were later re-branded as a "series". Anyone know why (other than the fact both were written by Ford?)

There is no "other" -- the fact that both were the only Trek novels by Ford was why they were lumped together under whatever silly generic title they came up with when they reissued the books. (They also reissued Diane Duane's first two Rihannsu books under the obvious title of Rihannsu and A.C. Crispin's two Zar books under a title with the word "Yesterday" in it that I'm too lazy to look up.)

 

[Geoff]

^^^
That'd be the Yesterday Saga.

(Admittedly, I'm just as lazy, but for some odd reason I remembered that.)

 

[JoeZhang]

I thought it was a great book - far more interesting than any of the klingons we saw in TNG - who are the most boring and overexposed race out there.

It's only after reading some of KRADs (it is KRAD right?) novels that we've seen other more interesting stories being told.

 

[Stevil2001]

KRAD said:
(They also reissued Diane Duane's first two Rihannsu books under the obvious title of Rihannsu and A.C. Crispin's two Zar books under a title with the word "Yesterday" in it that I'm too lazy to look up.)

Also-- Diane Carey's two exclamation-point-titled novels were reissued under the title Fortunes of War.

 

[Timo]

What I liked perhaps most was Ford's economy of words. Obviously he wasn't paid by word (or if he was, he wasn't desperate for money), because the book leaves out significant amounts of fluff that could be expected in a book by just about any other writer.

Massive jumps in time; plenty of things left for the reader to visualize; unvoiced desires and unexplicated plot twists. The reader isn't left idle here - even if one doesn't count the hunt for those zillion references to the Spaceflight Chronology. It's like a crayon book for the too-old-and-proud-to-play-with-crayons folks.

Timo Saloniemi

 

[Shieldsdown]

I do remember this book was slow to grab me. I stuck with it and was amply rewarded.

Regards.

 

[Smiley]

Thanks for the input, but TFR is going to remain on hold indefinitely. Klingon backstory by itself is not enough to entice me. I can appreciate a slow build, but if a reading of 50 pages of a 240 page book and browsing of the rest isn't enough to grab me, then it's probably not the book for me.

 

[Brutal Strudel]

I loved it when I was a kid (young teen) but I wasn't grabbed when I recently tried to re-read it.

Ford's Klingon's heavily influenced Moore's. Paramount should have just hired Ford and bought them outright.

Fun fact: the Kligonaase version of the Klingon epithet "willing slave" is used in Of Gods and Men.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

Interesting...knowing what I know now about Klingon culture, the Klingons in TFR seem almost Cardassian in their attitude. I don't know why I think that, it just sort of hit me. I can definitely see Cardassians playing games like the Klingons in this novel do.

I need a refresher though. What does "tharavul" mean?

 

[Red Ranger]

Peeps,

It's been a long time since I read this one, but I seem to recall Kang and Mara made an appearance -- or mahybe I'm thinking of a different book.

I do remember enjoying "How Much For Just The Planet" even more, esp. the hilarious golf match between Scotty and several Klingons.

Red Ranger

 

[Therin of Andor]

Brutal Strudel said:
Ford's Klingon's heavily influenced Moore's. Paramount should have just hired Ford and bought them outright.

Every ST novelist sells their ST characters and concepts outright. It's part of the contract.

FASA did hire Ford, to help shape their RPG Klingon materials.

Red Ranger said:
I seem to recall Kang and Mara made an appearance -- or mahybe I'm thinking of a different book.

Kang and wife, Mara, appear in "Pawns and Symbols" by Majliss Larsen.

Kor and wife, Kali (a crewwoman in "The Time Trap", TAS), appear in "Tears of the Singers" by Melinda Snodgrass.

Babaganoosh said:
What does "tharavul" mean?

"A tharavul is a Vulcan servitor who has had a surgical procedure to remove telepathic abilities."

Link

 

[Holytomato]

"They also reissued Diane Duane's first two Rihannsu books under the obvious title of Rihannsu"

The Rihannsu saga (except for book 5) was reissued as 'The Bloodwing Chronicles Omnibus'. :thumbsup:

'Spock's World' was great. Great Just After TMP tm story. The Flashbacks of Vulcan's past are just as great as the FASA RPG Vulcan minibook. Only 'Sarek' had a better Sarek, Amanda & Spock orgin story told in the journal flashbacks. The rest of the book was lame butt Star Trek VI and TNG story arc of "Sarek & Spock are cold to each other again" retreads

TNG, DS9, & Star Trek VI did use the Final Reflection- The Klingon Chancellor.

I loved "Kahless". Kahless becomes an historical character. My friend told me the audio version cuts out the scroll's flashbacks. Even though there is enough room on the tapes to do them.