Thoughts on The Klingon Gambit

[Joel_Kirk]

I just finished this early Trek novel.

I thought it was okay, but I do agree with some reviews on Amazon that the 'explanation' doesn't quite cut it.

I think the second Trek novel written by the author--Mutiny on the Enterprise--was better; both novels, however, come off like episodes.

The pacing of novels are pretty good.

I want to see if some of the other posters 'remember' this novel, and their thoughts...

 

[Therin of Andor]

I want to see if some of the other posters 'remember' this novel, and their thoughts...

I remember aspects of it very well: the excitement of it arriving in the post from the now long-defunct "Space Age Books" in Melbourne, which was importing the new Pocket ST titles by air freight, rather than me waiting for it to arrive at Galaxy, in Sydney, which was still sea freighting at the time.

I'd really only become a ST fan due to TAS and ST:TMP, but had practically devoured every Bantam and Ballantine ST book I could find in the meantime. TMP's novelization was fantastic, then "Starlog" had promoted "The Entropy Effect" rather heavily - and it, too, was excellent. I was thrilled that the next original novel came just four months later. "The Klingon Gambit" even featured Doctor Threllvon-da and his team of fellow Andorian scientists, not that they had an awful lot to do in the book.

My biggest disappointment with this (and "Mutiny on the Enterprise", by the same author) was that many of the characters had to act out of character due to some demand of the plot. I also remember that Scotty and his female engineering assistant had a still. And there were Klingons.

It felt incredibly short at the time, although it was probably of similar length to many of the Bantam titles. Compared to today's weightier Pocket ST tomes, this is more like a pamphlet now!

 

[Christopher]

My biggest disappointment with this (and "Mutiny on the Enterprise", by the same author) was that many of the characters had to act out of character due to some demand of the plot.

Actually that's where TKG has the advantage. In that book, the characters' out-of-character behavior (or exaggerated behavior, like McCoy's fanatical Luddism) could be justified by the influence they were under. But in MotE, they were just as much out of character even when they weren't under any such influence.

One thing that surprised me to learn about TKG, years after it came out, was that many people considered it a comedy. I never got any such impression from it.

 

[Therin of Andor]

Actually that's where TKG has the advantage. In that book, the characters' out-of-character behavior (or exaggerated behavior, like McCoy's fanatical Luddism) could be justified by the influence they were under.

Yep. Totally agree, but it made me disappointed at the time, because I was really, really anticipating the caliber of "The Entropy Effect Part II".

One thing that surprised me to learn about TKG, years after it came out, was that many people considered it a comedy. I never got any such impression from it.

Yeah. Ditto. And the secret alcohol still made me cranky, too, although who'd have guessed that in an alternate universe the whole of Engineering would be one big brewery?

 

[T'Ressa Dax]

I'd comment but I'm afraid I don't really remember the book at all anymore. Been too long since I've had a chance to read it. I think I sort of remember the still now that it's been mentioned, not sure though.

 

[Steve Roby]

I want to see if some of the other posters 'remember' this novel, and their thoughts...

IIRC, I bought it the same day I bought Howard Weinstein's Covenant of the Crown, and as I recall I liked Weinstein's book a lot more. I don't think I ever reread The Klingon Gambit, so that dim memory from 1981 is all I have to go with.

 

[Joel_Kirk]

Just adding some thoughts:

I thought it captured the 'feel' of TOS pretty good; I wouldn't mind seeing--if this author returned to the Trek universe--his take on the nuTrekverse....

Did I just create a new term: nuTrekverse...?

Bi-logy...trilogy...quadrilogy....

I'm sorry, let's get back on track.

On the secret alcohol: I think that turned up in another Trek novel, IIRC. Even still, our characters are human. Kirk was shown to get drunk with Scotty on a shore leave....(in the 'Who Killed Captain Kirk' line of books).

Thanks for the thoughts for everyone who posted, though.

 

[Therin of Andor]

JOn the secret alcohol: I think that turned up in another Trek novel, IIRC.

Yes, and Lt Heather McConel with it. "Mutiny on the Enterprise", IIRC. Same author.

 

[Christopher]

There was also a still in Engineering in Vulcan's Glory by D.C. Fontana.

 

[Joel_Kirk]

I want to see if some of the other posters 'remember' this novel, and their thoughts...

IIRC, I bought it the same day I bought Howard Weinstein's Covenant of the Crown, and as I recall I liked Weinstein's book a lot more. I don't think I ever reread The Klingon Gambit, so that dim memory from 1981 is all I have to go with.

I may have to order Covenant of the Crown from my library...

JOn the secret alcohol: I think that turned up in another Trek novel, IIRC.

Yes, and Lt Heather McConel with it. "Mutiny on the Enterprise", IIRC. Same author.

There was also a still in Engineering in Vulcan's Glory by D.C. Fontana.

Those engineers....

 

[seigezunt]

I enjoyed Covenant of the Crown, though I found the villains weren't used very well in it...

 

[Joel_Kirk]

I enjoyed Covenant of the Crown, though I found the villains weren't used very well in it...

Hmmm....

 

[DrCorby]

My biggest disappointment with this (and "Mutiny on the Enterprise", by the same author) was that many of the characters had to act out of character due to some demand of the plot.

Actually that's where TKG has the advantage. In that book, the characters' out-of-character behavior (or exaggerated behavior, like McCoy's fanatical Luddism) could be justified by the influence they were under. But in MotE, they were just as much out of character even when they weren't under any such influence.

Ooooh, yes, I remember reading these novels when they came out. Truly awful. IIRC, the alien gizmo that caused the heroes to act completely out of character throughout the book just broke down on its own at the end, not through any action by our heroes, or with them realizing they were under outside influence. It just ... stopped. And then the Enterprise & Klingons flew off as if nothing had happened. I only got through about half of Mutiny before I gave up, never to return. Actually threw it against the wall in disgust. Only ST novel I've ever done that on. But again, the crew was so wildly out of character, it was unbearable.

Vardeman gets my vote for Worst ST Author EVER!!! Were he to come out with a new book, I'd have to leave it on the shelf, reagrdless of my completist obsession.

 

[T'Ressa Dax]

Hm... I wonder if maybe I considered Mutiny okay because I was 13 or 14 and still just getting started. Didn't have many TOS books at the time either. I do vageuely recall that the uniforms on Covenant confused me because I hadn't seen them or the movies before.
I'll have to try to read both books again and see what I think of them now, I haven't had a chance in years.

 

[Sky]

There was also a still in Engineering in Vulcan's Glory by D.C. Fontana.

And wasn't the engine room still also mentioned in the end-of-the-mission party of The Lost Years, by J.M. Dillard?

 

[Joel_Kirk]

My biggest disappointment with this (and "Mutiny on the Enterprise", by the same author) was that many of the characters had to act out of character due to some demand of the plot.

Actually that's where TKG has the advantage. In that book, the characters' out-of-character behavior (or exaggerated behavior, like McCoy's fanatical Luddism) could be justified by the influence they were under. But in MotE, they were just as much out of character even when they weren't under any such influence.

Ooooh, yes, I remember reading these novels when they came out. Truly awful. IIRC, the alien gizmo that caused the heroes to act completely out of character throughout the book just broke down on its own at the end, not through any action by our heroes, or with them realizing they were under outside influence. It just ... stopped. And then the Enterprise & Klingons flew off as if nothing had happened. I only got through about half of Mutiny before I gave up, never to return. Actually threw it against the wall in disgust. Only ST novel I've ever done that on. But again, the crew was so wildly out of character, it was unbearable.

Vardeman gets my vote for Worst ST Author EVER!!! Were he to come out with a new book, I'd have to leave it on the shelf, reagrdless of my completist obsession.

I can relate.

There are books I can't stand as well.

I will say this: It almost seemed like Vardeman utilized the same idea for both of his novels: 'Something' affects the crew to where they 'mutiny' against Kirk; Kirk must find out what is going on....

Somehow Kirk is the only one who isn't really affected.

Hm... I wonder if maybe I considered Mutiny okay because I was 13 or 14 and still just getting started. Didn't have many TOS books at the time either. I do vageuely recall that the uniforms on Covenant confused me because I hadn't seen them or the movies before.
I'll have to try to read both books again and see what I think of them now, I haven't had a chance in years.

Mutiny was a quick read, so I give it some leeway. (Too, I think it's because I like the character Lorelei).

I do recall thinking how the girl was named coincidentally 'Lorelei'...

Just like movies, I have to come back to TKG to see if it holds up.

 

[Cap'n Crunch]

There was also a still in Engineering in Vulcan's Glory by D.C. Fontana.

And wasn't the engine room still also mentioned in the end-of-the-mission party of The Lost Years, by J.M. Dillard?

It's been a while since I read it (so I could be wrong) but I do believe the still was mentioned in The Lost Years.

 

[T'Ressa Dax]

Hm... I wonder if maybe I considered Mutiny okay because I was 13 or 14 and still just getting started. Didn't have many TOS books at the time either. I do vageuely recall that the uniforms on Covenant confused me because I hadn't seen them or the movies before.
I'll have to try to read both books again and see what I think of them now, I haven't had a chance in years.

Mutiny was a quick read, so I give it some leeway. (Too, I think it's because I like the character Lorelei).

I do recall thinking how the girl was named coincidentally 'Lorelei'...

Just like movies, I have to come back to TKG to see if it holds up.[/QUOTE]


I seem to recall liking Lorelei as well.