TOS: Foul Deeds Will Rise by Greg Cox Review Thread (Spoilers!)

[Sho]

​

Only nine months after the previous Greg Cox delivers his latest baby this month, a TOS novel omniously titled Foul Deeds Will Rise. This one's set during the movie era and follows up on the events in the TOS episode "The Conscience of the King". Official street date: November 25th.

The blurb mentions who this will involve:

An all-new Star Trek novel, set in the popular and blockbuster Original Series movie era!

2288. The U.S.S Enterprise-A is on a vital peacekeeping mission in a remote solar system beyond the boundaries of the Federation, where two warring planets—Pavak and Oyolo—are attempting to end years of bitter conflict. Crucial peace talks are being conducted aboard the Enterprise, even as Starfleet weapons inspectors oversee the disarmament process. Losses and atrocities on both sides have left plenty of hard feelings behind, so Captain James T. Kirk has his work cut out for him, even as he unexpectedly runs into a disturbing figure from his past: Lenore Karidian.

Twenty years ago, the deadly daughter of Kodos the Executioner tried to kill Kirk, but she has since been declared sane and rehabilitated. Kirk wants to give her the benefit of the doubt and a second chance at life, but when a mysterious assassination threatens the already fragile peace process, all clues point toward Lenore–and the future of two worlds hangs in the balance.

An excerpt is up at the Simon & Schuster website.

 

[Paris]

I was at my local Chapters, and I was lucky. I found a copy nice and early. I'm going on two weeks of holidays starting mid-week, so I'll probably tackle it then. I can't wait! This is my first TOS book since early 2013

 

[zarkon]

If anyones having trouble finding it, it's already up at bookdepository.

Just bear in mind they usually take a few days just to dispatch.

 

[Greg Cox]

I actually got my author copies yesterday.

 

[Ronald Held]

Waiting for mine to ship...

 

[Leto_II]

Waiting eagerly for this one...definitely my most anticipated Trek novel of the year. Was just reading the excerpt, and enjoyed the brief Lost Years reference.

Also noticed that the opening stardate in the book appears to correspond to those found in the relaunch DC Comics run, during the post-TFF missions of the Enterprise-A (where the year 2288 would likely fall).

Nice.

 

[Paris]

Currently reading (only @page 78), but I just wanted to say how nice it is to have Kevin Riley in the story. I recently re-read the last Lost Years novel, Recovery, and I always liked the fact that he and Kirk have a past, albeit a tragic one, that goes back further than anyone else who was a mainstay in Kirk's life.

So far there have been a few nice callbacks to TOS-past, which of course, I'm a fan of. So far so good Mr. Cox! Now...back to reading

 

[Reanok]

I ordered my copy I can't wait to get this book. Especially since it's a sequel To Conscience of the King.

 

[Ronald Held]

It is unfortunately that I cannot find a store with an early release.

 

[TheAlmanac]

Also noticed that the opening stardate in the book appears to correspond to those found in the relaunch DC Comics run, during the post-TFF missions of the Enterprise-A (where the year 2288 would likely fall).

Was there any effort to incorporate elements of/references to those DC Comics?

Considering how much of a role they played in my becoming a hardcore Star Trek fan, I know what I'd like the answer to be.

 

[Greg Cox]

Also noticed that the opening stardate in the book appears to correspond to those found in the relaunch DC Comics run, during the post-TFF missions of the Enterprise-A (where the year 2288 would likely fall).

Was there any effort to incorporate elements of/references to those DC Comics?

Considering how much of a role they played in my becoming a hardcore Star Trek fan, I know what I'd like the answer to be.

Honestly, not a big effort. I did a bit of homework to see what had already been done in that era (and even picked Christopher's brain a bit regarding the novels), but the main thing I picked up from the earlier novels was the idea that Kevin Riley eventually became a Starfleet ambassador.

(That's not a spoiler, btw. It's mentioned on the very first page of the novel.)

 

[borgboy]

Is Saavik in this book?

 

[Greg Cox]

Is Saavik in this book?

I'm afraid not. It takes place aboard the Enterprise-A, after the fifth movie, and we never saw Saavik on that ship in the movies.

 

[Leto_II]

Is Saavik in this book?

I'm afraid not. It takes place aboard the Enterprise-A, after the fifth movie, and we never saw Saavik on that ship in the movies.

Yup -- we know that she came onboard the 1701-A practically as soon as Sulu got promoted to captain (in early 2290, from the DC series), and stayed onboard until at least 2291 (per the events of Mere Anarchy: The Blood-Dimmed Tide), but all of that's still a few years away in the future yet.

 

[Enterprise1701]

Also noticed that the opening stardate in the book appears to correspond to those found in the relaunch DC Comics run, during the post-TFF missions of the Enterprise-A (where the year 2288 would likely fall).

Was there any effort to incorporate elements of/references to those DC Comics?

Considering how much of a role they played in my becoming a hardcore Star Trek fan, I know what I'd like the answer to be.

Honestly, not a big effort. I did a bit of homework to see what had already been done in that era (and even picked Christopher's brain a bit regarding the novels), but the main thing I picked up from the earlier novels was the idea that Kevin Riley eventually became a Starfleet ambassador.

(That's not a spoiler, btw. It's mentioned on the very first page of the novel.)

I'm aware that it's a bit of a challenge to fit In The Name of Honor into the modern novelverse, but did you check it while writing Foul Deeds Will Rise?

Also by the way Greg, I just love the title Foul Deeds Will Rise. It's such a great phrase.

 

[Christopher]

I'm aware that it's a bit of a challenge to fit In The Name of Honor into the modern novelverse...

How so? I don't recall noticing any major conflicts when I last read it.

 

[Enterprise1701]

I'm aware that it's a bit of a challenge to fit In The Name of Honor into the modern novelverse...

How so? I don't recall noticing any major conflicts when I last read it.

Well first off,

Spoiler: Chancellor Kesh's fate

Chancellor Kesh gets removed from office by a coup at the end of In the Name of Honor (or honorable challenge, I guess. Jardak only said to Kirk and Korax that he received word of Kesh stepping down "after having apparently falling victim to a sudden illness." Junior councillor Gorkon and his allies stepped up to be interim chancellor and fill other council seats. The Gagarin affair allowed them to pursue a more honorable path. Then in Mere Anarchy: The Blood-Dimmed Tide, Kesh is still in power and still pursuing actions that spawn malcontents among the Klingons.

 

[Deranged Nasat]

I'm aware that it's a bit of a challenge to fit In The Name of Honor into the modern novelverse...

How so? I don't recall noticing any major conflicts when I last read it.

Gorkon is described as a newly ascended councillor, a political newcomer, while Vanguard has him actively involved in the Council decades earlier. Although I suppose he could have lost favour and gained it again.

Also, Forged in Fire - which makes several quick references "Broad Strokes" style to In The Name of Honor (Sulu having joined Koloth on a previous mission into Klingon space a few short years before, where he was taught bat'leth combat) - nonetheless has Kesh still in the role of Chancellor, despite Kesh being replaced by Gorkon in ITNoH...That one might just be an error, though.

 

[Deranged Nasat]

It's one of the areas where the basic story is agreed upon but the details get a little fuzzy.

I guess all that really matters is what everything agrees on:

Kesh was Chancellor, Gorkon used such instances as the Gagarin affair to regain political power and place himself and his coalition as leaders of the Council, and Gorkon succeeded Kesh as Chancellor.

The Errand of... books complicate the story of the House of Gorkon further, as they do the House of Duras and others, but enough tweaking and squinting and glossing over details lets me keep it all together, more or less. I mean, I've got In The Name of Honor on my chronological run-through list...

 

[Leto_II]

There's one other, tiny discrepancy that I can remember from the novel, but entirely a retroactive one, to be sure -- in the book, Gorkon ascends to the position of High Chancellor in early 2287 (not long after the events of The Final Frontier), while Federation: The First 150 Years has him gaining this role in 2293.

Otherwise, the whole Kesh-thing notwithstanding, In the Name of Honor tracks reasonably well with the rest of TrekLit (well...apart from reviving Garrovick from his TMP-era death in Home is the Hunter, that is).