Vixen does To Reign In Hell or: "KHAAAAAAAAAAN!!!!!"

[Dancing Doctor]

Him the Almighty Power
Hurled headlong flaming from th' ethereal sky
With hideous ruin and combustion down
To bottomless perdition, there to dwell
In adamantine chains and penal fire

...


Here at least
we shall be free; the Almighty hath not built
Here for his envy, will not drive us hence:
Here we may reign secure, and in my choice
to reign is worth ambition though in Hell:
Better to reign in Hell, than serve in Heaven.
​

(Possible spoilers within)

It's been a while since I've had the chance to sit down and finish any book, much less a Trek book, so I jumped at the chance, especially when I found this book again, buried beneath some other books and a towel. I had gotten To Reign In Hell: The Exile of Khan Noonien Singh about...oh, say, a year ago, and it required me going out on a limb, actually.

(Quick background: Although I generally enjoy all Trek Lit that I read, getting to that point is another matter entirely. I'm unusually picky when it comes to getting books. For the longest time, I avoided most TOS novels because I "wasn't into that". Part of it was my lack of seeing TOS episodes, and part of it was because I didn't really like Kirk. Now, when I go Trek Lit shopping, I generally avoid Klingon novels (sorry KRAD!), simply because I never was a Klingon fan. (I can go on about my Klingon dislike, so we'll leave it there). I also tend to steer clear of ENT novels, although that's been cured by Last Full Measure and The Good That Men Do.)

Anyway, getting back to Reign In Hell, it required me stepping out of my comfort zone. Do I really want to read about Khan? I had thought. Sure, I really enjoyed TWOK, and sure I'd like to know more about him, and...oooh, mocha!. With that bit of distraction, I put To Reign In Hell in my shopping basket, and proceeded to buy said mocha, as well as the book.

Now, I'm really glad I did. To Reign In Hell was probably one of the best Trek books I had read (Note: I haven't read the other Eugenics Wars novels, and I'm not sure I want to). I think this part from the book (near the end, at the memorial service Kirk gives) sums up the way I felt best:

Kirk was surprised to feel a pang of sympathy for Khan as well. Although he could not forgive Khan's bloody-handed exploits, reading the man's journal had given him some insight into the hellish circumstances that had fueled Khan's descent into madness. No one deserved to go through what the displaced dictator had endured on Ceti Alpha V, not even Khan Noonien Singh.

The events that occur in the novel (from the canonically mentioned destruction of Ceti Alpha VI to the death of Marla McGivers Singh) are written with vividness and detail, and draws you in further. The various trials and tribulations that Khan and Marla face together (for about 3/4 of the book) serve to highlight the love and bond between them.

Although I enjoyed the book a lot, there were some things that did bother me a little. The secondary plot and/or framing story, with Kirk and Spock and McCoy and (barely) Sulu didn't seem to do much for the story, similar to the Jake/Nog one from The Good That Men Do. Also, the various coups and attacks against Khan and Marla grew a little tiresome after a while. It was interesting, though, to see the way Kirk resolves things in the end with the survivors on Ceti Alpha V, although I wasn't sure where Sycorax aka the "Paragon Colony" came from.

To sum up, Greg Cox did a masterful job of filling in the space between Space Seed and The Wrath of Khan, and I strongly recommend this novel to everyone.

 

[Christopher]

Sycorax was from the Eugenics Wars duology.

 

[Greg Cox]

Glad you liked the book, Vixen! Thanks for the nice review.

 

[Dancing Doctor]

Sycorax was from the Eugenics Wars duology.

Ah, that explains why I hadn't heard of it before.

Glad you liked the book, Vixen! Thanks for the nice review.

Thanks for writing such an awesome book! I wasn't sure what to expect when I had first picked it up, but I'm now glad that I did.

 

[Dancing Doctor]

Having skimmed through the book not too long ago, a few thoughts came to mind:

These Augments (and I'll use that term simply because it's easier to type than "genetically-altered superhumans" or other descriptors) can really hold grudges. Khan holds his for most of the 18 years he's "exiled" (starting around the time Ceti Alpha VI explodes), and Harulf Ericsson (not to mention a good portion of the other Augments) hate Marla for almost the same time.

And poor Marla! Despised by the Enterprise crew for betraying them as well as despised by the Augments for betraying them. Indeed, most of the first half of the book or so involves the various attempts on Marla's life (all for the benefit of Khan, or so those who try say) as well as Marla trying as hard as she can to get along with the others and try to prove useful. And for Ericsson to use the Ceti eel to get her to kill Khan (oh, that's the other grudge held) and Marla's mental strength to refuse to do so, resulting in her stabbing herself to save Khan...it was very movingly written, and that was the moment when I went Oh schnitzel...Khan's gonna truly snap right about now.

I don't know if maybe it was the distance of time between watching Space Seed and reading this (watching that episode as a recent rerun of course, since my mom was about 4 when it came out, and my dad about 11 or 12) but I did find it a little hard at first to believe that the two of them had as deep or as strong a relationship as was portrayed. After a while, once I got into 'the zone', for lack of a better term, I didn't question it any longer.

When I was reading about Astrid Ericsson, I wasn't sure whether to feel pity or contempt or what. She hates Khan (and considering who her father was it was no surprise) but she refuses to believe Kirk when he tells her that Khan is dead, yet she agrees with Khan that Kirk is "the Abandoner" but he's really not in the end despite Khan saying so and her believing it...I eventually stopped trying to figure out Astrid, and resolved myself to the "Well, anyone forced to live on Ceti Alpha V must be a little kookoobananas" line of thinking.

Marla's memorial service aboard the Yakima was very nicely written, although I did wonder, and I don't know why, if Kirk brought anything else off of Ceti Alpha V besides her remains. And since the Yakima was described as "a compact, warp-capable cruiser, only slightly larger than a shuttlecraft", the remaining Augments on Ceti Alpha V weren't aboard at the end. Does the Enterprise transport them to Sycorax, or some other ship? I know that Kirk pledges to "personally oversee" their transport, but...anyway.

I have to admit, I did snicker a little when reading Kirk's "The Corbomites are attacking the Federation" spiel, since it was funny, and since The Corbomite Maneuver was such a good episode.

 

[Kopernikus]

Now, I'm really glad I did. To Reign In Hell was probably one of the best Trek books I had read (Note: I haven't read the other Eugenics Wars novels, and I'm not sure I want to).

If you liked To Reign in Hell that much (Something I can agree with, a very fine book indeed, certainly one of the best TOS-novels), you should definetly read the preceeding duology, which is at least as good as To Reign in Hell.

 

[Dancing Doctor]

I've been debating reading the duology. On the one hand, I have heard that they were good, and your post reaffirms that.

On the other hand, though, I'm not too big a fan of the whole Gary Seven-type stories. I had seen the first book of the Rise and Fall of Khan Noonien Singh duology, and I glanced at the first page for a minute or so before putting it back. That had been before reading To Reign In Hell, so things might be different this time.

Hell, a few years ago I wouldn't have been caught dead reading anything but TNG and DS9 novels, and now I've managed to almost overcome most of my Trek Lit biases.

 

[Steve Roby]

Hell, a few years ago I wouldn't have been caught dead reading anything but TNG and DS9 novels, and now I've managed to almost overcome most of my Trek Lit biases.

I don't care much for Voyager or Enterprise, but I've never skipped a Voyager or Enterprise novel. The problems I had with those shows had much more to do with the writing than the characters or series premises (well, I have some problems with the Enterprise series premise, but anyway).

The novels aren't written by TV writers (some of whom seemed to be suffering from burnout, some from contempt for their jobs and their fans, some of whom were probably trying their best but were stifled by producers and executives). The novelists don't face the same kinds of constraints, and are often able to tell the kinds of stories that the shows should have been doing but weren't. That's why I often find the Voyager and Enterprise novels worth reading.

As for certain elements of Trek, like the Klingons... well, I'm not a big fan of one-dimensional characters from a one-dimensional culture, but again, the books have the time and opportunity to do more exploration of those cultures and characters and give them some much needed depth.

IOW, if you don't like the TV version of something, don't automatically assume you won't like what the novels do with it.

 

[Dancing Doctor]

^It took me a while before I really attempted to start reading TOS, VOY and ENT novels. And Rosetta almost turned me off of ENT novels.

That being said, I've always prided myself on my willingness to try new things, food-wise mostly but almost everything. One day, possibly soon, I might give the I.K.S Gorkon novels a try. Now that would be a major step out of my comfort zone...

 

[Dancing Doctor]

So spake the Fiend, and with necessity,
The tyrant's plea, excused his devilish deeds.

A dismal universal hiss, the sound
Of public scorn.

 

[Mistral]

Vixen-try the duology. Mr. Cox weaves a wicked tale and manages to slip in bits and pieces of Trek canon all over the place. The second time I read it I was tempted to keep a pad of paper and pencil to tally the references.

It's a fun read. That's the best thing I could possibly say about it. And, in the end, isn't that why we all hang out in the ST universe? Because its so fun?

 

[Trent Roman]

Attention: here follows the obligatory 'for the chicks' post.

And, in the end, isn't that why we all hang out in the ST universe? Because its so fun?

I thought it was for the chicks.

Fictitiously yours, Trent Roman

This has been the obligatory 'for the chicks' post.

 

[EliyahuQeoni]

I had my doubts about the initial Khan duology, but was curious to see how Cox would reconcile the 1990s Eugenics War with real history. I was pleasantly surprised! Cox wove a great story that I found reminiscent of the best of the X-Files. And beyond that he created a young Khan that was multidimensional, real and sympathetic. It is a bit heart wrenching to see him transform into the Khan of the Space Seed and TWOK. While I enjoyed all three books, I liked the first two much more, so I would definitely recommend them if you liked To Reign in Hell.

 

[setacourse]

I haven't read To Reign in Hell because I'm a fan of G7 but not so much of Khan. Though I enjoyed both tremendously in The Rise and Fall of Khan, I was skeptical I'd enjoy Khan separate from both Kirk and the interweaving of history, but your reviews here prompt me to rethink that, and possibly step outside my comfort zone.

One day, possibly soon, I might give the I.K.S Gorkon novels a try. Now that would be a major step out of my comfort zone...

Have you read TNG Diplomatic Implausibility? (You've probably answered this before) I loved the variety presented in the Gorkon's crew and it was my intro into the Klingon thing, never having been a fan of Klingon episodes or books before.

 

[Dancing Doctor]

I haven't read Diplomatic Implausibility yet, no.

Worf was never really one of my favorite characters on TNG, and it took me a while to get over instincts. (In fact, having Worf on the cover of A Time to Kill almost prevented me from buying it) And I've honestly never liked Klingons. I hated Heart of Glory (AKA the "Spandex versus Leather" TNG episode). In fact, I'd take a Ferengi episode over a Klingon episode.

Much like Kirk, I have my biases to get over.

 

[setacourse]

^ Hmmm... yeah, I've never disliked Klingons, just that Klingon episodes weren't (and still aren't) my favorites. And I'd have chosen some of the Klingon episodes over some of the Ferengis.

 

[William Leisner]

In fact, I'd take a Ferengi episode over a Klingon episode.

What if that Ferengi episode is "Profit and Lace"?

 

[Dancing Doctor]

Wrong person to ask, darling.