Enemy Territory

Thank God someone has a somewhat original idea when it comes to Trek fiction something that I feel has been noticeably lacking for years. The I.K.S Gorkon has the potential to be a very good series. The characters are mostly interesting and have more depth then you would except and the books read very quickly.

Leave it to Keith R.A. DeCandido to create an entirely new species and civilization that we have not seen before, that is unique in it's characteristics from everything else in Star Trek but still believable and weave in a very interesting story. This story contains a civil war, mutiny, space battles, klingons, aliens, social commentary all in one beautiful and interesting story. The story and the elabrej hegemony, so beautifully described and containing some disturbing similarities with some of our present day societies, make this a fantastic read. I thought the Books 1 & 2 were good, but the author matches those and, dare I say, overtakes them with this one.

"Enemy Territory," the third book in the I.K.S. Gorkon series by Keith R.A. DeCandido is perhaps the most vividly written of the Gorkon stories so far. DeCandido's knack for including solid character development in his story without suffering the battle sequences so key to the Klingon lifestyle takes the forefront in this tale. It opens with Shipmaster Vor Ellis of the Elabrej being awakened to the fact that her fellow crew members have located an alien conveyance, or ship. Her religious upbringing (as well as that of most of her people) has declared that there are no other beings in the universe except for the Elabrej. However, she finds herself and her crew members face-to-face with another alien race. Perhaps out of fear, she gives the command to fire on the alien ship. Unfortunately for them, the alien ship, the Klingon Chancellor-class I.K.S. Kravokh, returns fire and sets into motion a great battle between an alien race that thought it was alone and another that relishes a good fight. After having not heard from the I.K.S. Kravokh in roughly two months, the I.K.S. Gorkon learns of a massive gathering of alien ships in the last known location of the Kravokh. Sensing an offensive strike, Klag and company, as well as a large fleet of other Klingon vessels, set out to investigate and possibly engage the enemy that brought down the Kravokh. What Klag finds is a one-sided revolutionary war on a planet that's more alien than anything he's witnessed before. When the Klingons join up with a separatist faction, things really get going. On top of all of this, Klag is also trying to weed out possible mutineers on the Gorkon. DeCandido catches readers up with characters such as Wol, Toq, Rodek, Leskit, B'Oraq, Lokor and Goran. He allows these and other characters to take the spotlight from Klag to varying degrees. Wol is especially highlighted and one could argue that this particular tale is more about her growth as a Klingon warrior than any other character in the story. DeCandido also gives the reader a wonderful look into the social structure of the Elabrej hegemony as well as a solid understanding of certain members of the Elabrej race. As stated before, DeCandido blends action and character development flawlessly. This makes the reader cheer on certain characters and develop a general dislike of others. It makes the death of some characters (both heroic and cowardly) that much more meaningful as well. The story is briskly paced and each chapter demands the reader to keep going and not put the book down. As always, DeCandido sets up the the timeline for the story and includes a brief dictionary of Klingon terms used in the book. He also gives a brief overview of each of the Chancellor-class Klingon vessels. This is the best book in the series so far. At the end of the tale, DeCandido promises that a new adventure for the Gorkon and its crew is yet to come. I hope that he's telling the truth. He's developed these character

Three books in this new I.K.S. Gorkon series and Keith R.A. DeCandido has bowled three strikes. This book features one of my favorite aliens in Star Trek because their appearance is so radically different than bipedal humanoids that dominate the Star Trek franchise. Even the Founders of the Dominion appeared as bipedal humanoids in the presence of those in the Alpha Quadrant. The Elabrej Hegemony is a nation of four worlds. The peculiar thing about them is not their caste system or the belief that they were alone in the universe. They are sexpedal, rather than bipedal, and they don't have an identifiable head. They have a full range of vision, contrary to most bipedal humanoids that can only see in front of them. Their religious caste insist that they are alone in the universe. However, despite that believe, they have developed some awesome offensive weapons. As a spacefaring race, they are a stark contrast to the San Tarah. However, they do not have the warrior ethnic of the San Tarah the Gorkon last encountered. Klag has to deal with Klingon captives, his own ship disabled and forced to land on a moon, and a formenting rebellion as a result of his actions of San Tarah. This storyline brings us to another part of the Kravot Sector, but the story continues nicely from the first two volumes of the series. Once again, DeCandido captures the spirit and essence of the Klingons. I hope the Elabrej are further developed in future volumes because they are radically different from previous alien species, and that in itself is refreshing after so many variations on the humanoid theme.

Keith R. A. DeCandido knows the Klingon heart and spirit, and "Enemy Territory" is sure to please any klinfan. KRAD is a fan himself, and the author of several superior pro-novels and much excellent fan-fiction. In the best fanfic tradition, he has melded concepts from John M. Ford's definitive Klingon novel, "The Final Reflection," with elements from The Franchise to create a rollicking Klingon series. Supporting characters from Trek episodes are brought together and fleshed-out far beyond their one-shot roles in the series, yet remain true to their "canonic" characterization. Add an action-packed plot with some very original (and truly *alien*) adversaries whose socio-political culture KRAD has created with fine detail. Klingons are aliens too, and KRAD does not let the reader forget that -- his protagonists think and speak and behave like *Klingons*. The Klingon language (a combination of Okrandian tlhIngan Hol and Fordian klingonaase) is sprinkled throughout, adding authenticity to the prose. The female characters are particularly well-drawn in the I.K.S. Gorkon series, with much stronger roles than usually seen in the televised Trek. If you are a klinfan, one of those Trek enthusiasts who prefers the Klingons to Roddenberry's other alien creations, you will really enjoy this series. I have only one critique: the ghISnar, aka grishnar, is not a small cat, such as the tI'qa' (domestic Housecat) and vIghro'(small wildcat). In the one DS9 episode in which it was mentioned, Gowron refered to Sisko as a "toothless grishnar cat," in Fedegon idiom, a "toothless tiger." The ghISnar is clearly a large, ferocious Klingon beast. On a final note, I noticed KRAD dedicated "Enemy Territory" to his late feline companion, Mittens. I was personally touched by that. I'm sure Mittens' ka is in Sto-Vo-Kor, hunting and carousing and practicing kung-fu with all the Klingon cats who've gone before.