The Left Hand of Destiny

J.G. Hertzler and Jeffrey Lang have crafted a true Star Trek epic in every sense of the word. Rich in detail, it is the story of Martok's quest to learn what it really means to be a Klingon. Think "Star Trek meets King Arthur by way of John Eldredge (Wild at Heart)", and you have the essence of "The Left Hand of Destiny". If it's possible to give this 2-part story a sixth star, I would do it in a heartbeat, it is that excellent! :)

Star Trek - Deep Space Nine: The Left Hand of Destiny: Book One written by J.G. Hertzler and Jeffrey Lang is a book about Klingons and their vengence. This book is a very well-written novel giving the reader a good look into one character known as General Martok. The character development is excellent starting out with a dream sequence and working its way to the set-up for book two. I found this book to be an enjoyable read with plenty of action-adventure, mystery and intrigue... only Klingon style to keep the readers interest engrossed to the ending. If you like books about Klingons, and their ways of life, this is the book for you. You will love this book if for nothing else. As Martok returns to the Klingon homeworld things aren't as they should be and this is where the adventure kicks into full throttle and doesn't disappoint the reader. There is great character development with General Martok and his life as a Klingon soldier, also, we get a glimpse into Martok's family both present and past. This is where the revenge takes off and doesn't end as Martok seeks to rectify the situation the only way he can... by himself. But, Martok has an ally on the planet in Lieutenant Commander Worf and together they take on Martok's bastard son who is in temporary control of the government and wants to see his father fail. This is solid 5 star TREK adventure albeit Klingon style but nevertheless, this is a great look into one of the greatest war heros of the Klingon Empire... General Martok. Action-adventure is high, mystery and intrigue is high, readability excellent... this is an adventure that is told well, a must enjoyable read.

Besides being part of the DS9 relaunch / 10th anniversary series, this book is also a must-read for anyone interested in Klingons. In fact, it's probably the most important Klingon story written to date. It had me singing songs of victory at the end (see TNG: Birthright or maybe DS9: Way of the Warrior)! I am truly sad to see it end, but hopefully there will be some more good books involving these characters on the way!

I found the opening chapter of this book (a dream sequence) to be kind of slow. I put it down several times before I finally got through it. Once I did, I was glad I did, because the rest of the book was fantastic. I really enjoyed it. We've seen so much of the mythology of Bajor, it was kind of nice to see a more historical perspective on the Klingons. I enjoyed the Ferengi character, whose name escapes me at the moment, as well as a nice portrayal of Alexander. I had a hard time getting through the dream sequence at the opening of the book, but now that I've finished it, I can see that there was really no other way of setting up Martok's backstory. All in all, I thought it was in the top tier of relaunch books. One more thing, I like how this book played on themes that go back to Kahless and the Klingon civil war. It makes it seem like TNG and then DS9 have been building to this storyline. It would have made a great 2part episode.

It is not often that a book or movie lives up to its hype, but the two-part epic, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine-The Left Hand of Destiny certainly does. J.G. Hertzler and Jeffrey Lang have produced a magnificent and mesmerizing heroic sage that immerses the reader in a timeless tale of revenge and obsession Klingon style. Mystic visions, destruction, mayhem, sacrifice, loyalty, honor and, of course, battles. Valiant but bloody battles filled with daring deeds and heart pounding action. Star Trek novels don't get much more satisfying or true to type than The Left Hand of Destiny--these are most definitely Klingons.Just days after the events of Deep Space Nine's final episode "What You Leave Behind", General Martok, now Chancellor, has returned to the Klingon homeworld to assume the leadership of the Klingon council, with Worf, newly appointed Federation ambassador, at his side. Uncomfortable with his new role, Martok is unsure of his welcome among the old established families that have long ruled the Empire. But no stretch of the imagination could prepare Martok, or the reader, for the events that unfold upon his arrival.Book one sets events in motion in spectacular fashion when, with one stroke, the mighty Klingon Empire is brought to its knees by Morjod, Martok's bastard son. But Morjod and his army of Hur'q (yep the Hur'q) are simply pawns in a dangerous game being played by Martok's former lover, the deranged and deadly Gothmara. The saying `hell hath no fury like a woman scorned' is a bit of an understatement when applied to a Klingon.Pursued by Morjod and his followers, Martok and all those loyal to him are mercilessly hunted as the desperately seek answers to their numerous unanswered questions. Attempting to use Martok's own loyalties against him, Morjod's forces imprison Sirella, using her as bait to lure Martok to his own doom. The climactic rescue of Martok and Sirella from their own execution is, in itself, a deed worth of song. One of the best attributes of The Left Hand of Destiny is the large and diverse cast of characters. Both the heroes and villains are skillfully and superbly portrayed. Surprisingly one of the most interesting characters isn't even Klingon, but rather a Ferengi named Pharh, a refuse excavator who is drawn, at first reluctantly, into the fray. You can't help but admire this plucky little guy. Drawing on the Klingon mythos established in the various series and novels J.G. Hertzler and Jeffrey Lang masterfully manage to combine humor and action as they submerge the reader in Klingon culture. The tension filled plot builds continuously, the raw power and emotion of the prose literally leaps off the page. From the First City, to the Ketha lowlands, to the frozen wastes of Boreth, the attention to the small details that can make or break a story are obvious. Some of the images employed are clearly drawn from classic sources but they are used so perfectly in the story that it is easy to overlook and forgive