Republic (Star Trek: My Brother's Keeper, Book 1)

Republic is an excellent book written of course by one of the best Trek authors! Republic starts off with the rehashing of the event's surrounding Captain Kirk's duty to kill his best friend Gary Mitchell. From there begin's Captain Kirk's telling the history of his friendship with Gary Mitchell.This is a very intriguing book in that it begin's the whole back story of their friendship. It is extremely interesting to think that Captain James T. Kirk started out as a shy, somewhat reserved individual and it took Gary Mitchell to change that in his personality.

This novel was very true to it's source material. The death of Gary was a crushing blow to Kirk. We get to see what happened before they become officers. It's so unusual to hear Kirk having to answer to a captain! Gary turns out to be the one who influenced Kirk's life profoundly. It's his experience living in the large city as opposed to Kirk's confined upbringing as a kid. His friend helped him take risks at the right time to further his career and love life. That's why Kirk felt such a loss.

Sorry I meant that last review for Constitution:My Brothers Keeper Part 2 of course.... Part 1 is great! :)

This was a great books and a fun read. Unike, many Friedman books, this was a more serious book and did consist of that immature language that the author has been seen using. Fortunately it wasn't a a replica of a previous novel like he did with Saratoga and Reunion.

An excellent profile of a young James T Kirk and his best friend Gary Mitchell. I've been waiting for a novel like this and get the first of a trilogy. Captain Kirk is my favourite 'Trek' character and I found that Lt Comdr Gary Mitchell would've been an excellent addition to the classic series had he been cured of his Q complex. It is not surprising to find that Mitchell was a considerable influence in the forging of the legendary captain. Amongst Kirk's influences in various episodes and novels have been Captain Garth 'Whom God's Destroy' his father Commander George Kirk - from the Diane Carey novels 'Final Frontier' and 'Best Destiny' and the first captain of the USS Enterprise 1701 Captain Robert April in the Diane Carey novel 'Best Destiny' The breakdown is as follows:CAPTAIN GARTH - STRATEGIC AND TACTICAL ABILITYCAPTAIN APRIL - COMPASSION & DIPLOMACYCOMMANDER KIRK - AGGRESSION AND DETERMINATIONLT COMMANDER MITCHELL - BRASHNESS , CUNNING AND CHARMLt Commander Gary Mitchell has only been highlighted in one other novel Margaret Wander Bonnano's under-rated novel 'Strangers From The Sky'. In which Captain Kirk, Lt Comdr Mitchell, Lt Lee Kelso Mr Spock and Dr Elizabeth Dehner form a landing party to a mysterious un-inhabited planet . This planet subsequently throws them back in time and they get involved in the unofficial first contact with the Vulcans and avert an intergalactic tragedy.The heart of that book is the team work of Kirk Kelso, Mitchell, Dehner and Spock. They're also consistent with the characterisations perpetuated by Michael Jan Friedman. Not so much Kelso, but the way the talked about him and the way they referred to him in 'Thy Brother's Keeper - Republic' is in keeping with the officer portrayed in the novel 'Strangers From The Sky'. and the classic episode 'Where No Man has Gone Before' . 'Thy Brother's Keeper - Republic' is a terrific novel. Kirk flashbacks on his relationship with his best-friend starting with their Academy days and their tour on a training ship the USS Republic. It occasionally snaps back to the present as they cope in the tragic wake of Kelso, Mitchell and Dehner's deaths. Kirk's loss is palpable as is his guilt. The fact that he had no choice is of little comfort, not only has he lost his best friend he was the one responsible for his death. I liked the explanation for the infamous and subsequently inaccurate JAMES R KIRK inscription on the tombstone Gary conjured up . 'R' for 'Racquetball'. A private joke between the two of them. Maybe a little contrived as we've never seen him play or mention the game before. It's the one thing they have in common besides Starfleet; they're both accomplished players and finalists in regional competitions. A nice touch though.There is no doubt in my mind that Mitchell was a great character, 'Trek' presently doesn't quite have any one like him. In the book he's clever, charming,