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 - What happens when the truth of Kahless catches up with the legend?You had to know if Spock could meet the image of Surak, father of all the Vulcans now hold to be true, then we should not have been surprised that Worf would get to meet Kahless the Unforgettable. However, when the most famous Klingon of them all was resurrected via cloning in the "Star Trek: The Next Generation" episode "Rightful Heir," Kahless 2.0 became the Emperor of the Empire again and a symbolic but still unifying figure. "Kahless" is a "STNG" novel by Michael Jan Friedman (who wrote the comic book for DC), are purports to provide the truth behind the legend of the Klingon Empire's greatest warrior (and did you know they have trademarked the word "Klingon"?). "Kahless" is a double-tracked novel, where we begin in "The Modern Age" of "STNG," and then go back to "The Heroic Age" in which the original Kahless lived. The story takes place in the eighth year of Jean-Luc Picard's command of the "Enterprise-D," which means it takes place between the events of the show's final episode, "All Good Things," and before what happens in the theatrical film "Star Trek Generation." Olahg, one of the clerics of Boreth, is part of a team excavating one of the sacred locations where Emperor Kahless had walked. He discovers a buried box that contains a scroll that purports to be the work of Kahless the Unforgettable, and written on the scroll are word that can only be considered blasphemy by the faithful in the Empire. What the words on the ancient scroll do is through into doubt the ancient stories that have been passed down regarding Kahless. Of course, what this is really about is seeing the man behind the legends, and no one, not even Kahless the Unforgettable, can stand up to the mythology that has sprung up about him. For fifteen hundred years the Klingons have revered Kahless as not just their first emperor and the man who first united their people, but as the legendary warrior who taught the Klingons the meaning of honor. All Klingon children learn of how Kahless and his brother Morath fought for 12 days and nights because Morath had broken his word and killed their father, dishonoring their family. If the truth strips away the myths and fables, the Klingons might not like what is left. With the Klingon Empire threatening to come apart at the seems, Kahless turns to the few people he can trust, Captain Jean-Luc Picard and Lt. Worf of the starship "Enterprise." Friedman's book goes back and forth between the treachery, rumors, and possibility of civil war in the Modern Era with the story from the Heroic Age of the young Klingon warrior named Kahless who defied the tyrant Molor. The legend says Kahless forged the first bat'leth and founded the Empire after slaying the tyrant, a battle celebrated with the Kot-baval festival. But we learn that while Kahless was concerned with preserving his honor and the safety of his family, but once he reluctantly became the leader of the rebels, he had to make decisions on a more practical basis. I appreciate the idea that myths and legends spring up around what we would call world historical individuals, and distort the "real" them. Abraham Lincoln was arguably the most hated man in America, in the North as well in the South, pretty much until the night he was assassinated. The problem, such as it is, would be that we only know bits and pieces of the legend and lore of Kahless from a handful of episodes, mostly from "STNG" and usually involving Worf because the big irony is that the one Klingon officer in Starfleet is probably the most ideologically pure follower of Kahless around, which is why the cloned emperor can trust him. But this gives Friedman plenty of space to flesh out the story so he gets to stack the deck the way he wants. Still, those who are particularly interested in the Klingon culture will have to at least check this one out and see what they think of what Friedman came up with. Just remember, "qaStaHvIS wa' ram loS SaD Hugh SIjlaH qetbogh Ilod" (I know others have said it here, but it is so true). Rating:  - Not the best Star Trek novel, but offers some perspectiveIf you are looking for the greatest bit of prose ever offered in the genre, you will be disappointed. Michael Jan Friedman is not my favorite Star Trek writer. However, despite the fact that this novel does what I HATE Star Trek novels to do, bounce back and forth between the "present" of Tne Next Generation and the past of the Klingon Empire 1500 years ago, it does offer an insight into the history of the Klingon Empire. What are Kingons? What is their legacy? In "In the Name of Honor," which takes place in the time period of "The Original Series," we learn of the ideological struggle and change going on within Klingon society. In that novel, the teachings of Kahless gain a new vigor in Klingon society. However, decades later, that "fundamentalist" Kahless teaching comes under assault. The present-day Picard is off on a mission to determine that is going on within the Klingon Empire. In this novel, we learn the truth about Kahless. This novel isn't about fighting, it is about doing what is honorable. What we don't know at the conclusion of this novel is the eventual long-term impact on Klingon society due to what has been discovered about Kahless's life. This isn't the best written Star Trek novel, and I really hate bouncing from a past time to the present. However, if you want to get a look at Klingon culture, this is one of the few novels that afford that opportunity. Rating: - STNG Kahless - A Star Trek story that needed to be told!Star Trek's most prolific author, Michael Jan Friedman, in "Kahless" takes on the task of telling the tale of Kahless the Unforgettable which is a story that, while unfortunately is was not explored thoroughly in either The Next Generation or Deep Space Nine, needed to be told! While Star Trek The Next Generation and the character of Worf did a great amount in furthering our knowledge of the Klingons and their culture, with Worf making the move over to Star Trek Deep Space Nine at the beginning of the fourth season did so much more in furthering that knowledge but it also brought up some serious contradictions. As this novel was probably finished somewhere around February of 1996 and Deep Space Nines fourth season started only a short time before that, there are definitely "some" contradictions, but they're minor. As is usual with a Michael Jan Friedman novel, the premise, plot setup, execution and pacing are all extremely well done in this novel, the only detractor being some of the fight scenes which aren't played out to the author's usual high standard. The cover art for this novel is pretty good for the time in which it was published. The Star Trek History: For those that may not be entirely familiar with the story of Kahless the Unforgettable and how his character came into play during Star Trek The Next Generation's run on television. Late in the fifth season of STNG, one of the most intriguing and telling episodes of the series aired, "Rightful Heir." In this episode, Worf had recently lost his faith after his experience on Carraya IV and finds himself not performing his duties very well. He chooses to take leave to go to the Klingon monastery on Boreth, the Klingon spiritual world to seek Kahless. As legend described, as he lay dying, Kahless promised his return and pointed to the star in which Boreth revolves. After several days of seeking Kahless, Worf becomes even more despondent when Kahless doesn't appear to him. As he is about to give up, Kahless comes to him, not in a vision but in flesh and blood. After much political intrigue, Kahless is discovered to be a clone when Gowron, Chancellor of the Klingon Empire, easily defeats him in hand to hand combat. Through great lengths on Worf's part and in an effort to save the flailing empire, Gowron allows the Kahless clone to take the ceremonial role of Emperor of the Klingon Empire. STNG Kahless - The premise: The Klingon Empire and its culture is one that steeped in legend and tradition. Much of that tradition of honor is placed in the tales of Kahless the Unforgettable who is in essence the one Klingon that their religion is based upon. When the monks on Boreth cloned Kahless, they gave him all of this myth and legend as memories of his own. With these memories, Kahless the clone now sits upon the ceremonial thrown of the Klingon Empire, leading the empire spiritually. A recent archaeological dig uncovered a scroll, presumably written by Kahless himself. This scroll, once made public, puts everything the Klingons believe in into to question as it is blasphemous to every tale ever told about Kahless. As the dissent starts to mount, Kahless the clone discovers a plot against him and, seeing treachery everywhere in the empire, he seeks the aid of Captain Picard and Lieutenant Worf. What follows from there is a well told story in which Michael Jan Friedman takes us back and forth between the "Modern" age and the "Heroic" age, weaving the tale and plight of the Kahless of legend and the Kahless of today. I highly recommend this novel as it serves well to further the story of Kahless the Unforgettable; it is essentially a story in the Star Trek mythos that "needed" to be told! {ssintrepid} Rating: - A great star trek bookTo those who are not familiar with Star Trek. During the Next Generation series the original Kahless was cloned by some Klingon clerics by using his DNA. The cloned Kahless was made a figurehead emperor. Michael Jan Friedman novel is about this Kahless. Apparently a Klingon cleric has found a scroll that reveals that the legend of Kahless is not what everyone assumed it to be. Instead of being a great warrior he was a man pushed into a situation beyond his control. The validity of the restored emperor becomes suspect. This threatens to throw the Klingon empire into a civil war (WHAT ELSE IS NEW !! ). The story goes back and forth between the present and the time of the original Kahless. Of course Lt. Worf is at the center of the controversy. He was appointed to analyze the documents ( a copy was sent to him on the Enterprise). The documents were found to be authentic. The real Kahless wrote and left the documents in order to clarify the legend that was growing about him. This book is one of the better Star Trek novels. Michael Jan Friedman is probably the best Star Trek author. He does an excellent job in describing (or better yet creating) Klingon culture, especially ancient Klingon culture that is not described in any of the Star Trek series or movies. Rating:  - A cautionary tale,a parable if you will, on the dangers of placing to much importance on the historical literality of our mytho-historical cultural icons. Most people would understand and agree, for instance, that it neither lessens nor invalidates the importance of either George Washington or the quality of honesty if he did not, in fact, chop down a cherry tree and then unequivocally plead guilty to having done so as a child, nor does it lessen his importance in the winning of the American Revolution if he did not, in fact, throw a silver dollar across the Delaware (Potomac?) River. Yet unfortunately, just as this books finds many Klingons struggling with the validity of the qualities that they've been brought up to believe in -- honor and courage and valor -- when it is discovered that their mytho-historical proto-Klingon, Kahless, did not in literal fact climb an erupting volcano in order to singe a lock of his hair, nor spin the first bat'telh, a Klingon edged weapon deadlier than a sword, out of said lava-singed strands of hair, and worse, was not a paragon of honor himself, but just a (reasonably decent) fellow, struggling to get from day to day until fate caught him up in a revolution, so many people of our own culture feel that it would somehow invalidate the value of "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you" if the historical Jesus Christ did not, in fact, literally, physically, rise from the dead after three days. That it would render "Love thy neighbor as thyself" less meaningful if he did not, literally, feed a multitude with a few loaves and fishes. That if he was not literally born of a virgin, or did not literally raise Lazarus from the dead, it would make "The meek shall inherit the earth" or "blessed are the peacemakers" any less valid. Those portions of the Bible (and there are many of them) that contain beauty, truth, and wisdom, do so regardless of the literal inerrancy of the "history" recorded. And those parts that do not (such as "Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live") are vile and invalid, regardless. The message is neither improved nor damaged by the accuracy of the story it is set in. And this story is a marvellous vehicle for making that point. Well-told, well-written, it's truly a joy to have read.
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