The Covenant of the Crown by Howard Weinstein

The Covenant of the Crown by Howard Weinstein

After Star Trek: The Motion Picture was released in theaters, Simon & Schuster began to publish Star Trek Novels. The Covenant of the Crown was the fourth in the new series and is probably most notable for attempting to add some characterization to Kirk and McCoy. Kirk has been ordered to escort a king he met as a young officer back to his planet in a bid to restore peace. McCoy is feeling old and wondering about how useful he can continue to be. Both plots add a little sparkle to an otherwise typical story in which Klingons cause some trouble while the Enterprise crew fights to save the day.

 

McCoy’s problem is the more interesting of the two as the young princess in the story who has lived an incredibly sheltered life becomes infatuated with him. Since he’s having a midlife crisis, this would have seemed like an opportunity for McCoy to try and recapture his youth, but he proves (as expected) to have stronger ethics than that. In helping the young woman to understand the difference between friendship and love, he figures out for himself what he still has to offer the Federation. For Kirk, restoring the royal family to their throne gives him the opportunity to close the door on a piece of unfinished business from the start of his service in Star Fleet.

 

Overall, it’s a fine quick read.