Rules of Engagement

Star Trek: The Original Series #48

by Peter Morwood

Rules of Engagement A sudden revolution on the planet Dekkanar brings Captain Kirk and the U.S.S. Enterprise? running to evacate Federation personnel trapped there. But their orders from Starfleet are quite clear; the U.S.S. Enterprise is to assist in the evacuation, no more. No weapons are to be displayed, no shields raised, no shots fired. Meanwhile, halfway across the galaxy, an experimental Klingon warship sets forth on a mission of its own, a warship with hidden -- and heretofore undreamed of -- capabilities, commanded by a warrior who will stop at nothing to bring glory to his Empire -- and restore his own lost honor. the Klingon ship's destination? The planet Dekkanar...

Genres: Star Trek, Science Fiction, Fiction, Star Trek Original Series, Ebooks, Space Opera, Space

245 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published February 1, 1990

About the author

Peter Morwood was an Irish novelist and screenwriter. He is best known for his Horse Lords and Tales of Old Russia series. He lived in Ireland with his wife, writer Diane Duane, with whom he co-authored several works.

Reviews

[Chris Townsend · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book takes place between the first two movies, in the latter part of the second five year mission.

The writing is not very good. The first 100 pages were pure drivel. Almost literally, nothing happens. It's almost all exposition and characters' wandering thoughts. There can't be more than five pages of actual plot in those 100 pages. It's worthy of a one-star rating.

Starting at page 100 or 115, the story started moving and became interesting. The writing isn't great, but it was good enough to be entertaining. Solid 3 star rating for that part.

Average these ratings out how you will. I'd say 2.4.

[Stephen Fender · Rating 1 out of 5]

I really wanted to like this book, but it just fell very flat. There were numerous things that kept poping up that REALLY bothered me.

First off was the familiarity the author tried to establish with the characters. No other ST author I've read always refers to James T. Kirk as "Jim". As in "Jim said..." or "Jim acknowledged." or "Bones told Jim." It was the same for all the characters. It was if the author took the friendly names/nicknames and threw out everything else. Very not-Trek. The relationship between Kirk, McCoy and Spock (Or Jim, Bones, and the Vulcan, as the author constantly refers to them) was not at all Star Trek. McCoy sounded more like Spock, and Spock sounded like someone else entirely. Kirk was by far the worst.

Secondly, all the data in the book about the Klingon's comes from John Ford's FASA RPG material. That, if used sparingly, is actually good. The author, however, slapped it on like a coat of latex paint, then went a step further and didn't explain any of the subtle quirks of Ford's work. The author makes several references to "The black fleet", which he never explains. Or why Klingons in this novel have really long names. Or (Lord knows why) the author kept repeating the phrase "the naked stars". Or what the hell a "Thought Admiral" is. It's all in the FASA books, but far from common knowledge. I was a big fan of the FASA RPG, but this novel beat it to death. Very un-cool.

Third, this novel was written in 1990. The author tried (poorly) to write a novel that took place just after V'Ger (ST:TMP), yet constantly eluded to details that wouldn’t be revealed until Star Trek II, III, and IV (and probably VI, but I was zoning out at that point). Stick with your time frame, author, and forget "future speculation".

Forth was the plot. It was like the Hunt for Red October, except less believable (if thats possible).

[Frank Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this. A Klingon with a grudge against Kirk and the Federation decides to test the limits of the Organian Treaty by forcing Enterprise into making a first strike. It's a long ruse to get there and we all know Kirk is going to make the right decision even at great cost, so there aren't many surprises here. But it does feel exactly like the story arc of an actual episode.

[Michael Laflamme]

We have recently uncovered a box of old books filled with Trek titles from years ago. Once upon a time, my wife and I would cruise used book shops all over, because early in our marriage, we had very little money. There were other treats as well. It seems I'll be occupied for some time. This novel was selected at random, not at all in sequence, to refresh my memory about this great series of easy reads in the Star Trek universe. This story took awhile to get my attention, but it ended very well. I would recommend these to anyone. Easy reading, fun, with authors who twist and turn. Like football. The College games are fun because the players always do the unexpected. So do these authors. Good!

[Mark A Powell · Rating 1 out of 5]

When the Enterprise is sent on a diplomatic mission, the arrival of Klingons puts Kirk and his crew in a deadly situation. Morwood’s writing fails to capture the nuances of the classic characters well, and is often too dense for casual reading. Further compounding the problems, his pacing is maddeningly slow in the first three quarters of the book, and the conclusion is little more than standard episode-of-the-week fare. A weak plot, plodding and ultimately forgettable.

[Mikael Kuoppala · Rating 3 out of 5]

A book that tries to illuminate the Klingons and their culture, but somehow drops the ball at some point. Oddly structured.

[Reesha · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 stars. I found this enjoyable and rather clever - I threw my head back and laughed aloud multiple times throughout the pages.

I liked the folding in of Trek history, both TOS episodes and previous novels, though I would have liked more of the Horta (but I always want more of the Horta!). The characterization on McCoy was spot-on, as were his cantankerous interactions with Spock. I also really enjoyed the tension of Enterprise being stymied on its approach by suffocatingly specific Starfleet regulations, and the impotent frustration that would realistically engender in captain and crew.

A few things did throw me out of the story, such as a suggestion that a Federation synthesizer couldn't manage a thick fruit nectar, when multiple cultures even just on Earth revel in thick fruit nectars (exposing the author's western, northern hemisphere bias), and a maddening and ridiculous conceit that the Enterprise staff would have chosen to not bother to disarm half a dozen Klingons who were temporary "guests" aboard ship. Madness! Also, weirdly long Klingon names, with honorifics that smack of Japanese influence. Not sure where that was coming from.

I do appreciate that the crisis on the planet was mostly left in the background, as I don't think the novel needed that particular ho-hum plot to be any more developed than it was. It was only a device to get things moving, and I can appreciate that.

All in all, a pleasant offering in the early '90s Trek novel canon. I'd recommend it to a TOS fan who had already read previous novels. However, an episode-only TOS fan might not enjoy it as much. Those previous novels are needed to get the full effect of the many Easter eggs in these pages.

[Tommy Verhaegen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quite a special plot that fits snugly within the franchise. James T. Kirk takes has to cancel shoreleave and take his crew on a very sensitive mission. The Enterprise has to approach a hostile planet with her shields and other defenses down. On top of the problems that causes a Klingon vessel of a new and superior type approaches to lure Kirk and his friends in a trap.
Almost the whole book plays in space, most around the planet Dekkanar. The settings are the Enterprise for Starfleet and the Klingon warships for the Klingons. There are a lot of red alerts but the focus of the book is on the battle of wits betwen the Klingon captain and Kirk. The Klingon captain also has to face his crew of Klingons, that is the Klingon way. Kirk can count on the help of his friends of which Spock and Uhura carry more weight this time than Scotty, McCoy, Sulu or Chekov.
Although the battle is on a psychological level, the book consists mosly of action. Maybe not as funny as would be possible, this again makes for easy reading with a lot of tension and the main question: how are they going to get themselves out of this alive!

[Kosar7480 · Rating 4 out of 5]

A little slow at times, especially with the lengthy sections devoted to the Klingon crew before they encounter Kirk. Overall though, I liked how many elements of the plot ventured into some new situations: the nuances of intergalactic diplomatic relations, an evacuation of Federation personnel under fire, and an experimental Klingon ship along the lines of the Federation M5. I felt like the Dekkan evacuation and the terrorist cells could have been it's own novel. Also a lot of connections to classic episodes and foreshadowing of things that occurred later in the movies and TNG. Good overall.

[Kieran McAndrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

Shore Leave for the crew of the 'U.S.S. Enterprise' is cancelled when the people of Dekkanar demand the Federation withdraw from their planet.

While removing personnel, a renegade Klingon officer approaches requesting asylum. He and his crew are in possession of stolen military technology and are willing to provide this to Starfleet.

Kirk is not convinced, but must abide by the terms of the Organian Treaty - no matter what the cost.

Morwood's novel builds a believable model of off duty Starfleet, but comes into it's own when reverting to the tactical side of 'Star Trek'.

[Sven · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a complex tangled web of political forces, well designed, paced, understandable, with a complex mesh of motivations. It finishes with a boss fight where the boss has a glowing weak point you have to hit three times. Despite racing to the close, this is really solid stuff. The planet's politics are relatively inexplicable, which makes the premise flimsy, but this is a numbered Pocket Books Star Trek book, you kinda get what you get at a certain point.

[Joe Hix · Rating 2 out of 5]

An overall boring and tedious adventure which takes place during the second five year mission in between The Motion Picture and The Wrath of Khan. The story teases exciting action between the Enterprise and a brand new Klingon battle cruiser but it doesn't deliver on this promise until the final chapter. Readers who are familiar with The Final Reflection may find some interesting callbacks to that novel's obsolete portrayal of the Klingons.

[Shane Noble · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not bad, but really nothing special for a Trek book. This was written in 1990, so a lot of development of Klingons as a culture (in TNG and DS9) hadn't been done, yet. The author wrote them more like current takes on Romulans. The exposition was a little clunky, but it was a decent quick read for a TOS fan.

[Eric Benjamin · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great book about an adventure set between The Motion Picture and Star Trek II. The climactic action between the evil Klingons and the Enterprise could’ve used more pages, and less setup overall. Excellent call backs to previous episodes of The Original Series help guide the plot of Rules of Engagement.

[Katrina Veerkamp · Rating 4 out of 5]

The review I read said it didn’t get good until the end. I so agree! I even skipped some of the on and on details about each of the Klingon background. Yuck. I’ve read lots of books and this is first time I skipped a lot of pages. The end is intriguing and complex. Gets exciting

[Ian Banks · Rating 3 out of 5]

Despite containing a heap of plot/counterplot/counter-counter plotting that I normally dislike, this was a lot of fun. The characters behaved like real members of a paramilitary force and, while there was a lot of bingo, it didn’t distract from the enjoyment of the story.

[Dwayne A.McClellan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an Engaging Book

I'm reading my favorite pocket books as the summer book are putting all the prequel and TOS,Enterprise, TNG,& DS9 episodes in order along with SCE!!!. I recommend this book as a true fan of Star Trek!!!!

[SamB · Rating 2 out of 5]

Some good ideas, but ultimately many of them go unrealised. It's perplexing written too - overwritten in places, and then key events or reveals happen 'off-screen' or are left to the reader to infer. I think this book had ambitions of being literary, but it falls short.

[Brian Stuhr · Rating 1 out of 5]

When fan fiction makes it into print.
O_o

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

The planet Dekkanar is expelling the Federation personnel. The Enterprise is one of the ships in the detail. Then a Klingon battle cruiser appears.
A entertaining re-read.

[Craig · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well in the past I have had issues with the main story taking forever to get going and this one kind of takes the cake in that regard. However the build-up is kind of central to the idea of the book so here it is forgivable in that sense. What I didn't care for was the slow pace of how things unfolded and the tensions being lost to make sure it was noted when the Captain was on the bridge and the insertion of references to the Final Reflection. The Dekkanar situation actually seemed interesting but was given more of an "off screen" treatment and that was a shame to me. Well wasn't stellar but could have been a lot worse but I enjoyed certain moments of it. If I could I would likely make it more of a 2.5 stars.

[WonderGoon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm currently rereading this. I enjoyed the book the first time I read it. The story is good, the characterizations are excellent and it presents an aspect of Starfleet that wasn't shown in any of the shows until Enterprise, that of the Starfleet Marines (not called MACO's, but still the same idea).

A lot of foreshadowing for Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan was included, which was a nice touch considering the story takes place between Star Trek: The Motion Picture and Star Trek II.

It's a fun read and I recommend it.

[Daniel Kukwa · Rating 3 out of 5]

A rather fun & interesting romp. It has a great handle on the regular characters, presents the reader with a fascinating, irritating, and occasionally hilarious group of Klingons...and ironically manages to predict the eventual route of Federation/Klingon relations that will come to light in Star Trek VI & The Next Generation. A forgotten entry in the Star Trek series that could use some fresh publicity.

[Jonathon Laudinsky · Rating 3 out of 5]

love klingons? don't miss this one

[Travis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nothing special, just a good solid game of cat and mouse played between the Enterprise and the Klingons. Would have made a decent TV episode.

[Erwin Beker · Rating 5 out of 5]

So far i am really liking this book because of the klingons and kirk. Good details, Hope this will remain throughout the book.

[Sebastián · Rating 3 out of 5]

The very first Star Trek book that I read. There are a game that's kinda cool, and that's it. The use of Ford's FASA Klingons is overdone to the death and with the sublety of a stampeding rhino.

[Cate · Rating 4 out of 5]

A bit slow in a lot of places, but the overall concept was excellent! Wish I could keep my cool in political situations--doubt I could have kept my temper. Very much enjoyed the book.

[Lee · Rating 3 out of 5]

2024 reading: The writing was a bit of a turn-off; a lot of time spent on re-covering Klingon culture, as seen elsewhere?