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Star Trek: The Original Series #22
Herr der Schatten
Angira is a primitive, violent planet -- and young Prince Vikram returns from Earth filled with new ideas. When Sulu and Spock accompany Vikram home, they walk into a bloodbath: reactionary forces, afraid of any modernization, have seized Vikram's rightful throne. Suddenly the men from the Enterprise are on an underground journey with a Prince who is coming of age. The future of Angira is at stake, and each man's survival depends on his skill -- and daring -- with a sword!
272 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published March 1, 1985
About the author
Laurence Yep
122 books298 followersBorn June 14, 1948 in San Francisco, California, Yep was the son of Thomas Gim Yep and Franche Lee Yep. Franche Lee, her family's youngest child, was born in Ohio and raised in West Virginia where her family owned a Chinese laundry. Yep's father, Thomas, was born in China and came to America at the age of ten where he lived, not in Chinatown, but with an Irish friend in a white neighborhood. After troubling times during the Depression, he was able to open a grocery store in an African-American neighborhood. Growing up in San Francisco, Yep felt alienated. He was in his own words his neighborhood's "all-purpose Asian" and did not feel he had a culture of his own. Joanne Ryder, a children's book author, and Yep met and became friends during college while she was his editor. They later married and now live in San Francisco.
Although not living in Chinatown, Yep commuted to a parochial bilingual school there. Other students at the school, according to Yep, labeled him a "dumbbell Chinese" because he spoke only English. During high school he faced the white American culture for the first time. However, it was while attending high school that he started writing for a science fiction magazine, being paid one cent a word for his efforts. After two years at Marquette University, Yep transferred to the University of California at Santa Cruz where he graduated in 1970 with a B.A. He continued on to earn a Ph.D. in English from the State University of New York at Buffalo in 1975. Today as well as writing, he has taught writing and Asian American Studies at the University of California, Berkeley and Santa Barbara.
Although not living in Chinatown, Yep commuted to a parochial bilingual school there. Other students at the school, according to Yep, labeled him a "dumbbell Chinese" because he spoke only English. During high school he faced the white American culture for the first time. However, it was while attending high school that he started writing for a science fiction magazine, being paid one cent a word for his efforts. After two years at Marquette University, Yep transferred to the University of California at Santa Cruz where he graduated in 1970 with a B.A. He continued on to earn a Ph.D. in English from the State University of New York at Buffalo in 1975. Today as well as writing, he has taught writing and Asian American Studies at the University of California, Berkeley and Santa Barbara.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews
January 31, 2021
Laurence Yep demonstrates early on that he was one of those "I want to be a serious writer, but only the Star Trek people are accepting submissions, so I'll pretend to write a Star Trek book even though I have no idea who these characters are or how to write (for) them, and that way I'll be a published author" writers. The book is not a total washout, but it is thoroughly disappointing as a Star Trek book.
Unlike The Final Reflection, Shadow Lord does not succeed as an atypical Star Trek book, primarily because, as I just mentioned, Yep has no interest in writing about the Star Trek characters accurately. His Mr. Spock characterization is especially atrocious. Yep has him making jokes, grabbing hands, and several other inaccuracies that anyone even mildly familiar with his character would not make (certainly not anyone earnestly trying to tell a Star Trek story).
The story is a jumbled conglomeration of things Yep likes: cavalier swordplay, "witty" heroes, Indiana Jones-like serials, samurai, and pre-Victorian musketry. It's almost like he thought "I wonder what would happen if Indiana Jones and d'Artagnan found themselves under a shogunite." As I said, it's a bit of a mess.
The one saving element of the story is Lord Bhima, the last survivor of the old guard, who is willing to sacrifice himself and, more importantly, his honor, to side with the (lacking in discernible motivation) antagonist even in horrific regicide (which is downplayed in seriousness, unfortunately, and utterly forgotten by the end of the book) - all to prevent their planet from succumbing to a far-worse fate: Federation influence.
Had Yep made this a real Star Trek book, from the perspective of a world divided over its willingness to join/be influenced by the Federation, and not just crammed all his hobbies into one book without caring about the Star Trek universe, this could have been something good.
Unlike The Final Reflection, Shadow Lord does not succeed as an atypical Star Trek book, primarily because, as I just mentioned, Yep has no interest in writing about the Star Trek characters accurately. His Mr. Spock characterization is especially atrocious. Yep has him making jokes, grabbing hands, and several other inaccuracies that anyone even mildly familiar with his character would not make (certainly not anyone earnestly trying to tell a Star Trek story).
The story is a jumbled conglomeration of things Yep likes: cavalier swordplay, "witty" heroes, Indiana Jones-like serials, samurai, and pre-Victorian musketry. It's almost like he thought "I wonder what would happen if Indiana Jones and d'Artagnan found themselves under a shogunite." As I said, it's a bit of a mess.
The one saving element of the story is Lord Bhima, the last survivor of the old guard, who is willing to sacrifice himself and, more importantly, his honor, to side with the (lacking in discernible motivation) antagonist even in horrific regicide (which is downplayed in seriousness, unfortunately, and utterly forgotten by the end of the book) - all to prevent their planet from succumbing to a far-worse fate: Federation influence.
Had Yep made this a real Star Trek book, from the perspective of a world divided over its willingness to join/be influenced by the Federation, and not just crammed all his hobbies into one book without caring about the Star Trek universe, this could have been something good.
March 4, 2023
I realize I've often forgotten to comment on the cover images and tag lines that these books provide, as sometimes they are incredibly misleading and terribly fun. This one reads "Spock and Sulu are swept into a savage power struggle on a primitive, beautiful world!"...which, quite honestly, no. Unless, we'd consider something akin to 16th Century Europe to be "primitive," "savage," and/or "beautiful." Also, here we see Sulu (in a blue tunic for some reason?) and Spock wielding swords and fighting alongside Lion-O from the ThunderCats as they battle against some Cthulhu-esque monstrosity. Although, upon further consideration, I believe those are supposed to be the mandibles of some three-foot long beetles they are chased by in a catacomb early in the book. Although, the picture makes them look at least ten-feet long...although, I can't imagine Spock retelling this story to the artist by starting "I once caught a fish THIS big..."
As to the story, I mean, meh, I guess. It seems more like Mr. Yep here had this idea for a story about a Prince and a Noble-Usurper struggling for the throne in a dispute over modernization taking place in medieval Europe (which could have been incredibly nuanced and raise interesting questions about change, adaptation, etc.), but he wanted to frame it in the Star Trek universe - which barely fits in here (literally and figuratively - needs more than 250 pages). For you see, the Prince was sent away by his father to be educated on Earth, as you do, and when he returns, the hilarious hijinks begin.
As an aside, I love how this is the old-school Prime Directive where we can talk to aliens, teach aliens, actively engage in trade with aliens, and give them advisors who will help them navigate modernizing their planet from the medieval age to the current 23rd Federation standard, but we
can't give them weapons, because that would be interfering in their development...um, okay...?
Aside from Sulu and Spock, the Enterprise, it's crew, and the galaxy-at-large, are bookends to this novel, with the bulk of it being Prince Lion-O being all mopey and reluctant, and then in the space of a couple of days, becoming all confident and ruler-y, solving all of his problems in one big battle and one final duel...because internecine politics, infighting, and civil wars are easy to resolve.
For a Star Trek novel, it's okay, I guess...I mean, it would probably have made a far more interesting TV show, although it would need a hell of a budget behind it to do it any justice.
"Thunder, thunder, ThunderCats, Ho!"
As to the story, I mean, meh, I guess. It seems more like Mr. Yep here had this idea for a story about a Prince and a Noble-Usurper struggling for the throne in a dispute over modernization taking place in medieval Europe (which could have been incredibly nuanced and raise interesting questions about change, adaptation, etc.), but he wanted to frame it in the Star Trek universe - which barely fits in here (literally and figuratively - needs more than 250 pages). For you see, the Prince was sent away by his father to be educated on Earth, as you do, and when he returns, the hilarious hijinks begin.
As an aside, I love how this is the old-school Prime Directive where we can talk to aliens, teach aliens, actively engage in trade with aliens, and give them advisors who will help them navigate modernizing their planet from the medieval age to the current 23rd Federation standard, but we
can't give them weapons, because that would be interfering in their development...um, okay...?
Aside from Sulu and Spock, the Enterprise, it's crew, and the galaxy-at-large, are bookends to this novel, with the bulk of it being Prince Lion-O being all mopey and reluctant, and then in the space of a couple of days, becoming all confident and ruler-y, solving all of his problems in one big battle and one final duel...because internecine politics, infighting, and civil wars are easy to resolve.
For a Star Trek novel, it's okay, I guess...I mean, it would probably have made a far more interesting TV show, although it would need a hell of a budget behind it to do it any justice.
"Thunder, thunder, ThunderCats, Ho!"
April 6, 2018
A Star Trek novel that is focussed on Sulu.
The Enterprise is taking a Prince from a planet with low level technology home. Sulu wants to go on this mission, as he is a big fan of literature from that era, Dumas and the like. Spock comes along, too. Soon after arrival, the Nobles on the planet stage a coup, and Sulu and Company are on the run, to help the prince get his rightful station.
After swashbuckling for a book, Sulu decides he's happier on the Enterprise. I think we all know somebody who claims they wish they were born in another time, but can't get their head out of their phone. This is like that.
Another, more hidden moral, is that Sulu actually excels on this planet, and probably could have carved himself out a pretty nice life, complete with some sort of barony or country estate, but he lacks ambition, and is content being relatively safe as a cog in the machine on the Enterprise. Carpe Diem, Sulu!
The Enterprise is taking a Prince from a planet with low level technology home. Sulu wants to go on this mission, as he is a big fan of literature from that era, Dumas and the like. Spock comes along, too. Soon after arrival, the Nobles on the planet stage a coup, and Sulu and Company are on the run, to help the prince get his rightful station.
After swashbuckling for a book, Sulu decides he's happier on the Enterprise. I think we all know somebody who claims they wish they were born in another time, but can't get their head out of their phone. This is like that.
Another, more hidden moral, is that Sulu actually excels on this planet, and probably could have carved himself out a pretty nice life, complete with some sort of barony or country estate, but he lacks ambition, and is content being relatively safe as a cog in the machine on the Enterprise. Carpe Diem, Sulu!
February 22, 2009
i rated all the star trek books 5 because i love star trek and i can't remember specifically which weren't quite a 5. but this one was so bad that it stands out in my mind...
it's a fantasy novel with swords and giant bugs with star trek people thrown into the story... probably didn't make it as a fantasy book so the writer renamed the characters as kirk, spock, mccoy...
it's a fantasy novel with swords and giant bugs with star trek people thrown into the story... probably didn't make it as a fantasy book so the writer renamed the characters as kirk, spock, mccoy...
November 24, 2016
Before I came across this, I had no idea Laurence Yep had written any Star Trek books...but this was a good one!
February 1, 2021
As many other reviews on Goodreads highlight, this feels like a non Trek story shoe horned into a Star Trek novel.
The bulk of the book (every chapter except the prologue and epilogue) features Spock and Sulu protecting a prince on his homeworld after rebels kill his father and attempt a coup. For this story the native characters are well fleshed out and in several sections, Sulu and Spock are almost bit part players.
Kirk and McCoy only appear at beginning and end of the book with the remaining main regulars only appearing at the start.
The early planet side action reminded me of Game of Thrones with the later battlefield section feeling more like Sharpe. I couldn't help but think of the Centauri in Babylon 5 when it came to the various plotting Lords.
It's not really a Trek novel, but I really enjoyed it, once I got past the 30 page prologue.
The bulk of the book (every chapter except the prologue and epilogue) features Spock and Sulu protecting a prince on his homeworld after rebels kill his father and attempt a coup. For this story the native characters are well fleshed out and in several sections, Sulu and Spock are almost bit part players.
Kirk and McCoy only appear at beginning and end of the book with the remaining main regulars only appearing at the start.
The early planet side action reminded me of Game of Thrones with the later battlefield section feeling more like Sharpe. I couldn't help but think of the Centauri in Babylon 5 when it came to the various plotting Lords.
It's not really a Trek novel, but I really enjoyed it, once I got past the 30 page prologue.
July 31, 2014
“Shadow Lord” by Laurence Yep is a book which had me in two minds regarding how much I liked it. Basically, as a stand-alone sword and sorcery styled fantasy book it worked quite well but as a Star Trek novel it fails on several levels. The book was obviously not meant to be set within the Star Trek Universe and I can only assume that the author knew the Star Trek publishers were accepting submissions and therefore tried to get his story to fit.
Anyway, the plot itself is based around Prince Vikram who is being taken home to his native world of Angira by the Enterprise. Vikram has spent a fair amount of his youth living on Earth and is now meant to be bringing his knowledge of the Federation back to Angira to help his people. When Spock and Sulu escort him down to the planet they soon get caught up in a revolution led by conservative factions who dislike the way that Vikram’s father has been damaging their ancient traditions with his modernising programme. Vikram is soon the only royal left living and alongside the two Enterprise crewmembers he must fight by the sword in order to survive.
So my first issue with the story is in regards to the planet Angira itself which appears to be only just now entering the industrial age. As I read the book I couldn’t understand why the Federation would be involved in this planet at all, the population were being badly treated and the technology seemed obviously to be pre-warp. Surely the Prime Directive would have ensured that the Federation wasn’t allowed to get involved at all? This issue is further enhanced by some of the contradictions in regards to how the planet’s culture is treated. At one point Sulu is worried about the effect that his taking command of the Prince’s military forces could have but no one seems to mind that Spock was planning to modernise the planet’s star charts and that Vikram was going to share his knowledge of the Federation which could surely have more profound ramifications.
The next issue in regards to the characters as it appears that Yep didn’t even bother trying to learn about them. Spock in particular is terribly portrayed; he smiles, holds hands and basically doesn’t conform to the Spock we all know and love. Quite simply the characterisations shown in this novel are probably some of the worst I have seen to date. However, the secondary characters are a different thing entirely; free to do what he wanted in this regard, Yep has crafted some interesting and well developed characters. It is just a shame that they are overshadowed by the way in which he has failed to correctly capture the Enterprise crew.
Don’t get me wrong the story itself is actually quite fun and elements such as the sword fighting sequences and military engagements which were enjoyable and interesting to follow. However, as a Star Trek novel it fails quite badly with the terrible characterisations and lack of Prime Directive being two of the most obvious issues. To summarise, I think this story would have worked well as a stand-alone fantasy novel but it all feels completely out of place as a Star Trek adventure.
Anyway, the plot itself is based around Prince Vikram who is being taken home to his native world of Angira by the Enterprise. Vikram has spent a fair amount of his youth living on Earth and is now meant to be bringing his knowledge of the Federation back to Angira to help his people. When Spock and Sulu escort him down to the planet they soon get caught up in a revolution led by conservative factions who dislike the way that Vikram’s father has been damaging their ancient traditions with his modernising programme. Vikram is soon the only royal left living and alongside the two Enterprise crewmembers he must fight by the sword in order to survive.
So my first issue with the story is in regards to the planet Angira itself which appears to be only just now entering the industrial age. As I read the book I couldn’t understand why the Federation would be involved in this planet at all, the population were being badly treated and the technology seemed obviously to be pre-warp. Surely the Prime Directive would have ensured that the Federation wasn’t allowed to get involved at all? This issue is further enhanced by some of the contradictions in regards to how the planet’s culture is treated. At one point Sulu is worried about the effect that his taking command of the Prince’s military forces could have but no one seems to mind that Spock was planning to modernise the planet’s star charts and that Vikram was going to share his knowledge of the Federation which could surely have more profound ramifications.
The next issue in regards to the characters as it appears that Yep didn’t even bother trying to learn about them. Spock in particular is terribly portrayed; he smiles, holds hands and basically doesn’t conform to the Spock we all know and love. Quite simply the characterisations shown in this novel are probably some of the worst I have seen to date. However, the secondary characters are a different thing entirely; free to do what he wanted in this regard, Yep has crafted some interesting and well developed characters. It is just a shame that they are overshadowed by the way in which he has failed to correctly capture the Enterprise crew.
Don’t get me wrong the story itself is actually quite fun and elements such as the sword fighting sequences and military engagements which were enjoyable and interesting to follow. However, as a Star Trek novel it fails quite badly with the terrible characterisations and lack of Prime Directive being two of the most obvious issues. To summarise, I think this story would have worked well as a stand-alone fantasy novel but it all feels completely out of place as a Star Trek adventure.
November 8, 2017
This is another one of those Star Trek books that is Star Trek in title and not so much in content. I did like Vikram, Urmi and the plights of their planet interesting but in the end it wasn't a Star Trek book. It had many problems with Spock's character being wrong and a complete misunderstanding of the Prime Directive. If you look past all of the not-a-Star-Trek-book, it was enjoyable though and I liked a Sulu-centric story.
May 24, 2012
An interesting story, but very much not a Star Trek novel. The characterizations were all wrong, the plot seemed completely out of place in a Star Trek story, and I question why this was written as a Star Trek adventure in the first place. Sadly, I have to rate Shadow Lord quite low.
Full review: http://treklit.blogspot.com/2012/05/s...
Full review: http://treklit.blogspot.com/2012/05/s...
November 7, 2010
One of the least interesting of the many old Trek novels that I've read so far. It really does feel like the author wanted to write a swashbuckling fantasy adventure, but could only get it published by shoehorning in a few trek characters. Unimpressive.
June 18, 2013
The author had obviously not watched much Trek as Spock & Sulu were nothing like their true selves.
You could easily substitute any other characters into their roles and the story would still make perfect sense.
You could easily substitute any other characters into their roles and the story would still make perfect sense.
July 24, 2015
"Star Trek" does "Game of Thrones", with special guest stars Spock & Sulu. It's a hearty, easy-to-read action/adventure novel, but I do wish it had more Trekishness, and read less like a 17th-century-in-space spin off attempt. That said, Mr. Yep had a solid take on the Spock/McCoy dynamic.
April 28, 2011
Not one of my favorites...a bit too much of a fantasy, swash-buckling (literally) feel to it. I know Sulu is a swordsman...but still.
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September 9, 2012This is one of the worst Star Trek novels I have ever read, and I've read hundreds.
March 10, 2023
Sometimes people write a novel and can't really get is published by itself, and often it's easier to find a niche for it by making it into part of a famous IP that will help sell it without much tinkering to the original novel. This is pretty much what Shadow Lord feels like. It feels like Yep had a story to tell, not necessarily one that had anything to do with Star Trek, but with a little tinkering it could be adapted.
This is particularly apparent in the way that most of the crew is gone from the story after the first chapter and we only get Spock and Sulu going on a ground mission. However, Spock soon gets captured and out of the story for most of the remainder and we get only Sulu who plays a completely secondary role in a story that is all about this prince trying to get his throne back after his family is deposed and the throne usurped.
This doesn't mean that the novel is bad at all. It's perfectly ok. But it really isn't much of a Star Trek novel, there is little interaction between the crew, the "aliens" are pretty self-contained to this novel and by the end of it there is little consequence to any of our regulars. It's a story of science fiction political intrigue, and that's ok, but don't come here looking for Star Trek
This is particularly apparent in the way that most of the crew is gone from the story after the first chapter and we only get Spock and Sulu going on a ground mission. However, Spock soon gets captured and out of the story for most of the remainder and we get only Sulu who plays a completely secondary role in a story that is all about this prince trying to get his throne back after his family is deposed and the throne usurped.
This doesn't mean that the novel is bad at all. It's perfectly ok. But it really isn't much of a Star Trek novel, there is little interaction between the crew, the "aliens" are pretty self-contained to this novel and by the end of it there is little consequence to any of our regulars. It's a story of science fiction political intrigue, and that's ok, but don't come here looking for Star Trek
May 14, 2026
In Shadow Lord, the 22nd installment in the Original Series entries, Laurence Yep tells the story of a prince returning home after being offworld. He is criticized, not accepted and retaliated against by those who believe that his association with the Federation is a spit in the face of convention. Faced with trying to conform to the expectations of those around him or advocate for a new way of life, the prince joins forces with Sulu and Spock as they attempt to flee from revolutionists, fight a war to save the planet and engage in a crazy adventure. Overall this story was interesting to read, but not something that would necessarily strike a reader as a Star Trek story through and through. It contained primarily Sulu and Spock on the away mission but didn't contain much banter between characters that is to love about the original series. Therefore I think as a story its average but as a Star Trek adventure it sets its ambitions a little low. 2 stars.
April 11, 2021
2.5 stars. This isn't a bad swashbuckling adventure. Unfortunately, I don't care for swashbuckling adventures. I had planned to read a Star Trek book.
Only the prologue and epilogue pass as Star Trek. Nothing else about the book feels any more like Star Trek than it does Star Wars or Buffy the Vampire Slayer, except that a couple of our beloved bridge crew are along for the ride. One of those crew is Spock, and he is unfortunately not in character a good deal of the time. He could have been easily replaced by any random character.
The author could have written this story without involving Star Trek in it at all and just made it a stand-alone swashbuckling tale and it would have lost very little.
If you like involved descriptions of how swords are positioned in a fight, this is for you! But I was looking for a Star Trek book, so it definitely wasn't for me.
Only the prologue and epilogue pass as Star Trek. Nothing else about the book feels any more like Star Trek than it does Star Wars or Buffy the Vampire Slayer, except that a couple of our beloved bridge crew are along for the ride. One of those crew is Spock, and he is unfortunately not in character a good deal of the time. He could have been easily replaced by any random character.
The author could have written this story without involving Star Trek in it at all and just made it a stand-alone swashbuckling tale and it would have lost very little.
If you like involved descriptions of how swords are positioned in a fight, this is for you! But I was looking for a Star Trek book, so it definitely wasn't for me.
February 17, 2021
Great novel with Sulu and Spock as the main Enterprise characters on an alien planet that reminds of a cross between medieval knighthood and oriental samurai.
A bit of romance, a lot of action with Sulu's swordplay on the foreground, travel through majestic but rough nature. Sometimes very violent, fairly predictable for real trekkies.
Laurence Yep brings a story that fits perfectly in the TOS but at the same time differs enough from the standard concept to make it a new and fresh experience. The cover does not correctly reflect the lion like Angiran prince but that has not much of importance since he is clearly and in detail depicted in the novel itself.
A great adventure that keeps the tension up from beginning till the end.
A bit of romance, a lot of action with Sulu's swordplay on the foreground, travel through majestic but rough nature. Sometimes very violent, fairly predictable for real trekkies.
Laurence Yep brings a story that fits perfectly in the TOS but at the same time differs enough from the standard concept to make it a new and fresh experience. The cover does not correctly reflect the lion like Angiran prince but that has not much of importance since he is clearly and in detail depicted in the novel itself.
A great adventure that keeps the tension up from beginning till the end.
October 1, 2023
For most of the book I felt I was reading a sci-fi rendition of Robert the Bruce’s return to Scotland. Albeit with Spock and Sulu along as participants. Kirk, Enterprise, and company are only briefly on site for the beginning and final chapter.
There were various themes relating to good faith disagreements on how to best rule a people, as well as discussions on diversity. At one point Spock is having a debate of sorts with a traditionalist where he’s trying to establish that every new addition to the federation strengthens it, and that the man’s planet might profit from it, too. The individual he’s debating begins to struggle to make his points and puts a sword to Spock’s neck instead.
The gist of Spock’s observation is something that comes to my mind whenever I see individuals being shouted down by persons who disagree with them. A cause that must rely upon shouts and air-horns to prove its point may be a weak one, if one were to abide by the spirit of Spock’s definition.
There were various themes relating to good faith disagreements on how to best rule a people, as well as discussions on diversity. At one point Spock is having a debate of sorts with a traditionalist where he’s trying to establish that every new addition to the federation strengthens it, and that the man’s planet might profit from it, too. The individual he’s debating begins to struggle to make his points and puts a sword to Spock’s neck instead.
Mr. Spock stared unblinkingly at the sword edge hovering over his neck. “A cause that must rely upon swords to prove its point is a rather weak one”..
The gist of Spock’s observation is something that comes to my mind whenever I see individuals being shouted down by persons who disagree with them. A cause that must rely upon shouts and air-horns to prove its point may be a weak one, if one were to abide by the spirit of Spock’s definition.
January 6, 2018
This is definitely one of the better ST novels in those years between the TV shows and before the movies took off. I knocked off a star because it just reminded me too much of the episode where Kirk and McCoy have to midwife a woman carrying the heir to a slain planet leader. Yep shows a great talent for writing Sulu, although I suppose this book now is completely out of canon.
You know what? That's fine with me. This title and so many others were written by fans who became authors and eventually found their way back to Star Trek as a professional. I prefer these books to those written by those who just look at it as just another job.
Find it! Read it!
You know what? That's fine with me. This title and so many others were written by fans who became authors and eventually found their way back to Star Trek as a professional. I prefer these books to those written by those who just look at it as just another job.
Find it! Read it!
September 11, 2025
Coulda been good. Something about Sulu's wish to be a fourth musketeer was going on, but it never quite cohered (although he did learn how different it is to kill irl instead of from photon torpedoes or phasers). Some of the minor characters were interesting, like Lord Bhima and Urmi.
There's one interesting thought, though I'm not sure how True or profound it is: "Heroes begin with simple, average people trying to perform their duties."
(I do suggest that current members of the GOP could perform their duties towards all their constituents, if they wanted to defy MAGA and be heroes.)
There's one interesting thought, though I'm not sure how True or profound it is: "Heroes begin with simple, average people trying to perform their duties."
(I do suggest that current members of the GOP could perform their duties towards all their constituents, if they wanted to defy MAGA and be heroes.)
May 27, 2021
Boken är nästintill som ett fantasy-epos. Ljuva världar som är sårade av många års interna konflikter. Det åligger en enskild person att återta sin rättmätiga tron men han tror sig inte varav tillräcklig för uppgiften. Det här känns alltså mer som en fantasy än som Star Trek, men det är inte något negativt ändå. Det förvånar mig inte när jag läser att författaren är fantasy-författare mer än vad han är science fiction-författare, för boken är mycket välskriven. Inte som de största fantasy-författarna, det får medges, men väl i klass med många andra bra och inspirerande författare inom genren.
July 24, 2021
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, it was Star Trek meets Camelot with a little 3 Musketeers thrown in. I enjoyed watching Mr. Sulu use his swashbuckling skills to help the King Arthur figure & Mr. Spock providing the philosophical side of things. This book reminded me of a quote from the movie version of Camelot when King Arthur states "This is the time of King Arthur. When we shall reach for the stars! This is the time of King Arthur when violence is not strength and compassion is not weakness!"
November 10, 2024
This outing the focus is on Spock and Sulu.
As they accompany a royal heir back to his home planet.
Part of the reason to update some of their records, on the planet.
Part of it is to see the different culture up close.
What they did not count on, was a royal coup.
A massacre of the royal family. Not knowing who could be trusted.
Now they must race and fight for their lives.
A nice peek, into a more feudal society.
The Shadow lord coming to learn. His family may not be as innocent and good as he thought in the past.
Will he remain in exile or will he return to claim his throne?
As they accompany a royal heir back to his home planet.
Part of the reason to update some of their records, on the planet.
Part of it is to see the different culture up close.
What they did not count on, was a royal coup.
A massacre of the royal family. Not knowing who could be trusted.
Now they must race and fight for their lives.
A nice peek, into a more feudal society.
The Shadow lord coming to learn. His family may not be as innocent and good as he thought in the past.
Will he remain in exile or will he return to claim his throne?
February 8, 2018
Spock und Sulu begleiten Prinz Vikram bei seiner Rückkehr nach Angria, seinen Heimatplaneten. Kaum sind die Drei im Regierunspalast angekommen, kommt es zu einem blutigen Aufstand. Der Prinz und die Starfleet Offiziere können fliehen.Sie begeben sich in die Heimatprovinz des Prinzen um das weitere Vorgehen zu planen.
Ein nur mäßig spannendes Buch über die Enterprise Crew.Der Erzählstil war mehr ein dahinplätschern.Von Fesselung und mitfiebern, wie es weitergeht habe ich nichts gespürt.
Ein nur mäßig spannendes Buch über die Enterprise Crew.Der Erzählstil war mehr ein dahinplätschern.Von Fesselung und mitfiebern, wie es weitergeht habe ich nichts gespürt.
November 19, 2018
Prince Vikram is returned to Angira by the 'Enterprise', with Spock to help update astronomical maps and Sulu, who has impressed Vikram with his fencing ability.
Following a coup d'état, Spock and Sulu escape with the prince, making it their mission to escort him to his ancestral lands.
Yep has written a lively adventure where the Angiran people must choose between their Feudal past and a more constitutional government.
Following a coup d'état, Spock and Sulu escape with the prince, making it their mission to escort him to his ancestral lands.
Yep has written a lively adventure where the Angiran people must choose between their Feudal past and a more constitutional government.
March 18, 2026
I didn’t expect to like this book since sword fighting isn’t normally my thing, but I like Sulu and gave it a chance, and I truly enjoyed it. The author Laurence Yep pairs Spock and Sulu together, which is not a usual pairing, and they become involved in a struggle for power on a world experiencing a transition modeled after the Meiji Restoration in 19th-century Japan. The author uses Spock and Sulu to explore the challenges and opportunities of being bicultural and/or biracial.
February 19, 2017
Pretty average Star Trek quality writing, has more of a swashbuckling/adventure feel than most. Fun to read, nothing exceptionally good or bad. The characterization of Spock and Sulu is way off, but if you can ignore that it's still a nice read.
Also, the cover artist didn't read the book, because when the Prince is described as having "golden hair" it means "golden fur." Sigh.
Also, the cover artist didn't read the book, because when the Prince is described as having "golden hair" it means "golden fur." Sigh.
September 29, 2020
Sulu gets another swashbuckling adventure! Accompanied by Spock, they pretty much dominate the story. The author makes a good attempt at capturing the nature of these two familiar friends of ours, with a few notable slips.
The story was fairly typical of early star trek themes and the characters that we meet as well. The highlight for me was the classic McCoy-Vs-Spock banter in the epilogue!
The story was fairly typical of early star trek themes and the characters that we meet as well. The highlight for me was the classic McCoy-Vs-Spock banter in the epilogue!
March 28, 2026
I only read this for a challenge, but I was pleasantly surprised by how good it was! It delivered a pretty fun adventure as well as exploration of what it means to be between two cultures (whether as an immigrant, as a mixed-race person or as someone whose culture is changing rapidly due to outside influences). Overall, I recommend it.
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