Star Trek Klingon Empire: A Burning House (Spoiler)

S P O I L E R

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I have been a big fan of the Gorkon series from the very beginning and
had been looking forward to this book for a long time. It is the
continuation of previous books but also a new beginning. Therefore, also
people who never read a Gorkon book should have no trouble to start with
this first Klingon Empire book. Throughout the book the author does a
good job to refresh my memory but within the flow of the story. I was
never bored when past events were mentioned. Often such flashbacks were
combined with new events which made these parts more interesting or
combined with humour.

The new series title Klingon Empire should be much more obvious
especially to the casual book reader and Trek fan than Gorkon. It also
reflects the much more comprehensive look at Klingon culture than just
what is happening on one Klingon ship. I enjoyed this book very much and
to me it is important that this new start of the series sells well. I
want to point out again that fans who might think that this book is just
about Klingon battles, narrow minded Klingon honour (like the Worf
stories in late DS9) and male bonding are mostly wrong. Of course you
find these aspects in “A Burning House” too but not within such limited
clichés. Klingon Empire shows Klingons who are very much individuals. It
also shows a wide variety of the complex society within the Klingon
Empire, also some aspects that have never been explored before. Star
Trek is about exploring new worlds and civilizations and I think “A
Burning House” definitely does that. It often invites us human readers
to think within Klingon values and compare them with ours. It is an
excellent combination of action, character developments and a thought
provoking look at the strengths but also the weaknesses of this alien
culture.

“A Burning House” is not just building on previous Gorkon books but also
certain TV episodes. One of them is the controversial DS9 episode “The
Sons of Mogh” in which Kurn asked his brother Worf to kill him in a
Klingon ritual because he couldn`t deal with his dishonour. Instead of
doing that Kurn`s memory was wiped and he was given a new identity. Kurn
was never asked. Bashir performed the operation on DS9 with the approval
of Sisko and Dax. In essence, Kurn died in a death of personality
operation (like the penalty for murder in the series Babylon 5) and was
reborn as Rodek. Since that episode I wondered what would happen if the
truth will be revealed.

For the most part, I am very happy with it how the author dealt with
that part of the book. I just wonder why he seemed to have been so
cautious not to criticize what happened. Worf was just saying that he
did what he thought was best at that time. This is certainly true but I
wasn`t satisfied. In hindsight, would Worf do something like this again?
Is he sorry about the choice he made and not just because he lost his
brother? Towards the end of the book Rodek`s conversation with Worf
explained a lot why Kurn had reached such a bad state. I understand and
I felt with Rodek but again, I felt that something was missing. I would
have liked it to read if Rodek still felt it was right to ask his
brother to kill him or if he despised what he became, being drunk and
weak, unable to stand up for himself and fight against the dishonour
imposed on him.

The discussion between Bashir and Ezri Dax about what happened was very
interesting but again, it was a balancing act I found unsatisfactory. On
one page it was mentioned that Kurn tried to kill himself on a number of
occasions and the next page mentioned that the procedure was the only
alternative to killing him. This leaves out the most important aspect,
that Kurn was robbed of his own free will and that the procedure was
forced on him. Nobody HAD to kill Kurn. This was about Kurn`s will to
live or lack of it. I am still amazed and very disappointed that Dax
suggested this procedure and am even more amazed and disappointed that
Bashir committed this crime. I think it should also have been mentioned
that Sisko supported this decision as well to do this operation on DS9.
At least on Klingon territory, it would have been done according to
Klingon law and maybe be more acceptable from that perspective. Me, as a
human being, would still think this is wrong and even from the Klingon
perspective, I think it would be more honourable to live and die as a
warrior instead of asking someone else to kill you.

I expected some remorse on Bashir`s side, but nothing. The contrary, he
first of all blamed Dax and Worf because they made such good arguments.
This made him only more guilty in my book. I can understand that
Klingons have trouble to understand the concept of mental health and
there is no doubt in my mind that Kurn suffered from serious mental
health issues. What Bashir, a human doctor, did to him is unforgivable.
By the way, I indeed have trouble to see Ezri agreeing to the procedure.
On the other hand, if someone had told me before “The Sons of Mogh”
aired that Bashir would do something like that, I wouldn`t have thought
him capable of it.

Putting that part of the Rodek story aside, I think KRAD handled the
continuation very well. I was hoping that Rodek would stay on the Gorkon
but I had the gut feeling from early on that this is not going to
happen. I can understand very well that Rodek had trouble to deal with
the sudden impact of discovering the truth and that it was easy for
Dorrek to manipulate him. Klag`s reaction was very Klingon and although
I very much feel for Rodek, I can understand his point of view.
Nevertheless, I think he made a bad mistake by getting rid of him. His
reaction and also that of most of his crew shows again that Klingons see
mental health issues not as wounds, as invisible injuries that can be
treated and healed but just dismissed Rodek as a traitor, a liability. I
am sure, after the cruel lesson Rodek learned, he would have been even
more loyal, an even better crew member than before and therefore getting
rid of him is not only Rodek`s loss but his as well.

What I liked very much is that Rodek reacted very differently to when he
was Kurn. He accepted the consequences of his actions, learn the lessons
from what happened and move on with his life. One of my favourite scenes
in the book is the good-bye scene between Rodek and Leskit. I always
liked Leskit and he is also one of my favourite characters of this
series. I am hoping, too, that Rodek will regain his honour. Well, in my
book he never lost it but I mean in the eyes of other Klingons. Who
knows, one day Klag might respect Rodek again. I would welcome that very
much. I think the Rodek story is the most powerful, most moving part of
the book and I hope Rodek will play an important part in future Klingon
Empire books.

Speaking of Leskit, I also enjoyed his other appearances in the book
very much. I love his great sense of humour and in general, I was happy
for him. I am very pleased about his promotion but mainly that Leskit
and Kurak finally managed to become a couple. I was very pleased for
Kurak, too, keeping in mind the state she was in at the beginning of the
Gorkon/Klingon Empire series. They should be an interesting couple, not
only because of their contrasts but also because Kurak is the leader of
her own house. Karreka, Leskit`s ex-wife and who has now a powerful
position in the house his wife is leading, will add an interesting
element, I am sure. There is a lot of potential here. I like it a lot.

It is interesting that also captain Klag now has a mate. B`Oraq has
developed into a valuable voice of reason that has quite an influence on
her captain. Both of them are certainly passionate people and I am
curious how this relationship will develop. B`Oraq`s personal crusade to
improve Klingon medicine was in many ways predictable but not in all.
That Martok is fully supporting her shows among other things presented
in this novel that he is one of the better Klingon leaders. B`Oraq`s
frustrations were very understandable and I couldn`t help it, sometimes
it was so bad that it was funny at the same time. At least thanks to
B`Oraq`s stubbornness and persistence, there is a start. In the process
she found allies but also gained enemies. How this will develop is
another topic with a lot of potential.

Klag`s family problems were much less interesting to me than the other
topics in the book. From the Klingon point of view, his brother got what
he deserved and I see no reason to care what happens to his manipulative
mother.

Something else: I think it should be mentioned in the next book what
B`Oraq thinks about Rodek now. Is she agreeing with the decision her
captain and mate made?

I have never been a fan of the TNG story dealing with the secret colony
Worf discovered, the colony in which Toq grew up. Although I felt for
Toq, in a way I was glad that this storyline is over and done with now.
Ba`el is not a character I am keen on meeting again. I am no fan of
childlike, overly innocent and naïve characters like this woman who very
much behaved like an immature girl. I really hope she won`t become
Worf`s next love interest! Her behaviour feels like an immature girlish
crush, something I had little sympathy with. I am glad that Robin Lefler
finally grew up in NF (at least she made progress) and I am not
interested to read something like that again in Klingon Empire.

What I also enjoyed is to learn more about the more lower decks
characters the series is focusing on, Leader Wol and her team. On that
occasion it was interesting and also fun to read about the farming
family. On another occasion it was interesting and at the same time
depressing to read about one of the areas in the Empire that very much
felt like a slum to me. Martok mentioned, if I remember correctly, how
bad it is there. I am hoping he is doing something about it because
allowing such worlds to deteriorate, such slums to develop, harms the
overall Empire. At the same time, the part giving us some insights into
the world of Klingon Opera was hilarious! I loved that.

The last chapter gives some interesting hints of things to come. I am
looking forward to find out what Imperial Intelligence, what Lorgh is
planning concerning Worf and Rodek. At the moment I can only hope that I
will get the chance to meet these characters again.

Baerbel Haddrell