tik’leth(tIqleH)
An edged weapon, similar to an Earth longsword. [First seen in “Reunion” (TNG).]
toDSaH
Insult with no direct translation. Sometimes Anglicized as tohzah. [First used in “The Defector” (TNG).]
Ty’Gokor(tay’ghoqor)
A planet where the inductions into the Order of the Bat’leth take place. [First seen in “Apocalypse Rising” (DS9).]
zilm’kach(tlhImqaH)
Food made from something orange. [First seen in “Melora” (DS9).]
Warrior’s Anthem
The Warrior’s Anthem sung by the Gorkon crew in Chapter 8 is generally translated into English thusly:
Hear! Sons of Kahless.
Hear! Daughters, too.
The blood of battle washes clean
The warrior brave and true.
We fight, we love, and then we kill.
Our lives burn short and bright.
Then we die with honor and join our fathers
In the Black Fleet where we battle forever,
Battling on through the eternal fight.
Love Poem
The love poem Leskit gives Kurak in Chapter 6 is subliterate, and cannot possibly be translated into English.
Acknowledgments
There are several people who are responsible for making this book happen, not the least of whom is Trek editor John J. Ordover at Pocket Books, who thought the idea of doing an Ambassador Worf novel was such a good one in the first place. John steered me right at the beginning and kept me on course thenceforth. Gratitude must also be foisted upon the other good folks at Pocket: Jessica McGivney, Marco Palmieri, John Perrella, Scott Shannon, and Margaret Clark.
Thanks also to: Carol Greenburg, Editor Extraordinaire; Paula Block, the unsung hero of Trek licensing, and her noble cohorts John Van Citters and Carol Carpenter; Gene Roddenberry, for getting this whole schmear started; and the folks who’ve written Klingon episodes over the years, particularly Klingon creator Gene L. Coon, Ronald D. Moore, René Echevarria, Ira Steven Behr, and Robert Hewitt Wolfe. Thanks also to the actors who brought many of the characters inside these pages to life: Brian Thompson, Obi Ndefo, Tony Todd, Tricia O’Neill, David Graf, Sterling Macer, J.G. Hertzler, and the others—not to mention Stewart, Frakes, Spiner, Burton, McFadden, and Sirtis.
I employed several invaluable references while writing, primarily The Star Trek Encyclopedia by Mike and Denise Okuda, with Debbie Mirek—it is my not-so-humble opinion that people should not be allowed to write a Trek novel without a copy of this book or CD-ROM within reach at all times. Other references used include Star Trek Chronology: The History of the Future, also by the Okudas; Marc Okrand’s The Klingon Dictionary; the Star Trek: The Next Generation Companion, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Companion, and Star Trek: Klingon CD-ROMs; and The Encyclopedia of New York City, edited by Kenneth T. Jackson. Helpful people included Dr. Lawrence M. Schoen and his cronies at the Klingon Language Institute and the aforementioned Marc Okrand, who kept my linguistics straight and vetted the glossary; Elizabeth Braswell, Kim Kindya, and Glenn Hauman of Simon & Schuster Interactive, who supplied useful reference; Peter David, who provided needed assistance for a particular part of Chapter 1 (you can probably guess which part); Laura Michelle Hale and her close, personal friend Mary Sue Whipple for verse aid in Chapter 6; Hilary J. Bader for writing the Warrior’s Anthem used in Chapter 8; James Macdonald for allowing me to use his expertise in the ways of violence; Sarah Beth Durst and Roy L. Post for tremendous assistance in developing the al’Hmatti; Terri Osborne, for an immensely helpful beta-read; and CITH, the best writers group in the whole entire world, who reached into my brain and wrested a much better book out of me than I would’ve written otherwise.
I also must thank my parents, GraceAnne Andreassi DeCandido and Robert L. DeCandido, who had me watching Star Trek from birth and kept watching with me for all the years afterward; John S. Drew, Orenthal V. Hawkins, and Andrea K. Lipinski, fellow members of the self-proclaimed Geek Patrol and some of the best friends a guy could ask for; the Malibu Diner lunch crowd, for a decade of joyous obsessing; the numerous denizens of the Trek novels bulletin boards at Simon & Schuster’s web site, PsiPhi.org, and the Trek BBS; Helga Borck, Jeff Mariotte, Peter Pachoumis, John E. Peters, and Erin Sittler, for general aid, comfort, and wonderfulness; and my wife, Marina Frants.
But most of all, a big ol’ thank you to Michael Dorn. Worf was a last-minute add-on to the Next Generation cast, but Dorn’s tremendous presence and excellent acting skills turned a glorified walk-on role into arguably the most compelling character in Trek’s long and varied history. Bravo, sir, and I hope I did justice to the part. . . .
About the Author
Rocketed to Earth as an infant to escape the destruction of his homeplanet, KEITH R.A. DeCANDIDO was raised by a pack of feral librarians. As a teenager, he was bitten by a radioactive editor, and given powers far beyond those of normal wordsmiths. Swearing to use his powers only for personal profit, he became a writer, editor, and book packager.
He scripted the Star Trek: The Next Generation comic book miniseries Perchance to Dream, co-developed Star Trek: S.C.E. and wrote the S.C.E. eBook Fatal Error, and is the author of the Star Trek: Deep Space Nine novel in the Gateways crossover (due Fall 2001) and the cross-series duology Star Trek: The Brave and the Bold (due some time in 2002). His other books include the best-selling Buffy the Vampire Slayer tomes The Watcher’s Guide (with Christopher Golden and Nancy Holder) and The Xander Years, Vol. 1; the Farscape novel House of Cards; the Spider-Man novel Venom’s Wrath (with José R. Nieto); and two Young Hercules novels.
Keith is the percussionist and backup vocalist for the Don’t Quit Your Day Job Players, an acclaimed rock/blues/country band that released its second CD, Blues Spoken Here, in 1999. Keith also maintains the band’s web site at www.dqydjp.com.
Learn more than you could possibly want to know about Keith at his web site: www.sff.net/people/krad.
Look for STAR TREK fiction from Pocket Books
Star Trek��: The Original Series
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Final Frontier • Diane Carey
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Shadows on the Sun • Michael Jan Friedman
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Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home • Vonda N. McIntyre
Star Trek V: The Final Frontier • J.M. Dillard
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Star Trek: Odyssey (contains The Ashes of Eden, The Return, and Avenger)
Spectre
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#1 • Star Trek: The Motion Picture • Gene Roddenberry
#2 • The Entropy Effect • Vonda N. McIntyre
#3 • The Klingon Gambit • Robert E. Vardeman
#4 • The Covenant of the Crown • Howard Weinstein
#5 • The Prometheus Design
• Sondra Marshak & Myrna Culbreath
#6 • The Abode of Life • Lee Correy
#7 • Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan • Vonda N. McIntyre
#8 • Black Fire • Sonni Cooper
#9 • Triangle • Sondra Marshak & Myrna Culbreath
#10 • Web of the Romulans • M.S. Murdock
#11 • Yesterday’s Son • A.C. Crispin
#12 • Mutiny on the Enterprise • Robert E. Vardeman
#13 • The Wounded Sky • Diane Duane
#14 • The Trellisane Confrontation • David Dvorkin
#15 • Corona • Greg Bear
#16 • The Final Reflection • John M. Ford
#17 • Star Trek III: The Search for Spock • Vonda N. McIntyre
#18 • My Enemy, My Ally • Diane Duane
#19 • The Tears of the Singers • Melinda Snodgrass
#20 • The Vulcan Academy Murders • Jean Lorrah
#21 • Uhura’s Song • Janet Kagan
#22 • Shadow Land • Laurence Yep
#23 • Ishmael • Barbara Hambly
#24 • Killing Time • Della Van Hise
#25 • Dwellers in the Crucible • Margaret Wander Bonanno
#26 • Pawns and Symbols • Majiliss Larson
#27 • Mindshadow • J.M. Dillard
#28 • Crisis on Centaurus • Brad Ferguson
#29 • Dreadnought! • Diane Carey
#30 • Demons • J.M. Dillard
#31 • Battlestations! • Diane Carey
#32 • Chain of Attack • Gene DeWeese
#33 • Deep Domain • Howard Weinstein
#34 • Dreams of the Raven • Carmen Carter
#35 • The Romulan Way • Diane Duane & Peter Morwood
#36 • How Much for Just the Planet? • John M. Ford
#37 • Bloodthirst • J.M. Dillard
#38 • The IDIC Epidemic • Jean Lorrah
#39 • Time for Yesterday • A.C. Crispin
#40 • Timetrap • David Dvorkin
#41 • The Three-Minute Universe • Barbara Paul
#42 • Memory Prime • Judith and Garfield Reeves-Stevens
#43 • The Final Nexus • Gene DeWeese
#44 • Vulcan’s Glory • D.C. Fontana
#45 • Double, Double • Michael Jan Friedman
#46 • The Cry of the Onlies • Judy Klass
#47 • The Kobayashi Maru • Julia Ecklar
#48 • Rules of Engagement • Peter Morwood
#49 • The Pandora Principle • Carolyn Clowes
#50 • Doctor’s Orders • Diane Duane
#51 • Unseen Enemy • V.E. Mitchell
#52 • Home Is the Hunter • Dana Kramer Rolls
#53 • Ghost-Walker • Barbara Hambly
#54 • A Flag Full of Stars • Brad Ferguson
#55 • Renegade • Gene DeWeese
#56 • Legacy • Michael Jan Friedman
#57 • The Rift • Peter David
#58 • Face of Fire • Michael Jan Friedman
#59 • The Disinherited • Peter David
#60 • Ice Trap • L.A. Graf
#61 • Sanctuary • John Vornholt
#62 • Death Count • L.A. Graf
#63 • Shell Game • Melissa Crandall
#64 • The Starship Trap • Mel Gilden
#65 • Windows on a Lost World • V.E. Mitchell
#66 • From the Depths • Victor Milan
#67 • The Great Starship Race • Diane Carey
#68 • Firestorm • L.A. Graf
#69 • The Patrian Transgression • Simon Hawke
#70 • Traitor Winds • L.A. Graf
#71 • Crossroad • Barbara Hambly
#72 • The Better Man • Howard Weinstein
#73 • Recovery • J.M. Dillard
#74 • The Fearful Summons • Denny Martin Flynn
#75 • First Frontier • Diane Carey & Dr. James I. Kirkland
#76 • The Captain’s Daughter • Peter David
#77 • Twilight’s End • Jerry Oltion
#78 • The Rings of Tautee • Dean Wesley Smith & Kristine Kathryn Rusch
#79 • Invasion! #1: First Strike • Diane Carey
#80 • The Joy Machine • James Gunn
#81 • Mudd in Your Eye • Jerry Oltion
#82 • Mind Meld • John Vornholt
#83 • Heart of the Sun • Pamela Sargent & George Zebrowski
#84 • Assignment: Eternity • Greg Cox
#85-87 • My Brother’s Keeper • Michael Jan Friedman
#85 • Republic
#86 • Constitution
#87 • Enterprise
#88 • Across the Universe • Pamela Sargent & George Zebrowski
#89-94 • New Earth
#89 • Wagon Train to the Stars • Diane Carey
#90 • Belle Terre • Dean Wesley Smith with Diane Carey
#91 • Rough Trails • L.A. Graf
#92 • The Flaming Arrow • Kathy and Jerry Oltion
#93 • Thin Air • Kristine Kathryn Rusch & Dean Wesley Smith
#94 • Challenger • Diane Carey
#95-96 • Rihannsu • Diane Duane
#95 • Swordhunt
#96 • Honor Blade
Star Trek: The Next Generation®
Metamorphosis • Jean Lorrah
Vendetta • Peter David
Reunion • Michael Jan Friedman
Imzadi • Peter David
The Devil’s Heart • Carmen Carter
Dark Mirror • Diane Duane
Q-Squared • Peter David
Crossover • Michael Jan Friedman
Kahless • Michael Jan Friedman
Ship of the Line • Diane Carey
The Best and the Brightest • Susan Wright
Planet X • Michael Jan Friedman
Imzadi II: Triangle • Peter David
I, Q • Peter David & John de Lancie
The Valiant • Michael Jan Friedman
Novelizations
Encounter at Farpoint • David Gerrold
Unification • Jeri Taylor
Relics • Michael Jan Friedman
Descent • Diane Carey
All Good Things... • Michael Jan Friedman
Star Trek: Klingon • Dean Wesley Smith & Kristine Kathryn Rusch
Star Trek Generations • J.M. Dillard
Star Trek: First Contact • J.M. Dillard
Star Trek: Insurrection • J.M. Dillard
#1 • Ghost Ship • Diane Carey
#2 • The Peacekeepers • Gene DeWeese
#3 • The Children of Hamlin • Carmen Carter
#4 • Survivors • Jean Lorrah
#5 • Strike Zone • Peter David
#6 • Power Hungry • Howard Weinstein
#7 • Masks • John Vornholt
#8 • The Captain’s Honor • David & Daniel Dvorkin
#9 • A Call to Darkness • Michael Jan Friedman
#10 • A Rock and a Hard Place • Peter David
#11 • Gulliver’s Fugitives • Keith Sharee
#12 • Doomsday World • David, Carter, Friedman & Greenberger
#13 • The Eyes of the Beholders • A.C. Crispin
#14 • Exiles • Howard Weinstein
#15 • Fortune’s Light • Michael Jan Friedman
#16 • Contamination • John Vornholt
#17 • Boogeymen • Mel Gilden
#18 • Q-in-Law • Peter David
#19 • Perchance to Dream • Howard Weinstein
#20 • Spartacus • T.L. Mancour
#21 • Chains of Command • W.A. McCoy & E.L. Flood
#22 • Imbalance • V.E. Mitchell
#23 • War Drums • John Vornholt
#24 • Nightshade • Laurell K. Hamilton
#25 • Grounded • David Bischoff
#26 • The Romulan Prize • Simon Hawke
#27 • Guises of the Mind • Rebecca Neason
#28 • Here There Be Drag
ons • John Peel
#29 • Sins of Commission • Susan Wright
#30 • Debtor’s Planet • W.R. Thompson
#31 • Foreign Foes • Dave Galanter & Greg Brodeur
#32 • Requiem • Michael Jan Friedman & Kevin Ryan
#33 • Balance of Power • Dafydd ab Hugh
#34 • Blaze of Glory • Simon Hawke
#35 • The Romulan Stratagem • Robert Greenberger
#36 • Into the Nebula • Gene DeWeese
#37 • The Last Stand • Brad Ferguson
#38 • Dragon’s Honor • Kij Johnson & Greg Cox
#39 • Rogue Saucer • John Vornholt
#40 • Possession • J.M. Dillard & Kathleen O’Malley
#41 • Invasion! #2: The Soldiers of Fear • Dean Wesley Smith & Kristine Kathryn Rusch
#42 • Infiltrator • W.R. Thompson
#43 • A Fury Scorned • Pamela Sargent & George Zebrowski
#44 • The Death of Princes • John Peel
#45 • Intellivore • Diane Duane
#46 • To Storm Heaven • Esther Friesner
#47-49 • The Q Continuum • Greg Cox
#47 • Q-Space
#48 • Q-Zone
#49 • Q-Strike
#50 • Dyson Sphere • Charles Pellegrino & George Zebrowski
#51-56 • Double Helix
#51 • Infection • John Gregory Betancourt
#52 • Vectors • Dean Wesley Smith & Kristine Kathryn Rusch
#53 • Red Sector • Diane Carey
#54 • Quarantine • John Vornholt
#55 • Double or Nothing • Peter David
#56 • The First Virtue • Michael Jan Friedman & Christie Golden
#57 • The Forgotten War • William Fortschen
#58-59 • Gemworld • John Vornholt
#58 • Gemworld #1
#59 • Gemworld #2
#60 • Tooth and Claw • Doranna Durgin
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine®
Warped • K.W. Jeter
Legends of the Ferengi • Ira Steven Behr & Robert Hewitt Wolfe
The Lives of Dax • Marco Palmieri, ed.
Millennium • Judith and Garfield Reeves-Stevens
#1 • The Fall of Terok Nor
#2 • The War of the Prophets
#3 • Inferno
DIPLOMATIC IMPLAUSIBILITY Page 22
