One of the Federation's most highly held principles (and Star Trek's themes) is respecting other cultures and coexistence. Klingons don't hold to this, but seeing the universe through their eyes helps us to walk a kellicam or two in their boots.

That said, the first book in the I.K.S. Gorkon series by Keith R.A. DeCandido, "A Good Day to Die," then proceeds to turn everything we've come to expect from Star Trek on its ear. These warriors seek out new life and new civilizations, but unlike their Federation contemporaries, these Klingons seek them out to conquer for the Klingon Empire!

It's a great deal of fun to join them. DeCandido's wonderful Lost Era book ("The Art of the Impossible") demonstrated his keen understanding of Klingons and what drives them, and "A Good Day to Die" gives us a whole new crew of interesting characters with bubbling subplots and intrigue.

Given the order by Chancellor Martok to explore the Kavrot Sector and expand the depleted Klingon Empire after the Dominion War, the tales of Captain Klag (formerly of the I.K.S. Pagh and seen in "A Matter of Honor") and his crew aboard the I.K.S. Gorkon have just begun. And, if this book is any indication, this will be a delightful and fun series.

After over 600 hours of television episodes and ten movies, we know what to expect from the Federation in first-contact encounters, but this concept is great because it injects new life into situations we're familiar with by looking at it through the eyes of the Klingons. DeCandido does a great job of showing the Klingons not simply as conquering bad guys, but as complex beings driven by their culture (as well as individual motivations) and their personal honor. Bonus points for the glossary of Klingon terms in the back of the book. What more could you ask for?

[Paul]