Pawns and Symbols (Star Trek: The Original Series Book 26) (edition 2000)

by Majliss Larson (Author)

Series: Star Trek Giant Novel (Titan) (7), Star Trek (novels) (1985.11), Star Trek: The Original Series (26)

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Pawns And Symbols Threatened by a deadly famine, the Klingon Empire is on the verge of igniting a mad interplanetary war of conquest. When an earthquake destroys a remote Federation research station, Jean Czerny, agricultural scientist, succumbs to amnesia. Stranded on enemy borders, she is imprisoned by Kang, the evil commander of a Klingon battleship. Now Kirk must play a dangerous game of mind strategy to prevent a savage attack on the Federation!… (more)

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Member:	szarka
Title:	Pawns and Symbols (Star Trek: The Original Series Book 26)
Authors:	Majliss Larson (Author)
Info:	Pocket Books/Star Trek (2000), 330 pages
Collections:	Your library, Ebooks, To read
Rating:
Tags:	scifi, trek

Work Information

Pawns and Symbols by Majliss Larson (Author)

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F/SF

beskamiltar | Apr 10, 2024 |

If this were fanfiction, someone would say it was a Mary Sue: it's a woman who gets caught up in the highest of Klingon politics, basically. I'm not sure it's a great book, but I did enjoy it a lot - the author's a strong enough writer to keep me going along with it, even when I felt like "aw, c'mon, this is a lot of id candy." And the Klingons, while not my preferred version, had some real worldbuilding behind them, unlike many books.

everystartrek | Jan 5, 2023 |

Reads as cold war era peace propaganda. This isn't a bad thing. (

)

wetdryvac | Mar 2, 2021 |

Well-done, as in, not casual pulp. However, a little sub-mystery was mostly a convenience, and the clues dropped for it were annoying distractions. I'm not sure how much of what was revealed about Kingons here became part of the 'official history' that other authors are expected to honor - for example, these Klingons apparently don't have brow ridges, as Czerny is sometimes briefly mistaken for being Klingon.

Anyway, the main thing I actually need to share with potential readers is this: there is a relationship dynamic that includes a kind of sexual aggression that makes it seem as if the author believes that rape is erotic. If you are a survivor, you know that it is not. And you're probably better off not reading this book.

ETA - read some of the other reviews. The sub-plot actually is necessary, I see - as it takes some of the gloss off the 'Mary-Sue-ness' of Czerny. (

)

Cheryl_in_CC_NV | Jun 6, 2016 |

One of the weaker Star Trek novels. The Klingon's are all wrong. They're too nice.

sinalco | Aug 4, 2008 |

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Author name	Role	Type of author	Work?	Status
Larson, Majliss	Author	primary author	all editions	confirmed
Brandhorst, Andreas	Translator	secondary author	some editions	confirmed

▾Series and work relationships

Belongs to Series

Star Trek (novels) (1985.11)

Star Trek Giant Novel (Titan) (7)

Star Trek: The Original Series (26)

Belongs to Publisher Series

Heyne Science Fiction & Fantasy (06/4741)

Star Trek (Heyne) (27)

Star Trek Novels [Titan Books]

Is contained in

Die Abenteuer des Raumschiffs Enterprise by Barbara Hambly

The Twentieth Anniversary Collection II [box set] by J. M. Dillard

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Canonical title

Pawns and Symbols

Original title

Pawns and Symbols

Alternative titles

Star Trek: Pawns and Symbols

Star Trek: Das Faustpfand der Klingonen

Original publication date

1985-11 (eng.)

1990 (deu.)

People/Characters

Jean Czerny

James T. Kirk

Spock

Leonard McCoy (Bones)

Kang

(show all 8 items)

Important places

Important events

Related movies

Epigraph

Dedication

To
Al, Cheryl, Chris, Julie, and especially Rhonda
who were my first editors and critics.

First words

Her cheek flat against the lab table, Jean Czerny watched the slow drip of water from her improvised charcoal column.

Quotations

Last words

(Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)

Disambiguation notice

Publisher's editors

Blurbers

Original language

Canonical DDC/MDS

Canonical LCC

▾References

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Pawns and Symbols

▾Book descriptions

Pawns And Symbols Threatened by a deadly famine, the Klingon Empire is on the verge of igniting a mad interplanetary war of conquest. When an earthquake destroys a remote Federation research station, Jean Czerny, agricultural scientist, succumbs to amnesia. Stranded on enemy borders, she is imprisoned by Kang, the evil commander of a Klingon battleship. Now Kirk must play a dangerous game of mind strategy to prevent a savage attack on the Federation!

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Book description

Threatened by a deadly famine, the Klingon Empire is on the verge of igniting a mad interplanetary war of conquest.

When an earthquake destroys a remote Federation research station, Jean Czerny, agricultural scientist, succumbs to amnesia. Stranded on enemy boarders,she is imprisoned by Kang, the commander of a Klingon battleship.

Now Kirk must play a dangerous game of mind strategy to prevent a savage attack on the federation.

"COMMANDER KANG, YOU ARE HOLDING ONE OF MY PEOPLE ..."

Stardate 1243.26

And certain materials belonging to the Federation. I formally demand immediate return."

Kang smiled openly. "Surely you jest, Captain. Lieutenant Czerny is bond to me. She is a vary valuable pawn to me for the moment. I have no intention of releasing her yet."

"Kang, when your ship was destroyed I took your crew survivors aboard my shop they were well-treated. I expect the same for Czerny. I will hold you personally responsible for her treatment," Kirk rubbed his right cheek with an unconscious gesture as he recalled the image of Kang standing over Chekov's writhing form with the Klingon agonizer pressed to his face ....

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