Swordhunt

Star Trek: The Original Series #95

by Diane Duane

The sword was the ultimate symbol of Romulan power, tradition, and pride. It lay in the Senate Chamber of the Romulan Star Empire, revered and untouched for centuries, until the day Dr. Leonard McCoy was tried for treason -- and both were stolen during a daring attack on Romulus itself. Now, to avenge that insult and save face in the eyes of their deadly enemies, the Empire must recover the sword at any cost. Their envoys to the Federation demand the return of the sword and the extradition of the Romulan renegades who aided the "Starship Enterprise(TM) " in McCoy's escape. If diplomacy fails, the Romulans will trap the Klingons(TM) and the Federation in open war.

In such dangerous times, the "Starship Enterprise" is assigned the most valuable -- and volatile -- element of all: the fugitive Ael, her stolen Bird-of-Prey "Bloodwing," and the sword they carry. Ael will undoubtedly attempt to use ship and sword to foil her enemies and play her hand in the dangerous game that she's begun. But she will do it all under the watchful eyes of James T. Kirk, the Federation starship captain who knows her dangerously well...

Genres: Star Trek, Science Fiction, Fiction, Ebooks, Science Fiction Fantasy, Star Trek Original Series, Media Tie In

229 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published October 1, 2000

About the author

Diane Duane has been a writer of science fiction, fantasy, TV and film for more than forty years.

Besides the 1980's creation of the Young Wizards fantasy series for which she's best known, the "Middle Kingdoms" epic fantasy series, and numerous stand-alone fantasy or science fiction novels, her career has included extensive work in the Star Trek TM universe, and many scripts for live-action and animated TV series on both sides of the Atlantic, as well as work in comics and computer games. She has spent a fair amount of time on the New York Times Bestseller List, and has picked up various awards and award nominations here and there.

She lives in County Wicklow, in Ireland, with her husband of more than thirty years, the screenwriter and novelist Peter Morwood.

Her favorite color is blue, her favorite food is a weird kind of Swiss scrambled-potato dish called maluns, she was born in a Year of the Dragon, and her sign is "Runway 24 Left, Hold For Clearance."

(From her official website)

Reviews

[Rindis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Published thirteen years after The Romulan Way, it takes place a couple of months after that novel. There's a lot effectively unsettled after that, and this book picks up on all the threads, and even brings in K's't'lk from her novel The Wounded Sky.

Past all that, other forces are in motion. Duane's Romulan (sorry, Rihannsu) Empire is struggling economically, and with recent events, the Klingons are preying on outer colonies. The government is tightening its grip on colonies, which are getting more restless, while concentrating on Ael, who took one of the most unimaginably priceless relics of the Empire, and the Federation, which is sheltering her.

It's a big story, which Duane tells very well. There's a lot going on, and sadly, it does take a while to start cohering into a solid shape. There's a good mix of action and setup at the beginning, which then settles down to get the main plot going.

Unfortunately, the determination of Pocket to keep all its Star Trek novels short gets solidly in the way here, as this is literally the first half of the book, even though the full version would be ~400 pages, which is a merely moderate sized post-70s novel. The second part was the next one released (#96), and it picks up with chapter 6. So at the end, we're still in the setup phase.

[Excel Lifestyle · Rating 3 out of 5]

In our last adventure romulan defector Ael stole the treasured Romulan honor blade. Now the Romulans are demanding the federation hand her over as a pretext for starting a war. Of course the Klingons are ready to take advantage of this possibility and are already beginning border raids.

Into this tense political chess match comes the Enterprise, which is the only ship Ael trusts. Kirk wants to aid Ael in her endeavors to redeem her people but he may be caught between their alliance and his Starfleet loyalties.

On the other side of the border senator Arhae is included in the Romulan delegation to the federation. The hiccup: she’s a federation double agent but she has made deep ties in her new home.

Great premise but this book is all setup. I heard the publishers made the author split this into two books and it shows. I can’t really recommend this if you don’t already have the sequel on hand.

Still Duane interweaves the previous books plot lines well and she gives an interesting look into the Federation - Romulan - Klingon tensions of the TOS era.

[Kreg · Rating 2 out of 5]

Being the third book in the Rihannsu series it does follow the previous two, however unlike the others this one can't stand on it's own - the whole book is just building toward a climax that is 'to be continued'. Without the next book(s) in the series this one is just an unfinished story.

[Adrian Halpert · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have to admit I was a little worried when I saw that "Swordhunt" was written by the same author who wrote the textbook, I mean the novel, "The Romulan Way". Having just finished "Swordhunt", I now have to admit that I was pleasantly surprised.
In general, the book had a good pace to it and felt like it would make a good episode of TOS. A few points lagged, but it usually wasn't long before the pace of the story pick up again. Alot of the Romulan cultural / language references were well integrated into the narrative, making for a much more interesting delve into Romulan culture than the textbook-like "Romulan Way".
There were a couple elements of this book that I REALLY liked. First, I enjoyed the political intrigue that played out between the Federation, Romulans and Klingons. I always enjoy that kind of story that enjoyed how it played out here. Tied into that, I also really enjoyed seeing some of Kirk's "chessplayer" strategic thinking which started on page 160. Like with the political intrigue, I always enjoy this type of thing and had a great time watching Kirk explore the different moves before him and try to outthink his opponents.
This also brings me to my major problem with this book. In the show, Kirk was a good strategst (usually) but he often relied on his gut instinct as much as the logical, "chessmaster" style I usually associatee with Spock. I didn't necesarily have a problem with seeing Kirk as the "chessmaster" , but he should have expressed more emotion here - and througout the entire book. In fact, ALL of the characters seem pretty flat and emotionless throughout the entire book! There were a few good moments, in particular the description of the underlying tensions between a couple of Klingon characters on page 126. Overall though, the majority of the characters are just names with no real personalities, including most of the Enterprise crew, making it difficult to get invested in what happened to them.
Overall though, the pluses were strong enough to outweigh the minuses and I would recommend this as a fun read to any Star Trek fan. 3.5/5.

[Patrick Hayes · Rating 1 out of 5]

It's obvious that this book and the next one were intended to be one, because on its own this is not a satisfying read.

This book is nothing for build for a meeting in space between the Enterprise and the Bloodwing, captained by Ael, a "treasonous" Romulan who has stolen an iconic, symbolic sword of the Empire. The story follows various parties on several worlds who have a stake at what is to come of this meeting between the two ships and several Romulan vessels.

The problem is they don't reach their rendezvous point. There's political scheming, raids on distant worlds, and references to the two books that came before this. I kept waiting for something major to happen, though there is one action event, but it was dull.

This was a tedious read with no payoff. My opinion may change when I read the follow up book tomorrow.

[Andy Stjohn · Rating 3 out of 5]

TOS #94: Swordhunt by Diane Duane

This book was… alright. It’s definitely the weakest of the Rihannsu series I’ve read so far and I absolutely loved the first two books. This book feels like set up for the next one, which is fine. There’s a decent amount of political intrigue, sprinkled in with some action. Also, the format I read it in (part of the first four books put into one book) also took away from my enjoyment of it, as it just made it longer to read. Still, a decent book and I look forward to reading the last two.

7/10

[Kathleen Knowles · Rating 2 out of 5]

Are you kidding? You have the nerve to call this a Star Trek novel? The crew of the Enterprise is barely in it. Furthermore, it's BORING.

Poor storyline, and no ending. If you think it will entice me to read the next one, guess again. I'll read someone else's Star Trek. At least they will have the Star Trek characters.

The only reason it didn't get a 1 rating is that I reserve that for books I don't finish. I kept telling myself this has to get better, so I read on. I was wrong. It didn't.

[Matthew WK · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tough one to rate as it's really half a novel with the second half picking up in Honor Blade. The first 2 novels in this series felt like stand alone books, but this one is obviously not that. So, since it's only half a story I'm starting at 3 stars. I'll update after Honor Blade if I feel the complete story is worse/better. All that said, I'm interested in seeing where this goes. As the first half, this was a lot of setup - reintroducing the cast of characters, dropping reminders of past storylines, and gathering the group back together.

[Craig · Rating 4 out of 5]

Diane Duane's Star Trek is always such a rich, deep book to chew on. The science-fiction almost seems believable and in Duane's case seems to go above my head at times. This book is brimming with tension as it builds for Rihannsu #4 so it's good I can read both back-to-back. The battle at 15 Tri was pretty awesome as Duane's battles usually are. A good read but a book you have to be fully focused on or slight moments which lead to big changes in the story can be missed.

[Ian Banks · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really love Star Trek but the Romulans have just become a more calculating version of the Klingons. The wheels-within-wheels plotting that each book dealing with them posits is just tedious rather than… well, intriguing. This is, unfortunately, no exception. Ms Duane has a lovely handle on our regulars and has created a vibrant milieu for the Romulan characters but the story as a whole just leaves me cold.

[Frank Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

The plot thickens as the saga continues. This book picks up all of the pieces left lying after the events of The Romulan Way and does so quite satisfyingly.

I thought it ended without reaching any specific point but luckily I have book 4 ready to go!

[Peter Rydén · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nu börjar bokserien ta riktig fart igen - Ael är verkligen en stark karaktär och jag älskar det förbrödrande som finns mellan henne och James T Kirk, trots skilda kulturer. Personligheterna är väldigt lika och det är mycket det som tilltalar i denna bok.

[Aurély · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yeah man it's good. I love Ael and I love that Senator-spy who's name I can't remember and I love Spock and I love Nveid randomly showing up with shitty pick up lines.

Also yes fascism is bad, I agree.

[Robert Lewter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another Trek cliff hanger. Loved it.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ael of Bloodwing has stolen the sword, the symbol of Romulan power. Now the Enterprise hs been sent to meet with the diplomatics of Romulan. .
An entertaining story, to be continued
Book 3 - Rihannsu

Book 1 -My Enemy, My Ally
Book 2 -The Romulan Way
Book 4 - Honor Blade

[Paul Lunger · Rating 1 out of 5]

The 3rd book in the Rhiannsu series (Diane Duane's back story of the Romulans which began in 1984's "My Enemy, My Ally" & continued in 1987's "The Romulan Way") is a mixed bag of a story that tries to become something it isn't & that's a problem. "Swordhunt" follows up on the story of the renegade Ael & the story of dissension within the Romulan government that is potentially going to lead to war with the Federation. Throughout the story Duane tries to paint a picture of events & people that doesn't match up with any sense of coherency & at times is more uneven than normal for her. The basis is to return the sword recovered by McCoy in "The Romulan Way" & also to continue developing the sunseeding technology used previously. While parts of the story remain plausible there is never really any sense of where this is going & it's almost as if we're being forced to wait until the next chapter to discover where this story is going if anywhere. Granted the story is 13 years after the last one was written & none of the prior works had any knowledge of the development of the Romulans that would come about through TNG & DS9 which is acknowledged at the beginning; however it's that unevenness in story that makes this an easy read but one that could be far more than what it is.

[John Carter McKnight · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the third of four installments of an unusual project in Star Trek history: a non-canon arc written over some 20 years. It's not just non-canon in that Duane's vision of the Romulans was jossed by TNG after the two volumes written in the 1980s. It's also a very alternate take on the TOS crew, one in which Kirk, McCoy, Scotty et al. are much more interesting, complex, whimsical, xenophilic, and the Enterprise crew more diverse than we ever saw in other media. Duane also brings in real astrophysics and military strategy, which for the most part works, unlike attempts by other writers to do so.

Swordhunt was an attempt to pick up that story decades later. It's a good story, but a vile ripoff: a handful of chapters of a concluding volume packaged under separate covers, without even so much as a cliffhanger ending: it just stops randomly, one assumes at the minimum page count for mass-market paperback printing.

The whole set would later be packaged in a single volume. That's well worth reading if you like AU fanfic, handled by a very very good midlist novelist.

[David Bonesteel · Rating 1 out of 5]

Virtually nothing happens in this book. The Enterprise and Bloodwing rendezvous in preparation for a summit between Federation and Romulan forces and have a space battle with Romulan ships sent to capture Bloodwing's commander. There is much discussion of a powerful new doomsday weapon and many vignettes featuring characters that we have never seen before, do not see again (at least not in this book), and which amount to nothing at all. The ridiculous ending reveals that this is the first installment of a continuing story, but author Diane Duane has not even provided a provocative cliff-hanger to interest us in reading the next installment. Rest assured, if I ever decide to read any further (doubtful), it will be a used edition so that the publisher doesn't see any profit from this sorry excuse for a book.

[David B · Rating 1 out of 5]

Virtually nothing happens in this book. The Enterprise and Bloodwing rendezvous in preparation for a summit between Federation and Romulan forces and have a space battle with Romulan ships sent to capture Bloodwing's commander. There is much discussion of a powerful new doomsday weapon and many vignettes featuring characters that we have never seen before, do not see again (at least not in this book), and which amount to nothing at all. The ridiculous ending reveals that this is the first installment of a continuing story, but author Diane Duane has not even provided a provocative cliff-hanger to interest us in reading the next installment. Rest assured, if I ever decide to read any further (doubtful), it will be a used edition so that the publisher doesn't see any profit from this sorry excuse for a book.

[Justin · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the third book in the heavily serialized series. For final resolution of all threads, you have to read the next two books. Furthermore, it is dependent on having watched the two Romulan-specific Star Trek: The Original Series episodes: Balance of Terror and The Enterprise Incident.
So far so good. I like Romulans and how they are portrayed in TOS, TNG, and DS9.

The reason why I disliked this book is because of the prose. Diane Duane's prose and story organization is really bad because it switches the scenes without chapter breaks. In one part of the chapter, I am reading about the Romulan Praetors in one section and then suddenly it's Jim, Spock, Scotty, and Ael, then goes to the Scotty and the Romulan engineers discuss Sunseed.

[Steve · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have some problems with this book -- it is very short, and it ends *very* abruptly, and just before the ending, rather than a climax, we have a meeting with the Enterprise heads involving some very shady physics that made my head hurt. It only has five chapters and each of them were massive, and further, it does seem like this book was originally written as one and then split into two because it was too big. Furthermore, almost all of this book was build-up, with the story progressing very slowly. I look forward to the next book in the series, if only so I can actually see some action.

[Jon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Been meaning to read this for years, finally picked it up off the shelf. Always loved the first two books in the Rihannsu sub-series of star trek, which delves into Romulan culture, which has only been scratched surface wise in the series and not nearly as developed as some of the others. This was fun to revisit, very quick to read, only complaint is that it's half a story and they split it into 2 books.

[Dan · Rating 3 out of 5]

What I have read thus far I have very much enjoyed, as I have enjoyed most of Diane Duane's work. While the story seems to be meandering a bit, what action there has been has been exciting, and I hope the payoff will make up for the lengthy setup.

Full review: http://treklit.blogspot.com/2011/12/s...

[Tom · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the first of two parts that contains a lot of science discussion but little action. Considering how short this book is, I wonder why they didn't combine it with its conclusion. I already own the next one so I'll read it soon.

[Wetdryvac Wetdryvac · Rating 5 out of 5]

Two part book, so it doesn't stand alone terribly well, but an interesting read.

[Tina · Rating 2 out of 5]

Hardly anything happens in this book, and then it ends with a "to be continued..." What a waste of time

[Raymond · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story and characters are interesting but I'm not a fan of political intrigue.

[Joshua · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you love Romulans vs the Federation you'll love this one!

[torque · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's ok. I might read more Star Trek in the future.

[Wordwizard]

What I read was the big RIHANNSU book that includes everything except THE EMPTY CHAIR, so I read the reworked thing that is both Swordhunt and Honor Blade. Thus, no specific rating.