Date: 07 May 2015 08:47 Title: A Confederacy of Decembers
I don't get it. Sorry. You had something here-but I'm lost.
Author's Response: As Patrick McGoohan said: "It means what it is."
It's my characters, those I write anyway, brought together. They have no particular family and so they have each other. From my imagination they are gathered together. They have no one but each other. So they have family of a sense.
Date: 24 Mar 2015 14:13 Title: Achieving Greatly, or Failing Miserably
Lovely, forceful prose. You have a wonderful grasp of the Kiingon mindset. And I loved the way Valdyr acknowledged her uncle's mentoring. "...Without him I would be nothing."
Author's Response: thank you most kindly. Sometimes my Klingon (and Vulcan) speech gets stricken by Star Wars prequel speak (what someone called weird Chinese/syntax stuff). But Klingons are high opera, high drama so it sort of figures I suppose. thanks again for your comments. :)
Date: 24 Mar 2015 12:17 Title: Achieving Greatly, or Failing Miserably
Ah, he did right by her, Kamarag did. And so did Kor, I suppose. Valdyr was thrown into the deep end by Kamarag, but to be accompanied by Kor meant that there was some endorsement to her mission to Earth. The chancellor, too, saw it as a good idea, The need to survive can squelch pride (or at least it should). Directly due to her actions, the people of Q'uonos live to fight another day.
Author's Response: Yes, I dare say I give Valdyr much more credit than most but the early/mid-24th Century always feel murky. That era of the Enterprises B & C. Had to think on the fly what she could do and I figured that Kor would be about. DS9 said he was ambassador to Vulcan at some point, I assumed he would carry some weight. My thanks for reading :)
Date: 04 Jan 2015 17:17 Title: A Confederacy of Decembers
Sweet. Neat to bring all your characters together like that, and the ending was unexpected. Nicely done.
Author's Response: thank you, it sort of was off the wrist this one.
[Report This]Date: 04 Jan 2015 16:17 Title: A Confederacy of Decembers
Nice to see your family of characters interact.
A sweet little story that shows two can be a family. Top Job.
Date: 01 Jan 2015 20:33 Title: A Confederacy of Decembers
These three are all familiar to me, so for me, it made perfect sense. And in a way, all three are your family, for you've breathed renewed life into each of these minor characters. Nice to see them have a chance to hang out together, even for just a little while. ;-)
Author's Response: thank you, I'm glad you liked it. It made sense in my head.
Date: 24 Dec 2014 16:38 Title: A Confederacy of Decembers
A strange gathering in the mists of December. It took me a bit to figure this out, but I like it.
Author's Response: It made sense in my head, but then most of my stuff of late does. It was the best on short notice unfortunately.
Date: 24 Dec 2014 03:27 Title: A Confederacy of Decembers
Aw, Beverly got her holiday wish!
Date: 22 Dec 2014 21:16 Title: Paul Revere Was a Short Man
Wow, you had me going there with the WWII veteran. All the rest could have been wildly coincidental, but not that. I really enjoyed this humorous piece. Wish I could have heard Kamarag sing!
Author's Response: little details are what I do.
Date: 22 Dec 2014 03:16 Title: Paul Revere Was a Short Man
Ah, it's where everybody knows your name! Come to Boston and I'll take you to the Bull & Finch (which is the real name of that bar). :)
Author's Response: I really must get to there. I heard it's a real tourist trap but to stand on the street outside will do for me. Then I'll see about the clam chowder at Fanueil Market.
Date: 18 Oct 2014 21:01 Title: You Never Live Twice
I really enjoyed this story. I like a deeper view at Klingon intrigue, and hints of their mating traditions. I also enjoyed Valdyr's thoughts; how it disgusted her to lay with a man who was a traitor, but how she did so anyway out of loyalty to the Empire and the rightful Chancellor.
Author's Response: thank you. I tend to veer in and out of Klingon stuff and each story sort of builds upon what I've done. Most come from DS9 which did a lot for it no thanks to Ronald D. Moore. Valdyr is an honourable woman and doing what she did...well, she had to.
Date: 18 Oct 2014 04:22 Title: You Never Live Twice
A fantastic bit of intrigue! Valdyr is just a fantastic character and your stories really do her justice.
Author's Response: thank you. Still fleshing her out...so to speak :)
Date: 03 Oct 2014 20:49 Title: September
love your Kamarag stories, and even named my Kamarag-class ship in the game the Valdyr. I enjoy what you've done with the characters, and this story fits not just the history you've created, but the legacy of the man as well. I loved the San Fransisko reference, and how very Klingon the young man is worrying about the honor of his family and himself. Great job Mac, once again!
Author's Response: thank you most kindly Temp. I strongly suspect young Kamarag will return. Initially in BCI6. As for Valdyr, probably for the next challenge. My thanks again :)
Date: 28 Sep 2014 18:10 Title: September
I laughed at the "San Fransisko" reference. It's interesting to see Klingons who want to join Starfleet after the War. I imagine it's a rather polarizing position: sure, Starfleet proved it's strength, but the Empire needs to rebuild as well. Nice job!
Author's Response: thank you. It is a conundrum but in the postwar world Starfleet could offer a slightly better path for a returning warrior.
Date: 27 Sep 2014 22:36 Title: September
I love the small additions you made to this since I first looked at it, and find it a fitting entry for the challenge. It always takes resolve on the part of the one looking to buck the system, or subscribe to change for the better, but that decision is always made easier when those you respect approve. How fitting that Valdyr was able to help Kamarag realize the soundness of his choice, just as the boy's namesake was able to help Valdyr do the same those many years ago.
You know I'm a sucker for Kamarag stories, and even though this is about his great-nephew, it adds to the rich history you've created for the original. Loved it, and can't wait to read more about this namesake of the great man, surely destined for greatness in his own right.
Author's Response: my thanks as always. Hopefully with the coming Kamarag-the older biopic and BCI6 you will see more of the younger Kamarag. Valdyr is a wise woman but then you don't resign as chancellor (a job for life for the most part) and not be so :)
Date: 27 Sep 2014 22:32 Title: September
Aw, I love how he thinks San Francisco is named for Ben Sisko! :)
He makes a promise (and we know he sees it through). Great stuff!
Author's Response: ha, yes, it sort of hit me. I imagine not everyone in the wide blue yonder is up to spec on SF. My thanks as always Jespah.
Date: 17 May 2013 21:23 Title: Dining on Ashes
Well, this was a great Klingon story. I love that you used John Schuck's Klingon here as he played such a key role in a number of TOS movies. Schuck's thoughts and actions are befitting a Klingon, despite his assertation that he is not a warrior. He may not fight battles in space or on a planet, but in a chamber with other men he goes to war using his words.
His niece is another character here who spoke to me. She is quiet, somewhat reserved, but most assuredly is an honorable warrior. Her words to her uncle were genuine and sweet. It made Schuck feel "foolish" as he so stated and it was a feeling I think he enjoyed.
His death was sad but quite appropriate. He had seen his niece take her rightful place as leader of the Empire and he had served his role. Though he didn't die a traditional warrior's death, he will no doubt he held in high regard in the afterlife.
A very well written Klingon piece. I enjoyed the description of the after effects of Praxis, something that is glossed over in TNG. It's something that I feel should have been addressed more directly in one of the Trek series but never was.
Well done.
Author's Response: Thank you most kindly. I tend to like writing Klingon's though I'm steering away from Martok now unlike before. Kamarag will return. That was a first review since my opening chapter on Omega Sector in 2008 :)
Date: 09 Apr 2013 00:37 Title: Dining on Ashes
A Miranda Fave / Lil black dog Read and Review Challenge Response (challenge #3)
Actually, I'm kinda mad here for I had sworn I had reviewed this ages ago. So it is fruitful that the reading challenge has cropped up to allow me to ammend that mistake. Especially as I can only say favourable things about this piece.
Though brief it gives quite a fantastic little window Klingon culture and government all the more appealing for being grounded in Klingon nature but stripped of the mindless posturing and overly caricature 'Viking' like behaviour often seen in canon in latter years or all too often in literature. You get to the kernal of the Klingon nature and culture without losing the brutality of the Klingons but show them as thinkers and politicians too. Otherwise, how might the Empire ever have continued if it did ot have a proper government of sorts. You ground it all and make it plausible and in character.
The details and direction you take too are subtle but whilst taking from the series and possibly inspired by others yet make it your own as you weave the story of Karamang fully realising the man and the career. You have a canny way of fusing canon details into a broader picture adding depth and a sense of substance from the brief snatches we get of such a character and setting and taking them further with your development. A really solid world creation and character piece.
You also have a grand way of painting the scene with the image of the remnant of Praxis hanging over Quonos and deadening the sky with red and ash. And the final moment, I can picture like a marble tableux or indeed as the lights go down on a Shakepearean play (quite a fitting little nod towards Klingons and canon there too). Wonderful.
Author's Response: you do me a disservice with your praise MF. It seemed best to encapsulate this in a small story. Some folk don't like long entries for the challenge. I always like writing Klingons, something that I share with Ronald D. Moore. I think there's something Shakesperean about the whole thing like Nick Meyer and I'm glad you pictured that tableaux at the end as I tried to. I wish I could claim some greatness in fusing canon and broader details. It stands to reason he has his own background and indeed I'm working on a grand opus for Kamarag. my thanks indeed MF.
Date: 29 Jan 2013 02:30 Title: Dining on Ashes
Oh how lovely.
Trust Kamarag, for he knows.
Trust Valdyr (I kept thinking Valkyrie), for she knows.
Well done.
Author's Response: thank you Jespah.
Date: 24 Jan 2013 21:24 Title: Dining on Ashes
Well done, and a nice read. Klingon politics are so much fun
Author's Response: thanks Temp. I get a big kick out of Klingons and the politics. Kamarag needed a further outing anyway.
Date: 22 Jan 2013 23:34 Title: Dining on Ashes
I really like this, Mac - but you already knew that. ;-)
This is a great window into how Klingons transfer power - peaceful (as in there are no battles to the death) yet still very much in keeping with their culture. I especially like the bit about how the candidates are pushed forward by their backers for consideration, and how the decision is arrived at rather quickly. Candidates don't have months to campaign, the council is given the facts and after careful (albeit short) deliberation, the wheels of government roll smoothly on.
But couched within the political theme is the beautiful and touching story of an unconventional family and the pride an old man feels at helping his protege reach the pinnacle of power in the Klingon Empire.
I found the ending to be bittersweet and profoundly sad. I've said before I think Kamarag is becoming your signature character. You have a distinct knack for taking two-dimensional characters and adding to their backstory, their persona, so that they become people we identify with and care about.
I hope we see a lot more of Kamarag's history in the future.
Author's Response: my many thanks as always. Klingons have been a favourite of mine since I was a kid and gradually along the way I've become fascinated by their backstory, as a race. I'm not sure if the pushing of the candidates is part of it (as I say, the only two times you see it on screen in TNG and DS9 both times are exceptional circumstances, one Chancellor killed in a fight and the other's succession organised by a human) but I took it from our own politics in the House of Commons. I imagine in Klingon politics there is no prolonged campaigning. Action This Day, as Churchill said. I like to think this Kamarag helped Valdyr not for his own glory but some sentimental old pride in the Empire. Not a warrior's pride but a Klingon's pride. I think Kamarag will return, one day.
Date: 28 Jun 2012 01:27 Title: The Death of Kings
Excellent. An excellent story.
Date: 28 Jun 2012 01:24 Title: The Death of Kings
Really well done here again Mac. The Klingon focus at the beginning worked well to depict Klingons as more than empty vessels thumping their chests and proclaiming their honour. You have good, bad and ugly here and you made a tense scene from the film work out on paper from an unknown perspective. Well done.
Author's Response: my thanks indeed. Klingons as Ronald D. Moore showed in DS9 are much more than we think. Even they can change.
Date: 28 Jun 2012 01:12 Title: The Death of Kings
I'm continue to love this and to love the movie magic of the writing. Liking the dialogue of the two diplomats (all of them actually but our two main guys have an especially good spark).
In addition, I like how you keep bringing in the focus between Spock and Sarek. Subtle yet touching and really well done. Excellent.
Author's Response: thank you. The idea was to sort of show Kamarag but the two of them throughout this period. I'd imagine Kamarag was quite integral during this period as Klingon Ambassador. Dialogue threatened to veer into Star Wars prequel territory but it works :)
Date: 28 Jun 2012 00:57 Title: The Death of Kings
Wow. This is really quite terrific Mac. You capture a sense of the movie era feel. In truth, the films were not overly deep but they did tend have heart, to have something more to them, to the stories, to the characters and their journeys. With the shift of focus to minor character and the filling in of gaps of behind the scenes moments and the linkages made between the various movies you add a certain depth to the proceedings and do so with a flair of panache for it all. Really superbly done. (My only quibble would be to double check a few spelling errors and an odd grammatical glitch - simply because as of this the first chapter this makes for exemplary reading and they are jarring for that reason).
I'm pleasantly surprised then given the turn of conversation between Sarek and Kamarag that this is not even the end of the story because we have at chapter's end a possible beginning, a step towards working together as the warrior seeks to use diplomacy to fight and to hope for peace. It could easily have ended here, especially as being part of a challenge entry. Joy of joys, I get to read some more of this though.
Author's Response: thanks, indeed mainly for the check on errors. Between us LBD and I try our best but I had some problems uploading this chapter because of a missing line. I might have uploaded a previous draft. They'll be more of Kamarag under my pen for sure. I grew up on the original movies before any series so they've always been my Trek. I like picking at the films, well II-IV mainly, and seeing what we can get. Kamarag needs more. Beyond "Sarek" by AC Crispin and one of the Lost Era books he's ignored.