The Cost of Freedom
| Star Trek TOS Fanfiction | |
|---|---|
| Title: | The Cost of Freedom |
| Author(s): | Nomad |
| Date(s): | 1984 |
| Length: | |
| Genre: | geg |
| Fandom: | Star Trek: The Original Series |
| External Links: | |
Click here for related articles on Fanlore. | |
The Cost of Freedom is a gen Star Trek: TOS story by Nomad.
It was printed in Orion and Stardate #21.
Series
It is part of the Serenidad series:
- The Wages of Vengeance
- Oath of Vengeance
- The Cost of Freedom
Reactions and Reviews
I just completed Nomad's, and I was thoroughly impressed by its originality. It certainly helped to fill in some blanks in the Star Trek universe that I've always felt Paramount completely missed the boat on. Also, the storyline was superior to many of the so-called "professional books" being churned out by PocketBooks--where do they find all those hack writers?[1]
I particularly liked Nomad's "The Cost of Freedom"...especially the scene with L'yan tormenting Princess Teresa.... Only one quibble: did L'yan really have to get killed off? It seemed an abrupt ending for such a vibrant character....Another thing I like about Orion Press is that the Klingons are finally portrayed as warriors and formidable opponents. The pro-novels, with very few exceptions make them more like a comic book menace, just something to make Kirk and crew look good... I've noticed objections to scenes of nudity and violence. It seems there's a simple solution to their dilemma: don't read the stuff. Neither should be used all the time, but there is a place for it....Has anyone noticed that the best stories and the stories with the most action had the Klingons in them?[2]
"The Cost of Freedom" is another good installment of the Serenidad series.[3]
My thoughts on Nomad's "The Cost of Freedom"...
The downside: This story was really violent; unnecessarily so, I thought. Even so, it might have been all right--justifiable, at least--if the Klingons had been made to pay for their many horrible crimes. But at the end, even though they are ultimately overcome and destroyed, they are allowed to die dignified (and relatively quick) warriors' deaths. In that respect, the story just didn't deliver; I think you need to have more of a payoff in order to justify so many graphically depicted scenes of torture and violence. But then, I was assuming that the violence was intended to invoke a revenge response; I may have been mistaken. I also didn't but the fact that Captain Garrovick would have allowed the Klingons to destroy themselves -- he even goes so far as to give Korak the means for self-destruction -- a dignified and honorable death -- when there are no more Klingons left but him. I don't think that the Federation, with its emphasis on research, exploration, contacts with other lifeforms, and above all, a very high regard for life in general, would allow such a massacre, especially when given such a ready-made opportunity for study as the capture of two hundred-fifty Klingons. And all Garrovick can say after these events is, "Well, I hope the Federation will be pleased not having to spend tax money on prisoners." This seems like a rather crass remark to me, and not at all in keeping with what you might expect from a representative of the United Federation of Planets. As long as we're picking nits, the only other thing I didn't like about the story was the heavy-handedness of scenes such as is exemplified by the Tom-Isobel episode; new-found love that waited so long to express itself and then is blown out of existence by the Klingons, and all that's left is a moonblossom he had given to her that floats so symbolically in the water until it sinks beneath the surface. Just a little bit too much to swallow, I thought.
The upside: Nomad and Linda McInnis who co-authored the last segment of this story are thoroughly competent writers. The story unfolds quickly and smoothly (translation: I could hardly bear to put the thing down and make myself turn the lights off even though it was 2:00AM). Although action-oriented, "The Cost of Freedom" was much more than a bare-bones series of action-adventure scenes strung together, as sometimes happens when dealing with fan fiction. The story was nicely fleshed out; expository scenes and descriptions of the settings, although brief, were skillfully handled in that all twists and complications of plot were clear at all times, and there was just enough of the scenery to facilitate reception of a vivid, clearly-etched image in the mind's eye without detracting from the main thrust of the action (translation: I like your style). I also thought the Klingonese interspersed throughout the piece really enhanced the portrayal of the Kh'myr as a species truly alien to our own, and I applaud the handling of the English translations of non-English phrases that were used. Nicely done.
...I know I'm repeating myself, but I can't help it -- you guys write good. Your writers are probably sick of hearing that, right? {Nope. - Randy} In my opinion, this action-adventure type of writing that focuses more on action and direct dialogue than elaborate description and characters that introspect aloud for pages and pages makes for a form of Star Trek that reminds me of the series itself (although the other style of writing can be equally entertaining, in a different way, as well). [4]
Nomad's "The Cost of Freedom" is finally finished? Oh my God! I can't believe it! {The story was originally published over four issues of our fanzine, ORION, and many people were stunned by the length and coherency of the series. - Randy} What an outstanding finish to the story! All the Klingons taking their lives so quickly that the Feds simply stood there, unable to stop them. And Garrovick, he'll get into a lot of trouble to be sure, but what a sense of honor the man has! To allow the Kh'myr to take his own life! I really liked that part; the Feds have enough respect for the Klingons at last! .... A few points of criticism, though. Some sections were especially melodramatic to the point of disbelief: 'The moonblossom sank beneath the waters' and all that tripe. Come on, Nomad, tell a story about people. Don't get so wrapped up in poetic imagery that you lose track of the focus of the story, namely the characters....Also, more of the Enterprise cast and crew in the next adventure, please! Finally, please continue the usage of the Klingonese; it adds so much to the appeal of the story.[5]
Nomad's "The Cost of Freedom" raised some issues regarding medical ethics and competence. I believe that Doctor McCoy could have assumed that Teresa was already impregnated by Carlos prior to the rape, however, he should have determined the pregnancy and the paternity in his post-rape examination. As I have learned through Life's Hard Lessons, you can never assume anything. What I'm curious about is how Teresa is going to explain a half-Klingon child. I thought the Serenidad Council was trying to hide the fact that she had been gang-raped. I did predict that Teresa would keep her child...but what a bizarre mother-child bonding! I did wish I could have seen a little more action on Kirk's end. The final battle seemed to go by too quickly. There were some very nice touches to the story: L'yan's enmity towards the Klingon baby for having to be his baby-sitter and Korak's surrender.[6]
...I thoroughly enjoyed Nomad's "The Cost of Freedom." There is a lot of action and adventure packed into the story, and the characters are all very real. L'yan was such a delightfully evil villainess that I almost hated to see her get wiped out. At least so quickly... All the Klingons are wonderfully nasty, just the way I like them. I'd like to see how Teresa's baby turns out as he grows up. He is potentially a good character, I think. I'm looking forward to reading Nomad's story "Aftermath."[7]
"The Cost of Freedom" -- Nomad and Linda McInnis have teamed up to deliver us an exceptional work. The Kh'myr Klingons are a logical extension of what we saw in Star Trek: The Motion Picture, and Nomad uses them fully to his advantage. I especially enjoyed the Teresa dream-sequence. The Klingon attack on the starship was typical of these savage Kh'myr that Nomad seems to have taken to his heart....I enjoy the usage of the Kh'myr language, and I hope to see more of it incorporated into future Kh'myr stories. [8]
References
- ^ Sylvia T. Francis -- June 1998 from Orion Press Feedback
- ^ Claudia Kowalski -- March 1992 from Orion Press Feedback
- ^ Joan Verba -- August 1988 excerpted from her review in TREKLINK 10, posted to Orion Press Feedback
- ^ Bobby Hawkins -- March 1988 from Orion Press Feedback
- ^ Simone Delacambre -- March 1988 from Orion Press Feedback
- ^ Ann Meyer Hupe -- September 1987 from Orion Press Feedback
- ^ Gennie Summers -- September 1987 from Orion Press Feedback
- ^ Simone Delacambre -- March 1987 from Orion Press Feedback