Damn, but I miss John M. Ford. He was one of those annoyingly casually brilliant writers who could produce good work on a moment’s notice, and without apparent effort. This week’s BotW is no exception: The Final Reflection was, prior to the Next Generation stuff, considered pretty much the definitive Star Trek book on Klingons – but, more importantly: it’s a totally legitimate science fiction novel. Dude was simply incapable of writing poorly.
When I heard that he died I went and stared at the wall for a while. Because it just wasn’t fair.
Anyway. Adieu to The Dark Tower.
I highly recommend his The Last Hot Time, if anyone cares.
It’s quite good.
The Final Reflection was, prior to the Next Generation stuff, considered pretty much the definitive Star Trek book on Klingons – but, more importantly: it’s a totally legitimate science fiction novel.
And it gave a much better explanation for the difference in appearance between ST:TOS Klingons and later ones than the “canon” explanation (which came after Ford’s).
Thanks for the reminder, the only Ford Star Trek book that I read was “How Much for Just the Planet” which I read several times and loved it each time.
I have been quoting “There is a red haze across my vision” for years now.
The best Star Trek comedy ever written, easily.
I really should re-read The Final Reflection and How Much For Just The Planet? one of these years.