"It was a no-win situation," Kirk told him. "No matter what you did, or how hard you tried, you always lost. All the possible decisions were wrong."
The Kobayashi Maru (1989) (#30 Titan, #47 Pocket) is by Julia Ecklar of L A GRAF fame. This novel however, is one of her earliest works, some three years before her first outing as L A GRAF (Ice Trap - 1992). The writing in this novel is pretty strong, confident and well considered and takes on a slightly unusual format. The structure of the narrative is separated between the events that Kirk, McCoy, Sulu, Chekov, and Scotty experiencing in the present and their (with the exclusion of McCoy) memories of the Starfleet Academy test they took as cadets.
As many of you will no doubt know, the Kobayashi Maru is an unwinnable simulation which command cadets were required to undertake as part of their training. One cadet would be selected to be captain of a constitution class starship and they would be backed up by their 'crew' of classmates as bridge crew and engineering etc. The simulation would present the cadets with a problem, while patrolling the space on the boarder of the Klingon neutral zone, they would receive a distress signal/communication from a freighter within the neutral zone. The cadet captain would have to make decisions against rapidly diminishing odds of success; the computer compensating for a cadet's successes with even more overpowering odds. The Kobayashi Maru simulation is a no-win situation.
The novel begins with a shuttle accident due to a 'gravitational mine', Sulu and Kirk are injured, while McCoy, Chekov and Scotty are unscathed. The shuttle is irreparably damaged, and aside from minor repairs in order to keep themselves alive, they must wait until Spock, in command of the Enterprise, finds them. This is no easy task as their communications are down and the distortions in this area of space would prevent Enterprise from finding them with any ease.
Their situation reminds them of the no-win scenario 'The Kobayashi Maru', which was kept a secret from class to class. McCoy, who is the only one of the group to have not taken a test (having not gone into the command academy, being a medical officer) is intrigued and encourages everyone to recount their experiences of the simulation. Two of the stories are told very well, one of them is a little bit long winded and one is a little... stereotyped.
Kirk is injured during the initial accident, seriously damaging his knee, which keeps him essentially immobile for much of the duration of the 'present time' story. His story is the first told and one of the better ones. Essentially Kirk in his youth was not unlike Kirk in the present, he has never and will never believe in a no-win scenario. Having failed the scenario in under five minutes, he refuses to be beaten and throws himself into study of famous tacticians, captains and battles. He tries again, but again fails (though he believes he was marginally better this time), and one of the instructors takes pity on him, telling him he is the only one to have taken the scenario twice and that The Kobayashi Maru test was unbeatable. This infuriates Kirk, he doesn't believe that it can't be beaten so commits himself to fervent study. After a fateful conversation, he comes to the conclusion that if the program cheats, then he should be able to cheat also and reprogrammes the simulation to 'even the odds'. In fact, he adjusts the scenario so that when he introduces himself, the Klingons recognise him and help him recover the Kobayashi Maru. At the end of the test, Kirk is dangerously close to being reprimanded, however his solution is finally recognised as brilliant and 'creative thinking'. Kirk's solution is simple - he bends the laws of the universe to his own will, much like he does in his later adventures. I'll hazard a reference to the 'Romance' of Killing Time, in any reality, Kirk must captain the Enterprise, Spock must be at his side and if this balance is upset, reality itself will bend to accommodate it. Kirk must prevail.
Back in the present time, McCoy is amused and comments that he should have guessed that would have been Kirk's solution; Chekov is shocked and a little hurt that his hero cheated the test. Sulu who is badly injured and rendered immobile remembers Chekov's solution. Chekov begrudgingly recounts his solution. Unlike Kirk's story, the actual events of Chekov's Kobayashi Maru experience are not the focus, but lay the foundation for Chekov's solution to a second, new cadet training scenario. Chekov's solution was to blow up his ship's four antimatter drives, destroying the attacking Klingon forces, but also killing his crew which he had admittedly attempted to save by evacuating them (he reasons that capture by the Klingons would be a worse fate than death). Another effect of the detonation would be that that area of space would be a virtual communications black hole, the Federation would not be able to operate in or observe the area. Chekov is unrepentant however, and his attitude soon sets him up for a fall, there is a lesson to be learnt. The majority of Chekov's narrative is concerned with a 'survival test', in which the cadets are confined on a station and are told that there is one assassin (they are not told who), and that they have to survive. Chekov (who idolises Kirk) is determined to be the best and to be the last one standing and through cunning and deception ensures that, when faced with falling at the final hurdle, ensures that everybody else falls with him. The instructor announces that all the cadets have failed this scenario, and that there was only ever one cadet to pass, James T Kirk, because he realised he could beat the scenario by securing an important area and only allowing people in if they gave up their weapons. As such, nobody 'died' because of his intelligence and charisma, his 'command'. Chekov's 'Kobayashi Maru' story disappointing to me, because, firstly, he seems a little out of character. I mean, I know he's Russian but please, he acts like the stereotypical KGB agent, suspicious, paranoid, ruthless, unable to understand people who do not think in a Russian way (whatever that means). Secondly, his only purpose seems to be to make Kirk shine even brighter, this is highlighted by Chekov's account following directly after Kirk's and the references to Kirk's achievements within it. I don't really recognise Chekov, even when compared with 'Ice Trap', so I'd hazard a guess that Ecklar's hand was in the Kirk/McCoy adventure than Chekov and Uhura's.
Returning once again to the present time, while Scotty is in the process of jury-rigging a device that will save them from danger and hopefully attract the attention of the Enterprise, the four men in the shuttle listen to Sulu's experiences as a cadet. He warns them that unlike Kirk and Chekov's tales, his is not amusing. Much of Sulu's account is concerned with events leading up to taking the test itself: starting at the command academy, the decline of his great grandfather's health, learning philosophy and responsibility. Sulu learns the burden of choice, of command and the value of life (the death of his great grandfather). His own solution to the Kobayashi Maru is to not enter the neutral zone to investigate the distress call, and to continue to his original destination, thus completing the simulation without conflict; he narrowly avoids mutiny in the process. Sulu's story is probably the most touching, and I think one of the most in character. Sulu is certainly portrayed as the most wise and emotionally mature. Kirk, Chekov and Scotty all approach their simulations as a game to be beaten, whereas Sulu approaches it with wisdom and makes the toughest command decision, to preserve his ship and the lives of his crew, even risking mutiny in doing so.
Scotty is injured while outside the shuttle, but he manages to do the necessary work and returns to the others. After his injuries are tended to, he tells his story. Scotty didn't want to be in command school, he would much rather be in the engineering section, however he was pressured by his family into command. His engineering designs catch the eye of an instructor, who realises that Scotty is wasted in command. Scotty is asked a question, if he could be transferred to the engineering section in such a way that his family would accept it, would he transfer. Scotty answers that yes, he would. Scotty soon finds himself in the simulation's command chair, and destroys multiple Klingon ships, however, the computer always generates more, in a final attempt Scotty uses 'Perera's Field Theory' into action, destroying fifteen war dragons in pursuit. After the simulation ends, he is questioned by the admirals and instructors who had been watching. Essentially, Scotty had used an obsolete theory, but the computer's calculations had allowed it to happen. Scotty realised that the computer would calculate 'Perera's Field Theory' as correct, and used its error to try to beat the simulation. It is later revealed during this exposition that Scotty was the engineer that proved the theory incorrect, and he did so at the tender age of sixteen. At this revelation, the admirals realise he is wasted in command, and transfer him back to the engineering decision. Essentially, Scotty's story highlights Scotty as a genius, but as a fish out of water when it came to command academy.
With all the tales told, the five men await their fates in the shuttle. They realise that, although they managed to save themselves from one danger, the Enterprise has not seen them. Kirk, who has been strangely passive throughout the present day narrative (mainly due to injury) struggles to accept that this is the end. Even as he gives into exhaustion he maintains he doesn't believe in a no-win scenario. Waking suddenly, he reveals he has a plan, and the crew coax the last life out of the shuttle's circuits and Kirk brings the best out of his crew, pushing them to their limits. Kirk's plan works and they are spotted by the Enterprise. The resulting scenes of reunion are strangely satisfying, they gave me the warm and fuzzies! Spock welcomes them back to the Enterprise and helps Kirk away from the shuttle; the end is quite tender and sweet, wistful almost as Kirk thinks on the experience in the shuttle and the lessons learnt as cadets.
Sorry! That 'summary' was longer than I meant it to be, I've left the 'present day' story vague, so I haven't spoiled too much (hopefully).
The novel begins with a shuttle accident due to a 'gravitational mine', Sulu and Kirk are injured, while McCoy, Chekov and Scotty are unscathed. The shuttle is irreparably damaged, and aside from minor repairs in order to keep themselves alive, they must wait until Spock, in command of the Enterprise, finds them. This is no easy task as their communications are down and the distortions in this area of space would prevent Enterprise from finding them with any ease.
Their situation reminds them of the no-win scenario 'The Kobayashi Maru', which was kept a secret from class to class. McCoy, who is the only one of the group to have not taken a test (having not gone into the command academy, being a medical officer) is intrigued and encourages everyone to recount their experiences of the simulation. Two of the stories are told very well, one of them is a little bit long winded and one is a little... stereotyped.
Kirk is injured during the initial accident, seriously damaging his knee, which keeps him essentially immobile for much of the duration of the 'present time' story. His story is the first told and one of the better ones. Essentially Kirk in his youth was not unlike Kirk in the present, he has never and will never believe in a no-win scenario. Having failed the scenario in under five minutes, he refuses to be beaten and throws himself into study of famous tacticians, captains and battles. He tries again, but again fails (though he believes he was marginally better this time), and one of the instructors takes pity on him, telling him he is the only one to have taken the scenario twice and that The Kobayashi Maru test was unbeatable. This infuriates Kirk, he doesn't believe that it can't be beaten so commits himself to fervent study. After a fateful conversation, he comes to the conclusion that if the program cheats, then he should be able to cheat also and reprogrammes the simulation to 'even the odds'. In fact, he adjusts the scenario so that when he introduces himself, the Klingons recognise him and help him recover the Kobayashi Maru. At the end of the test, Kirk is dangerously close to being reprimanded, however his solution is finally recognised as brilliant and 'creative thinking'. Kirk's solution is simple - he bends the laws of the universe to his own will, much like he does in his later adventures. I'll hazard a reference to the 'Romance' of Killing Time, in any reality, Kirk must captain the Enterprise, Spock must be at his side and if this balance is upset, reality itself will bend to accommodate it. Kirk must prevail.
Back in the present time, McCoy is amused and comments that he should have guessed that would have been Kirk's solution; Chekov is shocked and a little hurt that his hero cheated the test. Sulu who is badly injured and rendered immobile remembers Chekov's solution. Chekov begrudgingly recounts his solution. Unlike Kirk's story, the actual events of Chekov's Kobayashi Maru experience are not the focus, but lay the foundation for Chekov's solution to a second, new cadet training scenario. Chekov's solution was to blow up his ship's four antimatter drives, destroying the attacking Klingon forces, but also killing his crew which he had admittedly attempted to save by evacuating them (he reasons that capture by the Klingons would be a worse fate than death). Another effect of the detonation would be that that area of space would be a virtual communications black hole, the Federation would not be able to operate in or observe the area. Chekov is unrepentant however, and his attitude soon sets him up for a fall, there is a lesson to be learnt. The majority of Chekov's narrative is concerned with a 'survival test', in which the cadets are confined on a station and are told that there is one assassin (they are not told who), and that they have to survive. Chekov (who idolises Kirk) is determined to be the best and to be the last one standing and through cunning and deception ensures that, when faced with falling at the final hurdle, ensures that everybody else falls with him. The instructor announces that all the cadets have failed this scenario, and that there was only ever one cadet to pass, James T Kirk, because he realised he could beat the scenario by securing an important area and only allowing people in if they gave up their weapons. As such, nobody 'died' because of his intelligence and charisma, his 'command'. Chekov's 'Kobayashi Maru' story disappointing to me, because, firstly, he seems a little out of character. I mean, I know he's Russian but please, he acts like the stereotypical KGB agent, suspicious, paranoid, ruthless, unable to understand people who do not think in a Russian way (whatever that means). Secondly, his only purpose seems to be to make Kirk shine even brighter, this is highlighted by Chekov's account following directly after Kirk's and the references to Kirk's achievements within it. I don't really recognise Chekov, even when compared with 'Ice Trap', so I'd hazard a guess that Ecklar's hand was in the Kirk/McCoy adventure than Chekov and Uhura's.
Returning once again to the present time, while Scotty is in the process of jury-rigging a device that will save them from danger and hopefully attract the attention of the Enterprise, the four men in the shuttle listen to Sulu's experiences as a cadet. He warns them that unlike Kirk and Chekov's tales, his is not amusing. Much of Sulu's account is concerned with events leading up to taking the test itself: starting at the command academy, the decline of his great grandfather's health, learning philosophy and responsibility. Sulu learns the burden of choice, of command and the value of life (the death of his great grandfather). His own solution to the Kobayashi Maru is to not enter the neutral zone to investigate the distress call, and to continue to his original destination, thus completing the simulation without conflict; he narrowly avoids mutiny in the process. Sulu's story is probably the most touching, and I think one of the most in character. Sulu is certainly portrayed as the most wise and emotionally mature. Kirk, Chekov and Scotty all approach their simulations as a game to be beaten, whereas Sulu approaches it with wisdom and makes the toughest command decision, to preserve his ship and the lives of his crew, even risking mutiny in doing so.
Scotty is injured while outside the shuttle, but he manages to do the necessary work and returns to the others. After his injuries are tended to, he tells his story. Scotty didn't want to be in command school, he would much rather be in the engineering section, however he was pressured by his family into command. His engineering designs catch the eye of an instructor, who realises that Scotty is wasted in command. Scotty is asked a question, if he could be transferred to the engineering section in such a way that his family would accept it, would he transfer. Scotty answers that yes, he would. Scotty soon finds himself in the simulation's command chair, and destroys multiple Klingon ships, however, the computer always generates more, in a final attempt Scotty uses 'Perera's Field Theory' into action, destroying fifteen war dragons in pursuit. After the simulation ends, he is questioned by the admirals and instructors who had been watching. Essentially, Scotty had used an obsolete theory, but the computer's calculations had allowed it to happen. Scotty realised that the computer would calculate 'Perera's Field Theory' as correct, and used its error to try to beat the simulation. It is later revealed during this exposition that Scotty was the engineer that proved the theory incorrect, and he did so at the tender age of sixteen. At this revelation, the admirals realise he is wasted in command, and transfer him back to the engineering decision. Essentially, Scotty's story highlights Scotty as a genius, but as a fish out of water when it came to command academy.
With all the tales told, the five men await their fates in the shuttle. They realise that, although they managed to save themselves from one danger, the Enterprise has not seen them. Kirk, who has been strangely passive throughout the present day narrative (mainly due to injury) struggles to accept that this is the end. Even as he gives into exhaustion he maintains he doesn't believe in a no-win scenario. Waking suddenly, he reveals he has a plan, and the crew coax the last life out of the shuttle's circuits and Kirk brings the best out of his crew, pushing them to their limits. Kirk's plan works and they are spotted by the Enterprise. The resulting scenes of reunion are strangely satisfying, they gave me the warm and fuzzies! Spock welcomes them back to the Enterprise and helps Kirk away from the shuttle; the end is quite tender and sweet, wistful almost as Kirk thinks on the experience in the shuttle and the lessons learnt as cadets.
Sorry! That 'summary' was longer than I meant it to be, I've left the 'present day' story vague, so I haven't spoiled too much (hopefully).
I really enjoyed this book, it was for the most part satisfying and gave me the wonderful fuzzy feeling on finishing it, but it isn't without problems. Stylistically it's pleasant to read, the framing narrative is well developed and interesting on its own, and the character development is pretty good; shouldn't it be scoring higher than a 3/5? Ecklar is good, but she's no Greg Cox or John Vornholt, and ultimately, 'The Kobayashi Maru' is very, very safe. If you read Vornholt's 'Sanctuary', there is a massive amount of world building and scores of new characters introduced, but the 'The Kobayashi Maru' is just so much more limited. There is also a sense of claustrophobia in the narratives, the framing narrative is within the confines of a failing shuttle, Kirk, Scotty and Sulu's stories take place almost exclusively in the confines of the academy and Chekov's story again takes place in a confined space. I'm not sure whether the sense of claustrophobia is deliberate or not, or whether the circumstances of the framing narrative had an effect on Ecklar's depiction of the simulations.
I did really enjoy the character development, and it was interesting to see Kirk 'out of action' as it were until the end. Funnily enough, even though McCoy had no story to tell, his development and actions in the framing narrative were really insightful. I'm sure Ecklar wrote the Kirk/McCoy narrative in Ice Trap. The one complaint I do have however, is how Chekov is portrayed, I think he's pretty out of character, especially in his simulation story. I get the feeling Ecklar didn't know what to do with him, so she relied heavily on a Russian agent / KGB characterisation which was pretty shallow. Chekov's story really seems to be there to highlight how awesome Kirk is, and to give an extra titbit of information about Kirk's other performances at the academy.
If you've read this far, well done! You can probably guess that I'm going to recommend this book to pretty much everyone!
3/5 - I don't believe in a no-win situation.
P.S. It got me thinking - what would I do in a Kobayashi Maru situation? What would you do?
I did really enjoy the character development, and it was interesting to see Kirk 'out of action' as it were until the end. Funnily enough, even though McCoy had no story to tell, his development and actions in the framing narrative were really insightful. I'm sure Ecklar wrote the Kirk/McCoy narrative in Ice Trap. The one complaint I do have however, is how Chekov is portrayed, I think he's pretty out of character, especially in his simulation story. I get the feeling Ecklar didn't know what to do with him, so she relied heavily on a Russian agent / KGB characterisation which was pretty shallow. Chekov's story really seems to be there to highlight how awesome Kirk is, and to give an extra titbit of information about Kirk's other performances at the academy.
If you've read this far, well done! You can probably guess that I'm going to recommend this book to pretty much everyone!
3/5 - I don't believe in a no-win situation.
P.S. It got me thinking - what would I do in a Kobayashi Maru situation? What would you do?
