The Final Reflection (Revisited)

[J'Maq]

Greetings. Last week a group of fellow warriors and I discussed John M.
Ford's novel The Final Reflection. Many observations were made concerning the book, but the most noted observation was its
being referred to as the "Klingon Bible." This wasn't the first time
I heard that remark about Mr. Ford's book. And I began to wonder
if the statement held any true merit. Since its 1984 release, a plethora
of changes and embellishments have been made in the Klingon universe.
(As to the positive and negative aspects of those changes/embellishments I'll let you decide.) Anyway, my question is, my friends--outside of the book's historical/entertainment value--does The Final Reflection remain relevant as a viable point of reference? Or has the so called Klingon Bible become an antiquity, having only sentimental value? Your thoughts, please.
                                                                         
                                                                          *Previously in TE

[Klythe]

     Personally, it still lies deeply in my heart and my liver. It speaks to me far more than any of the newer Klingons-as-Vikings, Kahless-as-Messiah, Worf-drinking-prune-juice books which have started to appear in bookshelves.   I'd argue that canon is canon, but good writing is a far better thing than canon.

    Than again...  It could just be that I'm old school and to set in my ways.   I haven't heard much about what people who's first experience with fandom was the later movies or Next Generation and beyond.   Does this book seem relevant to you, even in the context the book presents itself as a fictious take on a historical grey area?  Or could you be just as satisfied tossing it into the disintegration shute, without another thought of what it might say to you?

[tmk1000]

      I also feel good righting is better.
There are many books that I like their story
better than the show or movie that it was based on.

[emperorkalan]

For nearly ten years it (and the FASA ST RPG Klingon supplement, also written by Ford and expanding its concepts) were the most significant and in-depth source of material. It really wasn't until the early 90's (Season 3 and 4 of TNG) that there was enough new canon material to make it "wrong".

As for how it holds up? Certainly there are many details that would need to be "reimagined" (hopefully in the "Galactica" sense of that term, not the "Godzilla" or "Planet of the Apes" sense) to adapt them to what is now canon. However, in a broader sense -- specifically in reminding you that Klingon society is more complicated than it seems on the surface -- it holds up very well.

And while noncanon, the recent Klingon novels by Keith DeCandido have attempted to fold a number of TFR's details into the now-canon Klingon structure: Ford's Klingon afterlife of "The Black Fleet" now sails from Sto'vo'kor, some characters play klin zha, and most significantly Imperial Intelligence operates much as Ford outlined.

And oddly enough, Ford's solution to the "forehead problem", by explaining it as the result of genetic fusions, actually has become canon, even if the exact history of it is different.

[qoSagh]

With the new(ish) reprint that came out last year, that had TFR and Kahless in one volume, could this now make it even more bible like? Could TFR be the old testament and Kahless the new? Interestingly enough, the Gorkon books are not the only ones to attempt to reconcile the two histories. The two vengeance trilogies, that take place in the TOS time period, deal with the reemergence of the Kahless cult, and the departure from the treacherous ways of the fusions. I wonder if the reprint has had anything to do with the other authors attempting to meld these theories?