A thrilling new Star Trek: The Next Generation and Deep Space Nine adventure from New …
Filling in some blanks
4 stars
Set shortly before "The Emissary", DS9's pilot episode, this novel is a great opportunity to meet a lot of the station's crew for the very first time - kind of 😉. Being written now, 30 years after DS9 started and with a lot more onscreen Trek story to work with, I love that there are connections to the new stuff. It's always been there, even though it was never shown. Another part I loved a lot was everything with the O'Briens. Geordi acknowledges Miles' dutiful transporter room work, and we get great scenes between Keiko and Miles where they talk about their future and possible change of scenery. This book is really good at filling in some character backgrounds. Speaking of Keiko: She gets something meaningful to do with Beverly on Bajor, which I loved seeing. There are so many little things that I loved: a meta-comment on the same actors playing two different characters; a fun scene between Garak, Geordi, Data, and Dukat; Sonya Gomez; a fun scene with Beverly and a Warp Core Breach; probably most notably a scene between Garak and Odo; and more.
One part of the story is set in a Cardassian labour camp. There are some descriptions of violence against Bajoran prisoners. They are not easy to listen to/ read, but I am also glad the author did not shy away from being specific. This is what's been happening in such camps all throughout history and it needs to stay in our consciousness.
There is a good deal of focus on the fact that the Federation never came to help Bajor during its occupation by the Cardassians. This is especially topical now where we are talking about how much we should and shouldn't help countries like the Ukraine. It also adds to the long going discussion about the Prime Directive. I like how several characters acknowledge this and don't try to explain and excuse their way out of this decision, but rather accept the criticism and offer their help now.
After the main story ended there was a lot of transitioning towards even closer before "The Emissary". I found that part a bit slow and I caught myself drifting off a couple of times. But that is strictly personal taste, and did not hamper my enjoyment of the book overall.
As always I'm going to repeat my praise for the narrator, Robert Petkoff. He hits the characters' voices even more perfectly this time around. I think this might be his best work yet (of those I listened to at least).
