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Avg. Rating: 4.5
The redemption of Prynn Tenmei (contains spoilers) This book picks up where "Olympus Descending" (from Worlds of Star Trek DS9 vol. 3) ended...or at least, where the DS9 portion of that story ended. No mention is made of anything in the Gamma Quadrant from that story. It also wraps up a mystery from the Bajor story in WOSTDS9 vol 2, and sets up even more mysterious events for the future.
Storywise, I was satisfied. The plot is equally character-driven and situation-driven, and there are many resolutions which I am glad to see, chief of which is the apparant rift-mending between Elias Vaughn and his daughter. I've never been a fan of Prynn, but for the first time in reading these books I was on her side and hoping that she would make it. The final denoument between herself and her father was a bit too melodramatic and overwraught, but I'll let it slide, solely because I hope it's dealt with once and for all. If they have another falling out, I won't give a whoot.
Surprisingly, I did not hate Taran'atar as much as I thought I would. No one will excuse him for what he did, but I could understand the logic of everything that he did by the end of the book and I foresee an important place for his character in the future.
The seemingly random accounts of the Cardassian mercenary play a role in the story, but it takes a while to see what that role is. It's almost like Conan the Barbarian time-warped to the Star Trek Universe, but it is written interestingly (and bloodily; this is by far the goriest threadline I've seen in any Star Trek novel). I am not sure how to take the ending of that plotline though, which involves the Intendant and someone who I thought was a fabrication by Gul Dukat back in the TV series. To my mind, the second person's appearance is a bit too McGuffin-ny. Why does she hate Kira so? Hopefully we will get a bit more background in the next novel.
And bring Odo back! [No Spoilers] Definately Intense This book is a good example of good Trek literature. It was not bogged down with some typical science-fiction plot. There was no alien mystery to solve, there wasn't some long introduction to some alien species or the feel that this was another Trek episode. This had the feel of something epic, big, something that would be fit for a movie. The story, for me, was on the lines of Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan and The Undiscovered Country. It's the first book that I was able to fly through and not feel that lost.
What made it so good was that it was a story about the characters. Each of the characters seemed to come to a crossroads. This book sort of felt like a transition to things to come. A new threat has been hinted at, a new role and future for Sisko, two characters are near death ... it's great material. Yeah, it is sort of annoying that you get to the end only to find a "to be continued" but then again, a lot of the Deep Space Nine Re-Launch has been like that.
This book really made me appreciate the Vaughn character more. He's humanized here, made to be less of a big figure and his role as a father is explored. Tarantar is also explored some and turns into the enemy of the novel (as you may be able to tell from the title and cover). There were nice moments between other characters, such as Dax and Sisko, Ro and Quark and such, but I found this to be more about Vaughn and Tenemi's relationship as father and daughter. This novel also managed to tie in to another rather important plot that was left sort of unfinished in the television series.
In all, this is what keeps me reading Trek fiction. Definately surprised me by how good it was and how easy it was to get into and finish. If you haven't read other DS9 Re-Launch books like "Avatar" and "Unity" I'd definately hold off though ... you'll appreciate this novel after you've invested some time getting familiar with the relaunch series and these new faces. Definately worth your time and the read. Continued to be continued but Awesome I loved reading this! I was late in reading the relaunch so I've only been waiting for this one for about 3 or 4 months but it seemed like forever! And now I have to wait a year! I think this waiting is silly! It's too long! I feel for those who've been waiting over a year for this one. It was an awesome continuation though! I loved it! It kept moving at a good pace...a little to gory for me at times but that happens in Star Trek. I really REALLY think a year is WAY too long to wait! Please think about this with future books. I have to say the shock at the end was pretty good like when Shakaar was killed! One other thing WHY didn't Prynn shoot Taranatar?! She had the chance...Vaughn told her too...WHY! I guess to help the plot later but yeah yeah she shoulda shot 'em! A good book does that though it makes you yell at the characters *LOL*
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