Thursday, October 30, 2014

Night of the Wolves

Star Trek: Terok Nor (A Saga of The Lost Era)
Night of the Wolves, 2345 - 2357 by S.D. Perry & Britta Dennison
Published May 2008
Read September 22nd 2014

Previous book (Terok Nor): Day of the Vipers
Next book (Terok Nor): Dawn of the Eagles


MMPB: Amazon.com | Amazon.ca | Amazon.co.uk
E-book (Kindle): Amazon.com | Amazon.ca

Spoilers ahead for Night of the Wolves and the Terok Nor miniseries!

From the back cover:
Eighteen years into the Occupation, a new star rises in Bajor's sky. It is the seat of power in this system, a place of slave labor and harsh summary judgments, the symbol of Cardassian might and the futility of resisting it. But even as the gray metal crown of Terok Nor ascends to its zenith, ragtag pockets of Bajoran rebels -- including a fierce young fighter named Kira Nerys -- have begun to strike back at their world's oppressors, and they intend to show the Cardassians that the night belongs to them.

My thoughts:

Night of the Wolves, the second book of the Terok Nor trilogy, continues the story of the Cardassian occupation of Bajor. Whereas the first book in the series focused on the lead up to the occupation, here we see life on Bajor under Cardassian rule. It is not a pretty picture.

One huge difference between this novel and the previous one is the way in which it tells its story. In Day of the Vipers, there was a very clear narrative progression, and the sense that one single story was being told. Night of the Wolves (and presumably the third book, Dawn of the Eagles) feels much more like a snapshot of events during this period, jumping from one story to the next in rapid succession. This is not necessarily a bad thing; the authors do an excellent job in stitching together much of the references and flashbacks to the occupation from episodes of Deep Space Nine while filling in the blanks with storytelling of their own. The result is a coherent picture of what the occupation did to Bajor.

A young Ro Laren, her life forever shaped
by her experiences under Cardassian rule.
The Cardassian annexation was a formative event for many of the characters we know and love in Trek. Most notably, Kira and Ro are permanently scarred by their experiences, as are countless other players, both large and small. I was especially enthralled with Ro's back-story as related in Night of the Wolves. The young Ro Laren is representative of one of the most insidious aspects of military occupation: the loss of culture and feelings of resentment and anger in the youth. All that the younger generation has ever known is occupation by the Cardassians. They no longer buy into the beauty and wonder of their own culture, hence Laren's disillusionment with the Bajoran religion. This generation was robbed of their childhood and innocence. This story gives her actions and behavior later in life added meaning and explanation.

At times dark and depressing, Night of the Wolves nevertheless shows glimmers of hope. In the face of Cardassian oppression, a resistance movement has formed, made up of Bajoran freedom fighters intent on reclaiming their world. However, we know from the bits and pieces of the history of the occupation gleaned from episodes of Deep Space Nine that it is going to get a lot worse before it gets better.

There are some truly exciting scenes in this novel, most notably the depiction of the Shakaar resistance cell's liberation of Gallitep, a Cardassian mining camp filled with Bajoran slaves marked for death. Referred to in the DS9 episode "Duet," seeing the liberation play out was very exciting.

Survivors of Gallitep, a brutal mining project using Bajoran slave labor. Gallitep was liberated by the Shakaar resistance cell, and Kira Nerys played a major role in that operation.

Final thoughts:

In many ways, this miniseries suffers from some of the same problems that the Star Wars prequel films did: it tells a story that does not end well. While the trilogy has to end with the liberation of Bajor, we know that there is going to be a lot of suffering before that happens, which is something that can sour a reader on this series. However, if one can get past that initial trepidation, Terok Nor is a trilogy with an excellent payoff: very well-written books telling an enthralling story about some of my favorite characters in Star Trek.

As a continuity buff and a huge fan of Deep Space Nine, reading this trilogy has been a huge treat for me. In this second book, Perry and Dennison have crafted a stark and brutally honest look at the occupation and the hellish conditions it produced for Bajor and her people. While this is easily one of the darkest chapters in Star Trek history, the long night must eventually end; dawn is coming.

Also by S.D. Perry & Britta Dennison:

My next read:

If all goes according to plan, look for my review of David Mack's brand-new entry into the 24th century storyline, Section 31: Disavowed, one week from today!


Tuesday, October 28, 2014

Release Day! Section 31: Disavowed

On the shelves of many fine bookstores, as well as available for download from your preferred e-book retailer, it's Section 31: Disavowed, the latest from master Trek storyteller and New York Times best-selling author David Mack!

As always, check out the cover and publisher's description below, where you will also find links to purchase the mass-market paperback and Kindle e-book editions from Amazon.

My review





Publisher's description:
Amoral, shrouded in secrecy, and answerable to no one, Section 31 is the mysterious covert operations division of Starfleet, a rogue shadow group committed to safeguarding the Federation at any cost.
Doctor Julian Bashir sacrificed his career for a chance to infiltrate Section 31 and destroy it from within. Now it's asking him to help it stop the Breen from stealing a dangerous new technology from the Mirror Universe — one that could give the Breen control over the galaxy. 
It's a mission Bashir can't refuse, but is it really the shot he's been waiting for? Or is it a trap from which even his genetically enhanced intellect can't escape?


Purchase Section 31: Disavowed:

Mass-market paperback: Amazon.com | Amazon.ca | Amazon.co.uk
E-book (Kindle): Amazon.com | Amazon.ca | Amazon.co.uk


Thursday, October 23, 2014

Q Are Cordially Uninvited...

Star Trek: The Next Generation
Q Are Cordially Uninvited... by Rudy Josephs
An E-book Exclusive Novella!
Release date: October 6th 2014
Read October 11th 2014


Previous book (The Next Generation): The Light Fantastic
Next book (The Next Generation): Takedown


E-book (Kindle): Amazon.com | Amazon.ca | Amazon.co.uk

Spoilers ahead for Q Are Cordially Uninvited... and events in the post-Nemesis timeline!

Publisher's Description:
The wedding of Captain Jean-Luc Picard to Doctor Beverly Crusher was a small, private affair overseen by the mayor of La Barre, France, and witnessed by the groom’s sister-in-law and the mayor’s wife. At least, that’s what the happy couple always told their friends. On the anniversary of that blessed day, however, Worf and Geordi La Forge manage to coax the real story out of the pair, to discover a tale of mythical treasure and a lost civilization in the Delta Quadrant. It all begins when the omnipotent being Q crashes the festivities, declaring himself best man and bringing along an unwilling guest as a surprise for the groom.

My thoughts:

Once again, we get an e-book exclusive Trek novella from Simon & Schuster. I have been fairly effusive in my praise of these books in the past. How does this latest one stack up? Read on and see!

In the novel Greater Than the Sum by Christopher L. Bennett, we learn that Picard and Crusher have finally married, albeit in an "off-screen" ceremony. In Q Are Cordially Uninvited..., we finally have the opportunity to learn what happened on that auspicious day. As it turns out, Picard and Crusher married in a fairly (unsurprisingly) low-key affair. Or so it is believed! The truth of that day is much more interesting.

Q returns... as Picard's best man!
Enter the omnipotent Q. It turns out that in the hours before the wedding, Q sent Picard on an adventure with none other than Vash. A fun romp through ancient ruins is the backdrop to this impromptu "bachelor party" courtesy of self-proclaimed best man Q.

Q Are Cordially Uninvited... wasn't a bad story, but nor was it ground-breaking. The story held my attention throughout, but I couldn't help having a nagging feeling that much of Q's actions seemed somewhat out-of-character. Q has always been about the "big picture," seeming to guide the actions of Picard and humanity on a grand scale (at least in his appearances on The Next Generation). This affair seems a little too "small scale" for Q.

Having said that, regardless of whether or not the plot is out of character for Q, one thing that Rudy Josephs managed to get perfectly was Q's "voice." Every time the character had a line, I could hear John deLancie's delivery in my head. Similarly, Josephs had Vash's voice down quite well. Having her appear in this novel made me realize how much I enjoyed her character in her various appearances over the years.

Vash, Q's second-favorite plaything (or third, depending on where Janeway fits!).

Finally, I do have to say that the final scenes in which Q creates a wedding ceremony for Jean-Luc and Beverly was quite touching. As TrekBBS user "Ronald Held" put it, "What he does for Picard is a generous reward for perhaps Q's favorite pet," echoing Data's description of the relationship between Q and Picard in "All Good Things...."

Final thoughts:

A quick, fun read that will be entertaining for fans of the "silly" Q, but a little frustrating for readers who expect a little more depth to the character. That said, the scene of Picard and Crusher's wedding ceremony as conjured by Q will be moving for fans of the couple.

Not a terrible story, but not particularly memorable either. A nice, small glimpse into the previously unseen wedding was welcome, but to my mind, this was the first of the recent e-book novellas to disappoint me. However, it is saved somewhat by having a great deal of heart. Final rating for me is two stars out of five.

Further resources:

My next read:

Continuing my re-read of the Terok Nor miniseries, my next review will be for the second book, Night of the Wolves by S.D. Perry and Britta Dennison. Coming October 30th!


Thursday, October 16, 2014

Acts of Contrition

Star Trek: Voyager
Acts of Contrition by Kirsten Beyer
Release date: September 30th 2014
Read October 10th 2014


Previous book (Voyager): Protectors
Next book (Voyager): Atonement


Purchase (MMPB): Amazon.com | Amazon.ca | Amazon.co.uk
Purchase (Kindle): Amazon.com | Amazon.ca | Amazon.co.uk

Spoilers ahead for Acts of Contrition and previous books in the Voyager relaunch series!

From the back cover:
Admiral Kathryn Janeway has now taken command of the Full Circle Fleet. Her first mission: return to the Delta Quadrant and open diplomatic relations with the Confederacy of the Worlds of the First Quadrant, a civilization whose power rivals that of the Federation. Captain Chakotay knows that his choices could derail the potential alliance. While grateful to the Confederacy Interstellar Fleet for rescuing the Federation starships from an alien armada, the Voyager captain cannot forget the horrors upon which the Confederacy was founded.

More troubling, it appears that several of
Voyager’s old adversaries have formed a separate and unlikely pact that is determined to bring down the Confederacy at all costs. Sins of the past haunt the crew members of the Full Circle Fleet as they attempt to chart a course for the future. Will they learn much too late that some sins can never be forgiven . . . or forgotten?

My thoughts:

Acts of Contrition is the sixth post-"Endgame" Voyager novel penned by Kirsten Beyer, and under her direction, the series continues to be a highlight of the year's slate of Trek novels. As I've mentioned before, Voyager was easily my least favorite of the Star Trek television series, but Kirsten's novels are fantastic. Her handling of character, plot, and theme are all truly superb.

This novel was a terrific read. There is so much to love between the covers of Acts of Contrition, I scarcely know where to begin. Kirsten's handling of the canon characters such as Janeway, Chakotay, and even Harry Kim is excellent, while the novel-exclusive characters such as Hugh Cambridge and Dr. Sharak are equally entertaining. Dr. Sharak in particular gets his chance to shine in this novel as he accompanies Seven to Earth to investigate the growing threat of a "catomic plague," seemingly borne of the exotic matter that replaced Borg components at the end of the events of the Destiny novels. As a Tamarian (introduced in the Next Generation episode "Darmok"), Dr. Sharak brings a unique perspective. I loved his conversation with a fellow Tamarian, and his interactions with Lt. Samantha Wildman as she learned to see things in his species' unique way was a treat to read.

Dr. Sharak is a Tamarian, like  Captain Dathon (pictured). The  Tamarians usually speak only in metaphor, making for an interesting perspective on the world.
If I were to describe what I took to be the theme of Acts of Contrition, it would be something along the lines of "every action we take has consequences, whether they're good or bad, and intended or not." We see this theme of consequences come up in every sub-plot in this novel (and there are more than a few sub-plots to be found!). Tom and B'Elanna's actions in protecting the life of their daughter has brought the wrath of Tom's mother down upon the family. The Doctor's action of ridding himself of his feelings for Seven of Nine has had a profoundly negative effect on his program. And, perhaps most important to the plot, the actions of the Confederacy of the Worlds of the First Quadrant early in its history have shaped what it has become now.

Another issue that came up in this novel was the idea of a clash of cultures. Granted, this has been explored in Trek before, but never with this level of subtlety, nuance, and verisimilitude (in my humble opinion). Many times, notably in Voyager, the crew would encounter a civilization that seemed compatible with the Federation's ideals. Inevitably, towards the end of the hour, they would come up short, and Janeway would take Voyager away in a huff, possibly after exchanging a few torpedoes with them. (See: The Sikarians in "Prime Factors," the Trabe in "Alliances," Riley's Borg Cooperative in "Unity," the Malon in "Night," the Vaudwaar in "Dragon's Teeth," etc. etc.) I was very happy to see Acts of Contrition take a different and more nuanced approach to relations between the Federation and other civilizations. Of course, the fleet is in a better position than Voyager was during the series and has the luxury of Starfleet support. However, it is still interesting to juxtapose this approach with that of Voyager years earlier.

A coalition of Voyager's former adversaries has formed, threatening both the Full Circle Fleet and the Confederacy.

Finally, it is with Voyager's prior experiences in the Delta Quadrant in mind that we turn to another revelation in this novel: a number of Voyager's adversaries have teamed up to form a coalition of sorts, one that is threatening the Confederacy. Among this group's members are the Devore ("Counterpoint"), the Turei and the Vaudwaar ("Dragon's Teeth"), and most distressingly, it seems that the very powerful Voth ("Distant Origin") may have a role to play in this alliance. This feeds back into the aforementioned theme: actions have consequences, and the consequences doled out by this coalition are dire indeed.

Final thoughts:

Once again, Kirsten Beyer has knocked it out of the park. This story was beyond outstanding. I barely touched on the sub-plot that had Tom Paris fighting in family court for custody of his own children against his mother. Scenes in that courtroom were incredibly moving. Also barely mentioned in my review was the catomic plague that Seven and Dr. Sharak are investigating. Kirsten Beyer has said that Acts of Contrition acts as the middle book of a trilogy, consisting of the previous novel, Protectors, and the up-coming Atonement. I believe that we will learn more about this catomic threat in that novel. Unfortunately, it looks as though Atonement won't be released until September of 2015. That's a long time to wait, especially given the cliffhanger ending of this novel! Ah, well. It will most certainly be worth the wait, at least!

More about Acts of Contrition:

Also by Kirsten Beyer:

My next read:

Coming next week: this month's all-new e-book exclusive novella by Rudy Josephs, Star Trek: The Next Generation: Q Are Cordially Uninvited...


Thursday, October 9, 2014

Rising Son

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
Rising Son by S.D. Perry
Published January 2003
Read April 15th 2014


Previous book (Deep Space Nine): Mission Gamma, Book Four: Lesser Evil
Next book (Deep Space Nine): The Left Hand of Destiny, Book One


MMPB: Amazon.com | Amazon.ca | Amazon.co.uk
E-book (Kindle): Amazon.com | Amazon.ca | Amazon.co.uk

Spoilers ahead for Rising Son and the rest of the Deep Space Nine relaunch!

From the back cover:
Months ago, young Jake Sisko came upon a mysterious prophecy in the ruins of B'hala, one that told of a Son destined to enter the Celestial Temple of the Prophets and return home with a lost Herald. Certain that the ancient text was intended for him, Jake entered the wormhole to bring back his father, Captain Benjamin Sisko -- missing since his final, fateful confrontation with Gul Dukat in the Fire Caves of Bajor. But Jake's quest has failed. Or so he believes.
Flung across the galaxy by a power beyond his understanding, Jake is rescued by a strange ship with an even stranger alien crew. Joining them on a voyage unlike any he has ever experienced, Jake learns that his search for the truth will lead him to find the last thing he ever expected, and to discoveries far beyond his wildest imaginings.

My thoughts:


With this novel, we get something that happened far too infrequently in the run of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine: a Jake story, through and through. Sure, he was featured a few times in plots of episodes, such as "The Ascent," "The Muse," and most notably in the episode "In the Cards." However, for a main character, Jake was extremely underutilized.

Jake Sisko is the central focus of this novel.

In Rising Son, we finally catch up with his story. As you'll recall, Jake went through the wormhole in Avatar in order to bring back his father... or so he believed. It turns out that while he is indeed a part of the Prophets' "plan," and he has a role to fulfil in the prophecy, it's not the one he initially assumed.

There is a lot to love in this novel. There is, of course, the "coming of age" aspect as Jake embarks on a long adventure outside of his regular elements. We see his character grow in ways we never got to see in the television series. Also, the crew of the Even Odds was particularly memorable, and we get some surprisingly emotional scenes with them. These are people I genuinely care about by the end of the novel. I would love to see a return by the Even Odds and her crew in a future novel or story.

S.D. Perry does a wonderful job of writing her characters. As mentioned above, the original characters in this novel are very well-written, but her grasp on Jake's character is equally impressive. We get inside the head of Jake and learn a lot about what he has been going through since Ben Sisko left to be with the Prophets. The heart of the story is this young man and his difficulty coping with, and eventual acceptance of, the circumstances in which he finds himself. While I have not lost my father, I have had periods in my life when I felt lost and directionless, and I found myself empathizing with Jake at many points in this novel.

Kai Opaka returns! However, the surprise
is somewhat ruined by the cover art.
Towards the end of the story, we meet up with (former) Kai Opaka and learn the story of how she finally escaped the world she was stranded on way back in Deep Space Nine's "Battle Lines," an episode from season one. It is at this point that we learn the true implications of the prophecy that led Jake on this adventure. Unfortunately, the "surprise" of Opaka's role in the story is gutted by having her appear on the cover. Having Kai Opaka on the cover of this novel is like having movie posters for The Empire Strikes Back feature the tagline "the greatest father and son story ever told." Okay, so perhaps that is overstating things, but I would certainly have preferred to have been surprised at Opaka's role in the story.

Final thoughts:

Rising Son does an amazing job of tying up the threads from the Avatar duology, while at the same time introducing new directions for the Deep Space Nine story to take. This was one of the most enjoyable reads of the Deep Space Nine "relaunch" so far, and I'm eager to continue following the story as it progresses. This re-read of the DS9 post-finale novels has been incredibly rewarding, and I look forward to revisiting later chapters in this story!


More about Rising Son:

Also by S.D. Perry:

My next read:

In the coming weeks and months, I am attempting to maintain a more regular schedule here on Trek Lit Reviews. My aim is to publish new reviews every Thursday. New releases will be reviewed as they come out, and as for the older novels, I am trying a new schedule: the main thrust of my reviews will be of the Deep Space Nine relaunch and, eventually, the larger 24th century novel continuity. Alternating with that, however, will be other novels so that there is a little more variety in the subjects of my reviews. With that in mind, here is the tentative schedule for the coming weeks:

Next up: an all-new Voyager novel by the wonderful Kirsten Beyer: Acts of Contrition, which should go live next Thursday, October 16th.

On October 23rd, this month's e-book exclusive will be reviewed, TNG: Q Are Cordially Uninvited... by Rudy Josephs.

October 30th will see book two of the Terok Nor miniseries get its review.

So, unfortunately, it will be a little while before the Deep Space Nine series gets picked up again, but rest assured there will be plenty of great material for you to enjoy in the meantime. And remember, we take requests! The Terok Nor trilogy is being reviewed at the request of a reader. If there is a particular Trek novel or miniseries you would like to see us tackle, let us know in the comments! Or email us at treklitreviews@gmail.com.

Live long and prosper!


Monday, October 6, 2014

Release Day! Q Are Cordially Uninvited...

Available to download today wherever e-books are sold: Star Trek: The Next Generation: Q Are Cordially Uninvited... by Rudy Josephs!

Find out the real story of the wedding of Jean-Luc Picard and Beverly Crusher, featuring mischievous shenanigans by the omnipotent Q!

My Review





Publisher's description:
The wedding of Captain Jean-Luc Picard to Doctor Beverly Crusher was a small, private affair overseen by the mayor of La Barre, France, and witnessed by the groom’s sister-in-law and the mayor’s wife. At least, that’s what the happy couple always told their friends. On the anniversary of that blessed day, however, Worf and Geordi La Forge manage to coax the real story out of the pair, to discover a tale of mythical treasure and a lost civilization in the Delta Quadrant. It all begins when the omnipotent being Q crashes the festivities, declaring himself best man and bringing along an unwilling guest as a surprise for the groom.


Purchase The Next Generation: Q Are Cordially Uninvited...:

E-book (Kindle): Amazon.com | Amazon.ca | Amazon.co.uk


Previous Release: Voyager: Acts of Contrition
Next Release: Section 31: Disavowed


Thursday, October 2, 2014

Impressive cover art for DS9: The Missing! *UPDATED*

We have a new cover to show you today: To be released on December 30th, it's Deep Space Nine: The Missing by Una McCormack! Check out the impressive cover art by Doug Drexler below, and read the publisher's description. This one sounds like it's going to be good! But then, when are Una McCormick's novels not terrific?

As always, links are included below to pre-order The Missing from Amazon. Ordering using these links helps out Trek Lit Reviews. So, thank you!


UPDATE:

The cover art has been tweaked slightly to great effect (in my humble opinion)! Gone is the weird purple background in favor of a much more contrast-y black. Looks much better!


The entire sector is waiting to see what the newly reopened Bajoran wormhole will mean for the shifting political landscape in the Alpha Quadrant. On Deep Space 9, Captain Ro Laren is suddenly drawn into the affairs of the People of the Open Sky, who have come to the station in search of sanctuary. Despite the opposition of the station's security officer, Jefferson Blackmer, Ro Laren and Deep Space 9's new CMO, Doctor Beverly Crusher, offer the People aid. But when Dr. Crusher’s highly secure files are accessed without permission—the same files that hold the secrets of the Shedai, a race whose powerful but half-understood scientific secrets solved the Andorian catastrophe—the People seem the likeliest suspects.

As tensions rise on the station, the science vessel Athene Donald arrives as part of its journey of exploration. The brainchild of Doctor Katherine Pulaski, this ship is crewed by different species from the Khitomer Accords and the Typhon Pact. Pulaski’s hope is that science will do what diplomacy has not: help the great powers put aside their hostilities and work together. But when the Athene Donald is summarily stopped in her voyage by the powerful vessel of a hitherto unknown species, Pulaski begins to wonder—will this first contact bring her crew together or tear them all apart?

Purchase the mass-market paperback from: Amazon.com | Amazon.ca | Amazon.co.uk
Purchase the e-book (Kindle) version from: Amazon.com | Amazon.ca | Amazon.co.uk


Day of the Vipers

Star Trek: Terok Nor (A Saga of The Lost Era)
Day of the Vipers, 2318 - 2328 by James Swallow
Published April 2008
Read March 18th 2014

Previous book (The Lost Era): The Next Generation: The Buried Age
Next book (Terok Nor): Night of the Wolves


Purchase (MMPB): Amazon.com | Amazon.ca | Amazon.co.uk
Purchase (Kindle): Amazon.com | Amazon.ca | Amazon.co.uk

Spoilers ahead for Day of the Vipers and the Terok Nor miniseries!

From the back cover:
A seemingly benign visitation to the bountiful world of Bajor from the resource-poor Cardassian Union is viewed with cautious optimism by some, trepidation by others, and a calculating gleam by unscrupulous opportunists. What begins as a gesture of compassion soon becomes something very different. Seen through the eyes of participants on both sides -- including those of a young officer named Skrain Dukat -- the personal, political, and religious tensions between the Bajorans and the Cardassians quickly spiral out of control, irrevocably shaping the futures of both worlds in an emotionally charged and unforgettable tale of treachery, tragedy, and hope.

My thoughts:

The Cardassian occupation of Bajor is a 60-year period of history that was explored at various times in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, and the aftermath of which is the setting of the series itself. In the course of several episodes (such as "Necessary Evil," "Things Past," and "Wrongs Darker Than Death or Night"), we have seen what Bajor and Terok Nor were like during the occupation, but what about before the Cardassians arrived? What was Bajor like, and what led to the beginning of the occupation? It is the answers to these questions that make Day of the Vipers so compelling.

Many episodes of Deep Space Nine have shown us flashbacks of Bajor during the occupation (such as this scene from "Ties of Blood and Water"), but how did the occupation begin? Day of the Vipers answers this question.

Dramatic irony is used throughout the story. As readers familiar with the occupation of Bajor, we know where this is all headed: to a very dark, disastrous place. However, the characters in the story aren't privy to that information, and their plight is made all the more tragic due to the inevitability of what is to come. At times, you just want to reach into the pages to grab characters by the lapels and scream, "don't you see what is happening?!?" It is frustrating to witness the mistakes and deceptions that led to the horrors of the Cardassian occupation.

The true tragedy is the fall of two worlds, Bajor and Cardassia. Like Bajor, Cardassia was once a verdant planet with a population that lived in peace with nature. However, Cardassia has forgotten this and is now a desolate wasteland, home to a people who are desperate. This desperation is visited upon the Bajorans, who can't conceive of a people who would take what is theirs because they have none of their own.

The occupation is not only the story of Bajor, but of Cardassia as well. The famine and hardships experienced by that world directly led to the occupation of Bajor, a resource-rich world that proved extremely tempting to the resource-poor Cardassians.

Reading a few on-line reviews of Day of the Vipers, I noticed that some readers seemed to have been put off by the slower pace of the novel. However, I felt that the pacing of the story was very fitting. The Cardassian occupation was not an event that happened all at once; rather, there was a slow build-up. The Cardassians didn't arrive and invade Bajor militarily en masse, but instead insinuated themselves into Bajoran government and day-to-day life. The build-up to the occupation was slow and methodical, culminating in a horrific "false flag" incident in which a Bajoran fleet was destroyed by Cardassians acting as allies, while pinning the blame for the attack on the Tzenkethi. The slow build-up was perfect for the monumental importance of these events.

Final thoughts:

Day of the Vipers is an excellent beginning to the Terok Nor miniseries, setting up the horrors of the Cardassian occupation very well. At times quite dark and depressing (we all know where this story is headed), this novel nonetheless shows the resilience and pride of the Bajoran people. This is not the most accessible of Star Trek novels. I think that a casual fan of Star Trek would have a much harder time picking up this novel than a more conventional TOS or TNG novel. However, for ardent fans, Day of the Vipers introduces a pivotal piece of Star Trek history, and I would recommend this novel for any reader who loves Deep Space Nine and the rich, well-developed lore of that series.

Also by James Swallow:

My next read:

Continuing my series of reviews of the Deep Space Nine relaunch novels, my next review will be for S.D. Perry's Rising Son. Look for that soon!