In the past eight years Pocket Books has been taking Star Trek novels to a new level by embarking on an ‘eighth season’ of Deep Space Nine in book form. With two new DS9 ‘relaunch’ novels fast approaching it may seem intimidating to jump in, so the Library Computer brings you an updated guide to the series and how you can get caught up on all the previous action.
THE ESSENTIAL DEEP SPACE NINE RELAUNCH
Although each of the five Trek series has books set after their finales (on TV or in Film), the post-finale DS9 book universe is the most realized. The ‘relaunch’ book series began in May 2001, two years after the TV series ended. Set in the aftermath of the final episode of the series, "What You Leave Behind", the authors had to compensate for the loss of Benjamin Sisko, and compensate they did. Through thirty-five separate books and countless storylines, Deep Space Nine remains alive and well on the printed (or electronic) page. With the upcoming release of "The Soul Key", we thought it might be a good idea to update our rundown of the ‘essential’ Deep Space Nine relaunch. Although there are many fine books in the series, the following are the ones which are absolutely indispensable for those considering picking the series up to read the next installment.
Avatar, Books 1 and 2
by S. D. Perry
I recall reading the two books of the Avatar series with a great deal of excitement and anticipating. Here was what I, as a DS9 fan, had been waiting for: the continuation of the story beyond the end of the series. S. D. Perry did not disappoint. Perry’s duology set the stage (and the bar) for everything that came later.
A sneak attack on the station leads pretty much everyone in the Alpha Quadrant to assume that the War is back on, while we are introduced to an almost entirely new staff aboard the station. The effects of Sisko’s disappearance and the prophecies concerning his child swirl around Kasidy Yates, and Jake Sisko elects to embark on a journey of his own.
Twilight
by David R. George III
This is one hefty book. No matter, "Twilight" by David R. George III was one of the most immersive experiences I can recall in reading a Star Trek novel (at least, until his outstanding work on the life of Leonard McCoy in the Crucible trilogy). In "Twilight", the Defiant heads out for the Gamma Quadrant on a mission of exploration, forcing Commander Elias Vaughn, the Defiant’s commander, to face his own personal demons while, at the same time, spearheading what everyone hopes will be a new day for the Defiant and the future of Federation presence in the Gamma Qadrant. At the same time, a move begins back on DS9 to bring Bajor into the Federation, while relationships begin to form among some unlikely candidates.
Cathedral
by Michael A. Martin and Andy Mangels
There’s no greater way to learn about yourself than to lose nearly everything that makes you who you are; or so Julian Bashir, Ezri Dax, and Nog discover while studying an ancient artifact in the Gamma Quadrant. Martin and Mangels managed to explore the emotional aspects of physical change while, at the same time, delivering an energetic tale aboard the Defiant. At the same time, back on Bajor, things aren’t going so well for Cardassian/Bajoran relations, or for the Bajoran faith. "Cathedral" is a book that met head-on the challenge of expressing religion in the midst of a science fiction universe, and did an outstanding job of it.
Rising Son
by S. D. Perry
To be blunt, I think you either had to love "Rising Son" or hate it (and most fans love it, some even counting it as the best of the entire relaunch). "Rising Son" is Jake Sisko’s story, showing what happened with him between the events of the Avatar dulogy and the end of the Mission Gamma series. From spending time aboard a tramp freighter with space pirates to questing to discover the truth about his father’s fate, S. D. Perry took a break from the Starfleet and Bajoran view of much of the relaunch, and really went to town with Jake’s story. Those who wish to follow Jake’s evolution more closely will want to make sure they read this tale, but it is an otherwise dispensable entry into the series.
Unity
by S.D. Perry
"Unity" was the first hardcover Star Trek book I had bought and read in a long time. My preference is usually to buy the audio version of hardcover books. By the time that "Unity" arrived, however, I was firmly entrenched in the DS9 relaunch, and many fans were anticipating this just about as much as the second part of "The Best of Both Worlds". "Unity" definitely delivered.
In Perry’s book, the Defiant returns from her Gamma Quadrant excursion just in time to find herself in the midst of a system-wide shutdown around the station, with a familiar (to us) alien presence running amuck, Bajor’s future in the balance, and some major revelations being prepared in the Celestial Temple.
"Unity" was, in essence, the finale of the ‘eighth season’ of Deep Space Nine and the beginning of the ‘ninth’.
Worlds of Deep Space Nine Volumes 2 & 3
by Various
"Unity" was followed by a three volume series that contained two stories each, known collectively as "Worlds of Deep Space Nine". The stories focused on Cardassia (The Lotus Flower), Andor (Paradigm), Trill (Unjoined), Bajor (Fragments and Omens), Frenginar (Satisfaction Is Not Guaranteed), and the Dominion (Olympus Descending). Each of these stories spins out some of the characters and events of the preceding works and addresses their intricacies and unanswered questions in very manageable ways. Of particular importance to the past and future of the relaunch series are volumes 2 and 3 for Mangels and Martin’s "Unjoined" (which resolves questions surrounding the aliens from "Unity"), Kym’s "Fragments and Omens" (centered on Bajoran affairs in the wake of several differing events in "Unity") and George’s "Olympus Descending" (which sets the stage for the next novel by sending the station’s resident Jem’Hadar on a violent rampage that places both Kira and Ro at the end of his furious
power.)
Warpath
by David Mack
You can usually count on David Mack to deliver a bloodbath, but in "Warpath" he inherits the aftermath of one perpetrated by Taran’atar. While something may not be ‘quite right’ with him, you can be sure that, when David Mack is guiding your fate, that someone, somewhere, is engineering your ‘not quite right’ moment… and Mack leads Taran’atar and us right down the garden path to "Fearful Symmetry”, which has now taken the next spot on the essential list.
Fearful Symmetry
by Olivia Woods
Really two different stories with a common locus, “Fearful Symmetry” had one significant downside – the brevity of both stories. And yet, in spite of their length, they are absolutely essential to having any clue about what has really been going on in the preceding two books. We begin to discover more about Ben Sisko (I think it’s safe to admit at this point that he isn’t dead or missing anymore) and his role in the multi-verse, while crossing the Cardassian border and looking at the life of the former Obsidian Order infiltrator, Illiana Gehmor. Her treatment at the hands of Gul Dukat and her fury over the circumstances surrounding the demise of her parents leads her patently insane. While the story was missing a degree of impact (in last year’s review of the book I carachterized the stories as ‘sparklers on the Fourth of July’), Woods used these books to set up one heck of an adventure… to be revealed in the August 2009 release of “The Soul Key”.
There you have it, seven outstanding novels, a ‘perhaps’ tale of Jake Sisko, three short novels, and an essential dual-book that, taken together, will give you all the exposure you need to enjoy "The Soul Key" on all cylinders. Certainly every book of the Relaunch tells a part of the tale that will enrich the reader’s journey, but these stories will truly set the stage for what is to come.
Further post-finale DS9 reading
It’s worth noting that several other projects are also set after the finale of Deep Space Nine, though their level of connection with the official relaunch project varies.
- Though published after "Rising Son", "The Left Hand of Destiny" Books 1 and 2, written by J. G. Hertzler and Jeffrey Lang precede the other books of the Relaunch, and feature –predictably- Worf and Martok. While they were published under the DS9 Relaunch banner, they serve as a stand-alone tale.
- The N-Vector graphic mini-series from Wildstorm is set in the weeks between the end of the series and the events of "Avatar", and features Tiris Jast and the Defiant.
- Andrew (Garak) Robinson’s "A Stitch In Time" is, perhaps, one of the most outstanding works by an actor-turned-author in the history of Star Trek fiction. Filled with accounts of Garak’s youth, but with a framing story that takes place before the Relaunch really begins, "A Stitch In Time" is (retroactively) considered a part of the Relaunch, and, while not essential to the storyline, is definitely worth a read.
- "The Lives of Dax" anthology features a framing story set in the aftermath of the Dominion War, but includes tales spread throughout the many centuries of the Dax symboiant’s existence.
- Thought often believed to be a part of the Relaunch, the three books of the Millennium mini-series are not a part of this series, and form something of an alternate reality look at the end of the Deep Space Nine saga.
- And let’s not forget the Starfleet Corps of Engineers’ contribution to the DS9 relaunch legacy. With five different stories that pair the SCE cast up with the continuing storyline, each of these stories is filled with action and events, the ramifications of which do impact the following books in the series.
DS9 RELAUNCH TIMELINE
Confused? With the high degree of inter-connectivity of the Relaunch tales, and the varying release dates, its easy to get turned around. What follows is the suggested order for reading the various novels, comics, and stories that make up the Deep Space Nine Relaunch. The above ‘Essentials’ are in bold and future books are in italics.
1. The Left Hand of Destiny
2. The Lives of Dax (framing story only)
3. N-Vector (Wildstorm Graphic mini-series)
4. A Stitch in Time
5. The Calling (from the DS9 anthology Prophecy and Change)
6. The Dream Box (a stage play by Andrew (Garak) Robinson)
7. TNG: Maximum Warp (features a cameo appearance of the Defiant under command of Tiris Jast)
8. Avatar Book 1
9. Avatar Book 2
10. SCE: Cold Fusion (features repairs in the aftermath of Avatar)
11. Abyss
12. Demons of Air and Darkness
13. Horn and Ivory
14. Twilight
15. Divided We Fall (Wildstorm Graphic mini-series; takes place concurrently with Twilight)
16. The Brave and the Bold IV: The Final Artifact (takes place concurrently with Twilight)
17. This Gray Spirit
18. Cathedral
19. SCE: Aftermath (featuring O’Brien on Earth)
20. Lesser Evil
21. Rising Son (Takes place between the end of Avatar and the beginning of Unity)
22. Unity
23. Trill: Unjoined (from Worlds of Deep Space Nine Vol. 2)
24. SCE: Wounds (features Julian Bashir)
25. The Officer’s Club (from the Tales from the Captain’s Table anthology)
26. Bajor: Fragments and Omens (from Worlds of Deep Space Nine Vol. 2)
27. Andor: Paradigm (from Worlds of Deep Space Nine Vol. 1)
28. Ferenginar: Satisfaction is Not Guaranteed (from Worlds of Deep Space Nine Vol. 1)
29. SCE: Malefictorum (featuring Kira Nerys, Quark, Ro Laren and Treir)
30. Cardassia: The Lotus Flower (from Worlds of Deep Space Nine Vol. 3)
31. SCE: Lost Time (featuring Kira Nerys, Elias Vaughn, Ezri Dax, Nog and Elim Garak)
32. The Dominion: Olympus Descending (from Worlds of Deep Space Nine Vol. 3)
33. Saturn’s Children (from the Mirror Universe anthology: Obsidian Alliances, providing a look at the mirror universe characters last seen in the episode "The Emperor’s New Cloak". The story bridges the gap between the episode and the novel "Warpath".)
34. Warpath
35. Fearful Symmetry
36. The Soul Key (July 2009)
37. The Never Ending Sacrifice (August 2009)
38. The Rough Beasts of Empire (December 2010)
Hard to Timeline or Expansive:
- SCE: Aftermath (featuring O’Brien on Earth)
- SCE: Malefictorum (featuring Kira Nerys, Quark, Ro Laren and Treir)
- SCE: Lost Time (featuring Kira Nerys, Elias Vaughn, Ezri Dax, Nog and Elim Garak)
- Saturn’s Children (from the Mirror Universe anthology: Obsidian Alliances, providing a look at the mirror universe characters last seen in the episode "The Emperor’s New Cloak". The story bridges the gap between the episode and the novel "Warpath".)
More info on the DS9 relaunch at Memory Beta (the non-canon Star Trek wiki)
Next Up: The Relaunch Continues
Coming later this week, TrekMovie brings you our review of Olivia Woods’ follow-up to “Fearful Symmetry”, “The Soul Key”. Break out your leather! (or is that your latex? I always forget what they make the clothes out of in the Mirror Universe.). And in August we will review Una McCormack’s "The Never Ending Sacrifice" which delves into the post-Dominion War Cardassian Empire.
"DS9: Soul Key" (July) "DS9: The Never-Ending Sacrifice" (August)
Deep Snore Nine… bleh.
I’m afraid I totally disagree, #1. DS9 was by far the best written Trek series. Drama, conflict between characters, unexpected twists of fate, fully realized characters … all the elements of good, dramatic TV. It wasn’t afraid to question itself. It pushed the envelope of Roddenberry’s Utopia without destroying it. DS9 is the series I miss the most.
I have to agree with RTC … DS9 was extremely well written and comes in as my second favorite Trek series after TOS. I would have enjoyed to see a few DS9 movies. The characers were strong and moody at times.. they showed much more depth than TNG at times.
DS9 Rules!!
but none of these books are canon so I’m not that interested.
I really liked DS9, but then it got moved all over the schedule of the local affiliate, and I was kinda made lost by the various war arcs. I missed four seasons, only to tune in at the very end. One of these days, though, I’m going to do the whole series by DVD and see what I was missing these last 10 years.
I love DS9!
But I’m sad that Odo was only in (apparently) two of the really important books: “Unity” and “Olympus Descending”. Come on, he was totally my favourite character. And he and Kira were an incredible couple — we’re talking, “I loved them as much as I loved Riker and Deanna Troi, if not a little more.” xD
I was always intimidated by the DS9 relaunch novels, if only because so many characters left after the finale. It was truly a “finale”, even more so than “All Good Things…” and “These Are the Voyages”. I may have to give it another shot.
…But I love my Changelings! =(
I agree with #1. It was nowhere near Roddenbbery’s vision of the future.
Too much religion and mysticism and not much substance.
Space soap opera at best.
I always enjoy the Library Computer articles, and this is no exception. Informative as always.
DS9 and TOS – the very best that Trek has to offer.
DS9 was truly great TV. The story of what human beings in extreme circumstances. Dramatic, romantic, heart warming and moving. The last four seasons were magnificent.
Robert (and Anthony),
Taking the time and effort to put so much thought and care into a complicated topic like this (and, yes, for me, keeping all the Trek books straight is a complicated topic) is greatly appreciated.
Great job! Thanks!
(“The Neverending Sacrifice” looks like a winner. I hadn’t heard about that one yet.)
DS9 remains my favorite Trek series, by a long shot. But I simply can’t get behind the relaunch. I just finished watching the series for the third time, and I was deeply impressed by how the entire seven seasons can be viewed as a SINGLE story, with a beginning, middle and end. You don’t take a work that epic and well-crafted and then pick up, “Well, now it’s next Tuesday…” It feels … wrong somehow. DS9, as a story and a show, was what happened when a specific group of characters converged on a single point in space and time. It built from a solid foundation to a glorious culmination … and then it ended.
Anyway, I don’t begrudge those who love the relaunch. But it’s not for me. (And yes, I HAVE read much of it … I wanted to give it a fair shake.)
Actually, the whole Star Trek literary universe has lost much of its savor for me. All the characters from all the shows put into a bottle and shaken up … I can’t fault Pocket for doing it, since there’s clearly an audience. And naturally, if the Trek universe were “real” it would change and evolve. It simply rings hollow for me, despite the many very talented writers involved.
Season 1’s “Duet”, especially its finale, still ranks as my favorite Star Trek episode of all time.
The relaunch novels are great. It’s quite wonderful how they’ve managed to create an ongoing storyline, character arcs, etc. – they’ve leapt at the opportunity to do more than just tie-in novels that are unable to change the facts of things after the show went off the air, and made just about the most of it as far as I’m concerned.
#12, the DS9 relaunch for me sort of marked the beginning of the Star Trek literary universe becoming truely interesting, because with it they finally started to tell stories that significantly enhance and expand the universe and established characters, as opposed to boring tie-ins suffering from “reboot syndrome” (i.e. while there was 24th century Trek on air, every book pretty much had to end with things being as they were when it started).
Sure, there were magnificent books before – “Crossroads” by Barbara Hambly, say, or “The Final Reflection by John M. Ford, or “Sarek” by A.C. Crispin – but starting with the relaunch, the *average* quality and level of interesting-ness of the Trek novels increased significantly IMHO.
I understand your P.O.V. perfectly, #14. And I’m glad that it works for you. It works for me, in theory! :-P
I might add that, for whatever reason, I REALLY enjoy the Shatnerverse. :-)
ya ! Ds9 is the best trek series in my opinion ! Loved it ! I’m actually going to buy all these ”8th season” books.
DS9 was 2nd ONLY to TOS. A great series. The relaunch/season 8 followed that with great success.
One of the best aspects of DS9 was the relationship between Sisko and his son. The was one of very few TV shows with a strong father figure. Most shows at that time portrayed fathers a beer drinking, absent minded fools. Avery Brooks did an excellent job and should have won an Emmy for it.
DS9 was the very heart of Roddenberry’s vision. Different races, sorting out their differences. This wasn’t a ship of lobotomized starfleet types, these people spanned different races and beliefs. It stayed within the laws of Trek, but challenged them too. Amazing show.
#7
No, you’re confusing DS9 with Enterprise.
And another thing, I’m tired of you idiots who don’t like the topic of a thread vocalizing it unscrupulously. If you don’t like DS9, keep it to yourself and let those of us who do enjoy this conversation. You obviously didn’t like DS9 in the first place. So why in the hell did you read this article devoted to it? You did so just to spout off your dumb ass opinion. STOP BEING AND ASS #s 1 and 7 and get the hell off of here! Go and bitch on some other site.
DS9 is in my opinion Trek @ its best, and I thoroughly enjoyed the relaunch so far, it’s been a pleasure to see a well evolved series continue to evolve beyond the parameters set by the TV medium do so successfully and in true DS9 fashion! The new characters are very believable and the chemistry with known characters works well! I love all incarnations of Trek: TOS,TAS,TNG,DS9,VOY & ENT, and love the newly relaunched movie version Trek as well, and hope to see the evolution of a new Star Trek TV series for the 21st Century!
DS9 & Voy are the 2 best series of Star Trek! If you don’t like DS9, then why are you bothering, (and bothering us), to read this? I’ve never been interested in the novels before, but I might just have to try and read all of these.
I agree with you #20, I never understood why people who obviously don’t like something spend so much time and energy trashing it? If you don’t care for DS9, why bother go on a site devoted to it just to criticize it and ruffle the feathers of its fans when you could spend your time and energy on another site that does interest you and that you find enjoyable? It seems so futile, and I fail to see what satisfaction you get from it? But to each his/her own, so your comments don’t really bother me but are simply a waste of my time as we do not share the same interest: mine being a love of Trek and yours being a love of criticism, if you don’t like something, here’s my advice : don’t watch it, don’t read it, don’t discuss it! move on to something you enjoy, and let us enjoy what we are passionate about, thanks!
ds9 was great writing great show great drama and made u do a lot of thinking took starfleet to the high levels esp when nog joined starfleet to bringing to its knees the breen joining the war effort with the dominion to realk thinkers like the eps pale of the moonlight that showed a side of starfleet we thought we never see in star trek in the 24th century anyway so yes it was the better of the nxt generation era even tv guide said that about the writing
now lets do a movie
lol only kidding
DS9 was the best Trek, hands down. But it doesn’t seem to score well with the intellectually lazy, who seem to prefer explosions and boobies.
I would certainly have rather had a DS9 movie than the movie that we got this year.
I remember the pre press of DSN promos. They said it is aimed more at family type story lovers, as where shows with the Enterprise are aimed more at those who have a slide rule in their pocket or around their desk.
I’m sure there is enough video that you could create 3D Avatars to toss into a Software Holodeck and make animated shows of the books. And computers can go as detailed as hairs but not yet as detailed as as a real looking 5 o’clock shadow. The shows will look real but you will still know it’s a cartoon.
When you get done fitting the legal aspects, when will they digitize the shows to make holodeck simulations to play out these books and make them movies or show. I know if someone could create this it will have everyone in the Trek Universe happy, and the creaters hopefully have healthy bank accounts.
As that message posted I thought why could they not do the animated holodeck shows along the same lines as the Fan Shows are made, the big holding point would be the greedy legal Egales.
DS9 was my favorite of the franchise as well.
That ensamble went to more planets than TNG
did and there was definitely more suspense,
drama, and comedy. Would have made great
movies.
I could not get into any of the book series
though, because of the lack of Ben Sisko. It
was just not the same after what they did
with the character. Quite a shame.
Avery Brooks rocked.
#4 – “DS9 Rules!!
but none of these books are canon so I’m not that interested.”
“Canon” as a distinction is irrelevant, now more than ever. And these are great stories, so if you love DS9, they’re seriously worth the time. :) I’ve read them all, and eagerly look forward to both new books.
I happened to love DS9 & have read all the relaunch books save for the Captain’s Table & SCE ones. It’s the only series that made me tear up @ the end during the flashback scenes. I am looking forward to the next set of books.
I’d like to add my voice to the accolades for DS9. While I do not really like pitting any one of the franchise series against another, as they all had their strong points… and weaknesses, DS9 had the best-developed cast of characters, it was the most diverse and its marvelous variety of stories succeeded on an intellectual and emotional level that nearly always left me satisfied.
I loved DS9 and of all the series, I think Avery Brooks’ Sisko is the Captain I miss most.
I think DS9 was the best Trek since the OS. The characters, plot, the depth of events were just delicious. It really deserved a good send off on the big screen, I can’t still believe Paramount just let the great DS9 fade away like this. Well, it’s never too late :)
DS9 was spectacular fun. It was intellectual cream of the crop, and as others have said here (I’m looking at you #19) it never really broke any of the ST rules, but rather bent them in places that if you didn’t quite understand them you might mistake them for broken. For example, not having a star ship. Seriously. Has that ever really mattered? Wasn’t every planet is ST just our own planet, our own human condition stretched and exaggerated? So we don’t move, but we still got to look at human nature and life and philosophy. I also loved how the Federation crew was very well-mannered with one another and very much suitable for the ST ideal — but the show wasn’t only about them. It had the other creatures, a recurring Ferengi for example, that didn’t have to fit the mould quite so perfectly.
I’ve never been much into Trek books, but this great list by Mr. Robert Lyons may be the place to begin. Thanks!
Will have to skip “Cathedral” tho… I can’t say enough how much I disliked DS9’s religious stories. I am a religious scholar myself and always enjoyed the study, whether you believe or not– but those episodes bored me out of DS9 in the first season. Glad I got back to it, though. But not going to touch “Cathedral” — unless someone can allay my concerns about the boredom of it?
13 – Agreed. Duet is the finest episode of Star Trek in its history. Remarkable performances from all the major players, a fantastically low-key but emotionally powerful ending. It is a masterpiece of writing.
BRING BACK DS9 TO TV!!!!
I think that would be awsome and mesh it with Voyager crew like 7 of 9. Make it a melting pot of star trek.
DS9 was the ideal spin-off series: it wasn’t about a starship and therefore was allowed to explore other aspects of the Trek universe that the ship-based shows couldn’t.
Just because religion and mysticism was ignored in TNG didn’t mean that these things didn’t exist in that universe. DS9 was the best arena to explore this aspect of the future . . . and it led to the new Galactica!
@1 The thing about DS9 is that it thinks it’s a twist on STAR TREK. It’s not. It’s a ”straighten”. It takes all the things that are odd and distinctive about STAR TREK and flattens them out so it becomes every other ”edgy” sci-fi series. Where’s the exploration, where’s the pioneer spirit, where’s the utopianism? It’s a reaction to TNG, I get that, but when you react to something very good by doing the opposite what you get is…
I always felt that DS9 was great television, but not necessarily great Star Trek. It wasn’t a very optimistic view in the GR sense, and was very dark.
That said, I thought that Seasons 3-5 were outstanding television. I wasn’t a big fan of the Dominion War. Thought it dragged too long. The last 2 seasons weren’t all that great for me, and the finale wasn’t very satisfying, especially Sisko’s fate, which I felt was very out of character. They basically turned him into a deadbeat dad.
WHoa, WHoa, WHoa!!
Hey, I Totally agree with My DS9 lovin’ Brothers and Sisters out there, “You’re Pah Is Strong”
But it’s okay if people here Who didn’t like it to say that they didn’t.
they’re entitled to their opinions. Okay?
Voyager was the show that Sucked:)
@23 I don’t like DS9. I expend time thinking about this, occasionally, because DS9 is a facet of something I do like (i.e. Star Trek). In the same way as you might think about episodes you don’t like of ST series you do, you also find yourself thinking about whole programmes under the ST umbrella that didn’t work for you and why. It is allowed, you know. I wanted to like DS9 I didn’t. There are reasons for this. I find those reasons quite interesting. Others might too. Or not.
#39
You can’t really appreciate the light without going through some darkness.
DS9 is the best written Star Trek series to date. The sheer level of intimacy that you, as the viewer, had with these characters was far greater than anything TNG ever offered. Just take a look at season four’s “The Visitor” to truly understand that relationship.
DS9 is severely under-appreciated due to its dark storytelling, but it was by the far the most realistic of all the Trek’s and it actually had an overall story-arch that you could follow. The funny thing is DS9 preceeded the events of the current war in the middle east and yet its eerily close to those events.
DS9 is great story-telling with a diverse cast of characters.
#39
“They basically turned him into a deadbeat dad.”
Really? That’s what you thought? He basically sacrificed his mortal life and he’s a deadbeat? Wow.
I always thought that somebody thought of a rather boring show and then just put a ‘Star Trek’ label on it. Shows entire run was a hit or miss from day one.
@42 I think something that DS9 has in common with VOY and ENT is that the best episodes are largely those that throw away the premise and do something else instead, ”The Visitor”, ”Past Tense”, ”Trials and Tribble-ations”, ”Far Beyond The Stars”, ”Death Wish”, ”Timeless”, ”In A Mirror, Darkly”, none really touch on the (inherently flawed, imho) premises of the shows of which they are a part. Whereas the best episodes of TOS and TNG (and TAS, even) are where the series is most strongly being itself.
SPOILER ALERT….SPOILER ALERT…SPOILER ALERT
For those of you who are still in the dark about it, Ben Sisko returns to the DS9 universe in time for the birt of his child. Sisko also was seen in last year’s book… in one heck of a curiousity-raising situation.
END SPOILERS…END SPOILERS..END SPOILERS
Father Lyons.
In what stories did Ben Sisko return?
Been trying to enter the DS9 storyline, novel-wise, and would really like to check these out.
That final episode still gets me.
“Duet” was an amazing story. DS9 and BSG remain my absolute favorite series of all time. I can watch those shows over and over again and find something different to think about….DS9 is the finest of all Trek. The characters were compelling and the ending was perfect. While I want to read the novels, I am scared to do so because I like where the series left off. Nothing in our lives is ever perfect and not all things end on a happy note.
If there was one flaw with the series…it was the follow up to Kai Opaka. I didn’t like how she ended up on a planet that killed her over and over again. I see a book with her face on it…does she come back? I really liked her character a lot.
And overall, I have really loved all the Star Treks…TNG pulled me in, DS9 was amazing, Voyager was fun, and Enterprise was a dull and bland experience up until Season 4 and then I was angry when they pulled the series because there was some great storytelling happening at that point. The original crew is the orginal crew and they were a lot of fun to watch.
I’ve read a lot of the books when I was younger…one book stood out about a Vulcan and Romulan “Dweller in the Crucible”. It was my first Star Trek book I read…first Star Trek anything…and my first question to my mother was, “Who are the Romulans?” And from that point, I was sucked into the universe and TV shows.
People say that DS9 wasn’t proper Trek. That it didn’t adhere to Roddenberry’s vision, etc. But in many ways it was more ‘Trek’
than TNG was.
The original series, was groundbreaking in the way it portrayed
contemporary issues in a sci-fi setting. DS9 carried this torch
more than any other post-TOS series. In that way it is more true
to Star Trek than even the new movie could ever be.
DS9 is my favorite Trek, though I enjoy them all to various degrees. I own them all on DVD, but it’s DS9 that I rewatch in whole every few years. I’ve been reading the relaunch since it began, and it’s the book series that got me into reading other Treks. It just seemed so much more complicated and adult than anything else being offered at the time. It’s no wonder that the other series are following suit.
And I know the books aren’t canon, but to me…they are. And nobody can take that away from me. These are my characters and my station and this is what happened there.
I’d also include the 3 DS9 prequels (the Terok Nor trilogy) as a kind of pre-relaunch reading experience.