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Star Trek: Typhon Pact #3
Rough Beasts of Empire
Still on Romulus in pursuit of his goal of reunifying the Vulcans and Romulans, Spock finds himself in the middle of a massive power struggle. In the wake of the assassination of the Praetor and the Senate, the Romulans have cleaved in two. While Empress Donatra has led her nascent Imperial Romulan State to establish relations with the Federation, Praetor Tal’aura has guided the original Romulan Star Empire toward joining the newly formed Typhon Pact. But numerous factions within the two Romulan nations vie for power and undivided leadership, and Machiavellian plots unfold as forces within and without the empires conduct high-stakes political maneuvers.
Meanwhile, four years after Benjamin Sisko returned from the Celestial Temple, circumstances have changed, his hopes for a peaceful life on Bajor with his wife and daughter beginning to slip away. After temporarily rejoining Starfleet for an all-hands-on-deck battle against the Borg, he must consider an offer to have him return for a longer stint. Beset by troubling events, he seeks spiritual guidance, facing demons new and old, including difficult memories from his time in the last Federation-Tzenkethi war.
Meanwhile, four years after Benjamin Sisko returned from the Celestial Temple, circumstances have changed, his hopes for a peaceful life on Bajor with his wife and daughter beginning to slip away. After temporarily rejoining Starfleet for an all-hands-on-deck battle against the Borg, he must consider an offer to have him return for a longer stint. Beset by troubling events, he seeks spiritual guidance, facing demons new and old, including difficult memories from his time in the last Federation-Tzenkethi war.
304 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2011
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 109 reviews
September 10, 2023
I hope the series gets better after this one...
June 26, 2012
I feel conflicted giving this just one star. It's Star Trek, therefore I love it. But honestly. WTF was this? I mean, other than boring. Sisko left his wife and kid? Not in character. Spock, one of the most interesting characters in all of Trekdom, got turned boring. How does one even DO that? I just can't buy it.
You know, I really, REALLY like that they are continuing the story lines of all the Trek series past the end of their respective series or movies. But I DO NOT LIKE how all of the novels are connected now. I miss the old days when each book basically equated to one episode. WHY don't they do that anymore? :(
You know, I really, REALLY like that they are continuing the story lines of all the Trek series past the end of their respective series or movies. But I DO NOT LIKE how all of the novels are connected now. I miss the old days when each book basically equated to one episode. WHY don't they do that anymore? :(
October 6, 2015
Great Romulan focused story- nice to see Spock and Reunification still making waves.
June 12, 2015
Third Typhon Pact book focusing on Spock on Romulus, the Romulan people, Benjamin Sisko and the Tzenkethi.
I enjoyed the Spock part of the story and loved reading about the Romulans - they're always interesting. Scheming, devious, always several steps ahead and never disclosing all they know. Would have liked more Donatra time, though. Bringing the Vulcans and Romulans closer feels logical and sensible (in general, not just in this book) as they're basically 'cousins' who chose different paths in life, yet this book left me thinking that perhaps reunification wasn't all that necessary or even desirable. If the idea was to convey the (general?) Romulan view of possible reunification - why would we, we're fine as we are - then bravo and well done, I agree with the Romulans. Missed getting into Spock's head and really understanding what motivates him to be where he is.
Found the Sisko part of the story interesting however somewhat out of character. Having read some of the other reviews of the book, it seems I'm not the only one. Sisko feels abandoned and lost, unsure about the future - all very understandable given what he's gone through and is going through in the book. However the strong and decisive man we got to know is still in there and I would have liked to see more of Sisko's backbone / self-confidence shine through, even if only from time to time. His story feels somewhat unfinished, like only the first part of the story was told and the part where he figures out how to get through or past the difficult time was missing. The book did leave me wondering what'll happen next in Sisko's life - I'm keen to read 'part two' of his story. Cue "And now... The conclusion."
I enjoyed the Spock part of the story and loved reading about the Romulans - they're always interesting. Scheming, devious, always several steps ahead and never disclosing all they know. Would have liked more Donatra time, though. Bringing the Vulcans and Romulans closer feels logical and sensible (in general, not just in this book) as they're basically 'cousins' who chose different paths in life, yet this book left me thinking that perhaps reunification wasn't all that necessary or even desirable. If the idea was to convey the (general?) Romulan view of possible reunification - why would we, we're fine as we are - then bravo and well done, I agree with the Romulans. Missed getting into Spock's head and really understanding what motivates him to be where he is.
Found the Sisko part of the story interesting however somewhat out of character. Having read some of the other reviews of the book, it seems I'm not the only one. Sisko feels abandoned and lost, unsure about the future - all very understandable given what he's gone through and is going through in the book. However the strong and decisive man we got to know is still in there and I would have liked to see more of Sisko's backbone / self-confidence shine through, even if only from time to time. His story feels somewhat unfinished, like only the first part of the story was told and the part where he figures out how to get through or past the difficult time was missing. The book did leave me wondering what'll happen next in Sisko's life - I'm keen to read 'part two' of his story. Cue "And now... The conclusion."
May 23, 2011
This is just a terribly disappointing book. It is two completely different stories, one involving Spock and the reunification movement in the two Romulan Empires, one involving Sisko and his inner turmoil. The Sisko storyline is an abomination. There is no actual "story" to it. It is just page after page of Sisko being emo and mopey. Indeed, it seems like the author wanted to create a story about a character's depression, but in finding that there were no suitable characters in the Star Trek ensemble, he simply chose Sisko and changed everything about his personality to fit the story he wanted to tell. If the Sisko storyline had been left out, the Spock storyline would have been barely tolerable, even though it had no particular point. [SPOILER from here forward] Spock and the reunification movement are pretty much exactly where they were five chapters in, the big "Romulan empire split" storyline completely abolished, and the two Romulan leaders we'd gotten to know over the past several novels now dead. Oh, and a completely random and pointless reintroduction of Sela for a total of two chapters.
Overall, the novel was completely disjointed, uninteresting, and contradictory with the established characters. This was by far the worst Star Trek book I have ever read. I can only hope that the next Typhon Pact novel leaves this one in the dust and it can be completely forgotten.
Overall, the novel was completely disjointed, uninteresting, and contradictory with the established characters. This was by far the worst Star Trek book I have ever read. I can only hope that the next Typhon Pact novel leaves this one in the dust and it can be completely forgotten.
February 7, 2011
This book was a mess. A reasonably good political tale about the Romulans that included Spock, combined with a terrible story involving some sort of mutant emo version of Sisko that literally went nowhere except to let us know that the author had no real idea of what to do with Sisko. Very disappointing, when compared to the generally high level of quality both during and after Star Trek: Destiny.
October 1, 2022
Star Trek: Rough Beasts of Empire Is the third book in the Typhon Pact series. It was written by David R. George III and was released in January 2011.
I was incredibly nervous going into this book. I have read that this was an incredibly controversial book. You need look no further than the goodreads ratings or the discussions by prominent Trek literary reviewers to know this book ruffled some feathers. I was especially nervous since I just read the first two book in the Typhon Pact series Zero Sum Game and Seize the Fire, both of which I thought were disappointingly mediocre.
Thankfully, this book is highly entertaining and well done, although a bit choppy in its structure.
The biggest strength of this book is the main A-plot with Spock and the Romulan Reunification movement. This book finally delivered on the “Typhon Pact” type of storyline I’ve been waiting on. This book truly moves the ball forward on the political scale, and also makes it really interesting. It has a lot of spy thriller elements, while still feeling at its core like a Star Trek political novel (which are almost always my favorites).
This book not only makes Spock an excellent point of view character, but also an excellent driving force. Oftentimes, Spock is made the sidekick of another Trek leader (Kirk, Picard, Pike, etc), but here he is truly front and center. All of his dialogue feels authentic and his character feels consistent and exciting.
I also liked meeting all of the Romulan players and leaders. I had a little trouble keeping them apart, but that was mostly because I was flying through the book so fast that I wasn’t too focused on the details. Tal’ Aura really stood out as an interesting character, someone who isn’t necessarily good or bad, just in a unique position.
I also really liked the way this book does leg work for “Nemesis” and really works towards blending existing Romulan culture with the weird “Remans”. Its not a big part of the book, but I appreciated it.
There were 3 elements of this book that were weaker, and they unfortunately all revolve around the character of Benjamin Sisko. For almost the entire book, Sisko’s storyline is separated from Spock’s storyline on Romulus, and the only real connection occurred over 2 chapters, which is really weaksauce. That to me was the biggest glaring issue of the book.
The second element of this book that was weak was the timeskips. Timeskips should really be nonexistent in Trek, except on rare occasion like telling backstories. However, the timeskip here is entirely due to the need to bring Sisko into the current year in the timeline. I think there should have been a few books in between with Sisko and really fleshed out his reasons for everything he does in this book (I could go into more detail, but I want to avoid spoilers). This works adequately here, but it would have been better had David R. George written a few more books to catch Sisko up organically. I think that’s what he should have been doing between 2002 and 2010, when he wrote a few TOS Star Trek novels, and he could have done 4 or 5 Sisko books to catch him up.
The third issue with the book is the character choices around Sisko himself. I think this is probably the most controversial to the fanbase, and I certainly understand it. I think Sisko makes choices in this book that no other writer would have written, especially the show writers. However, while I not only don’t like it as a character journey and as a moral issue, it actually marks sense to me and I think that David R. George handled the situation adequately. Not well, but adequately.
Overall, this book is choppy, but it leans towards the highly entertaining end for me. I really really loved the whole Romulan plot of the book, perhaps some of the best Romulan plotlines I have read. Really excellent political stuff. I thought that the Sisko storyline was choppy, rushed, and potentially unnecessary. Because I didn’t really hate the Sisko subplot and absolutely loved the A-plot with the Romulans, I’m willing to give this book a very good grade. I’ll give this book a 4.5 out of 5. Best David R. George novel yet for me!
I was incredibly nervous going into this book. I have read that this was an incredibly controversial book. You need look no further than the goodreads ratings or the discussions by prominent Trek literary reviewers to know this book ruffled some feathers. I was especially nervous since I just read the first two book in the Typhon Pact series Zero Sum Game and Seize the Fire, both of which I thought were disappointingly mediocre.
Thankfully, this book is highly entertaining and well done, although a bit choppy in its structure.
The biggest strength of this book is the main A-plot with Spock and the Romulan Reunification movement. This book finally delivered on the “Typhon Pact” type of storyline I’ve been waiting on. This book truly moves the ball forward on the political scale, and also makes it really interesting. It has a lot of spy thriller elements, while still feeling at its core like a Star Trek political novel (which are almost always my favorites).
This book not only makes Spock an excellent point of view character, but also an excellent driving force. Oftentimes, Spock is made the sidekick of another Trek leader (Kirk, Picard, Pike, etc), but here he is truly front and center. All of his dialogue feels authentic and his character feels consistent and exciting.
I also liked meeting all of the Romulan players and leaders. I had a little trouble keeping them apart, but that was mostly because I was flying through the book so fast that I wasn’t too focused on the details. Tal’ Aura really stood out as an interesting character, someone who isn’t necessarily good or bad, just in a unique position.
I also really liked the way this book does leg work for “Nemesis” and really works towards blending existing Romulan culture with the weird “Remans”. Its not a big part of the book, but I appreciated it.
There were 3 elements of this book that were weaker, and they unfortunately all revolve around the character of Benjamin Sisko. For almost the entire book, Sisko’s storyline is separated from Spock’s storyline on Romulus, and the only real connection occurred over 2 chapters, which is really weaksauce. That to me was the biggest glaring issue of the book.
The second element of this book that was weak was the timeskips. Timeskips should really be nonexistent in Trek, except on rare occasion like telling backstories. However, the timeskip here is entirely due to the need to bring Sisko into the current year in the timeline. I think there should have been a few books in between with Sisko and really fleshed out his reasons for everything he does in this book (I could go into more detail, but I want to avoid spoilers). This works adequately here, but it would have been better had David R. George written a few more books to catch Sisko up organically. I think that’s what he should have been doing between 2002 and 2010, when he wrote a few TOS Star Trek novels, and he could have done 4 or 5 Sisko books to catch him up.
The third issue with the book is the character choices around Sisko himself. I think this is probably the most controversial to the fanbase, and I certainly understand it. I think Sisko makes choices in this book that no other writer would have written, especially the show writers. However, while I not only don’t like it as a character journey and as a moral issue, it actually marks sense to me and I think that David R. George handled the situation adequately. Not well, but adequately.
Overall, this book is choppy, but it leans towards the highly entertaining end for me. I really really loved the whole Romulan plot of the book, perhaps some of the best Romulan plotlines I have read. Really excellent political stuff. I thought that the Sisko storyline was choppy, rushed, and potentially unnecessary. Because I didn’t really hate the Sisko subplot and absolutely loved the A-plot with the Romulans, I’m willing to give this book a very good grade. I’ll give this book a 4.5 out of 5. Best David R. George novel yet for me!
September 20, 2024
Star Trek: Typhon Pact #3 Rough Beasts of Empire by David R. George III
adventurous challenging emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad tense
Medium-paced
Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters are a main focus? It's complicated
3.75 Stars
I am enjoying the Star Trek: Typhon Pact, but unfortunately...this book started of GREAT, but landed at fairly good. Oh had my hopes up.
I was SO locked in, at the beginning, but unfortunately...just after halfway...till nearly 90%, I was just turning the pages.
I was following the story, but it became less fun.
I don't know why. I've been thinking about a possible reason, but haven't been able to put my finger exactly on it.
One thing that bothered me, was the Benjamin SIsko timeline jumps. I wish it had time stamps, for I would get confused about, "is this in the past? Ah, yes...Jennifer is still around." "Wait, what? Oh, Kasidy is his wife now. Okay, this is the present era." I kept getting whiplash with this. He should've solidified it by marking the Stardate at the beginning of the chapter, it would've put my mind at ease, going into the chapter KNOWING which Benjamin Sisko I was dealing with.
This wasn't the BIG problem. The big problem...was that I lost interest in which leader was supposed to be running the Romulan Empire. They both had their pluses and minuses, and Starfleet had the one they were backing, but how it all unfolded...seemed so anticlimactic (for me). I have not read what others think, but for me...it was a meh. "Okaaaayyy."
Obviously I loved Spock role in this, but even he couldn't make me care, near the end...and he really should've been able to convey that to me.
Again, this is not a bad story, it just didn't hit for me...the way that I hoped it would've.
On to the next story.
adventurous challenging emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad tense
Medium-paced
Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters are a main focus? It's complicated
3.75 Stars
I am enjoying the Star Trek: Typhon Pact, but unfortunately...this book started of GREAT, but landed at fairly good. Oh had my hopes up.
I was SO locked in, at the beginning, but unfortunately...just after halfway...till nearly 90%, I was just turning the pages.
I was following the story, but it became less fun.
I don't know why. I've been thinking about a possible reason, but haven't been able to put my finger exactly on it.
One thing that bothered me, was the Benjamin SIsko timeline jumps. I wish it had time stamps, for I would get confused about, "is this in the past? Ah, yes...Jennifer is still around." "Wait, what? Oh, Kasidy is his wife now. Okay, this is the present era." I kept getting whiplash with this. He should've solidified it by marking the Stardate at the beginning of the chapter, it would've put my mind at ease, going into the chapter KNOWING which Benjamin Sisko I was dealing with.
This wasn't the BIG problem. The big problem...was that I lost interest in which leader was supposed to be running the Romulan Empire. They both had their pluses and minuses, and Starfleet had the one they were backing, but how it all unfolded...seemed so anticlimactic (for me). I have not read what others think, but for me...it was a meh. "Okaaaayyy."
Obviously I loved Spock role in this, but even he couldn't make me care, near the end...and he really should've been able to convey that to me.
Again, this is not a bad story, it just didn't hit for me...the way that I hoped it would've.
On to the next story.
April 30, 2021
3.5 stars
January 19, 2016
Rough Beasts of Empire is yet another novel in the continuing epic political drama of the Typhon Pact.
As the cover indicates, the book is primarily about Captain Benjamin Sisko and Spock. The book is, obviously, set before the events of Star Trek (2009) when the latter departed the original Star Trek universe forever.
Benjamin Sisko's return isn't in this book but, I confess, a certain ambivalence to it in general. When he left to join the Prophets, I thought he was never going to return. That his 'ascension' was the price he was willing to pay for the Prophets destruction of the Jem'hadar fleet in "Sacrifice of Angels."
The premise of the book is multifold. Benjamin Sisko is going through a personal crisis following the events of Star Trek: Destiny. Having witnessed the death of thousands he was unable to save, suffering the loss of a good friend, and discovering the death of his father--the man who would not bend simply breaks.
It is painful to see Captain Sisko lose faith in the Prophets, his friends, his family, and even himself. This is not an easy situation that is resolved mid-point through the novel or during a dramatic climax, it is seemingly a permanent change to the character. David R. George III sells this excruciatingly sad series of events and I applaud his ability to write a tragedy, even as I hate it's happened to a character I love.
Elsewhere, on Romulus, we see Spock finally getting some traction on his Reunification movement. This is contradictory towards New Frontier, where the Praetor and Spock had come to a sort of accommodation, but it's hardly the only continuity difference between those novels and the main universe. Spock soon finds himself targeted by a Reman assassin but uses this event to get political capital enough to force a meeting with the Praetor. What follows is a multi-layered conspiracy plot the former Ambassador must try and unweave. The ending is shocking and entirely unexpected.
Finally, the Romulan government gets it own analysis. Their culture only vaguely hinted at in the various series, it is the Novelverse which has expanded on them to become a fully three-dimensional culture. Here, we get a rivalry between Praetor Tal'aura and Empress Donatra and how it has split the culture in two.
Both sides want the Romulan Empire reunited as does the Typhon Pact but whichever side it comes down on will forever change the galaxy. As expected, we get the usual Romulan blackmail, assassination, and cronyism to spice up the politics.
On my end, I've always been a huge fan of Empress Donatra and her Imperial Romulan State. I was rooting for her throughout the books she's appeared in, hoping she'd decide to ally with the Federation. Here, her story reaches its crucible as she's forced to work with Captain Sisko despite the fact he's probably at the absolute worst point of his life. I won't spoil things, but they don't go the way the universe needs. I fear for the Romulan people and I hate Romulans.
We get some more information on the Tzenkethi this book, illustrating them as a people who employ a genetic "caste" system (which they object to--despite it being mostly true) so that everyone is perfectly suited for their jobs. I was getting a little bored of the Breen as the only "villains" of the pact so it was nice to spice up things with Tzenkethi manipulations. I find them an offensive people and hope they get some comeuppance for the horrible things they do this volume.
A fan-favorite returns this volume with Sela of the Obsidian Order. Sela has always been a favorite character of mine and Star Trek Online won many kudos from me when it employed Denise Crosby to voice the evil Romulan Empress. Will Sela rise to the heights of her online counterpart? I don't know, but I hope so. With things having gone so poorly, I can think of no one better for eventual rulership of the Romulan people.
Rough Beasts of Empire is a harsh book dealing with both depression as well as the loss of ideals. In a very real way, it's a volume about the fact the Federation's principles won't always work out for the best. That the "bad guys" often win as much as the good ones. Also, that the "good guys" don't get to retire into a life of happily ever after. Many times, they're broken by their experiences.
Heavy stuff.
I recommend the book, nevertheless, citing its excellent craftsmanship. It is a tragedy, telling the fall of a good man and how even heroes can be helpless before larger events. If we ever get to the Hobus disaster, I hope it is David R. George III who chronicles its final hours.
9/10
As the cover indicates, the book is primarily about Captain Benjamin Sisko and Spock. The book is, obviously, set before the events of Star Trek (2009) when the latter departed the original Star Trek universe forever.
Benjamin Sisko's return isn't in this book but, I confess, a certain ambivalence to it in general. When he left to join the Prophets, I thought he was never going to return. That his 'ascension' was the price he was willing to pay for the Prophets destruction of the Jem'hadar fleet in "Sacrifice of Angels."
The premise of the book is multifold. Benjamin Sisko is going through a personal crisis following the events of Star Trek: Destiny. Having witnessed the death of thousands he was unable to save, suffering the loss of a good friend, and discovering the death of his father--the man who would not bend simply breaks.
It is painful to see Captain Sisko lose faith in the Prophets, his friends, his family, and even himself. This is not an easy situation that is resolved mid-point through the novel or during a dramatic climax, it is seemingly a permanent change to the character. David R. George III sells this excruciatingly sad series of events and I applaud his ability to write a tragedy, even as I hate it's happened to a character I love.
Elsewhere, on Romulus, we see Spock finally getting some traction on his Reunification movement. This is contradictory towards New Frontier, where the Praetor and Spock had come to a sort of accommodation, but it's hardly the only continuity difference between those novels and the main universe. Spock soon finds himself targeted by a Reman assassin but uses this event to get political capital enough to force a meeting with the Praetor. What follows is a multi-layered conspiracy plot the former Ambassador must try and unweave. The ending is shocking and entirely unexpected.
Finally, the Romulan government gets it own analysis. Their culture only vaguely hinted at in the various series, it is the Novelverse which has expanded on them to become a fully three-dimensional culture. Here, we get a rivalry between Praetor Tal'aura and Empress Donatra and how it has split the culture in two.
Both sides want the Romulan Empire reunited as does the Typhon Pact but whichever side it comes down on will forever change the galaxy. As expected, we get the usual Romulan blackmail, assassination, and cronyism to spice up the politics.
On my end, I've always been a huge fan of Empress Donatra and her Imperial Romulan State. I was rooting for her throughout the books she's appeared in, hoping she'd decide to ally with the Federation. Here, her story reaches its crucible as she's forced to work with Captain Sisko despite the fact he's probably at the absolute worst point of his life. I won't spoil things, but they don't go the way the universe needs. I fear for the Romulan people and I hate Romulans.
We get some more information on the Tzenkethi this book, illustrating them as a people who employ a genetic "caste" system (which they object to--despite it being mostly true) so that everyone is perfectly suited for their jobs. I was getting a little bored of the Breen as the only "villains" of the pact so it was nice to spice up things with Tzenkethi manipulations. I find them an offensive people and hope they get some comeuppance for the horrible things they do this volume.
A fan-favorite returns this volume with Sela of the Obsidian Order. Sela has always been a favorite character of mine and Star Trek Online won many kudos from me when it employed Denise Crosby to voice the evil Romulan Empress. Will Sela rise to the heights of her online counterpart? I don't know, but I hope so. With things having gone so poorly, I can think of no one better for eventual rulership of the Romulan people.
Rough Beasts of Empire is a harsh book dealing with both depression as well as the loss of ideals. In a very real way, it's a volume about the fact the Federation's principles won't always work out for the best. That the "bad guys" often win as much as the good ones. Also, that the "good guys" don't get to retire into a life of happily ever after. Many times, they're broken by their experiences.
Heavy stuff.
I recommend the book, nevertheless, citing its excellent craftsmanship. It is a tragedy, telling the fall of a good man and how even heroes can be helpless before larger events. If we ever get to the Hobus disaster, I hope it is David R. George III who chronicles its final hours.
9/10
May 20, 2025
Spock continues his reunification efforts on Romulus and Sisko has a crisis of faith. If, like me, you haven’t read all the Deep Space Nine books, heads up that Sisko is back from the wormhole in this storyline. Spock is billed as the star here but he doesn’t have a lot of tangible impact on the plot. If you read the first sentence of this review then you pretty much know everything he gets up to.
The actual plot is the political upheaval on Romulus surrounding Spock. The Romulan Empire is still rebounding from the events of Nemesis and there has since been a split into two separate political entities. We see the back room dealings of the new Romulan leaders as they connive to unite the empire and gain dominance over both their allies and enemies. The story is ok, but all the players with the most “screen time” aren’t gripping.
However the reader also follows the Romulan woman Gell Kamemor. Oh Gell, what a gem. She’s an ex politician trying to lead her family through this turbulent time. She’s not particularly important for most of the novel but she’s a very critical character moving forward. Ever since Star Trek introduced Worf, our favorite “good guy” Klingon, we’ve been waiting for a “good guy” Romulan, and fellas, I think she’s it. The author strikes a great balance at giving her traits the audience will identify as Romulan, while also steering her away from their typically villainous portrayal.
As for Sisko, he thinks the “prophets” have left him and that he is sure if he stays with his family something horrible will happen. He kind of just mopes all book. He does captain a new starship but his main purpose in the book is to have his life in a state of upheaval. I’m gonna tell you right now that you are not going to like where his character goes here. However, that being said, if you stick with the series, his storyline does improve and he does go back to the Sisko we know and love. You’re just gonna have to cringe through this book to get to the good.
Unless if you really really love Romulans I cannot recommend this to someone as a standalone book. As for readers of the Typhon Pact series, this is a necessary stinker you’re gonna have to take if you want to make it to the juicy bits.
The actual plot is the political upheaval on Romulus surrounding Spock. The Romulan Empire is still rebounding from the events of Nemesis and there has since been a split into two separate political entities. We see the back room dealings of the new Romulan leaders as they connive to unite the empire and gain dominance over both their allies and enemies. The story is ok, but all the players with the most “screen time” aren’t gripping.
However the reader also follows the Romulan woman Gell Kamemor. Oh Gell, what a gem. She’s an ex politician trying to lead her family through this turbulent time. She’s not particularly important for most of the novel but she’s a very critical character moving forward. Ever since Star Trek introduced Worf, our favorite “good guy” Klingon, we’ve been waiting for a “good guy” Romulan, and fellas, I think she’s it. The author strikes a great balance at giving her traits the audience will identify as Romulan, while also steering her away from their typically villainous portrayal.
As for Sisko, he thinks the “prophets” have left him and that he is sure if he stays with his family something horrible will happen. He kind of just mopes all book. He does captain a new starship but his main purpose in the book is to have his life in a state of upheaval. I’m gonna tell you right now that you are not going to like where his character goes here. However, that being said, if you stick with the series, his storyline does improve and he does go back to the Sisko we know and love. You’re just gonna have to cringe through this book to get to the good.
Unless if you really really love Romulans I cannot recommend this to someone as a standalone book. As for readers of the Typhon Pact series, this is a necessary stinker you’re gonna have to take if you want to make it to the juicy bits.
September 9, 2012
Normally, I give most Star Trek novels at least three stars, books about DS9 usually get more, but this book was more upsetting than enjoyable. The Spock portion about the Romulan Empire was quite fascinating, political wheels within wheels all leading to a finale no one could have predicted. The way the leaders of both Romulan states meet their fates shows how tenuous the Typhon Pact can quickly become if members became aware of how other members manipulate their governments to achieve results beneficial to one party of another.
Now, onto why I gave this book two stars. Let me preface this in saying that Deep Space Nine was my all-time favorite Star Trek series with Captain Sisko being tied with Janeway for favorite captain. Therefore, it stands to reason that a novel where Sisko's personality is nearly a 180 degree shift from what it was in the series warrants a bit of ranting. First off, everyone from the eeries and the relaunch is in different roles, Kira (One of my favorites of any Star Trek series) is now a vedek, Sisko is moping around the quadrant using his status to isolate himself from everyone, Vaughn and his daughter are camped out in DS9's infirmary, Ro is, presumably still in charge, Julian is back though not really in the book, O'Brian is on Cardassia (Read the first book of Worlds of Deep Space Nine), and Quark and Nog are still in their usual roles.
Frankly, with the DS9 portions,which center around Sisko, it feels as though I missed reading a book following the Destiny trilogy, but I didn't. With Star Trek Destiny, there were no DS9 characters shown aside from Dax, so there is a bit of a gap, but this book, and the rest of the Typhon Pact, picks up without any book in between to fill in the gaps for a better understanding of what happened to them during the invasion. The reader is dumped into a radically different DS9 narrative with Sisko being very different.
I really wanted to like this book for the Romulan elements, but the Sisko portion, and my general loathing for what is going on with DS9 brought it down for me.
Now, onto why I gave this book two stars. Let me preface this in saying that Deep Space Nine was my all-time favorite Star Trek series with Captain Sisko being tied with Janeway for favorite captain. Therefore, it stands to reason that a novel where Sisko's personality is nearly a 180 degree shift from what it was in the series warrants a bit of ranting. First off, everyone from the eeries and the relaunch is in different roles, Kira (One of my favorites of any Star Trek series) is now a vedek, Sisko is moping around the quadrant using his status to isolate himself from everyone, Vaughn and his daughter are camped out in DS9's infirmary, Ro is, presumably still in charge, Julian is back though not really in the book, O'Brian is on Cardassia (Read the first book of Worlds of Deep Space Nine), and Quark and Nog are still in their usual roles.
Frankly, with the DS9 portions,which center around Sisko, it feels as though I missed reading a book following the Destiny trilogy, but I didn't. With Star Trek Destiny, there were no DS9 characters shown aside from Dax, so there is a bit of a gap, but this book, and the rest of the Typhon Pact, picks up without any book in between to fill in the gaps for a better understanding of what happened to them during the invasion. The reader is dumped into a radically different DS9 narrative with Sisko being very different.
I really wanted to like this book for the Romulan elements, but the Sisko portion, and my general loathing for what is going on with DS9 brought it down for me.
January 6, 2011
I like how the post TNG Star Trek has these novels all link together. What happens in the Typhon Pact novels shows up in some other novel that isn't exactly in the same storyline, but, it is in the same universe. I also like how Star Trek now is more a political thriller that also happens to be a science fiction series.
May 29, 2025
Best installment of the Typhon pact series so far. I worried, at first, that this was going to be some sort of Sisko/Spock teacup, but rather, it was a book about both characters working a plot from different angles. I particularly like the development of Sisko's story.
August 3, 2013
A book with two of the most important and established characters in the Star Trek universe, you'd think this book be better. Nope. Total disappointment. Just a waste of these characters time. Hopefully, the rest of the novels left in this series are better.
March 8, 2018
This was an interesting story about the reunification of Vulcan and Romulus. There was plenty of Spock and Sisko in there.
September 27, 2013
Unfortunately, after the highs of the second book in the Typhon Pact series, "Seize the Fire" focusing on the crew of the Titan and the Gorn, "Rough Beasts of Empire," hits a nadir. This book focuses on the divided Romulan Empire, and also marginally on the lesser known and mysterious Tzenkethi. This book is split into three story arcs - or maybe 2.5. One story arc focuses on Spock and his reunification movement, and on the political intrigue between the Romulan Star Empire lead by Praetor Tal'Aura and the Imperial Romulan State lead by Empress Donatra of Star Trek Nemesis fame, and then finally the third story arc strangely focuses on Captain Benjamin Sisko and what has happened to him since his re-emergence from the celestial temple (aka the Bajoran Wormhole) and his corporeal life on Bajor with Kasidy Yates and their daughter Rebecca.
In any case - let's break this review down into two categories: plot and character development, and Trek "metaverse" development.
PLOT/CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT
To me, the most intriguing of the three arcs in this book is that of the internal Romulan political intrigue. This book deals with the divided Romulan Empire. Donatra, after the events of Star Trek Nemesis and the Titan book "Taking Wing" Donatra splits off from the Romulan Star Empire to found the Imperial Romulan State - formally recognized by the Federation and the Klingon Empire, the IRS (hehe) is about equally matched militarily with the Star Empire, and has a leg up on worlds that form the "bread basket" of the former Star Empire. The RSE, in contrast, is a member of the newly formed Typhon Pact, nearly equally matched militarily with the IRS, and has its capital on Romulus, the traditional seat of the Romulan Empire, and therefore has the inertia of being "home" to all Romulans. The arc focuses more on Tal'Aura, the praetor of the RSE, and her maneuvers to consolidate her power by reconstituting the Senate (which was destroyed by Shinzon in Nemesis), and allowing Spock's reunification movement to come out of the shadows and become a mainstream political movement. Tal'Aura seems like she is a moderate, calculating leader with these moves. We also see some old TNG friends in this story arc: Tomalak, now Proconsul, and Sela has a small bit part, murdering the current head of the Tal Shiar, and then at the end of the book, becoming the head of the secretive Romulan intelligence agency.
Donatra really gets the short straw in this book - she is outmaneuvered by Tal'Aura, and eventually commits suicide in prison on Romulus. This is such an ignoble end to such noble character as Donatra. She is the one that came to the Enterprise's aid in the battle with Shinzon, and she had the moxy to breakaway from the RSE to form the IRS and challenge the galactic status quo. George really does her character a disservice by killing her off in the way he did - suicide in a jail cell? C'mon - she deserved more than this. Donatra was a true patriot in my eyes, and I believe she could have been the one Romulan to offer a real rapprochement with the Federation, and even perhaps a detente or treaty that was "hoped" for by Captain Picard and the Romulan Commander in "The Chase," and later between Picard and Donatra herself in Nemesis.
The Romulan arc is later tidily summed up by George by showing the real tiger in the Typhon Pact, the Tzenkethi. How odd that such a mysterious and undeveloped race in the Trek universe can somehow manipulate one of the most developed, and most cunning Trek adversaries, the Romulans. I just don't buy the fact the the Tzenkethi, a moderate, second rate power in the galaxy can effectively assassinate the Romulan praetor, and a powerful Senator, and then place their own preferred praetor to power. George most likely does this as a check to most Trek fans to let them know that the Romulans are not the real power in the Typhon Pact, but it just comes across as implausible. I simply cannot see the Romulans being played like they were in this book. The Romulans are usually the players, not the played.
The Spock arc was also a let down. I've often wondered at the logic of Spock's reunification movement ever since the first time I saw "Reunification" all those years ago with TNG. Why would Spock think a mercurial, paranoid, emotional, militaristic race such as the Romulans ever want to reunify with their ancient Vulcan brothers - a race known for their lack of emotions, their embrace of logic and peaceful cooperation, and the 800-pound gorilla in the room - THE VULCANS ARE PART OF THE FEDERATION! The Romulans' arch-enemy! At its outset, the reunification movement just seemed illogical to me. I expected better of Spock - he was always so awesome in TOS and the movies...that he would become so illogical and seemingly gullible seems so un-Spock-like. And like Donatra and Tal'Aura, Spock is played in this book as well. Again - I just don't see Spock being played. Or maybe he's just growing senile in his older age, and is not on his game like he was when he was aboard the Enterprise-1701. Basically, Spock was nearly assassinated by a Reman, and then used by Tal'Aura to achieve her own reunification of the two Romulan empires...with Spock's movement only marginally gaining the ability to discuss Romulan-Vulcan reunification openly in Romulan society (kind of a Romulan version of the First Amendment of the US Constitution). Big whoop! Spock was played, and his story arc was rather flat.
Now we get to the most disappointing, and peculiar arc of the book: the Sisko arc.
I am not sure why Sisko's story arc was put in this book - perhaps to flesh out the Tzenkethi? David R. George III is usually one of the better Trek authors, but this time I am curious as to what he was thinking. We start out with Sisko commanding a ship in the Battle of Alonis with the Borg during the recent Borg holocaust, so expertly written by David Mack with the "Unity" omnibus. Sisko commands a small fleet of three ships to go up against six Borg cubes. One of the other ships in the fleet is captain by Elias Vaughn, the former first officer of Deep Space Nine after Sisko left to be with the Prophets. I find it strange that two former DS9 officers just happen to be captaining starships protecting the same planet in such a BIG Federation...but all of this is a means to fit the end of George's lackluster Typhon Pact novel. After losing Vaughn, and thousands of people dying on the surface of Alonis, Sisko once again leaves Starfleet when he learns shortly after the Borg attack that his father back on Earth has passed away. This wasn't too much of a surprise, because we all knew how old Sisko's dad was from the DS9 tv show. But what IS a surprise is Sisko's reaction to his father's death. He goes back to Earth and manages to not act like the decisive man we have come to know him as when he commanded DS9 through some harrowing years. Instead, Benjamin Sisko acts like a mopey, whining shell of his former self that just wants to revel in his own pity party. The way George depicts Sisko in this book makes you wonder if George really knows the man Sisko is. This is NOT the Sisko I came to know and love from DS9.
After the Borg holocaust and his father's death, Sisko leaves Starfleet...but magically, within a few pages, and a "We need you," speech from Admiral Akaar at Starfleet Command, Sisko is "back in" as a Captain in Starfleet, and given command of a Galaxy Class starship, the Robinson. He then heads back to Bajor to explain to his wife Kasidy his decision to leave them there, and go serve the Federation in its time of need. Again - this is very un-Sisko-like. Sisko is a family man...he would never abandon his wife and daughter - especially with what happened to him an Jennifer with Jake. But he does. He just up and leaves. Before he departs Bajor, he consults an orb at a monastery, but the prophets do not speak to him, so once again we are treated to Sisko feeling sorry for himself, this time because the prophets have left him, and he no longer feels like his is the Emissary. Boo freakin' hoo. He has a chance meeting with now Vedek Kira (which I can see happening) that does not make him feel any better.
We then find an isolated, grumpy, mopey, unprofessional Captain Sisko commanding the USS Robinson patrolling the border(s) with the Romulans. He isolates himself from his crew, and is downright grumpy and mean. Then George takes the novel, and turns it back 20 years in time with an awkward "flashback" that seems very out of place. We all know that Captain Sisko mentioned on several occasions in the Deep Space Nine tv show that he was a part of the one or two "wars" the Federation fought with the Tzenkethi. These "wars" may have been analogous to America's "police action" in Operation Desert Storm - technically a war, but nowhere near the commitment of a war like Vietnam, World War II, or even the second Iraq War of the 2000s. Even with George's description of Sisko's involvement in the Tzenkethi war(s), one gets the impression that the existence of the Federation was never in danger, as it was with the Dominion War and the recent Borg holocaust. This flashback however, does little to help you understand the Tzenkethi's motivations for the war, other than how their society is set up (and their society isn't even described in this flashback, but in the Romulan story-arc). Maybe the flashback was to inject some shoot 'em up-bang 'em up action into an otherwise boring dull novel? I don't know...but it was bad.
Sisko is then given a mission to go to Achernar Prime (the IRS capital) to meet with Donatra because he is an "expert" in Romulan politics. Uh...ok...I guess Sisko is a Romulan expert from his time in the Dominion War, and conveniently his time at the Federation Embassy on Romulus when he was a junior officer. Wait a minute! Sisko would have been a junior officer in the 2350s - well before the Romulans re-emergence into galactic affairs in 2364 (TNG episode "The Neutral Zone.") This is sloppy story telling here...there is no way Sisko could have been assigned to Romulus as a junior officer, because there was no diplomatic relations with the RSE! Nothing upsets me more than inconsistency in Trek - when it is so easy to do some research and get it right. C'mon George! If anyone is an expert in Romulan politics, it would be Picard...too bad this book wasn't about him. Sisko's arc was sewn up with him divorcing Kasidy, and leaving her to raise their 4 year old daughter alone, and him continuing his service aboard the Robinson. Who is this man, and what have you done with Benjamin Sisko, George? **weeps**
METAVERSE DEVELOPMENT
The recent books (from the Unity Omnibus through to the Typhon Pact) have been AMAZING. Picking up where Nemesis left off, we get to find out what happens to almost all of our favorite characters from the Enterprise-E, DS9, Titan, and Voyager. It's like you're watching the television show again - with great crossover from all the crews.
The Typon Pact series of books so far has been kind of flat in storytelling and excitement, but they have had a lot of political development. Even though this book basically stinks, there is a lot of meat on the political bone. The Romulan Empire is one again, the Typhon Pact is stronger and more stable, and we learn more about the Federation's recovery from the Bord holocaust. George does succeed in giving you a sense that there is more to come, and more impending doom. For that, this Typhon Pact book moves the story along nicely. The political development is pretty much the only good part of this book, and will leave you wanting more.
There is one Trek thing I take issue with from George - he is TERRIBLE at naming starships. Usually we are treated to great names on Star Trek starships: Enterprise, Defiant, Voyager, Titan, Aventine, Odyssey, Challenger, and on and on. Instead, George names his ships in this book as if they are US Naval vessels. The Nebula Class USS New York? Boring. The USS James T. Kirk...ok, I can see that, but how many other Starfleet ships have been named after former captains, and then use all three names? Not even all three names - the ship's name holds an initial. An initial as an official name of a starship! Why not just leave it as the USS Kirk? The "James T." is not needed. We all know which Kirk you're talking about if this is a Star Trek story. And Akira Class? Don't you think a ship named after one of the greatest captains in Starfleet should be maybe a capital ship like maybe a Galaxy or Sovereign Class vessel? The other ship in the task force commanded by Sisko over Alonis during the Borg incursion is the USS Cutlass, class unknown. Cutlass...that's a cool name, but still somewhat unimaginative. It's like George (a former New York resident himself) was grasping for ship names - oh! I'll name one after my former home-state, and oh look! An Oldsmobile Cutlass just drove by! Boom! USS Cutlass! Ok...one more ship name needed...man I wish I was writing about Captain Kirk...ooh! USS Kirk! Please.
Then Captain Sisko is given command of a big, capital ship, the Galaxy Class USS Robinson. The Robinson? Which Robinson is it named after, and why would one of the most graceful, large, most powerful ships in Starfleet be given such an innocuous name, when others from that class have been named Galaxy, Enterprise, Yamato, Challenger, Odyssey, etc? Snore.
Last two = from the flashback scene in the Tzenkethi police action - Sisko's former ship, the Okinawa (ok...that's a good name for a ship...especially one for the ubiquitous Excelsior Class), and then the Ambassador Class USS Assurance. Hmmm...Assurance...ok...that's somewhat regal for a ship-of-the-line like an Ambassador Class. So out of six Starfleet vessels in this book, only ONE has a good name, and it ends up being destroyed and crash landing on a planet.
WHAT IN HADES, GEORGE?!?!?!?
This book deserves 2 stars, maybe less. But I'm looking forward to "Paths of Disharmony," the next installment in the Typhon Pact series, set on the Enterprise-E with Captain Picard. Let's hope Dayton Ward, author of "Paths..." gets the characters right. If he screws up Picard like George screwed up Sisko, I'm gonna look for the nearest black hole.
In any case - let's break this review down into two categories: plot and character development, and Trek "metaverse" development.
PLOT/CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT
To me, the most intriguing of the three arcs in this book is that of the internal Romulan political intrigue. This book deals with the divided Romulan Empire. Donatra, after the events of Star Trek Nemesis and the Titan book "Taking Wing" Donatra splits off from the Romulan Star Empire to found the Imperial Romulan State - formally recognized by the Federation and the Klingon Empire, the IRS (hehe) is about equally matched militarily with the Star Empire, and has a leg up on worlds that form the "bread basket" of the former Star Empire. The RSE, in contrast, is a member of the newly formed Typhon Pact, nearly equally matched militarily with the IRS, and has its capital on Romulus, the traditional seat of the Romulan Empire, and therefore has the inertia of being "home" to all Romulans. The arc focuses more on Tal'Aura, the praetor of the RSE, and her maneuvers to consolidate her power by reconstituting the Senate (which was destroyed by Shinzon in Nemesis), and allowing Spock's reunification movement to come out of the shadows and become a mainstream political movement. Tal'Aura seems like she is a moderate, calculating leader with these moves. We also see some old TNG friends in this story arc: Tomalak, now Proconsul, and Sela has a small bit part, murdering the current head of the Tal Shiar, and then at the end of the book, becoming the head of the secretive Romulan intelligence agency.
Donatra really gets the short straw in this book - she is outmaneuvered by Tal'Aura, and eventually commits suicide in prison on Romulus. This is such an ignoble end to such noble character as Donatra. She is the one that came to the Enterprise's aid in the battle with Shinzon, and she had the moxy to breakaway from the RSE to form the IRS and challenge the galactic status quo. George really does her character a disservice by killing her off in the way he did - suicide in a jail cell? C'mon - she deserved more than this. Donatra was a true patriot in my eyes, and I believe she could have been the one Romulan to offer a real rapprochement with the Federation, and even perhaps a detente or treaty that was "hoped" for by Captain Picard and the Romulan Commander in "The Chase," and later between Picard and Donatra herself in Nemesis.
The Romulan arc is later tidily summed up by George by showing the real tiger in the Typhon Pact, the Tzenkethi. How odd that such a mysterious and undeveloped race in the Trek universe can somehow manipulate one of the most developed, and most cunning Trek adversaries, the Romulans. I just don't buy the fact the the Tzenkethi, a moderate, second rate power in the galaxy can effectively assassinate the Romulan praetor, and a powerful Senator, and then place their own preferred praetor to power. George most likely does this as a check to most Trek fans to let them know that the Romulans are not the real power in the Typhon Pact, but it just comes across as implausible. I simply cannot see the Romulans being played like they were in this book. The Romulans are usually the players, not the played.
The Spock arc was also a let down. I've often wondered at the logic of Spock's reunification movement ever since the first time I saw "Reunification" all those years ago with TNG. Why would Spock think a mercurial, paranoid, emotional, militaristic race such as the Romulans ever want to reunify with their ancient Vulcan brothers - a race known for their lack of emotions, their embrace of logic and peaceful cooperation, and the 800-pound gorilla in the room - THE VULCANS ARE PART OF THE FEDERATION! The Romulans' arch-enemy! At its outset, the reunification movement just seemed illogical to me. I expected better of Spock - he was always so awesome in TOS and the movies...that he would become so illogical and seemingly gullible seems so un-Spock-like. And like Donatra and Tal'Aura, Spock is played in this book as well. Again - I just don't see Spock being played. Or maybe he's just growing senile in his older age, and is not on his game like he was when he was aboard the Enterprise-1701. Basically, Spock was nearly assassinated by a Reman, and then used by Tal'Aura to achieve her own reunification of the two Romulan empires...with Spock's movement only marginally gaining the ability to discuss Romulan-Vulcan reunification openly in Romulan society (kind of a Romulan version of the First Amendment of the US Constitution). Big whoop! Spock was played, and his story arc was rather flat.
Now we get to the most disappointing, and peculiar arc of the book: the Sisko arc.
I am not sure why Sisko's story arc was put in this book - perhaps to flesh out the Tzenkethi? David R. George III is usually one of the better Trek authors, but this time I am curious as to what he was thinking. We start out with Sisko commanding a ship in the Battle of Alonis with the Borg during the recent Borg holocaust, so expertly written by David Mack with the "Unity" omnibus. Sisko commands a small fleet of three ships to go up against six Borg cubes. One of the other ships in the fleet is captain by Elias Vaughn, the former first officer of Deep Space Nine after Sisko left to be with the Prophets. I find it strange that two former DS9 officers just happen to be captaining starships protecting the same planet in such a BIG Federation...but all of this is a means to fit the end of George's lackluster Typhon Pact novel. After losing Vaughn, and thousands of people dying on the surface of Alonis, Sisko once again leaves Starfleet when he learns shortly after the Borg attack that his father back on Earth has passed away. This wasn't too much of a surprise, because we all knew how old Sisko's dad was from the DS9 tv show. But what IS a surprise is Sisko's reaction to his father's death. He goes back to Earth and manages to not act like the decisive man we have come to know him as when he commanded DS9 through some harrowing years. Instead, Benjamin Sisko acts like a mopey, whining shell of his former self that just wants to revel in his own pity party. The way George depicts Sisko in this book makes you wonder if George really knows the man Sisko is. This is NOT the Sisko I came to know and love from DS9.
After the Borg holocaust and his father's death, Sisko leaves Starfleet...but magically, within a few pages, and a "We need you," speech from Admiral Akaar at Starfleet Command, Sisko is "back in" as a Captain in Starfleet, and given command of a Galaxy Class starship, the Robinson. He then heads back to Bajor to explain to his wife Kasidy his decision to leave them there, and go serve the Federation in its time of need. Again - this is very un-Sisko-like. Sisko is a family man...he would never abandon his wife and daughter - especially with what happened to him an Jennifer with Jake. But he does. He just up and leaves. Before he departs Bajor, he consults an orb at a monastery, but the prophets do not speak to him, so once again we are treated to Sisko feeling sorry for himself, this time because the prophets have left him, and he no longer feels like his is the Emissary. Boo freakin' hoo. He has a chance meeting with now Vedek Kira (which I can see happening) that does not make him feel any better.
We then find an isolated, grumpy, mopey, unprofessional Captain Sisko commanding the USS Robinson patrolling the border(s) with the Romulans. He isolates himself from his crew, and is downright grumpy and mean. Then George takes the novel, and turns it back 20 years in time with an awkward "flashback" that seems very out of place. We all know that Captain Sisko mentioned on several occasions in the Deep Space Nine tv show that he was a part of the one or two "wars" the Federation fought with the Tzenkethi. These "wars" may have been analogous to America's "police action" in Operation Desert Storm - technically a war, but nowhere near the commitment of a war like Vietnam, World War II, or even the second Iraq War of the 2000s. Even with George's description of Sisko's involvement in the Tzenkethi war(s), one gets the impression that the existence of the Federation was never in danger, as it was with the Dominion War and the recent Borg holocaust. This flashback however, does little to help you understand the Tzenkethi's motivations for the war, other than how their society is set up (and their society isn't even described in this flashback, but in the Romulan story-arc). Maybe the flashback was to inject some shoot 'em up-bang 'em up action into an otherwise boring dull novel? I don't know...but it was bad.
Sisko is then given a mission to go to Achernar Prime (the IRS capital) to meet with Donatra because he is an "expert" in Romulan politics. Uh...ok...I guess Sisko is a Romulan expert from his time in the Dominion War, and conveniently his time at the Federation Embassy on Romulus when he was a junior officer. Wait a minute! Sisko would have been a junior officer in the 2350s - well before the Romulans re-emergence into galactic affairs in 2364 (TNG episode "The Neutral Zone.") This is sloppy story telling here...there is no way Sisko could have been assigned to Romulus as a junior officer, because there was no diplomatic relations with the RSE! Nothing upsets me more than inconsistency in Trek - when it is so easy to do some research and get it right. C'mon George! If anyone is an expert in Romulan politics, it would be Picard...too bad this book wasn't about him. Sisko's arc was sewn up with him divorcing Kasidy, and leaving her to raise their 4 year old daughter alone, and him continuing his service aboard the Robinson. Who is this man, and what have you done with Benjamin Sisko, George? **weeps**
METAVERSE DEVELOPMENT
The recent books (from the Unity Omnibus through to the Typhon Pact) have been AMAZING. Picking up where Nemesis left off, we get to find out what happens to almost all of our favorite characters from the Enterprise-E, DS9, Titan, and Voyager. It's like you're watching the television show again - with great crossover from all the crews.
The Typon Pact series of books so far has been kind of flat in storytelling and excitement, but they have had a lot of political development. Even though this book basically stinks, there is a lot of meat on the political bone. The Romulan Empire is one again, the Typhon Pact is stronger and more stable, and we learn more about the Federation's recovery from the Bord holocaust. George does succeed in giving you a sense that there is more to come, and more impending doom. For that, this Typhon Pact book moves the story along nicely. The political development is pretty much the only good part of this book, and will leave you wanting more.
There is one Trek thing I take issue with from George - he is TERRIBLE at naming starships. Usually we are treated to great names on Star Trek starships: Enterprise, Defiant, Voyager, Titan, Aventine, Odyssey, Challenger, and on and on. Instead, George names his ships in this book as if they are US Naval vessels. The Nebula Class USS New York? Boring. The USS James T. Kirk...ok, I can see that, but how many other Starfleet ships have been named after former captains, and then use all three names? Not even all three names - the ship's name holds an initial. An initial as an official name of a starship! Why not just leave it as the USS Kirk? The "James T." is not needed. We all know which Kirk you're talking about if this is a Star Trek story. And Akira Class? Don't you think a ship named after one of the greatest captains in Starfleet should be maybe a capital ship like maybe a Galaxy or Sovereign Class vessel? The other ship in the task force commanded by Sisko over Alonis during the Borg incursion is the USS Cutlass, class unknown. Cutlass...that's a cool name, but still somewhat unimaginative. It's like George (a former New York resident himself) was grasping for ship names - oh! I'll name one after my former home-state, and oh look! An Oldsmobile Cutlass just drove by! Boom! USS Cutlass! Ok...one more ship name needed...man I wish I was writing about Captain Kirk...ooh! USS Kirk! Please.
Then Captain Sisko is given command of a big, capital ship, the Galaxy Class USS Robinson. The Robinson? Which Robinson is it named after, and why would one of the most graceful, large, most powerful ships in Starfleet be given such an innocuous name, when others from that class have been named Galaxy, Enterprise, Yamato, Challenger, Odyssey, etc? Snore.
Last two = from the flashback scene in the Tzenkethi police action - Sisko's former ship, the Okinawa (ok...that's a good name for a ship...especially one for the ubiquitous Excelsior Class), and then the Ambassador Class USS Assurance. Hmmm...Assurance...ok...that's somewhat regal for a ship-of-the-line like an Ambassador Class. So out of six Starfleet vessels in this book, only ONE has a good name, and it ends up being destroyed and crash landing on a planet.
WHAT IN HADES, GEORGE?!?!?!?
This book deserves 2 stars, maybe less. But I'm looking forward to "Paths of Disharmony," the next installment in the Typhon Pact series, set on the Enterprise-E with Captain Picard. Let's hope Dayton Ward, author of "Paths..." gets the characters right. If he screws up Picard like George screwed up Sisko, I'm gonna look for the nearest black hole.
March 20, 2019
Minor spoilers ahead.
The third installment in the Typhon Pact arc centers on three main things. First, the ongoing Vulcan-Romulan Reunification movement that Spock has been pushing for years on Romulus. Second, the personal life of Benjamin Sisko after the final events of DS9. Third, the Romulan political scene, in which Empress Donatra's breakoff faction Imperial Romulan State is still at odds with the Romulan Star Empire and Praetor Tal'Aura.
I liked the setup. But the bottom line is, the storytelling is just not up to snuff at all. Where prose is concerned, first off, there was a lot of laziness. In some places, he would open a scene, maybe give us a single line, and then give more than one paragraph of backstory about what "had happened" up to that point. It was painful to read that style. As for the story content, the first element, Spock's Reunification movement, is just okay. I was surprised at how lifeless Spock's characterization was in this novel. I understand he's a Vulcan, driven by cold logic, but the Spock we've all come to know and love had embraced the better parts of his humanity. Instead, in this novel, we see him dragging his posse of loyal supporters around trying to get favors from the Romulan government.
The second element, Sisko's personal life, left me completely perplexed. He is NOT the type of person to abandon his wife and family like he did in this novel. Apparently, the Bajoran Prophets made him feel like he must, and while I respect that Sisko, being their Emissary, would not discard their advice out of hand, I couldn't believe Sisko would leave his family without even trying to make a peaceful life with them. When the novel starts, Sisko has been away for a long time fighting the Borg and what not. When he sees his family, he is there for maybe a few hours at most before he leaves and doesn't see them again. Just why? Plus, he is way too pouty and melancholic, not like the Sisko I remember from DS9.
The final element, Romulan political intrigue, was the one saving grave of this novel, in my opinion. I genuinely enjoyed the stories of subterfuge, subtle plotting and sleight of hand. The author solved the Donatra/Tal'Aura issue by the end of the novel, and while I won't reveal any details, I thought he did so very effectively and satisfactorily.
Bottom line: bad storytelling killed this for me. Its saving grace, worth a star in my opinion, was the Romulan political story. Other than that, though, it's surprisingly bland.
The third installment in the Typhon Pact arc centers on three main things. First, the ongoing Vulcan-Romulan Reunification movement that Spock has been pushing for years on Romulus. Second, the personal life of Benjamin Sisko after the final events of DS9. Third, the Romulan political scene, in which Empress Donatra's breakoff faction Imperial Romulan State is still at odds with the Romulan Star Empire and Praetor Tal'Aura.
I liked the setup. But the bottom line is, the storytelling is just not up to snuff at all. Where prose is concerned, first off, there was a lot of laziness. In some places, he would open a scene, maybe give us a single line, and then give more than one paragraph of backstory about what "had happened" up to that point. It was painful to read that style. As for the story content, the first element, Spock's Reunification movement, is just okay. I was surprised at how lifeless Spock's characterization was in this novel. I understand he's a Vulcan, driven by cold logic, but the Spock we've all come to know and love had embraced the better parts of his humanity. Instead, in this novel, we see him dragging his posse of loyal supporters around trying to get favors from the Romulan government.
The second element, Sisko's personal life, left me completely perplexed. He is NOT the type of person to abandon his wife and family like he did in this novel. Apparently, the Bajoran Prophets made him feel like he must, and while I respect that Sisko, being their Emissary, would not discard their advice out of hand, I couldn't believe Sisko would leave his family without even trying to make a peaceful life with them. When the novel starts, Sisko has been away for a long time fighting the Borg and what not. When he sees his family, he is there for maybe a few hours at most before he leaves and doesn't see them again. Just why? Plus, he is way too pouty and melancholic, not like the Sisko I remember from DS9.
The final element, Romulan political intrigue, was the one saving grave of this novel, in my opinion. I genuinely enjoyed the stories of subterfuge, subtle plotting and sleight of hand. The author solved the Donatra/Tal'Aura issue by the end of the novel, and while I won't reveal any details, I thought he did so very effectively and satisfactorily.
Bottom line: bad storytelling killed this for me. Its saving grace, worth a star in my opinion, was the Romulan political story. Other than that, though, it's surprisingly bland.
December 10, 2021
After hitting a rough patch with Seize the Fire, David R. George III does a terrific course correction with this third Typhon Pact novel, Rough Beasts of Empire.
Book 3 is set firmly in the world of political thrillers, revolving around machinations and murder as officials within Romulan Star Empire attempt to reunite the split worlds and cleaved government left in the wake of the fallout from Star Trek: Nemesis. George kicks things off in grand fashion with the attempted assassination of Spock, who is still on Romulus spearheading the underground movement for Vulcan reconciliation. Spock's efforts may represent the best path forward for the Romulan people and the government's own attempts to reconciliation with the Klingon-allied Romulan State faction.
Readers are also given an opportunity to catch up with Captain Benjamin Sisko, who has rejoined Starfleet in the wake of the Borg's incursion and attack upon Federation space. Whereas Books 1 and 2 largely took place a year after the Borg war, the bulk of Rough Beasts of Empire is set in between the conclusion to the Destiny trilogy and the opening of Zero Sum Game. George fills in the necessary gaps with aplomb, but it also necessarily puts a halt to any forward momentum to the Typhon Pact series itself. Really, this should have been the first book in the series, but at least it rinses out the bad taste left by the subpar efforts of Seize the Fire.
One of the best aspects to Rough Beasts is George's handling of Sisko, and his presentation of the Emissary is markedly different than the man Trek viewers grew acquainted with on TV. Sisko has been abandoned by the Prophets and, since returning to corporeal, linear space, has suffered one trauma after another. Here, he's a man beat-down by the universe and driven into isolation, which prompts him to make some very drastic decisions as he grapples with his mid-life crises against the backdrop of devastated worlds and mass genocide. It's a fascinating bit of growth for this character, and promises the start of an interesting new arc for him.
Rough Beasts of Empire is a melancholic entry (which may answer why this book wasn't placed first, all things considered) and charts the rise of the Typhon Pact's most prominent member in the Romulan Star Empire. George fills it with plenty of political struggles, scheming, murder, and the occasional torture, offering up a darker view of the Star Trek universe, but not one without some shades of hope for the future.
Book 3 is set firmly in the world of political thrillers, revolving around machinations and murder as officials within Romulan Star Empire attempt to reunite the split worlds and cleaved government left in the wake of the fallout from Star Trek: Nemesis. George kicks things off in grand fashion with the attempted assassination of Spock, who is still on Romulus spearheading the underground movement for Vulcan reconciliation. Spock's efforts may represent the best path forward for the Romulan people and the government's own attempts to reconciliation with the Klingon-allied Romulan State faction.
Readers are also given an opportunity to catch up with Captain Benjamin Sisko, who has rejoined Starfleet in the wake of the Borg's incursion and attack upon Federation space. Whereas Books 1 and 2 largely took place a year after the Borg war, the bulk of Rough Beasts of Empire is set in between the conclusion to the Destiny trilogy and the opening of Zero Sum Game. George fills in the necessary gaps with aplomb, but it also necessarily puts a halt to any forward momentum to the Typhon Pact series itself. Really, this should have been the first book in the series, but at least it rinses out the bad taste left by the subpar efforts of Seize the Fire.
One of the best aspects to Rough Beasts is George's handling of Sisko, and his presentation of the Emissary is markedly different than the man Trek viewers grew acquainted with on TV. Sisko has been abandoned by the Prophets and, since returning to corporeal, linear space, has suffered one trauma after another. Here, he's a man beat-down by the universe and driven into isolation, which prompts him to make some very drastic decisions as he grapples with his mid-life crises against the backdrop of devastated worlds and mass genocide. It's a fascinating bit of growth for this character, and promises the start of an interesting new arc for him.
Rough Beasts of Empire is a melancholic entry (which may answer why this book wasn't placed first, all things considered) and charts the rise of the Typhon Pact's most prominent member in the Romulan Star Empire. George fills it with plenty of political struggles, scheming, murder, and the occasional torture, offering up a darker view of the Star Trek universe, but not one without some shades of hope for the future.
September 26, 2021
I found the first half of this book really interesting, particularly the Sisko chapters. I understand why other reviewers found him out of character throughout this book, as he is much different from the show, but it made sense to me after reading the beginnings of his doubts in the Warpath-Soul Key books and all the tragic events that have transpired since that Sisko would be experiencing serious depression and self-doubt. With all the deaths and his confusion/turmoil over the Prophets, it was very understandable that he spiralled. Not sure Avery Brooks would approve of the appearance reversal or the basic abandoning of Rebecca though. I found it strange Sisko didn't mention her much. Anyway, I found his mental health struggles to be written well, and especially liked his scene with Kira.
And then the second half of the book ruined that a little. Sisko is rude and cold with his staff for the same reason that he left his family and friends - to save them from the tragedies that follow him - but then at the end Sisko divorces Kasidy but decides to be friendlier to the crew? This made no sense at all to me.
I enjoyed Spock but found the Romulan politics got a little boring. Donatra's end was a little anti-climactic, but I am interested to see where they're going to take the new Praetor and Sela. While I enjoyed the interference from the Tzenkethi, I was disappointed we didn't see more from them. The flashbacks from Sisko were very out of place and confusing; they didn't add anything to Sisko's storyline, the book's storyline, or Tzenkethi lore, so I really don't know why they were included.
The timing of events in this book honestly was very confusing. It's the 3rd in the series yet takes place before the other two, but lasts a year without really explaining the time jumps well, and also includes random unmarked flashback chapters. Just felt a little all over the place.
I hope Sisko finds peace soon. It was an emotionally heavy book, which worked well in the first half and unfortunately tapered off in the second.
And then the second half of the book ruined that a little. Sisko is rude and cold with his staff for the same reason that he left his family and friends - to save them from the tragedies that follow him - but then at the end Sisko divorces Kasidy but decides to be friendlier to the crew? This made no sense at all to me.
I enjoyed Spock but found the Romulan politics got a little boring. Donatra's end was a little anti-climactic, but I am interested to see where they're going to take the new Praetor and Sela. While I enjoyed the interference from the Tzenkethi, I was disappointed we didn't see more from them. The flashbacks from Sisko were very out of place and confusing; they didn't add anything to Sisko's storyline, the book's storyline, or Tzenkethi lore, so I really don't know why they were included.
The timing of events in this book honestly was very confusing. It's the 3rd in the series yet takes place before the other two, but lasts a year without really explaining the time jumps well, and also includes random unmarked flashback chapters. Just felt a little all over the place.
I hope Sisko finds peace soon. It was an emotionally heavy book, which worked well in the first half and unfortunately tapered off in the second.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 1, 2019
This book has a lot of problems. It's really three loosely connected stories.
The first one is Spock on the Post-Nemesis Romulus. This one is interesting but really only to those who have read the TNG and Titan books post Nemesis. Otherwise I can see how this book would be boring. The four problems with this is that: 1. it is slow moving 2. it's oddly broken up and 3. it is kind of predictable. 4. The story is kinda sorta unfinished.
The second book is Sisko dealing with the Prophets leaving him. The trauma of what happened to him during the Destiny Saga (which we only find out here) and things that happened during the missing years between now and The Soul Key... made him leave his family. Which is a little hard to buy. Though if you can wrap your head around out his ultimate decision totally does. But apart from beefing up what he know about the Tzenkethi and a tangential connection to Spock story, it has no point.
Then you have little bits Romulan and Tzenkethi politics which serve two purposes. The first being to tie this book into the other Typhon Pact books. It does a really good job at this job. The second function, which it sorta fails at, is to tie the two other stories together a bit better.
I think if you took out ALL the Sisko stuff, beefed up all the Spock stuff you would have had a much better book. All the Sisko stuff feels like it is trying to finish some of the DS9 stories that the powers that be knew people would want to see reach their conclusion but nobody: not Paramount, not Pocket Books's incoming new editors and not David George III really wanted to put any effort into.
The first one is Spock on the Post-Nemesis Romulus. This one is interesting but really only to those who have read the TNG and Titan books post Nemesis. Otherwise I can see how this book would be boring. The four problems with this is that: 1. it is slow moving 2. it's oddly broken up and 3. it is kind of predictable. 4. The story is kinda sorta unfinished.
The second book is Sisko dealing with the Prophets leaving him. The trauma of what happened to him during the Destiny Saga (which we only find out here) and things that happened during the missing years between now and The Soul Key... made him leave his family. Which is a little hard to buy. Though if you can wrap your head around out his ultimate decision totally does. But apart from beefing up what he know about the Tzenkethi and a tangential connection to Spock story, it has no point.
Then you have little bits Romulan and Tzenkethi politics which serve two purposes. The first being to tie this book into the other Typhon Pact books. It does a really good job at this job. The second function, which it sorta fails at, is to tie the two other stories together a bit better.
I think if you took out ALL the Sisko stuff, beefed up all the Spock stuff you would have had a much better book. All the Sisko stuff feels like it is trying to finish some of the DS9 stories that the powers that be knew people would want to see reach their conclusion but nobody: not Paramount, not Pocket Books's incoming new editors and not David George III really wanted to put any effort into.
January 29, 2023
The entirety of this story rests on its twist at the end. It feels unsatisfying because not enough links are made to the twist itself. Reading this feels rather unfulfilled - 'is this it? - until you have it explained to you. The journey needs to work too. I might compare this to M. Night Shyamalan, which is basically aimless crap until you go 'ohhh'. To be clear, the aimless stuff is this book is not quite as shallow as Shyamalan. But it won't hold a lot of interest to the unitiated to the Star Trek litverse until the end.
To which point, the Sisko stuff is really not satisfactory at all. Maybe it's because I am not religious, but ruining your life and the life of your family because you were worried about something vague that a 'god' told you is really fucking stupid. Thinking that everything bad that happens to you is a deliberate collocation of 'fate' is really fucking stupid. But, then again, it might resonate if you believe in that kind of thing. The fact that Sisko did all this so suddenly is bitterly disappointing.
But this book is really about Romulan politics, and the fact that the situation is not dealt with by massive space battles or crazy sci-fi massiveness, but by the careful manipulation of background strings to end up controlling a very careful game of chess (mixed analogies be damned!) is quite satisfying, even if it is a bit undercooked here. I don't usually say this, because I dislike inefficiencies in story telling, but I think there were certain steps and especially characters that needed more to make the twist even better.
To which point, the Sisko stuff is really not satisfactory at all. Maybe it's because I am not religious, but ruining your life and the life of your family because you were worried about something vague that a 'god' told you is really fucking stupid. Thinking that everything bad that happens to you is a deliberate collocation of 'fate' is really fucking stupid. But, then again, it might resonate if you believe in that kind of thing. The fact that Sisko did all this so suddenly is bitterly disappointing.
But this book is really about Romulan politics, and the fact that the situation is not dealt with by massive space battles or crazy sci-fi massiveness, but by the careful manipulation of background strings to end up controlling a very careful game of chess (mixed analogies be damned!) is quite satisfying, even if it is a bit undercooked here. I don't usually say this, because I dislike inefficiencies in story telling, but I think there were certain steps and especially characters that needed more to make the twist even better.
December 16, 2021
This was a good book, but also perhaps one of the most heartbreaking DS9 Relaunch stories I’ve read.
The main plot revolves around Spock and the Romulan-Vulcan Reunification Movement. George does an excellent job describing the machinations and shadowplay of the Romulan people, as well as the overarching Typhon Pact, though there are some hanging threads by the end of the story.
What perhaps bothered me the most was Sisko’s plotline, wherein he decided to leave his wife and daughter because of the Prophets’ prophecy that he would know sorrow if he married Kassidy. This was solved in DS9 proper. He decided to go ahead because he loved her. Yet, in this novel, he reversed direction and throws it all away. What makes this even sadder is that he was a single parent in the tv show. How could he do this to his daughter? I really feel like this is a misdirection for the character, who I’ve always said is perhaps the greatest example of fatherhood on television. I really hope this gets rectified in the future.
The main plot revolves around Spock and the Romulan-Vulcan Reunification Movement. George does an excellent job describing the machinations and shadowplay of the Romulan people, as well as the overarching Typhon Pact, though there are some hanging threads by the end of the story.
What perhaps bothered me the most was Sisko’s plotline, wherein he decided to leave his wife and daughter because of the Prophets’ prophecy that he would know sorrow if he married Kassidy. This was solved in DS9 proper. He decided to go ahead because he loved her. Yet, in this novel, he reversed direction and throws it all away. What makes this even sadder is that he was a single parent in the tv show. How could he do this to his daughter? I really feel like this is a misdirection for the character, who I’ve always said is perhaps the greatest example of fatherhood on television. I really hope this gets rectified in the future.
August 17, 2023
Most Star Trek books are at least for me better than ok. I know a lot of that is because I love Star Trek so much, but there was something about this book that just... It just didn't ever grab me.
The focus of the story was the struggle within the Romulan Empire following the death of Shinzon, and the breaking away of some of the empire under Empress Donatra. It's largely told through the perspective of Spock & Sisko.
Spock at least spends his time actively working to reunite the Vulcans and Romulans.
Sisko, returned from the celestial temple feels abandoned by the prophets, and so abandons his wife and daughter to return to Starfleet, and then keeps himself alienated from his crew moping in his ready room. He barely talks to anyone.
The resolution of the Romulan split has next to nothing to do with either Spock or Sisko.
The focus of the story was the struggle within the Romulan Empire following the death of Shinzon, and the breaking away of some of the empire under Empress Donatra. It's largely told through the perspective of Spock & Sisko.
Spock at least spends his time actively working to reunite the Vulcans and Romulans.
Sisko, returned from the celestial temple feels abandoned by the prophets, and so abandons his wife and daughter to return to Starfleet, and then keeps himself alienated from his crew moping in his ready room. He barely talks to anyone.
The resolution of the Romulan split has next to nothing to do with either Spock or Sisko.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 25, 2024
This is really a Spock/Romulan story. Everyone that mentions this book says that the Spock stuff is good and the Sisko stuff is bad and I really wanted to like the Sisko parts but I found his parts to be actually pretty depressing. His character could have easily been swapped out with a variety of other characters. So in the end I was pretty disappointed with his part in this book. It felt like the author wanted to just do a Spock story but he was forced to fit Sisko in. Also at the end it seems like suddenly Siskos part are suddenly resolved but there’s no explanation why. He’s sad and depressed for the entire book then suddenly he’s back to his old self in the end? What happened to bring that about? I guess in the end it shows good character growth for him but overall his whole story just seemed depressing and uninteresting. Spock’s stuff was great though! Lots of good Romulan intrigue!
January 31, 2025
This book read like a filler episode of TNG or DS9: it definitely wasn't epic or memorable, certainly not the piece of Trek that you'd want to introduce a friend to the franchise with. But at the same time, not bad, just a comforting bit of mediocrity to keep yourself in the Trek universe with all your friends.
What's frustrating is that on paper, this book has all the ingredients I want: political procedurals with the Romulans, Spock being Spock, Ben Sisko having (another) dark night of the soul, a truly alien feeling alien race. But somehow, while being very readable, it never quite grabbed me and I have trouble articulating why exactly. The prose was fine, the plot was fine, the characters were fine. Everything was just...fine.
FFO: "Council" scenes, failed assassinations, successful assassinations, conspiracies, "The higher, the fewer"
What's frustrating is that on paper, this book has all the ingredients I want: political procedurals with the Romulans, Spock being Spock, Ben Sisko having (another) dark night of the soul, a truly alien feeling alien race. But somehow, while being very readable, it never quite grabbed me and I have trouble articulating why exactly. The prose was fine, the plot was fine, the characters were fine. Everything was just...fine.
FFO: "Council" scenes, failed assassinations, successful assassinations, conspiracies, "The higher, the fewer"
February 24, 2023
Reading some of the reviews, I wasn’t sure what to expect. I’ve been able to enjoy pretty much all Star Trek books I’ve read in one way or the other, even when certain characters act out of character.
Seeing Sisko’s choices in this book made me concerned he was going that way as well, but honestly it makes sense from his point of view. From the outside we can say he made the wrong choice, but I could understand why he did. The one disappointment is that because of the time jump, there is several years missing after the original DS9 relaunch books, which is a shame.
I also love the political intrigue and Spock’s continued time on Romulus.
Seeing Sisko’s choices in this book made me concerned he was going that way as well, but honestly it makes sense from his point of view. From the outside we can say he made the wrong choice, but I could understand why he did. The one disappointment is that because of the time jump, there is several years missing after the original DS9 relaunch books, which is a shame.
I also love the political intrigue and Spock’s continued time on Romulus.
December 23, 2017
A fairly bland book. When the entire Sisko storyline (a full 1/3 of the novel) can easily be removed and not have any impact on the story, that's not a good thing. While I was hoping to learn more about then Tzenkethi, I was definitely disappointed in that, too. I learned very little about them, and the forced flashbacks with them including Sisko were pointless. Overall, this would have made for a pretty good novella, but it was padded to 3 times the length to sell it as a book. Best to skip it and just read a synopsis.
July 9, 2017
I quite enjoyed this. I love the Romulan/Vulcan reunification plot line and I've been starved for more post-"Unification" Spock!
George does a great job with tidying up some of the mess of the Romulan Empire. I won't miss Tal'aura or Donatra. I always thought Nemesis would have been much stronger if Sela had played Donatra's part so I'm glad that George has brought Sela back into the fold. I'm eager to see what's next for her.
I also enjoyed the Sisko story. I think it's fun to see him in command of a starship and I hope to see more of him and his new crew.
George does a great job with tidying up some of the mess of the Romulan Empire. I won't miss Tal'aura or Donatra. I always thought Nemesis would have been much stronger if Sela had played Donatra's part so I'm glad that George has brought Sela back into the fold. I'm eager to see what's next for her.
I also enjoyed the Sisko story. I think it's fun to see him in command of a starship and I hope to see more of him and his new crew.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 13, 2023
An informative Story!
His was very informative reading. There had been questions I had offended wondered about, such as what happened to the Rommulan after the star trek Shinzon had been eliminated. Or what happened with the reunification movement that Spock had started on Romulus, and lastly when did Captain Sicko divorced his wife Cassidy? Reading about the formation of the Typhoons Pact (series) has brought some clarity to my understanding of some of these questions! For this reason alone I found this story intertaining!
His was very informative reading. There had been questions I had offended wondered about, such as what happened to the Rommulan after the star trek Shinzon had been eliminated. Or what happened with the reunification movement that Spock had started on Romulus, and lastly when did Captain Sicko divorced his wife Cassidy? Reading about the formation of the Typhoons Pact (series) has brought some clarity to my understanding of some of these questions! For this reason alone I found this story intertaining!
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