Plagues of Night

Star Trek: Typhon Pact #6

by David R. George III

In the wake of the final Borg invasion, which destroyed entire worlds, cost the lives of sixty-three billion people, and struck a crippling blow to Starfleet, six nations adversarial to the United Federation of Planets�the Romulan Star Empire, the Breen Confederacy, the Tholian Assembly, the Gorn Hegemony, the Tzenkethi Coalition, and the Holy Order of the Kinshaya� joined ranks to form the Typhon Pact. For almost three years, the Federation and the Klingon Empire, allied under the Khitomer Accords, have contended with the nascent coalition on a predominantly cold-war footing. But as Starfleet rebuilds itself, factions within the Typhon Pact grow restive, concerned about their own inability to develop a quantum slipstream drive to match that of the Federation. Will leaders such as UFP President Bacco and RSE Praetor Kamemor bring about a lasting peace across the Alpha and Beta Quadrants, or will the cold war between the two alliances deepen, and perhaps even lead to an all-out shooting war?

Genres: Star Trek, Science Fiction, Fiction, Star Trek Deep Space Nine, Ebooks, Adventure, Science Fiction Fantasy

385 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published June 1, 2012

Reviews

[Matthew Rushing · Rating 3 out of 5]

Soilers

I will admit up front that I am one of the people that hated RBOE. I hated the way Sisko was portrayed and the way the story glossed over 4 years of DS9 history. It seem that David has listened to some of that criticism and done a lot to help all of this make sense.

This book does a great job of reminding us what has happened in the past of the DS9R and give us some of the answers to how we gotten to this "future" of 4 years. One of the only problems I had with the book was that David will set up some issue like, Worf's dilemma of what to do about the seemingly duplicitous Romulans, then there is no follow up but, oh he told Picard and it made Picard suspicious. I understand why it is like this, it saves space in the book, but it happens frequently and gets a little annoying not to see the actual conversations and situations that these issues bring up.

The book has this amazing sense of foreboding and fear that is slowly building till the explosive end. Well done! I did figure out most of the story before it was revealed in the story, but I still enjoyed it all coming to a head. David does a wonderful job of weaving the plot treads together into a beautiful tapestry of intrigue and suspense.

Thank you David for your work with Ben and Kasidy. You have really cleared up and cleaned up this story and made it much more palpable. Ben seems to be going through some big changes and I am on the edge of my seat waiting for the conclusion to the story. This is a well crafted story and really brings together the threads of the Typhon Pact series well. David weaves in and out of all of the Pact stories to create a really cohesive whole.

As for the end, I do not believe that we have seen the end of DS9, I am sure that it will survive the explosion (At least I hope so, it's not a starship that can have another one built and it be the same just with a letter added.)

[Terence · Rating 1 out of 5]

It's extraordinarily rare that I can't finish a Star Trek novel. Heck, I even managed to get through Black Fire. But my tolerance for bad literature may have been higher 20+ years ago, and - in Ms. Cooper's defense - her story was so ludicrous it was like watching "Plan 9 from Outer Space" or "Cave Dwellers" or "Eegah." So bad it's good.

The most egregious fault in Plagues of Night is that it's boring! Endless chapters that sound like synopses of a TV episode, and that keep cycling through a variety of POVs. There's no action, just a lot of people hanging out and talking to each other (about the action that had gone on behind the scenes). I was only able to get about half-way through before my better sense convinced me that I shouldn't be wasting my time here.

The second quality that sank it for me was what I have called in other reviews "The Star Wars Syndrome." This is an illness that strikes writers in the Star Wars and Star Trek franchises (and I'm sure in others that I haven't read) where they feel compelled to include every character from the respective series no matter how peripherally. A less serious version of the virus is excessive references to episodes from the TV series and/or other books in the franchise.

I'm glad this is a library loan and will soon be leaving the apartment forever.

It may not be readily apparent but I'm not recommending this one, not even to Trekkies.

[Nis · Rating 2 out of 5]

Took a really long time to get going, since it spends a lot of time recapping the events of the previous Typhon Pact books from other view points. It feels somewhat redundant, but does give a bit of size to the universe to see how the big events are received across the galaxy.

I also felt they should have kept their cold war colder.

[Crystal Bensley · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good one- very ds9 focused and man that cliffhanger!!!

[Jonathan Koan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Star Trek: Plagues of Night is the fifth novel in the Typhon Pact series. It was written by David R. George III and was published by Simon and Schuster’s Pocket Books in June of 2012.

The Typhon Pact has been really hit or miss thus far. Some books have been great, while other books have been mediocre or downright bad. David R George has been the primary DS9 writer for Pocket Books before and during the Typhon Pact, and here he proves why he earned that mantel.

I did not really care for Sisko’s storyline in “Rough Beasts of Empire”, I thought it really dragged down the book. What worked for the book was the political storyline with Spock and the Romulans. Here, ironically, I think that the character storylines for Sisko as well as the crewmembers of DS9 was significantly better than the action and political storylines with the Typhon Pact and the Next Generation crew.

It feels like David R. George had WAY too much to do in this one book, so everything feels rushed. First he has to catch up the DS9 storyline to the Next Generation storyline, an insurmountable task anyway. He also has to provide much more character development for all of the characters. He also has to create a massive climactic event to occur at the end of the book.

This climactic event really should have been saved for another book. It comes in too quickly and doesn’t give the audience enough time to process it or prepare. It seems like the editorial team had a mandate to do certain things to keep the story exciting and David had to meet their demands.


The standout character for me in this book was Ro Laren. She never gets enough time in any book that she’s in and David has really mastered how to write for her. I loved her looking back on her journey, her banters with Quark, and her leadership of DS9. I hope to read more books about her in the future.

If there was one thing that didn’t really fit in this book its the Enterprise crew (Next Generation) showing up. This book should have focused on the Robinson and on the various segments of the DS9 crew. Because the Enterprise is present for a significant portion of the story, it feels too big and not focused enough. I also think David is just better at writing for DS9 and should have focused on it anyways.

This book isn’t the wrost Trek book that I’ve read this year, and its not even the worst in this series, I just feel kind of bland about it. It never captured me like my favorite books did, and I didn’t feel hatred for it like I have for some books. Overall, I feel like this book has earned a 3 out of 5 Stars. Ok, but not good or bad.

[Graff Fuller · Rating 4 out of 5]

Plagues of Night by David R. George III - 6th book within the Post-Nemesis era and the Typhon Pact series

adventurous challenging emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense

Slow-paced

Plot or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters are a main focus? Yes

4.0 Stars

The end of the book/story...saved this book from what I thought was a story where nothing really happend.

There were a number of things that happened, but it just seemed like nothing was happening. I felt all the storylines just weren't going anywhere, but the last few paragraphs saved this story.

There were storylines with Benjamin Sisko and Kasidy, another with Ro Laren and those on DS9, Kyra Neres, and of course the people within the Typhon Pact.

I think Worf was fairly well used, but wish he had a bit more to do...than look menacing.

Loved the Romulan core within the Typhon Pact and what they were doing in the Gamma Quadrant.

Like I said earlier...this is a SLOW burn, but it is well done...by the end.

[Yvette · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is a summary of all the previous DS9 novels. For those that have not read them this is a good catch up. The part about Kira going back or thinking she in “Far Beyond the Stars” cheapened that classic episode (IMO). The best part of the novel is the end.

[Excel Lifestyle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first book in the series that really takes what’s come before and puts it all together.

After all that’s occurred so far (no spoilers here), tensions between the Federation and Typhon Pact are at an all time low. However, the Romulan Praetor is ready to reach for peace. In line with this the Federation allows the Typhon Pact to use the Bajoran Wormhole to the gamma quadrant for commerce and in a joint exploratory venture.

Can the Typhon pact be trusted to use this opportunity for good? Or is it yet another ruse? Read and see.

Meanwhile we see Sisko’s storyline continued and there’s a look at what’s been happening on Deep Space Nine in recent months. Sisko’s story is still a little messy from “Rough Beasts of Empire” but definitely getting better.

This is the first really good Typhon Pact book and has a massive cliffhanger ending.

[Claire · Rating 3 out of 5]

Phew, this was a convoluted plot. *So* many characters show up and so many plotlines are going on that it feels like lots of short stories rammed together rather than a cohesive novel. It seems to be setting up a lot of the following novels (the final 2 TP books and Section 31 at least) and while presumably this is going to pay off later, it made this book a bit hard to read. Also, I HATE the "And then it exploded." cliche line that so many Star Trek book chapters seem to end in, so when that's how DS9 went out I genuinely gasped in outrage.

As mentioned above, there were a lot of characters in this book, and a lot of them did not need to be there. Spock and Bashir for instance are initially made a big deal of, then end up just disappearing which feels odd. Bacco isn't written quite as well as usual (though I did like the Castellan). I didn't like the Blackmer stuff, it didn't make sense to me why Ro was so distrustful of him - I feel that they could maybe have written him out and done the sabotage build-up with Ro and Sarina, or even just Ro? While one of my favourite parts was Kira and Prynn discussing Vaughn's fate (very bittersweet and well done), it was weird that the rest of her friends have been taking a "just give her time" approach for *2.5 years*?! Where are all the counsellors?

The ending was very action packed and I always like seeing the Far Beyond the Stars characters come back! I'm glad that things are getting better between Ben and Kasidy, it's much nicer to see him having more to do with Rebecca. I wasn't expecting the destruction of DS9 to happen this early, so I'm very keen to read on and see just what's happening with this sudden escalation. I've absolutely no idea what the Romulans are up to.

This review has turned out even more scatterbrained than the book, eek!

[Edmund Bloxam · Rating 1 out of 5]

A bizarre book requiring an unusual headspace to appreciate. I don't think it deserves it, of course. By trashy sci-fi standards, this shouldn't work (and probably doesn't). It probably also wasn't the author's intent. He just did a crap job.

So, it spends most of its time meandering from one chapter to another in barely linked fashion. Almost like a succession of short stories. I mean, there are far too many perspectives and 'sub plots'.

I use the emphases because there is no central plot.

Personally, I enjoyed the political meandering, but then I am invested in the litverse setting. And politics often meanders. The espionage thing seemed to be amounting to something. Laas seemed to be set up as an eventual protagonist. Then he was captured. In fashion so clumsy and inconsequential, it rather ruined that whole thing. That plot just kinda finished.

The actual end, again having not a lot to do with anything, and without any set-up, is clearly a tacked on cliffhanger for the next book.

The prose often stated the obvious in childish YA fashion. Sometimes just that element was a chore.

Yeah, no. This is shit. Editor needed to give the author a good slapping. At least read over something. Would've realised this isn't really a novel. Took me a bloody month to read. Compelling stuff...

[Roe · Rating 3 out of 5]

I couldn’t really get into this until the first 200 pages or so. There was SO much plot backstory review. It felt a bit excessive. However, DRGIII does really exception character work here. Spock, Sisko / Kasidy, Picard, Ro Laren - ALL written EXCEPTIONALLY WELL. The character work and transformation…They truly come alive on the page. Absolutely marvelous and fascinating. I also really like the character of Gell Kamemor, and the whole Romulan plot line. Really interesting, compelling, suspenseful stuff (What’s Sela’s endgame?!). But … WHAT the eff is that Bashir / Serena plot line?! Dear God, I hated that from the start of this series (not DRGIII’s fault, but still)…I squirm every time they come on the page.

TL;DR: Excellent character work, decent plot lines and believable antagonistic character motivations, but VERY slow to start due to repetitive and constant review of previous (Typhon Pact series) plot points.

[Jess · Rating 2 out of 5]

There are two types of these epic Star Trek three books set such as this one being a three part closing out the Typon Pact Saga. There are those that have a zillion stories going, slowly begin to tie them all together and wrap at least one or two of the stories up in the first book and then there are those that should have been one twelve hundred page book but aren't because that would screw over the freelancer charged with writing them.

That being said I prefer the former. This is almost exact opposite of Destiny. That had a lot going on but each book managed to bring at least one story thread to a half. This book has so much going on that it doesn't even bother to do that. .it gives readers a a nice cliffhanger that makes them want to come back for more but as a stand alone story it's kind of awful.

[Christopher Riley · Rating 2 out of 5]

The last 30 pages are great. The first 300+ significantly less so. The first half of the book is just recapping other books, but from the perspective of characters that had nothing to do with those events. It's a complete waste of paper, ink and plates. You could shave 50 pages off this book by not having characters recap their entire lives in an internal monologue before deciding which restaurant to go to on the Promenade. Jeopardy gets dropped into the book about 70 pages from the end in a cack-handed and obvious manner.

This is absolutely a stop-gap between better books. I feel that way about all the Typhon Pact books, to be honest. It's got to get better, surely?

[Christian Hamilton · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was really good. An intriguing continuation in The Typhon Pact saga of Star Trek, this novel follows Ben Sisko, Kassidy Yates, and later, Jean-Luc Picard, as they explore the Gamma Quadrant in an apparent mission of peace along with the Typhon Pact.

Of course, not all is as it seems, and this novel ends with perhaps the craziest cliffhanger of Star Trek novels-history, and I would argue, on par with “The Best of Both Worlds.”

It’s not perfect, and there are some less than interesting parts, but it is certainly a thrilling read.

[Sharon · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first half of the book is an almost solid recap of what went before in the other Typhon Pact novels. I don't know if the editor insisted on it but slows the story down.

It does pick up again, tying together a lot of loose threads left over from the other Typhon Pact novels. I like Sisko in all his incarnations and don't mind if he's a bit down, to me that's in his character although he normally doesn't 'stay' down.

Great cliffhanger!

[Scott Williams · Rating 3 out of 5]

It feels like the bulk of this novel was spent summarizing past events and setting up what happens in the final pages. It sprawls across many months and across the galaxy but really says very little. As I’ve commented before, what I miss in most of these post-Nemesis novels is the exploration of new worlds and new civilizations.

All that said, George is a strong writer. The book moves quickly and is very readable.

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

We finally revisit DS9 and what's going on with the Typhon pact there. A look into Sisko's new life and his interactions with Kassidy. Also Picard and the Enterprise go on a joint exploration mission for peace.

A real page turner. Character driven and has real tension. You can't really read this book without having read the others in the series. A very good read.

[Mrsculpepper · Rating 4 out of 5]

hey, hey, the gang's all here. since it was deep space nine that got me into reading the books it was great to see most of my favorite characters. and of course there was an exciting space battle, political intrigue, picard, pretty much all the boxes ticked off.

[Takiyah Dudley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Much better than its previous novels. Ive had some issues with the Typhon Pact series however, this installment satisfied me. Better storytelling & character movement & a hell of a cliffhanger. Definitely worth it for trekkies.

[Gregory B. · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm not done with the whole Typhon Pact series yet, but right up until the very end of this book, it's been pretty dull and boring. My understanding is that this has all been a prelude to The Fall, and if that sucks as much as this, then I give up.

[Steven Shinder · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was really enjoying the back and forth between Sisko and Yates in Part 1. But then this book ended up with the same problem as a bunch of these Typhon Pact books: it’s too bloated. The final sentence is definitely eye-catching, but it’s such an easy thing to do and feels like a cheap trick.

[James Ross · Rating 2 out of 5]

There's some elements of a good story here, but it takes so long to get there. The first half of the book seems to be an odd recap of previous books, and the second half struggles to overcome this.

[Preston Pendergraft · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book. Really feels like the DS9r or the Destiny trilogy. Definitely the best if the Typhon Pact series so far, and one of the best Trek books I have read too.

[Rick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book

Loved it combines the crews I love fun good read. I recommend it if you are Star Trek fan and even if you are not

[Tyler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Um...that just happened. This is a major turning point in the post-Nemesis Star Trek universe!

[Tyrone Wilson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not too much dialogue; too much repeating of historical stuff.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another addition to a Star Trek book series that should have wrapped up a couple novels ago. While not outright terrible and still entertaining, it doesn’t add much to the series.

[Juliana · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love it.

[Frank Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

My feeling on finishing this one was that it contained some very good plot moments but the writing was often bland and at times frustrating.

[Stephen · Rating 5 out of 5]

The dust had scarcely settled after the last great Borg War when the battered Federation found itself facing yet another threat when numerous hostile species on its borders created the Typhon Pact, a confederacy that soon entered into a Cold War with the gravely wounded Klingon and Federation powers. The first four Typhon Pact novels (and a fifth work, a novella) each explored one of the constituent members of the Pact while at the same time establishing the new polity as a potent force to be reckoned with. Those tales of espionage and politics set the stage, and now David R. George has delivered the first Typhon Pact 'epic', one which spans the quadrants and involves the Enterprise-E and the far-flung crew of Deep Space Nine.

After the events of Star Trek: Destiny, billions were dead and the Federation utterly exhausted, and yet no relief was to be found. In the wake of such calamity, six powers hostile to the Federation and ringing its borders sought strength in unity. They created the Typhon Pact, a confederacy of scum and villainy, and changed the map forever. The Federation and its greatest ally, the Klingon Empire, were soon engaged in a "cold war" with the Typhon Pact. The first four novels of the series each focused one of the constituent members of the Pact (the Breen, the Romulans,) while following the opening power plays between the two polities. Tales of espionage and political wrangling followed, and the stage was set. David R. George has delivered the first Typhon Pact "epic", one which spans the quadrants and involves both the Enterprise-E and the far-flung crew of Deep Space Nine. Plagues of Night is the opening act, ending on a cliffhanger that saw me stand to my feet in astonishment.

The Federation and the Typhon Pact are not, technically, at war, but both strive to maintain the balance of power that will keep the peace -- through means that threaten it, like covertly attacking one another's shipyards to steal data. Although the Typhon Pact novels established the Pact as a potent force to be reckoned with, they aren't simple villains. Each power has its own ambitions, and the leaders of the Romulan Star Empire dearly want peace. Plagues of Night uses the events of the first four novels (especially Zero Sum Game and Paths of Disharmony) to establish rising tension between the Federation and the Pact, and both the RSE and Federation leaders want to prevent said tension from erupting into open war. But the achievements of diplomacy -- trade agreements and a joint scientific mission into the Gamma Quadrant -- are threatened to perversely turned into the spark of war when things go terribly wrong.

In addition to creating a thriller of a scope we've not seen since the Destiny books, George provides the long-awaited return to the Deep Space Nine cast of characters. The DS9 relaunch was seemingly abandoned when Destiny came onto the scene: there's a five-year gap between the last DS9 book and the events of that magnificent trilogy. Readers were teased with what might have happened in the meantime in Rough Beasts of Empire, and here the station takes center stage under its new commanding officer, Ro Laren. Character growth in Plagues of Night centers on Sisko, who is still grappling with the aftermath of decisions he made after Unity. Abandoned by the prophets, and fearful for his family's safety, Sisko is a man without a friend -- tremendously lonely. And bless his heart, it's going to get worse.



I purchased this book online, and I figured after I read it I'd buy the second book. I couldn't wait. Yesterday, I drove an hour or so to the nearest bookseller and hunted down a copy of the conclusion. I...cannot wait.