The Fall of Terok Nor

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine: Millenium #1

by Judith Reeves-Stevens, Garfield Reeves-Stevens

Deep within the bowels of Deep Space 9 is a secret. When it is uncovered, the very heart of the Federation will be ripped apart! Only the crew of Deep Space 9 can stop it but will they have time?

Genres: Star Trek, Science Fiction, Star Trek Deep Space Nine, Fiction, Ebooks, Media Tie In, Audiobook

409 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published March 1, 2000

Reviews

[Jamie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The whole crew of DS9 is involved in hunting down an ancient Bajoran religious artifact, the existence of which has only been rumor for millennia. Several of the clues tie back to when the Cardassians abandoned DS9, shrouded in mysterious circumstances and only vaguely recollected by those that were present. Quite a good mystery, despite the distractions of a few too many moving pieces.

[Mayaj · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay, so we need to stop melting Quark's clothes off in public. I get why we do this, I really do, but it's not a good look. More on that later.

Overall, this was by far one of the best ST novels I've read -- the tone is fun, people are (somewhat a-temporally) in character, and I understand that there is a plot. Of a kind. There's a Worf/Jadzia tickle-fight on the holodeck. Sisko is appropriately complex and wonderful. Jake and Nog are cute. Quark's interiority is fun. There's some incredibly cool Bajor stuff that has nothing to do with the Cardassians which I'm pretty sure is unprecedented. Cool shit.

Okay, let's talk about why people enjoy watching Quark suffer/humiliating him so much. Oh. Oh, what's that? It's just racism, you say? We have plenty of morally complex characters whose physical and emotional discomfort isn't a consistent source of entertainment even while their personhood is methodically undermined, you insist? If you like seeing Quark scared and humiliated you probably like seeing Worf emasculated and hurt and both of these are rooted in white supremacist gender fear, you accuse?

omg ur rite. You are so right to say all that. So brave.

Still, fun book.

[Dan · Rating 4 out of 5]

There were times that the plot felt a little too overloaded, with the characters jumping from situation to situation as the mysteries unfold, but a little more attention to the finer points of a story in order to follow along isn't necessarily a bad thing. I'm glad I finally got the chance to read this story, as it has been taunting my from my bookshelf for some time. Thankfully, it didn't disappoint, and I'm happy to report that the reputation this story has from other fans seems to be well-earned, at least at the end of book one.

Full review: https://www.treklit.com/2018/12/Mille...

[Bill · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the better Star Trek Novels. Well written, fast reading and exciting. I especially noticed that reading the dialog of each character, I could see and hear that character speaking. The authors did a great job of creating Star Trek realism.

9 of 10* for Star Trek books
6 of 10* for all books

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Haven't read a star trek novel in a long time so it was a nice change, but at the same time pleasantly familiar. The characters were (mostly) spot on and the story was engaging throughout. Overall it was an enjoyable read and I'm looking forward to the other two in the series.

[Brayden Raymond · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bump this up to 3.5

I thought this was fun and the characterization of the DS9 crew felt accurate , it just didn't wow me until the end. Hence the 3.5 I'm not sure it deserves 4 but it is close. The final act of the novel has me excited to read book two however, the finale certainly leaves one tingling with intrigue.

[Tim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Spot on great Star Trek book. Interesting, well-paced, and exciting start to this trilogy.

[Denise · Rating 3 out of 5]

Solid, though it contains substantial amounts of my least favourite DS9 story ingredients: Quark, Jake, and much Bajoran mystical mumbojumbo.

[Eleni · Rating 4 out of 5]

For any true DS9 fan, you'll enjoy this book. The characters come to life, and it's entertaining to hear Quark's thoughts and revealing to hear Sisko's ambivalence of being the emissary to the prophets. The only thing that annoyed me was the overuse of exposition; however, as others mentioned, the authors were probably thinking about readers who are't familiar with this DS9 universe. If you want a light-hearted, fun read, you'll enjoy this story for the characters and how they use humor to get through dire situations. This has always been a prominent feature of the DS9 series, and the authors do an excellent job of executing the humorous--and oftentimes pointless banter which readers will either detest or love. There's a definite spiritual theme which classifies this story as visionary fiction. Sisko, and his role as an emissary to the Bajoran's prophets also plays into this theme. While other characters debate over the prophets versus "wormhole aliens" explanation, Sisko never commits to an opinion, allowing his experiences to guide him rather than dogma. The debate over the nature of the prophets continues in this book and peaks in the third act with a surprise appearance from another famous Star Trek character. I'm interested to see how this all plays out.

[Dianah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was a little dubious of another 3-part series after the unreadable Rebels series, but after a few chapters I realized it wasn't too bad. About half way into the book I really was enjoying the story and by the end it had become a real page turner.

The one thing that has bugged me about the Deep Space Nine books from the beginning is the seemingly unconscious patterns that arise. For example, several books in a row had Odo looking for a killer on the station. This book seemed to bring all the patterns together - Odo is looking for a killer, there is a hidden room on the station dating back to the Occupation, people have to work in zero-G...all things that happen enough to seem cliche. Luckily the authors are able to keep these elements from becoming more tiresome than they already are by nature.

I would have preferred a more tailored ending, but the abrupt ending does make you want to immediately start the next book so keep that in mind if you read it.

[Steve · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was certainly an interesting take on Quark-has-a-scheme-to-get-really-rich story on DS9. It started slowly, and then introduced another familiar face, and started to get quite enjoyable. The plot twists came thick and fast, and the cliffhanger ending just about floored me.

[Michael T Bradley · Rating 1 out of 5]

I keep trying to read this trilogy & I keep failing because it does not ... be good.

This is just a reminder to my future self: YOU HAVE TRIED THIS BEFORE. STOP BUYING THIS THEN REGRETTING IT.

[Shane Amazon · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Fall of Terok Nor may be just too good...

Synopsis:

Past meets present when Quark finds himself under arrest for the murder of an Andorian smuggler. Distant memories of the Cardassian withdrawal six years before flash back into his mind, scenes of death and destruction burst forth, but one memory in particular sets the stage for events to come. Deep within the bowels of DS9 a mysterious room holds the secret to the discovery of a new ancient set of Gods that will rival the teachings of the Prophets. What had once been a not-so innocent barter for ancient Bajoran goods turns into struggle between faith and the future.

The Goods:

There can be little doubt that when one cracks the cover of a Judith Reeves-Stevens Star Trek book that the reader is in for one heck of a ride. To this day their tale in the book Prime Directive remains one of my favorite books in the franchise. When I began to read this book, I once again knew that the story ahead was going to be a well thought out tale full of extremely accurate characters, poetic dialogue, and expertly portrayed scenery. The mystery of what laid deep within DS9 had me enraptured. The characters lept form the pages as the intelligence, friendly banter, internal strength, and unending whit read just as portrayed on the small screen. The plot had a depth most authors struggle to achieve, and the story was at a caliber many fail to accomplish.

The Bads:

The first third of the book was so well set up, the mystery of the red cloud that whispered to the characters and flash of light that plucked them away, set the stage for a reveal of a new threat that promised an intriguing new species or character. Yet as the tale unfolded, what had been that promise gave way to a classic DS9 tale that spanned out to larger franchise offerings. I found myself losing a bit of interest as what had been a great mystery turned into a common thread. Although the discovery of what was really going was plenty good in its own right, I found it to be a bit of a let down that nothing new was introduced to the Trek universe.

Conclusion:

The book is a near perfect offering to the DS9 story. Characters are perfectly written, the tale is grand and expansive, and the story leaves you wanting more. In the end the first third of the book is so perfectly set up for something new that I was left a touch deflated that what had been promised was not given.

[Ari · Rating 3 out of 5]

It’s an enjoyable read for sure. The author captured the essence of each of the characters from the series - although to be honest some of the running jokes felt forced and kept going on for too long...ok! We get it! The audience never sees Morn talk, so it’s funny to hear everyone talk about how loquacious he is. Once is funny 3-4 times get’s old quick.

But that’s not my main gripe with the book. It’s the Deus Ex Machina rescue of Sisko on the Y-class moon. Not the fact that it is a Deus Ex Machina moment. I’m a Trek fan, I get that it comes with the territory, although arguably you have more options open to you in book form than in 48-ish minute episodes with a budget on special effects. Rather, what bothered me about it was that it felt like lazy writing. We all know Sisko is going to survive, but the question is how? And then at the last minute JAKE shows up?!?!?! And then there’s not much explanation as to why JAKE randomly showed up during the Star Fleet search for the Captain.

Again, overall I enjoyed the story. I plan on reading the next one, but I sure hope that kind of stuff doesn’t continue.

[Christian Hamilton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really great opener to the Deep Space Nine: Millennium trilogy. After doing a bit of research, I found out that this book is the loose basis for "Deep Space Nine: The Fallen" - one of the best Star Trek video games and one I have many fond memories of growing up.

Well the story itself is fresh. It reads as a few things - a murder mystery, a conspiracy, a swashbuckling treasure hunt, and an apocalyptic event - with a dash of mad scientist thrown in for good measure. The fact that all of these subgenres are accomplished so well within the narrative of this story speaks well for the Reeves-Stevens, two of the best authors in Star Trek canon.

I was on the edge of my seat the entire time I was reading this novel. I can't wait for the next part.

[Rocky Sunico · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've always been a big DS9 fan but it's been a while since I've read one of these book adventures. This was a fun choice since it not only featured the classic line-up of the station crew but also threw in an intriguing mystery complete with all the good stuff. We had leftover Cardassian secrets from the Occupation of Bajor, every excuse to discuss the reality of the Prophets being aliens or godlike beings, a non-religious Bajoran, and a lot of Quark and Odo bantering. It follows the familiar structure of DS9 episodes and ends with quite the epic finale. As this is the first book in a trilogy, there's still more to catch up with.

[Rosemary · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm not ashamed to say I love Star Trek books, and also not hesitant to admit they aren't all very good. This one probably falls in the middle of the continuum. The first of a trilogy that...gasp...involves jumping timelines, this one involves an alternate continuum created by the "gods" of Bajor and a religious war that divides the Federation.

I'll probably finish it out (the next two volumes), and it was just the sort of break I needed from a lot of things, sort of the literary equivalent of really cheap, drinkable cheap wine paired with store brand cheddar and crackers. Satisfying enough in the moment, but not memorable.

[ivana · Rating 4 out of 5]

There were things that I liked and things that I didn't like about this book. I feel like the idea behind it has been kind of recycled from the main storyline of the TV show but that's perfectly alright. It still makes for an interesting plot.
I am not the biggest fan of Vash, so naturally, I rolled my eyes as soon as she showed up but she didn't annoy me as much as she usually did.
I wish I could read/listen to the next part but I can't find it anywhere... I guess I'll be leaving this series unfinished for the time being. :(

[Craig · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well definitely enjoyed this one and looking forward to the next two books. This story sucked me in right away and had all the intrigue and mystery one would typically find with a Deep Space Nine story. All the characters seemed pretty authentic to their show counterparts although I personally would have appreciated more Garak in the story since he was there...anyway, I liked it and was definitely a breath of fresh air in my reads.

[KP · Rating 4 out of 5]

A shockingly good tie-in novel. I've read many, many Star Trek novels before (all TOS), and don't get me wrong, many of them are pretty good. But this is definitely on a different level than most of the TOS novels I've read before (with the exception of any of the Star Trek novels by Diane Duane, whose work I think is phenomenal). The character voices were pitch perfect, too. Glad I read it and I'm looking forward to picking up the next one at some point!

[TheInsaneRobin · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Fall of Terok Nor had some great ideas and moments that really captured the darker tone of Deep Space Nine. The authors clearly get the world and the uneasy tension of the Cardassian occupation. But honestly, it dragged in places and got a little too heavy on exposition for my taste.

There were flashes of brilliance and some interesting character work, but it never fully pulled me in. Still, it’s worth a read if you’re a big DS9 fan who wants to see more of that pre-station history.

[Heylin Le · Rating 4 out of 5]

With mystery after mystery, this book could not get any more engrossing. I consume all of it in one go. The characterization is stunning, and I can easily hear the characters saying the lines. The banter between Quark and Odo is entertaining, as always. It’s definitely my favorite book in the trilogy. That said, one of the few things I want to complain about is that the story can get overwhelming because there are so many plot points. While the build-up, the mysteries, everything in the first half of the book is thrilling, the explanations for these events come through exposition and often undermines the suspense.

[lalalandreads · Rating 2 out of 5]

Joe Morton did a great job on the audiobook. The story centers around finding three red orbs. There is some story about the end of Terok Nor, before it became DS9, and also the end of it all together. You would need to have watched all of DS9 to understand all the characters and references to previous episodes. This book seems to be an alternate ending to the tv series.

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am beyond surprised how good this book was. Well written. Well crafted. Everyone's in character. There's a complex plot that's intriguing and keeps you wanting more. It's definitely one of the best, maybe the best media tie-in novels I've read. Highly recommend this one, but you'll need to see a good chunk of DS9 to really appreciate it.

[Andra Legge · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book (and the whole series) has been a pleasant surprise, as I have found it interesting and engaging the whole way through. Some of the characters aren't quite themselves, but overall it carries the feeling of the show quite well.

[Liv · Rating 5 out of 5]

murder mystery! on Deep Space Nine! with Jake and Nog shenanigans! and Quark being Quark! Jadzia is alive! there's nuanced talk about Bajoran religion and the Prophets! Kai Winn still fucking sucks!!!! god I love this novel. third time thru the wormhole and it gets more fun every time.

[Tim Zin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a cool little Poirot/Indiana Jones romp involving a murder mystery on the station and hunting down an ancient Bajoran relic. Not sure if I'll continue on with this trilogy, but was great to hang out with the season 6 crew again (i.e. Jadza, I've missed you).

[John Barclay · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good way to return to DS9. Lots of time stuff, lots of intrigue, character interaction and a bit of fun.

[Rob · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story was good, I enjoy Quark as an interesting, misunderstood character. this book was a good read.

[Angelma'at · Rating 5 out of 5]

Impressive first act! I can't wait to read the rest of the trilogy!