The Fall: A Ceremony of Losses

Star Trek: Typhon Pact #11 (The Fall)

by David Mack

THE NEEDS OF THE MANY

Despite heroic efforts by Thirishar ch’Thane, the Andorian species is headed for extinction. Its slow march toward oblivion has reached a tipping point, one from which there will be no hope of return.

THE NEEDS OF THE FEW

With countless lives at stake, the leaders of Andor, the Federation, and the Typhon Pact all scheme to twist the crisis to their political gain—at any price.

THE NEEDS OF THE ONE

Unwilling to be a mere bystander to tragedy, Doctor Julian Bashir risks everything to find a cure for the Andorians. But his courage will come at a terrible cost: his career, his freedom . . . and maybe his life.

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

353 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 1, 2013

About the author

David Mack is the New York Times bestselling author of 39 novels of science-fiction, fantasy, and adventure, including the Star Trek Destiny and Cold Equations trilogies.

Beyond novels, Mack's writing credits span several media, including television (for produced episodes of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine), games, and comic books.

Follow him on Twitter @davidalanmack or like his Facebook page.

Reviews

[Alejandro · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent novel!

Without a doubt it's the strongest, so far, in the book event The Fall from Star Trek. While the first book, Revelations and Dust was tedious and inconclusive,(See review...HERE ) and the second book, The Crimson Shadow was smart and surprising, (See review...HERE ), this third book was solid and inspiring. Definitely my hopes and expectations for the remaining fourth and fifth books are really high now. To begin to comment about this novel, I have to expose several variations of a same idea, since it was something that was fixed on my mind while I was reading this book.

All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing. (Usually (but mistaken) attributed to Edmund Burke.)

When bad men combine, the good must associate; else they will fall one by one, an unpitied sacrifice in a contemptible struggle (Most likely the phrase by Edmund Burke from where the most common quote was shaped.)

The penalty good men pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men. (Quote by Plato)

All those quotes are variations of a same concept but definitely they all are what comes to my mind while I was reading this great book.

If you ever felt inspired by these quotes at some point in your lives, well, this is the book for you. I tell you this, since at some point not so far in my life, I had to choose between quitting a job or betraying my conscience. Happily, I chose to trust my conscience and do the right thing. In that way I can see myself into the mirror without feeling any shame or guilt and I can sleep well every night.

In this book, Dr. Julian Bashir, chief medical officer of Deep Space Nine space station, must decide between following immoral orders or doing the right thing.

Four years ago, Andor seceded from the Federation after knowing that they were keeping secret certain key information that it could help the Andorian people to treat a fertility decease that it's causing the imminent extinction of the sentient species.

The Tholians, part of the Typhon Pact, a rival union of the Federation, gave that secret information to the Andorian government to be used by their own scientists and to find a cure to the Fertility crisis. However, the political faction in power on Andor withheld key sections of that information to delay the finding of the cure, while this faction strengthens its ground on the ruling of the planet.

Meanwhile, the President Pro Tem of the Federation ordered a blockade to Andor and refuse to share the secret information due the decision of the Andorian people of leaving the United Federation of Planets.

Thirishar ch'Thane, or "Shar", an Andorian, and former Starfleet officer asks for help to Dr. Julian Bashir to find a cure to the Fertility crisis. However, to do that, it means to obtain that secret information from Starfleet archives which would be an act of treason and espionage.

The opening of this secret information will re-open a too dark page of the past history of Starfleet that everybody in the Federation wants to forget that it ever happened.

Don't worry, I haven't spoiled you anything of the excitement of reading this novel. All that was just the general ambiance to let you understand about what it's this book.

If you are fan of the character of Julian Bashir, certainly you need to read this book.

If you ever watched the film Star Trek: Insurrection and you felt that it was a good idea but it failed to exploit all the full potential of the concept there, well, you need to read this book.

Politics is merely war by other means. (An old Andorian saying)

Julian Bashir must take a decision from where there is not point to return, and nothing will ever be the same.

I also seem to recall more than one ethics instructor at Starfleet Academy teaching us that more was expected from us than blind obedience. That we had a higher duty, to the truth, and an obligation to resist orders that are immoral. (quote from the book, said by Julian Bashir)

This a great book to remind you that a Star Trek character is more than an explorer, that they are heroes, and not only that but heroes willing to do whatever it takes in order to do the right thing.

Innocent people shouldn't be made to beg for their lives. The weak and the suffering shouldn't have to kowtow to receive help from us or anyone else. (another quote from the book, said again by Julian Bashir)

Also, I think, that while the second book, The Crimson Shadow, did a superb use of Elim Garak as main protagonist, the novel lacked to make a even use of Captain Jean-Luc Picard, also the story while it has a strong and smart political development, it lacked from having any action.

Meanwhile, in this novel, David Mack, the author, was able to balance in perfect combination, exploiting the full potential of Dr. Julian Bashir as main protagonist, but also Captain Ezri Dax is exploited as a strong supportive character, and even better the story not only has strong political and conscience issues but it contains exciting action.

Honestly, A Ceremony of Losses is a great example of the space opera genre that it's strengthening the entire Star Trek franchise on its line of novels.

Another good thing about this novel is that while it's indeed part of The Fall book event, you can easily read it as an isolated adventure, since while some points will be followed in the remaining two books of the events, you can sense a strong and satisfactory feeling of closure in this story.

[Sud666 · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Ceremony of Losses takes place three years after the events in the Path of Disharmony book. So it's been three years since Andor has seceded from the Federation. After the disaster that took place in the previous story-there have been some changes. The Enterprise crew is gone (likely banished to the far side of the galaxy after the hash they made of the initial situation), the Federation President Bacco has been assassinated and a new President Ishan is in charge. He has a far more hard-line view on Andor and set's up a blockade of the planet. On top of this the Typhon Pact is angling for Andor to join their group.

Into this stew we throw Dr. Julian Bashir. Dr. Bashir has been contacted by the doctors on Andor for help. Interestingly enough, I had just recently watched an episode of Star Trek Deep Space Nine (season 7, epsiode something or the other but named "Inquisition") where the shadowy Section 13 of Federation Intelligence was introduced. It was just a random coincidence but I was amused to see Section 13 as a major catalyst of events again in this novel. More than that I will not say as this is a good story and a good plot.

This was a huge improvement over the Paths of Disharmony story. Maybe the difference in authors is that stark. There are no pages and pages of vapid mooning (yes there is some..sex/violence/money has always been treated in the Star Trek universe in the way a high school nerd sees it- a weird mix of awkward and YA. Not appealing). Thus the story didn't get bogged down as it did in the other story. The action is well done and the story has a surprising amount of action. I had not realized that Dr. Bashir is this level of rogue, but it works for this story. The DS-9 staff has some appearances-but this is a Dr. Bashir story. The Section 13/Starfleet/Federation President intrigue and conflict is well done. Of course there is the usual Starfleet "even though we are a proto-military organization our members pretty much do as they please" nonsense but it works for this story.

So this draws to a close the Andorian story. It was a worthy ending and I liked that it drew the events of Paths of Disharmony to a close. This is what Star Trek is all about- fun and exciting stories. Familiar faces engaging in all sorts of adventures- all of it set in Space. I recommend this one to any Trekkie!

[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

Like other David Mack Star Trek novels, there is a lot going on and a lot of ties to other Trek novels as well as established canon. There has been a very strong political aspect in recent Trek novels set post-Nemesis, and this book continues that trend. I read this one because I enjoyed the last book in the series so much (by Una McCormick). I hadn't read the Typhon Pact novels, so at times I felt like I was playing catch up. The cast of characters and weaving of subplots was great, but since a majority of the plot centered on Bashir and his moral dilemmas while struggling to help the Andorian people.

The book leaves us on a bit of a cliffhanger, which I hope will be resolved by the end of the Fall series.

My biggest pet peeve is the feeling that some of the characters, Dax and Ro, acted out of character during the book. I have noticed this with Dax in other Mack books before, so I think this may just be that I see her a lot different that the author does.

Overall, the book was an entertaining ride.

[Aron · Rating 4 out of 5]

David Mack couldn't write a bad ST novel if he tried

I have stayed away from the fall series I think mainly because the 1st book didn't get the best reviews & I don't have a lot of time to read, so when I start a new book I want it to be something at least pretty good & worth my time. I read Disavowed & I loved it, & since it was just a continuation of what was started here with Ceremony I decided that I would read the fall series (just minus the first book) &I'm glad I did. Crimson Shadow was excellent, & Ceremony of Losses even more so. Even the slower parts of this novel (of which there were very few) we're even good. As always David Mack has an excellent feel for the characters & their story play's out like an excellent DS9 movie before my minds eye. I highly recommend.

[Graff Fuller · Rating 4 out of 5]

Star Trek: Post-Nemesis era: The Fall 03 A Ceremony of Losses by David Mack, David Mack

challenging hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad tense 

Medium-paced

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

4.25 Stars

I am always amazed at how media, written or produced years ago...seems to touch upon issues and ideas that we are currently experiencing in real life, in 2025.

The acting president of the Federation...is too big for his britches, and is doing things that are illegal and bent on a mission of distruction. Sound familiar? Well, it sounds real familiar from where I'm sitting. The one great thing about this story, is that the good guys win. That doesn't mean that there aren't struggles along the way, but that the struggles were well worth it.

Captain Ezri Dax and Julian Bashir have gone the full course, and have done the humaine thing...at the detriment of themselves. This is the noble type actions that you'd expect from Starfleet officers, and these two (amongst many more), did what needed to be done...under the oppressive regime they were living under.

I didn't know how it would end, but also knew that "come what may", they did the RIGHT thing, for the RIGHT reasons. They have become (if not already, were), heroes to humanity.

I'm so glad that I'm reading this book/series that was written in 2013 (there abouts), which speaks so clearly to the types of heroes that we need in 2025. 

On to the next book in the series... 04 The Poisoned Chalice by James Swallow. Bring it on.

[Melissa Schwisow · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5

This is an engaging story that blends science, political intrigue, action and suspense. It embodies the optimistic nature of Star Trek while also depicting moral challenges. David Mack organizes the plot around the dilemma of loyalty versus moral responsibility. It was interesting to see how each character dealt with this dilemma. My criticisms of this book is that the pacing is sometimes hindered by the various changes in character POV and a convoluted plot, some characters behave out of character, and the antagonists are one-dimensional with weak moral arguments.

[Alvaro Zinos-Amaro · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review forthcoming.

[Christopher · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Ceremony of Losses picks up after the previous book with events shifting in completely different way than you would expect. On Andoria Bashir's former crewmate Shar contacts Bashir on DS9 which sets in train the events of the book. Bashir's moral dilemma with regards the Andorian fertility crisis is neatly handled. You really get to sense what drives Bashir to the desperate acts that he takes throughout the book. The ethical quandaries are everywhere but ultimately you do find yourself debating his decisions along with the other characters. The issue with the Andorians is neatly handled and the decisions that have to be made are on a universe changing scale. Bashir, on his own initially, is really caught behind a rock and a hard place and his attempts to go through proper channels are stonewalled. This is handled brilliantly as you see him seething away. All at the same time the Andorians is time sensitive so the whole book has a feel of a ticking clock in the background that really ramps up the tension from the start! Bashir's radical solution though sets off a series of events that are brilliantly staged and will keep you on the edge of your seat trying to guess which way the can can of worms that he has kicked over is going to go!

How elements of Starfleet help him, at the same time acting completely innocently, adds to the humour of the book as well. The confrontation with Bashir and the Aventine under the command of Dax is brilliantly handled and then leads directly into how the Federation breaks it own laws is cleverly staged and comes in way that you would not expect. At the same time it opens up a can of worms that sets up new plot threads, takes the story into completely different directions as well that you will not see coming but also the characters reactions are not what you would expect from all of them.

Federation Stand-In President Ishan Anjar is certainly up to no good in the neighbourhood.
He issues what can only be dodgy orders but going over the head of Admiral Akaar. This neatly sets up epic points of conflict, as we see later Akaar making sure he understands the chain of command which shows great character drama between the characters. But at the same time as the action rages the politics are also to the forefront motivating the actions of the higher ups. This political manoeuvring then neatly dovetails into the other other events of the book. A Ceremony of Losses neatly shows how simple issues can then be used by the unscrupulous and the power hungry. This of course puts Bashir, Dax and Ezri's action into complete contrast with the President and the book sows neatly the battle between dishonour and honour. A Ceremony of Losses neatly poses ethical dilemma's left right and centre and you can see why people are to torn over Bashir and Ezri's actions so you always have a bit of sneaky impression that Bashir and Ezri have more support than is readily apparent so you find yourself looking at the other shoe guessing that there is more going on than at first seems!

A Ceremony of Losses is brilliantly staged from the beginning, full of cameo's from other characters such as Pulaski, Elizabeth Lens, Simon Tarses etc as well as plot changing parts from Captain Ro, Admiral Akaar. We also get to dive into the Andorian political sphere again and realise how ruthless they are. Especially when their back are against the wall. They are doing what they think is right which is against Federation policy and this provokes political fallout that adds to the palimpsest of the events that are taking place and weaving in and out of each other. All theses different events impact in different waves interacting with the characters and other events to make for a book that is really unpredictable. The Treishya under ch'Foruta getting the comeuppance at last will have to you fist pumping! Kellessar zh'Tarash running for President in the plot as well is certainly going to put the cat among the pigeons as well. All the vents neatly set things up for future books as well. Brace yourself as the book sorts some plots lines up, leaves other running and set ups more that it leaves hanging for you! Ceremony of Losses does all of this in a neat style that will have you staying up late finding out what happens as the chapters flick around around giving us a different view of the events unfolding right from the very beginning. Prepare to lose sleep! A Ceremony of Losses is full of mystery, ethical dilemma's, cunning, nefarious baddies, heroic goodies, daring do, unbridled heroics from the start, adventure and action packed! Brilliant from the start and will keep you on your toes guessing as to what is going to happen. You will want to make sure you have the next one!

[Stephen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Now this is a way to start 2018! When Julian Bashir's vacation is interrupted by a Ferengi delivering a message from an old comrade in hiding, the good doctor has no idea his finest hour is upon him. He is asked to receive stolen biological data, and from the noise therin produce a pattern that might save a people from extinction. It won't be easy: the data is considered highly sensitive by three governments, one of which might kill Bashir for trying to use it, and even if he finds a cure, his career with Starfleet will be over. Still struggling with his conscience over his actions in a sanctioned but bloody bit of intelligence work (Zero Sum Game), Bashir knows responding to this forlorn plea is both the right thing to do, and an opportunity for personal absolution. If he can obtain the missing pieces and coax some of Starfleet's finest geneticists into helping him, a people might be saved -- and if it costs him his career, his freedom, or his life, Bashir is determined to deliver. A Ceremony of Losses is the best Trek book I've read in years, a thriller that smartly combines political and personal drama, humor, and action in a tight story full of moral dilemmas.

A little backstory is required to fully enjoy A Ceremony of Losses, but that's to be expected in the third book of a series. The Andorians are an odd species in that they have four sexes, all of which are required to produce a single offspring. Even Treklit published in the Enterprise era hinted that the Andorians were drifting toward extinction, their reproduction woes magnified by a buildup of recessive genes that were causing chronic miscarriages. Between the Borg War and the ordinary passage of time, the Andorians have come to a crisis point: they'll be extinct in a generation if something isn't done. In Paths of Disharmony, the revelation that the Federation's ban on genetically engineering sentient lifeforms, and its sequestration of any data that would aide such a project, had hidden information and tools that might be used to help Andoria resulted in that planet -- one of the original founding worlds -- seceding from the Union. Now, in The Fall, Andoria is under an embargo by the Federation, who suspects its leadership is being manipulated by the Typhon Pact, a confederacy of villains. The banned information and tools are what Bashir needs, but it will take more minds than his to find a cure, and even when he does the political leadership of both Andor and the Federation are playing games. Bashir has to find a way to obtain the data and do lab work without triggering any security measures, and once he's exposed he may have to burn a lot of bridges trying to get the results to the right people on Andoria.

One of the greatest aspects of this novel is its persistent moral drama. Bashir and his comrades aren't civilians, they're Starfleet officers who have sworn to obey their orders, even if their orders come from an absolute ass of a president . Bashir, Captain Ro, Captain Ezri Dax, and others all have to decide how far they can toe the line, and when they'll step over the edge. It makes for fantastic drama because characters readers know and like are working in opposition to one another, each trying to follow their conscience as best they know how, wrestling with themselves as one another. Creating believable, sustainable drama in this fashion is a lot more challenging than using obvious Bad Guys to provoke the plot, though most of the politicians here are decidedly unsympathetic antagonists. What makes it even better is that there are real consequences for these characters' decisions: this isn't like one of the shows, where some stern admiral pops on to lecture Kirk or Picard for being naughty, then gamely allows that the results have been worth it. Some characters will have to face the music with only a clean conscience at their back.

Oh, and this book is only .99 cents on Amazon, along with the other books in The Fall series.

[C.T. Phipps · Rating 5 out of 5]

A CEREMONY OF LOSSES is an excellent Star Trek novel that follows up on the Andorian fertility crisis that was begun in DEEP SPACE NINE's Relaunch Novels and brought to a head during the TYPHON PACT novel. Alien fertility may not seem like something that could encourage much drama but it was the basis for the most interesting MASS EFFECT plotline. The Andorians are dying out and the Federation's inability/unwillingness to do anything about it result in them seceding from the Federation. Unfortunately, as Brexit proves, leaving a larger union does not necessarily improve your National Healthcare system.

Thankfully, Andorian Exit is not preventing Doctor Julian Bashir from trying to solve the Andorian version of the Genophage. Armed with Section 31-provided Meta-Genome data, he is able to create a cure for it and plans on delivering it to the Federation founding race. Unfortunately, the insane President of the Federation will do anything to prevent Julian from saving the race that "betrayed it." It's funny because Julian laments being a spy and wants to get back to being a doctor but does more genuine spywork trying to smuggle the cure data to Andor than he ever did as an agent for Section 31.

Really enjoyed this novel even if the ending was a bit too pat and reversed a lot of the changes from previous novels.

9/10

[Les Hopper · Rating 3 out of 5]

Brexit in Space!

Ten years ago this prescient series covered the, admittedly depressing, concept of a member of the Federation seceding from the union and being taken over by an ultra-nationalist/nativist government who then managed to plunge the planet into disaster.

If you think all this sounds troublingly like real life as I write this in 2023 Britain, then you're not alone. Let's just take heart that there are glimmers of hope in this book that might one day see parallels in the real world.

So, a slightly depressing reflection of real life but as usual a light and fluffy read for a bit of a reset between other books. I liked it enough to start the next in the series straight away which is unusual for me and Star Trek books.

[Jimyanni · Rating 5 out of 5]

In a way, this story is based on a premise that is very contrary to the original vision of Gene Roddenberry; he envisioned a world (universe) in which the earth had solved paltry problems like politics and had joined a Galactic Federation of like-minded planets. In his vision, the Federation would never have been led by a deceitful, self-serving, petty politician. Nan Bacco was his vision of a Federation president; he would have been appalled at the suggestion that Ishan could ever come to power. But by allowing that event to occur, this series has been able to explore the very real question of what a moral person's responsibilities are when lawful, civilian authorities issue orders that the recipient feels are unethical and immoral, but which are not so over-the-top as to be obviously illegal. And we see a triumph of those forces who choose to disobey those orders, even knowing that doing so will have terrible repercussions for them personally, a triumph that is only possible because NUMEROUS people do so, to varying degrees. THAT is true to Roddenberry's vision, even if he would have resisted the thought that such a situation could ever have happened in the world he'd created. As such, it was an inspiring and cathartic story. If it had been written more recently, I would say it was written with a specific political situation in mind; given that it was written 3-4 years ago, I can only say that the relevance is striking.

[Paul Lunger · Rating 5 out of 5]

The 3rd book in the "Star Trek: The Fall" series, David Mack's "A Ceremony of Losses" may in fact be the best book of the series so far & while solving one long standing crisis changes 1 character's direction forever. The book itself is primarily centered on Dr. Bashir who is contacted by Thrishar ch'Thane who has been working with Professor zh'Thiin on Andor to solve the Andorian genetic crisis which could be solved by using the Shedai Meta-Genome provided to them by the Tholians. It is this cry for help in the dark that causes a crisis for Dr. Bashir as he faces a choice of loyalty to the Federation because of the sensitivity of the information or the Hippocratic oath to save the Andorians from extinction. Bashir with the help of Sarina Douglas chooses the later & with the help of Section 31 gains the information & the race is on against both the Federation, the Typhon Pact & his own crew members.

Mack writes a flawless book full of drama, intrigue & conflict both internal & beyond which shows the volatility of this particular period for the Federation & just how bad things have gotten on Andor. The use of the DS9 crew as well as the Aventine works perfectly in this light as Bashir goes to major lengths to not only solve the crisis on Andor but also to deliver an eventual cure. The insight into Andorian politics is a nice touch along with the brief re-introduction of some characters we haven't seen in a while. The continued machinations & manipulations also of the interim Federation President are also a nice touch as this complex period continues to unfold.

Overall, this is a must read of book from start to finish as it will keep you guessing up to the end with an ending that while being half expected comes at the price of Dr. Bashir's freedom. Where any of this goes next is anyone's guess, but 3/5 of the way through "The Fall" & this reader anxiously awaits not only the next book in this series, but also whatever fall out this will have in the future on the DS9 characters & beyond.

[Cameron James · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the third entry in the so-far-phenomenal series, The Fall. A Ceremony of Losses is a gripping and tense story that continues and adds to the cinematic events of The Fall, while also continuing the Typhon Pact story line, tying up some loose ends from the Vanguard series, and resolving the Andorian reproduction crisis that has been written about for years now.

I had found the previous three books by Mack, the Cold Equations trilogy, to be quite a bit below the quality I expect from David Mack, but A Ceremony of Losses has completely restored my faith in him and his writing. The storytelling was tight and the tension ramped up, as it often is in Mack’s books. Like with the two previous titles in The Fall, Revelations and Dust and The Crimson Shadow, A Ceremony of Losses is filled with political tension and upheaval on a grand scale… and Mack does an incredible job of capturing social and political upheaval in a believable and comprehensive manner.

Read the rest of my review on my blog:
http://camerondjames.wordpress.com/20...

[Matt Randall · Rating 4 out of 5]

David Mack once again delivers a very solid Star Trek book. I was happy to see the Andorian plots wrapped up since both their reproductive crisis and their leaving the Federation have been ongoing issues for quite a while. It was nice to have those two storylines front and center and for something major to happen with both.

I was a little disappointed in the character of Ezri Dax. Even though Mack addressed why she was acting like she was, it seemed too out of character for me. I also thought it was a little odd that doctors Pulaski and Lense were suddenly experts in genetic medicine since I couldn't recall that fact ever being mentioned. It seemed like they were being used simply because they were established characters.

The book did drag a little here and there, but overall I enjoyed it. I'm looking forward to the last two books in the series and to see what horrible things the Federation president pro tem does. I'm hoping his character is developed into something more than another ambitious, power-hungry politician.

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great book, following on from the previous 'The Fall' novels. This DS9 focused story takes us back to the Andorian fertility crisis, and the political situation following the Tholian's sharing of the sharing the Shedai Genome and Andor's secession (ST: Typhon Pact Paths of Disharmony).
Mack delivers the story in his usual fashion. For me it was a slow start, not really hooking me in till about chapter 6, but I was thoroughly hooked, reading most of the rest in one sitting. This I feel is a Bashir piece, featuring his inner turmoil over the events of the first Typhon Pact novel, which drives and motivates the doctor into action. The development of the political side of the ST Universe is very captivating for me, as we see the temporary govt and President in action.
Sometimes it felt like there was too many sets of characters to flit between. That said, it was great to see a particular character harking back to TNG Season 2 who seemed to disappear into the ether.
Am looking forward to 'The Poisoned Chalice' and the rest of 'The Fall' series.

[K · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is every libertarians worst nightmare, not just one over bearing, near dictatorial leader but two willing to kill off a whole race of people for political gain. The first half of the book was pretty slow, but once things got going my heart didn't stop racing until a half hour after I finished. Letting my geek flag fly, I liked Mack's hat tip to David Brin when using the term "uplift" from one of my all time favorite sci-fi series.

[Steve · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is infuriating. It is brilliantly written, fast paced, full of unexpected plot twists and action, and a good length. It also has a climax that reads like a cop-out, and instead of a resolution we get a short epilogue and a very large cliffhanger. Having said all that, I could not put it down, and I am eagerly waiting to read the next book in the series.

[Jonathan Koan · Rating 5 out of 5]

My full review is up on Roqoo Depot soon. Not quite as amazing as it's predecessor(The Crimson Shadow), but still a fantastic novel. David Mack is an expert at suspense and action and political intrigue. The only failure of the book is it's very overt political messages. 4.5 out of 5.


https://roqoodepot.wordpress.com/2021...

[Aaron · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the best book so far inThe Fall series. David Mack didn't hold back any punches. It's been a long time, prob since the destiny trilogy, I've been so intrigued in a Star Trek storyline. It had everything from action and suspense. I loved every page of it. Great job Mr. Mack!

[Suzanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Andorian race is dying. Dr Julian Bashir has received a plea to find a cure. The only draw back is, if he accepts this task, he faces charges of treason. You see, the cause of this affliction is under Starfleet security and Andor is no longer part of the Federation.

[Raymond Masters · Rating 4 out of 5]

The only thing that gets this book 4 stars is the author's usage of GD a couple times throughout. The story itself was awesome. Another excellent David Mack story. I can't wait to pick up Bashir's thread (in the Section 31 book, I believe).

[Laurie Kazmierczak · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have always enjoyed David Mack's writing style and plot lines...This is another exemplary example of his talents. If you are going to read any of The Fall series, this is the one to read.

[Tom · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best book of the series so far for me. Excellently done and was happy with one major plot line resolution but the next few it opened look great

[Claire · Rating 5 out of 5]

Starts off slower but by the halfway point, I couldn't put it down. Everyone is very in character and the action and emotions are done really well. The opening scene is a bit gruesome, but the paired epilogue was a nice ending. I was pleasantly surprised to see Shar back and the Andorian storyline was much better here than Paths of Disharmony. While Ishan bordered on cartoonish every so often, I'm interested to see where he's going. The political plots reminded me of the satire Don't Look Up 😂

If I had to nitpick: while I know they weren't the focus of this book, it felt a bit odd to have no mention at all of the mystery Bajoran man from the end of the first book, or of Garak's race from the second.

[Christian Hamilton · Rating 3 out of 5]

When I began this book, I had a feeling I would put it down. Out of any of the DS9 Relaunch plots, those focused on Andorians have been my absolute least favorite - the unreadable names, the confusing genders, the convoluted plots. It was all so exhausting. So when this book began in much of the same fashion, I audibly sighed.

But I was pleasantly surprised. Much of the headiness passed after the first few chapters, and the rest of the book became a plot predominantly focused on Julian Bashir and his singleminded focus to find a cure for the Andorians.

It was actually an interesting book, from Bashir’s conference, to the struggle on Andor, to the surprising ending. It wasn’t the best book I’ve read. But not only did I make it through - I think I enjoyed it.

[Christopher Lutz · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Bashir Ultimatum. The Fall continues as Doctor Bashir risks everything he's ever known to save the Andorians from extinction. It's a great political thriller involving everyone from the crew of DS9 to Section 31 to the office of he Federation President. It works well as a middle chapter of this series because it resolves it's primary story while leaving many questions unanswered for the next book. I'm really curious as to what the truth is behind the motivations of the current president. I hope it's a great twist.

[Maggie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great book of the series "Star Trek : The Fall"! Loved the suspense, really a roller-coaster ride, and the politics, once again, I greatly enjoyed. (I wish they would put another Trek series on regular network tv, this time dealing with Federation politics, sort of a "Madam Secretary" or "West Wing" in the Trek Universe....it would be intriguing and quite different from the usual Trek stuff.) I rooted for the Andorians, for Bashir, and for Ezri Dax to decide where her loyalties truly lay...I definitely recommend this to other Trek fans.

[Joe · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is another espionage story involving Bashir and his lover Sarina Douglas. It feels like part 2 of David Mack's Zero Sum Game, the only Typhon Pact novel that I really liked. I wish I had skipped all of the Typhon Pact and The Fall novels and only read this one and Zero Sum Game. It's a really good, action-packed read. It's also refreshing to read a story where the Federation is not a perfect utopia and Starfleet is not infallible.

[nx74defiant · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. It deals with the question - what do you do when you believe your government is wrong?

Bashier thinks: - 'nor Ezi was any different than they had been a decade earlier. If anything, they had become more like themselves over the years.'

That made me think about how I dislike Ezri's portrayal in these reboots. I feel like the person we see makes for good plot lines, but she is not the logical development of the Ezi or Dax we learned about the tv show.