Lust's Latinum Lost (And Found)

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine

by Paula M. Block, Terry J. Erdmann

Business is down at Quark’s Public House, Café, Gaming Emporium, Holosuite Arcade, and Ferengi Embassy to Bajor. Way down. Lower level of hell down. The station is bustling, but residents and visitors are spending more time (and latinum) at the new Deep Space 9's park, sports fields, theater, swimming complex, and who knows what else, than they are at Quark’s establishment. All of Quark's misfortunes just could be reversed, however, when he finds out that one of the steamiest holonovels to hit the Alpha Quadrant in years is up for grabs. And he has an inroad to acquiring it before anyone else. Or does he?

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

96 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 1, 2014

Reviews

[Jamie · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. Block really knows her DS9 and Ferengi, and her portrayal of the crafty, scheming Quark with a heart of latinum is spot on. The setup for this story felt a bit contrived and also a bit risque, slightly outside the bounds of what you might actually see on ST. None of the other DS9 characters put in anything more than a brief apperance, but I appreciated the peak at life on board the newly rebuilt DS9 in the post-Sisko era. Overall, great fun with what I think is one of the most perennially amusing characters to emerge from ST.

[Lexxi Kitty · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first time I saw the Ferengi was, I think, on DS9. Though I might have caught a glimpse of one of the episodes they appeared on TNG (and yes, they first appeared on TNG – they weren’t really ‘people’ though on TNG, more like creatures who had evolved from rodents; while they were ‘people’ on DS9). I kind of liked them for various reasons. One being that that holier than though ‘we don’t use money’ was kind of off putting when seen on TNG (and yes, mostly TNG, though it probably was referenced on DS9. They might not have had paper currency with the picture of George Washington on it, or coins with the picture of Lincoln, but they had and used money. It came up in episodes. They might have called it something different, but it was money. I do not recall the exact term used, but they used/bartered/traded replicator rations. If they wanted to go use the replicator and create something, they needed the right amount or rations, or trade/barter for them from someone else. And also – they never did seem to have problems buying things when they went places, like to Quark’s bar (as in they had something to pay for the item, and I don’t recall them shown scrambling around trying to find something of value to trade for that cup of coffee).

Basically I’m saying that the Federation, Picard’s version of Federation, were hypocrites, and the Ferengi kind of held up a mirror . . or not. Bah.

Basically 2: Ferengi were mostly used on DS9 for the ‘humor’ episodes, but still, I liked watching them. And I liked reading books that featured them. And I liked seeing how they seemed to grow. Which is actually my main problem with the two books I’ve read by these authors that feature Ferengi. Quark, Rom, and everyone seem to be acting like they were in season one of DS9, while the world around them is in post-series universe. As in, Quark and the like have reverted. The growth that occurred on the show seemed to have disappeared. That reversion appears more evident in this book here than in the other one I read by these authors but it’s still there.

This book here involves a holonovel. Or whatever they call them. Holodeck program. Quark was offered the chance to buy a special holodeck program for 10 bits of money. Which he found outrageous. He was given a sample to try, and he tried it. Whereupon he wanted to buy immediately, but the buyer had already left the station.

The rest of the book shows Quark and a new character, Schmoo or something like that, wandering around the universe looking for a copy of this holodeck program. And that’s the sum total of the book.

Not as good as other Ferengi books I’ve read. And nowhere near the best I’ve read (which, oddly enough, was written by the actor who played Quark – the best book I mean).

Rating: 3.7

October 17 2019

[Mayaj · Rating 5 out of 5]

Horny and delightful. Someone really got Quark, and it looks exactly how you think it would. This is a love-letter to fanfiction in the best possible way.

[Danny · Rating 5 out of 5]

basically Quark's Day Out. lots of call backs to earlier DS9 and TOS, and just pure...silliness. Quark takes on 24th Century Big Publisher (holonovels) at....holopalooza. There's fun alliterations (Dominion Dominatrix Detention), following up on old threads, Quark being a total narcissist, chauvinistic creep, Vulcan Love Slave IV, Nausicaans in Suits, Rent-a-Shuttle services.

It definitely has the feel of a Quark story, and smarter people than Quark taking him for a ride.

[Alvaro Zinos-Amaro · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review forthcoming

[Eric Cone · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sensational! The long-awaited fictional debut by Paula M. Block and Terry J. Erdmann for 'Lust's Latinum Lost (and Found)' has arrived! I've just finished this terrific eBook and found it highly-entertaining, imaginative and loads of fun! Poor Quark. Business is down; way-down, and that just won't do. What's a Ferengi to do? Well, just when all looks bleak, he's given a titillating sample of a new holo-novel and he MUST have the rest of it. With a new apprentice in-tow, Quark's greed sends him searching-out the novel's source, and - the profits it will bring to Quark's Public House, Café, Gaming Emporium, Holosuite Arcade and Ferengi Embassy on Deep Space 9. You're sure to smile, too, as you go along for this wild ride. I loved it!

[Emma]

This was fun and I enjoyed it but I'm really not sure I like these new short Star Trek novellas. I think I'd rather wait longer and have a full size book with more plot, more of the characters I know and love and more to enjoy. Nothing against this but really the only regular character who appeared properly was Quark and it was a little rushed.

[Steve · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a rather unexpectedly enjoyable romp through Quark's Bar on Deep Space 9. The plot developed rather quickly with some odd turns, building to a rather delicious climax. I really quite enjoyed it, but felt that both the book itself and the chapters could have been a bit longer.

[Carlissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although DS9 is my favorite Star Trek show, Quark has never been one of my favorite characters, but this was an entertaining story anyway.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

ridiculous good fun

[Joe Pranaitis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Author's Paula M. Block and Terry J. Erdmann bring us a tale of Quark on the new Deep Space Nine station. It's only been a few months since the new station was put in place of the original DS9 and Quark's bar isn't doing all that well. But along came an old friend with a sample of the newest Vulcan Love Slave installment and he is over the roof by how good it was produced. Quark is then introduced to a new Ferengi whom his Moggi has arranged to work for the new Ambassador to Bajor (Quark) and learn everything that he can. Quark sees this as a way of making a profit but his goal is to find out where he can get a hold of the finished program of VLS IV and I won't spoil the rest but this is a great novella that feels like an episode of the series. I highly recommend it.  

[Ann Feutz · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found out about this e-book after listening to the Women at Warp podcast on "The Ferengi Feminist Revolution." I was absolutely delighted by the story and characters. It opens with business being down at Quark's bar on Deep Space Nine. We learn that Ro Laren is the current commander of the station and the brief moments that occur between her and Quark are amusing. I loved the idea of a Holonovel Convention/Trade Show and wished there had been more chapters devoted to it. I also enjoyed the heck out of several plot twists. I will definitely have to look into Paula Block's other writings. :)

[Mark Adkins · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an alright book based on Star Trek Deep Space Nine. I was hoping for more in this story, it had some funny bits but nothing outstanding. Still, it did keep me entertained for a couple of hours so can't complain. I will say that to fully enjoy the book you have to like the character of Quark, if you don't like the character then you most likely will not like this book. Also, I have not read many Deep space nine novels so the timeline and some of the newer characters were not familiar to me, they were I am guessing introduced in prior books.

[Nabil Hussain · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fabulous gem of a Mini story in One Volume.

This book was well written and thoroughly original. It was very appealing to read and easy to follow. There were great references to the aliens of the Deep Space Nine universe and was charming to behold. This book is not very long and was able to be completed in one session. It was a shame it couldn't be a normal sized book but a great Nugget of a Story nevertheless. It is worth the price paid for. A great story.

[Clare Moseley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love a Ferengi episode of Deep Space Nine, so I love this story that is completely focused on Quark and his search for a holoprogram. It feels like a Deep Space Nine episode and has some deep cut references. Block really knows her Deep Space Nine. It's quick read. I think I managed it in an hour. Definitely worth it.

[Judith Paterson · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very short, more the sort of story for a very average episode of DS9, and most of them were way above average! It was ok but wouldn't rave about it and glad I got it on my Kindle at 99p not the usual price!

[Vladimir Ghinculov · Rating 3 out of 5]

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine: Lust's Latinum Lost is a fun little adventure featuring Quark and some secondary characters that was good to meet again. The story takes place after the TV show and features a business opportunity that Quarck cannot miss, travel to Wrigley's Pleasure Planet for a holonovel convention, Vulcan Love Slave, a lot of humor and two final satisfying twists.

[Scott Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a really enjoyable little Quark story of the type we haven’t really seen in the post-Nemesis novels. I hadn’t realized how much I missed them!

[Mike Grady · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun, quick story set after the events in the DS9 series.

[Mike Thiac · Rating 4 out of 5]

Entertaining look at how Quark functions.

[Steven Shinder · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very Quark and holonovel focused. It might be silly in places, but that’s welcome after reading a few bugs about larger events.

[Preston Pendergraft · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this one!

[Elliot Weeks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Classic DS9 Ferengi episode vibes. I thought it was well done. I thought the premise was great and I was really looking forward to reading it—that may have made my expectations too high. I enjoyed it but I had trouble staying engaged in the middle and end of the book. A few weeks later and I can’t really tell you much about the minor plot points...only the big idea of the story. Oh well.

[Todd R · Rating 2 out of 5]

Enjoyable until the halfway mark when it becomes about business negotiations and a far too long exposition detailing a tongo match.
The last half could have easily been a single chapter in length...and really made this small novella even longer than it should have been.
It's a pointless story of Quark ending where he started and gaining nothing.

[Maurice Jr. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quark is down in the dumps because business is slow- until he discovers a new holonovel in the Vulcan Love Slave series. He knows his clientele will pay top dollar to use such a program, which means he has to acquire it at all costs. The mysterious woman who brought him a brief sample of the program leads him a merry chase to try and find the publisher so he can gain exclusive rights to the program.

This was a fun story showing Quark at his best (worst?). I thoroughly enjoyed all the gyrations he want through to find who he needed to find in order to get the program before anyone else.

[Dan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another glowing example of the type of story that is perfect for this shorter, e-book novella format! Lust's Latinum Lost (and Found) was a fun romp in the style of the old Ferengi episodes of DS9. I would enjoy seeing more e-book releases in this vein in the future. Perhaps another Ferengi story from Paula and Terry?

Full review: http://treklit.blogspot.com/2014/09/L...

[Jemini Willis · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book felt like an episode of DS9. A story that is relatively unimportant to the universe but endears the characters to the reader. Throughly enjoyed it and look forward to more week end reading like that.

[Robert · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quark! If you like STDS9, you like the Ferengi Quark. Nice little diversion of a piece. I found I could hear and see Quark and the environment all the way through the book. Bought as a lark, read when I was sick, this book made the day a bit better.
Innocent fun.
Quark Haha

[Krista D. · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun one-off with Quark getting up to his usual antics. The overall story of the new DS9 wasnt progressed, but this was still loads of fun. Great to see Ro, Nog, and O'Brien, even if just for a few lines.

[Jens · Rating 3 out of 5]

http://unreality-sf.net/2014/09/14/st...