Cardassia and Andor

Worlds of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine #1

by Una McCormack, Heather Jarman

Within every federation and every empire, behind every hero and every villain, there are the worlds that define them. In the aftermath of "Unity" and in the daring tradition of "Spock's World, The Final Reflection, " and "A Stitch in Time, " the civilizations most closely tied to "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine" can now be experienced as never before...in tales both sweeping and intimate, reflective and prophetic, eerily familiar and utterly alien. CARDASSIA: The last world ravaged by the Dominion War is also the last on which Miles O'Brien ever imagined building a life. As he joins in the reconstruction of Cardassia's infrastructure, his wife Keiko spearheads the planet's difficult agricultural renewal. But Cardassia's struggle to remake itself -- from the fledgling democracy backed by Elim Garak to the people's rediscovery of their own spiritual past -- is not without opposition, as the outside efforts to help rebuild its civilization come under attack by those who reject any alien influence.

ANDOR: On the eve of a great celebration of their ancient past, the unusual and mysterious Andorians, a species with four sexes, must decide just how much they are willing to sacrifice in order to ensure their survival. Biological necessity clashes with personal ethics; cultural obligation vies with love -- and Ensign Thirishar ch'Thane returns home to the planet he forswore, to face not only the consequences of his choices, but a clandestine plan to alter the very nature of his kind.

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

364 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published June 1, 2004

About the author

Una McCormack is a British writer and the author of several Star Trek novels and stories.

Ms. McCormack is a New York Times bestselling author. She has written four Doctor Who novels: The King's Dragon and The Way through the Woods (featuring the Eleventh Doctor, Amy, and Rory); Royal Blood (featuring the Twelfth Doctor and Clara), and Molten Heart (featuring the Thirteenth Doctor, Yaz, Ryan and Graham). She is also the author of numerous audio dramas for Big Finish Productions.

Reviews

[Jamie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Andor story didn't sound particularly interesting, so I skipped it, but the Cardassia story, one of McCormack's first, was quite good. She's a fine author, and in fact nobody does DS9 better. The story itself isn't overly exciting. Yet we get a very interesting glimpse of a devastated Cardassia shortly after the end of the Dominion war/occupation, during its very early and tumultuous days as a democracy. With an insulated, fractured society that's always been deeply weary of outsiders it faces serious challenges from within as it emerges from a long period of conflict and military rule. Garak steals the spotlight, happy to lurk in the shadows and apply his long honed and very particular set of skills in some morally ambiguous situations that require, shall we say, a bit of greasing. All for the good of Cardassia of course.

[Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book involved two different stories, one set on Cardassia and the other on Andor. Both took place after the Dominion War.

Cardassia was really quite boring. It deserved only two stars at best. Miles and Keiko O'Brien are helping with the reconstruction of Cardassia and only a terrorist bomber threat - by a 14-year-old - saved the story from no stars at all.

Andor, on the other hand, was quite interesting. I would have given it 4+ stars. Shar, a young Andorian, a species with four sexes, is recalled to his home planet by his mother, who is a Federation Councillor. He is accompanied by a young human, Prynn, who cares very much for him and knows that he needs a friend because of the circumstances of the death of one of his bondmates. Add in a political kidnapping and a conspiracy to alter the very essence of Andorian biology; this story kept me interested until the end.

[Matthew Rushing · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Cardassian section is awesome

The Andorian section is only ok

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

Detailed thoughts on the Cardassia novel: https://www.tor.com/2020/02/26/star-t...

And on the Andor novel: https://www.tor.com/2020/03/04/star-t...

[Erica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Since this book is comprised of two novels I've chosen to review them by themselves.

THE LOTUS FLOWER

3 ½ stars. This is a story focusing on Cardassia and the efforts to help rebuild the planet. Miles and Keiko O'Brien now lives there with their two children since Keiko took a botanist job over there. So this is about their life and work on Cardassia, but also about politics and trying to get funding and opposing views not wanting aliens to be involved. Garak also lives there and is involved in the politics. Life on Cardassia isn't easy after the Dominion war and democracy is a new way of ruling that's very different from before.

I like this novel and think the story is interesting. It centers a lot on rebuilding, faith and finding new ways to live and relate to each other. We were used to Cardassia being a certain way before, and now after the war we get to see a society rising from the ashes. Ironically it reminds you of Bajor in many ways. The oppressor has now become the one broken down and in need.

I like that the novel brings up topics that are important in the world today. Life after a war, democracy and such. Star Trek is generally really good at doing that. It's not just a good science fiction-story, but it's also something that we can relate to and that speaks about issues that humans today face.

I also think that writing stories that focuses solely on a planet and their culture and way of life was really interesting. It was something new, and it works for me.



PARADIGM

4 ½ stars. I loved this story. Here we get to follow three of my favorite characters on a journey to Andor. Counselor Matthias, Shar and Prynn travel there for Thríss's funeral and also for some issues that Shar's zhavey are having.

Lately I've really grown more fond of Andor and their culture and problems they face. I've also started rooting for Shar and Prynn to be together, so her coming along to be there for him and for them to get a chance to explore where their relationship is going was great. And Shar going back to his home planet has been a long time coming, so to speak. So to follow him on that journey felt special to me.

"Prynn-"
"No! Don't even think about trying to talk me out of it. I'm owed some leave time, and I'm going with you to Andor."
For once, his emotions were laid bare-surprise, relief, and something else, something she didn't dare name; Prynn's throat tightened.
"Thank you," he whispered. "I cannot begin... Thank you."
That face... She longed to touch his cheek and fold him in her arms. That beautiful, sad face. "Of course," she said simply. "That's what friends do for each other."

I found that there were so much emotion in this novel. Love, loss, pain, hurt... I was being swept up in all of it and just wanted to keep reading. It was beautifully written, and I got to know Andor's people and culture on a more intimate level. There were also some twists and turns that I didn't see coming at the same time as I sort of did. But it was... beautiful, and sad.

I'm really looking forward to keep following these amazing characters in stories to come.

[Derkanus · Rating 3 out of 5]

Summary:
The Lotus Flower
=============
Prologue: 2 Bajoran photographers take pictures of a riot on Cardassia when a large explosion erupts.

Keiko and the O'Brien family move to Andak on Cardassia Prime. She had to petition to get her geologist Feric hired, since he's a member of the Oralian Way.

Garak meets O'Brien for breakfast before his conference. He asks Miles if the SCE's funding recommendation will go to Andak, and O'Brien indicates that it will. Garak warns him that Ghemor has staked his political capital on getting the Andak Project funded, but former Gul Entor will certainly try to undermine him, wanting the funding to go to Setekh.

In one of the few office buildings in the capital still standing, 5 men meet surreptitiously.

When Dr. Remar concludes her presentation advocating for the Andak Project, Entor questions her objectivity, saying she once had a romantic entanglement with Dr. Feric. The hearing devolves into chaos, and Ghemor calls for a recess.

Tela meets with Keiko to express her concerns about the Oralian Way practicing their faith in public; sure says Cardassians are overly rational, and superstition has no place at Andak. Keiko says in her culture, diversity is encouraged, not forbidden, and she won't prohibit them from practicing their faith.

O'brien and Garak meet with Ghemor, and Miles tells him the SCE has sided with him on the Andak project. Ghemor says if the committee votes against the project, he'll resign. Garak is taken aback and says he cannot; if Ghemor goes down, democratic reform likely goes with him.

Vedek Yevir meets with Keiko and Feric, and tells Feric that if not for the Oralian Way, he would not be there on Cardassia. Keiko shows him the desert valley that they intend to transform into farmland by harvesting atmospheric moisture. She says it could solve the food shortage, and in turn, stop the need for Cardassia to occupy other worlds. Yevir says such ambitions is hubris.

Keiko introduces Yevir to Tela, who is wearing a badge with the words "Protect What Remains" on it; when he asks its meaning, she explains that it's a protest against the Oralian Way practicing their religion in public. She tells Yevir to respect what's left of Cardassia and return to Bajor; he says he'd like to discuss this with Tela more later.

One of the surreptitious men mentions that Ghemor's aid Jartek is pushing Entor hard enough that he might crack; they agree that it could be a problem.

Afterwards, Yevir gives a speech praising the work being done at Andak, with a special shout out to the Oralian Way, when a young Cardassian girl--Nyra, Tela's daughter--aporoaches the stage with a bomb strapped to her.

Garak, Ghemor, et al are watching the broadcast from Andak when it cuts out. Garak suggests that Ghemor send in Gul Macet to handle the hostage situation, and that Miles go with him to advise.

Tela tries to talk her daughter down, but she ignores her. Nyra demands that the Ghemor government dissolve, that the Oralian Way stop practicing, and that all non-Cardassians leave their planet.

Macet and Miles beam down to Andak. From the security office, Macet asks Nyra calmly to explain what she wants. Macet then tries to get her to acknowledge that her friends and mother are there with her, by mentioning Tela sets her on edge again. Yevir takes over talking her down at that point.

With the video feed restored to Ghemor, Garak notices she mentions the "true way" in her speech, and remembers that the True Way was a terrorist group that he spied on in the past; he remembers one of their key members, the former Legate Korven--who Garak once tortured to near-death to extract every last ounce of intel from--and decides to pay gim a visit.

Yevir tells Nyra about the Occupation of Bajor, leaving out that the Cardassians were the occupiers, and she listens intently. He tells her that more destruction is not the way forward, and that she should be alive to help rebuild. Macet decides to send in his strike force, and Nyra goes to press the detonator, but Yevir takes her hand.

Korven, terrified of Garak, tells him that the True Way is the way forward, not democracy. Before he leaves, Garak asks him to tell him about Entor.

After reuniting with Molly and Miles, Keiko speaks with Macet, who tells her about the True Way. Naithe accosts them, and says Nyra had been needing with a junior Cardassian scientist. While Macet questions him, Keiko goes to speak with Tela; she feels responsible for what happened, her own xenophobia planting the seeds for Nyra's indoctrination. After Yevir leaves, Nyra agrees to speak with her mother again.

Garak returns to Ghemor and tells him that Korven was once Entor's commanding officer. Even this indirect association should be enough to get the Directorate to drop opposition to the Andak project. Garak tells him he should try to meet with Yevir himself, then Ghemor calls Entor.

That night, Keiko asks Miles if he wants to leave Cardassia; he noncommitally flips it back on her, and she says she wants to stay, that it's their duty to help, if for no other reason than to protect their own future.

3 men have another surreptitious meeting to discuss what to do about Korven and Garak.

Entor pledges his support for Andak; the projects funding is secured. Ghemor asks Garak if they're truly going about democracy the proper way, but Garak only says that bad men win because better men won't do what it takes to stop them. Garak leaves and waits in the dark, rainy night outside for Ghemor's assistant Jartek. He grabs him by the throat, and asks him what he gave Korven; Jartek gave him money and info so the Ghemor government could be a step ahead of the True Way. He also admits to leaking Remar's report on Setekh. Garak tells him not to do anything like that again without consulting him, then lets him go.

Epilogue: After a long and trying winter, spring comes and the plains of Andak are embroidered green.

Paradigm
========
Prynn decides to do an EV hull check on the Defiant after Shar no-shows their holodeck date. Before long, Shar walks out to meet her and apologizes for missing their appointment; his zhavey Vretha contacted him after a long radio-silence to ask him to come to Andor.

Back inside DS9, Shar explains that his mother may potentially lose her seat on the Federation Council because of his refusal to return; Thriss's parents were highly influential members of the opposing Visionist party. If he agrees, she'll legally sign off on his divorce from his bondmates, and leave alone him to pursue his career as he pleases.

They're approached by Counselor Philippa Matthias, who tells Shar that his mom called and asked Captain Kira for his leave to come to Andor on his behalf, and awkwardly admits that Thriss's family has asked her to bring his engagement pendant to Thriss's funeral--Shar isn't invited. Shar sadly hands it over, and Prynn says she won't let him go alone: she's coming with him.

Shortly after arriving at the Andorian Orbital Platform, Shar is hounded by reporters; he guesses that Vretha has tipped them off to his arrival.

Vretha is beckoned to the Parliament Andoria complex to appear before the Enclave. Anticipating that Presider ch'Shelos intends to ask her to resign, she preemptively says she won't do it. The elder Tethis stands up for her, and says that the rumors of new research that could alter Andorian biology to allow reproduction between only 2 sexes has likely been introduced by the Visionist in an attempt to tie them with Vretha and the Progressive party. This causes the Enclave to erupt into wild discussion, but the Presider says they have to table the discussion when he gets word that over 80 million protesters around Andor are asking for her to step down.

Station security tells Shar he can't beam down to the capital because there's been a bomb threat; they recommend he and Prynn take a shuttle to Thelasa-vei with Mathias instead, to which Shar reluctantly agrees. On the shuttle ride down, Shar mentions that there is theory that Andorians may have evolved on another planet, as there's no evolutionary evidence for their four sexes.

Due to weather, Shar says they'll have to go with Philippa to stay at Thantis's Keep; even though he's not welcome, in his culture, it would be rude not to ask for her help since he'll be in the area.

When they land, Philippa procures a highly illegal drug called saf that is only grown on Andor; she was given special clearance because she and Bashir want to study it. Afterwards, they rent an aircar and Prynn takes them across the Andorian landscape at high velocity.

They arrive at the Keep just as the storm really picks up. They're greeted by 4 armed guards that draw weapons on Shar, but stand down when he says he says he comes in need. They're taken to a changing room and told they must strip down and put on thin slips before they can be taken to the Enclave.

They enter an underground chamber filled with Andorians soaking in hot springs. The Enclave begins when Thantis introduces them; while her words are kind, she and Shar lock eyes and do not break.

Afterwards, at dinner, Thantis seems to pick up on Shar and Prynn's relationship and she becomes less cordial. She asks Shar for Thriss's shapla back, and he denies her, saying it is for him to give to Thriss. Prynn leaves the table so Shar can talk with Dizhei and Anichent, feigning that she's tired. She runs into Thia from the transport earlier, who helps her find her sleeping hall.

Shar's bondmates tell him that haven't been able to find a replacement for Thriss--or for him. They tell him they want him to rejoin their shelthreth, but a guard arrives and tells Shar his zhavey has arrived.

Vretha apologizes to Thantis for her intrusion; Thantis tells her to take Shar and his "friend" and get out. Vretha tells Shar he has to come with her, and that she knows what he's been up to--she's had him followed. Shocked, he leaves, finds Prynn, and asks her to come with him, anywhere. Anichent overhears them and realizes the extent of their relationship. Fearing for Shar's safety, he follows them.

Shar and Prynn "borrow" one of Thantis's vehicles and make their way to Harbortown as outlaws. They revel their way through the partying city late into the night, but just as Prynn thinks Shar might make a move on her, they see the authorities encroaching on their location.

They retreat from the 70th level of the city down to the 7th, which is hardly in use anymore. They come across a fabled group called the Reiji, and Prynn joins them in a dance while Shar tries to find a place for her to sleep.

Thantis asks Philippa if she will transfer her memories of Thriss to a Cipher that uses neuromapping and organic computing to replicate electrochemistry and store it; she says it should work fine on Matthias because she's part Vulcan. Thantis tells her to get some sleep and think it over, but when Philippa goes to the sleeping hall, she finds that someone has stolen the saf from her bag.

As Vretha prepares to sit in on a conference call, a hand is placed over her mouth and she blacks out.

Shar and Prynn dance a wildly seductive dance with the Reiji, and when Prynn collapses with whited-out eyes, he realizes they've been drugged with saf. He tries to follow the canal out of the underground city, but eventually collapses himself.

Prynn awakes with Phillipa treating her for a saf OD; the Reiji ground it into their food. She says it will take hours for the effects to wear off, but she'll be ok; Anichent had been following them and got them to safety. However, Vretha has been kidnapped, with a ransom note left by Visionist radicals saying she won't be returned until an investigation of the unethical tests to reduce the number of sexes from 4 to 2 is launched at the Andorian Science Institute. Phillipa confronts Thia about the kidnapping, and she admits she knows something about it.

Vretha awakens from saf-induced delirium to find she's being kept in a cave by 3 captors. They say they haven't decided if they'll keep her alive or not.

Shar awakens from his detox and is questioned by Thantis's guard. Thantis and Matthias brining in Thia, and tell Shar that she was partly responsible for the kidnapping; Shar immediate tries to strangle her. When he's pried off, they explain that it was Thia's bondmates that stole the saf and kidnapped Vretha, and that Thia believes they've taken her to the Reserve, an island nature preserve. She says she wants to help find Vretha, and Prynna and Matthias say they're coming too. Shar apologizes for attacking her, but still doesn't fully trust her.

They hike long into the night, making for the lava tubes where Thia believes Vretha is being held. A storm forms overhead, and a flash flood harrowingly forces them up and out of the canyon. Though they survive with only minor injuries, their original path is now flooded and they're forced to go up and over.

Phillipa gets infected with shax, small, toxic bugs that dig under one's skin and lay eggs there. With their medkit smashed, Thia is forced to make a poultice from local plants, applying it after popping Phillipa's pustules with a hot piece of metal.

Prynn leaves to freshen up, and Thia asks Shar to apply oil to her birthing wounds. He is reluctant to do something so intimate outside his bondgroup, but she needs his help. She embraces him and says he needs the shelthreth to truly feel whole, and he weeps into her ribcage. Prynn sees this as runs away.

Prynn composes herself and returns to camp. Thia decides to stay with Phillipa, who is still fighting off the shax toxins; she tells Shar and Prynn how to get to the temple near the lava tubes, and gives Shar her shapla, and asks him to try and spare her mates if possible.

After they depart, Shar apologizes for endangering Prynn with his reckless behavior; she says he should be sorry, and that she was uncomfortable with how intimate he was massaging Thia. He says she wouldn't understand, that as a chan, it's his duty to help a zhen, but that there's always a place for Prynn in his life. With daylight imminent, they table their discussion and continue on.

Vretha's captors explain to her that Shar's Yrythny eggs are behind the Science Institute's abominable studies when they hear a bomb go off and the lights go out.

Shar's decoy device mimicks an explosion and an EMP knocks out the lights. They rush in in the dark and get Vretha away, but they're blocked at the exit. They stun 2 of the 3 guards, but the third takes Prynn hostage at knife point. He says all of this is Shar's fault because of the Yrythny egg; Shar is taken aback and asks to see the proof. When he reads the findings, he lets out an anguished howl and says he'll help. The kidnapper asks why he should trust Shar, so he shows him Thia's shapla.

Shar visits his friend Dr. sh'Veileth at the Science Institute and asks about her findings; she says the egg has helped her to unlock genetic codes that can lengthen Andorian conception cycles, and increase gamete production that could result in multiple births. Shar is astounded, but asks if there's any truth to the kidnapper's claims. She says other groups are using the ova, but she'll have to look into their experiments.

Afterwards, Shar visits his zhavey to give her the good news, but sh'Veileth has already contacted her and confirmed that the scientists have surreptitiously tried to reengineer their species. Vretha says she is going to step down as a Federation Councilmember, and Shar says he'll stand with her.

Later, Shar and Prynn go for a stroll and when she asks if he would be interested in a relationship with her, he readily agreed, having assumed there was no shot after their disastrous trip.

Before the Sending, Shar meets with Thantis at her behest. She apologizes for being selfish and for leaving him out of the Rite of Memory; she says she wants to show him her offering, which will prove that she knew how to save Thriss but chose not to.

Prynn visits Thia to tell her that the Science Institute found that the plants she'd used on Phillipa were found to be an undiscovered strain, one created by 4 separate gametes, proving that Andorian biology was not alone in this. Shortly thereafter, Thia nearly passes out due to self-inflicted wounds on her arms; she was morning the loss of her bondgroup, who divorced her even though Vretha pardoned them. Prynn takes her to find Shar for help.

Thantis's memory is of a strong-willed Thriss amputating her arm during the Battle of Betazed. Thantis says that if she would've allowed her to stay there, she would still be alive, but Vretha wanted her to join her bondmates, and Thantis wanted her to be a more traditional Andorian.

Right before the ceremony, Prynn goes looking for Shar and finds him at Thriss's coffin. Anichent, Dizhei, and Thantis find them there, and they ask Shar to join them as a member of the First Kin in the procession. They carry Thriss to Tower Hill where she is cremated in roaring blue fire. Thia joins the procession and sings a beautiful song of mourning, sharing in their grief.

After the service, Prynn realizes that Shar is going to leave her for his shelthreth, with Thia filling Thriss's spot. Shar tries to say he will stay with her instead, but she insists, and he goes.

Epilogue: Phillipa finds Prynn sunbathing on the beach. She tells her that Shar isn't coming back to DS9 with them, and that his shelthreth will be the first to try the Yrythny egg gene therapy. She gives Prynn a gift from Shar: it's a shapla with a lock of his hair in it, along with a note that says "some day." She cuts off a lock of her own hair and braids it with his.

Review: 3 stars. Not much happened in the Cardassian half. The Andor half was too long, but at least it progressed the story quite a bit.

[Bobby · Rating 1 out of 5]

I tried really hard to get through both stories, but failed. Writing stories in someone else's world always presents challenges and Star Trek is such a throughly developed world that it is that much more difficult to convince the reader that they are in that world.
The Cardassia story bored me to tears and I did not finish it. It felt like we went from one long expository conversation to another with no real motivation for the characters or action for most of the story. By chapter 7 nothing significant has happened, but Tela and Keiko have this talk about the Oralian Way, which we still know so little about, and Tela says it can't go on. What can't go on? We have no background for Tela's motivations on this.
The Andor story made me want to throw the book across the room. Andorians are a race we know very little about from the television and movie series. We do learn more in "Star Trek Enterprise" but not enough that we can leap into a book without more cultural background. The introductory mythology, which I think is supposed to lay the groundwork for the four Andorian genders and provide some of that background, left me very confused. And then the story jumps to Deep Space Nine with a main character who I thought was Andorian, because that would make sense, but several pages in I have no idea whether she is human or not. It looks like we are supposed to learn about Andorians through her eyes, but the author created so many unanswered questions in an attempt at creating mysteriousness that it frustrated me rather than intrigued me. I had to stop reading because it just made me angry, and the only anger I want from a book is righteous anger for injustices done in the story, not anger at the writing.

[Daniel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Season 9 of the Deep Space Nine relaunch continues, well, if the books could be called a season. This is similar to character specific stories, such as "Rising Son," which peppered the previous books. This is essentially split into two mini-books. The first focuses on Cardassia with the O'Brian's and Garak being at the forefront, the second is set on Andor with Tenmei, Shar, and Phillipa being the focus. The story surrounding Cardassia is mostly about the planet and its people coming to terms with the end of the Dominion occupation while trying to adapt their planet to suit their needs so they no longer have to conquer other worlds. This is a classic story about hard liners refusing to adapt pitted against reformers. The Andorian section is a bit more interesting with the death of Thriss and the eggs salvaged from the Gamma mission earlier in the "Mission Gamma" series of books. The Andor portion is more centered on the dynamics between the various clans and the four genders with Tenmei and Phillipa providing an outsider perspective. Both of these mini-books provide a fascinating glimpse into these largely unknown worlds and what makes them tick. The Cardassia book is largely predictable whereas the Andor book not only provides a window into Andorian social dynamics, but also with character development. In fact, Phillipa Matthias, who was introduced late in the last "Season" of books is more fleshed out, but Shar and Tenmei take center stage here. Overall, this first volume is quite good, but the first half does drag down the second for me.

[Dan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cardassia: The Lotus Flower

Unsurprisingly, McCormack's work here is up to her usual excellent level. After the explosive "finale" of S.D. Perry's Unity, this first story in the Worlds of Deep Space Nine anthology felt much like some of DS9's season premieres: a soft re-tuning of the series' premise and a continuation of the story in a somewhat unexpected direction. This story of Cardassian recovery from the horrors of the end of the Dominion War is the perfect story to continue the saga of Deep Space Nine.

4/5 stars.

Full review: http://treklit.blogspot.com/2015/01/W...


Andor: Paradigm

I really enjoyed Paradigm, and I felt that Heather Jarman delved deeply into the characters in this story. The emotions experienced by Shar and the other Andorian characters felt very real, while at the same time seemingly genuinely "alien," different from the human norm we are used to. Shar deals with a lover's recent death, has to face her family (along with dealing with his own estranged mother), and is beginning to grow closer to Prynn Tenmei, an outsider that Andorian society would never approve of; it's some pretty heady stuff, and Jarman does a good job navigating the complex issues at play.

4/5 stars

Full review: http://treklit.blogspot.com/2015/01/W...

[Dola chi-Trei · Rating 1 out of 5]

I have found the Andorian part of the book to be severely lacking. The story simply doesn't make sense. Not only does it go against canon (where four sexes are not even hinted at) but it tries to sell a species having developed with a reproductive system so complicated that the its survival is directly threatened by the very way the species reproduces. And all of that on a world that is known to have had overpopulation issues. No, it's not convincing at all.

[Crystal Bensley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Two great stories- one focused on Miles and Keiko, one on Shar and Prynn.

[Vic Page · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Lotus Flower
4.5/5
Travelling to Cardassia was something I was very excited about (not as excited as Andoria, but like, that's a whole other story) and this did not disappoint. The worldbuilding was great and it brought this planet to life - I especially loved the moving imagery of Victory Square in ruins, covered in ash. It was brutal being here just as it should have been. And seeing this through Keiko's eyes brought a fresh perspective we needed.
I loved having Yevir seen at a different angle although the DS9 relaunch has always been so good at making multi-faceted 'antagonists' (AKA, they're against Kira so hate them, but they're actually OK people in the end). Nowhere is this on better display then in the Lotus Flower, where we almost exclusively spend time with what in a lesser book/TV show would be the one-note hated characters. Keiko, Garak, Yevir, Macet, Ghemor. Cardassia as a whole - the 'space Nazis' that were originally sold to us have come so far. And I just cannot wait to see where Cardassia goes next.

Paradigm
5/5
WOW OK so it's not a secret I love Andorians and think they are WAY underused in Star Trek. So FINALLY travelling here was the gift I needed to really fall in love with the Star Trek novels.
It's a simple story, really, but so different from what I've been used to that it took me completely by surprise. Heather Jarman the GENIUS has created a story based on religion, science, social structure and the end of a civilisation all in one. Plus, it's a travel coming-of-age romance in Andoria?! This whole thing was perfect, it could be a movie in its own right. It took two 2D characters of Shar and Prynn that I've been waiting to get to know and it painted them in full colour, alongside a beautifully created world and complicated social structure that felt so tangible it feels like the Andorian structure is as real to me now as, say, Austen's social structures.
I know this book won't be for everyone but it was definitely for me. More travel romances as Star Trek novels please :)

[J · Rating 3 out of 5]

Worlds of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Volume 1 is comprised of two novellas that tell stories set in the Star Trek universe that aren't hugely special or influential in the overall story.

Cardassia, written by Ms McCormack covers the story of a civilization trying to recover following a devastating war. Changing from an authoritarian structure to a nascent democracy and leading to a terrorist threat by reactionaries who want to restore things to the glorious past.

Ms. McCormack highlights the limits of democratic institutions and how easy is it to reach for autocratic solutions in the name of safety and expediency. I really appreciated that her characters know this too and how important it is to not start down this slippery slope. The shortfall is a needless layer of complexity that is not explained here and may be played out in later Star Trek stories, but as a self contained story doesn't make sense (see conspirators).

Andor, written by Heather Jarman, is a much stronger character study. Focused on two characters. Each thinking of themselves as orphans despite having at least one parent. They are brought to Shar's home planet for a funeral but are soon caught up in theft, escape, kidnapping and rescue.

The relationship between Prynn and Shar runs a wonderful gamut between infatuation, to caring and trust while having both wonder what the other is feeling. The limiting factor is the strange denoument that seems to undercut everything that had happened previously. It simply rolls back the decisions and growth of the story and leaves you with a word, "Someday."

Someday this will not be seen as lazy, but this is not that day.

The volume largely fleshes out minor characters from the show and characters created for previous novels. While entertaining as stories, no lasting impact and not strong as stand alone stories.

[Christian Hamilton · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’ve got mixed feelings about this book. I think the concept is fascinating: Utilizing two novellas to describe continuing stories in the Relaunch based around specific planets. What a cool way to embrace the diversity of the Star Trek universe.

It’s just that one story was great and one was average, at best.

Of course, the great story was Una McCormack’s Cardassian novella, which featured Keiko and Miles O’Brien in the lead carrying over threads from “Unity.” I won’t get into spoilers, but it revolves around Keiko’s mission to try to help Cardassia’s revitalization. It also features the one and only Elim Garak.

The “meh” story was Heather Jarman’s Andor novella. In all fairness, Jarman is a good author. It’s just that I really don’t care much about Shar at this point in the Relaunch. There is something mildly interesting about the predicament that the Andorians are going through, but their species descriptions and plot points are so esoteric that I feel as if I’m reading part of a Tolkien appendix without enjoying it.

It wasn’t a bad story, but it was one of the rare ones I couldn’t wait to get through.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cardassia -- Completely underwhelming in both story and world-building, although that may be because I can't help but compare it to Una's later works which are my favorite of Trek. The stakes of the bomb threat are high, but not as high as what Cardassia has already gone through with the Dominion War, which results in a "worlds of ds9" story that doesn't shake things up as much as other ones. 2.5/5

Andor -- INCREDIBLE. There's very little about Andor, or Andorian characters, in canon (although this does ignore Enterprise...), and the author uses the full opportunity presented her to create a memorable, thrilling, sensual alien world with its own distinct alien cultural perspectives/practices and mythology. I enjoyed getting to know Prynn apart from any plot involving her dull father, as well as Shar who is the most interesting OC in beta canon so far. Also I appreciated the female characters (in both quantity and quality) and overall female perspective infused throughout -- Star Trek needs more women writers for sure. 5/5

[Bron · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a two book bundle, so it's a bit hard to rate it. I wanted the story set on Andor, but I did read the other. It felt quite slight, it wasn't very long but it did offer a little glimpse into life on Cardassia after the Dominion War and the difficulties of rebuilding a devastated world.

The story set on Andor was the one I really wanted because I wanted to know what happened to Shar after he returned to DS9 from the Gamma Quadrant exploratory mission. This one didn't disappoint! Shar is recalled to Andor to attend some important family business so you get a good insight into the life of this fascinating species with It's four genders. You're shown a bit of modern Andor, then taken to a part of the planet where old traditions are more prevalent. You learn about family life, meals, sleeping arrangements, clothing, customs, festivals, religion, even a but of botany all wrapped up in a story that gets quite exciting in places, and very sad in others. I enjoyed it, but then, learning about alien cultures interests me very much.

[mica · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found both these stories pretty enjoyable in their own right, although, as a big Deep Space Nine fan, I'm predisposed to like them. I don't know that I found either book particularly memorable, but, in the moment, they were enjoyable.

I found the first one (Cardassia) somewhat disappointing in that it took one of my favourite yet under-used and often loathed TNG/DS9 characters and gave her a story all her own ...only to not really give her enough to do (in my opinion). It still gave Garak a lot to do, though, and I liked the concept of the book itself, with Federation and Bajoran rebuilding efforts in Cardassia.

The second book (Andor) had a bit of a romance/mystery thing going on, which, I did kind of enjoy, to my surprise (since I tend to not particularly care for the Alien Boyfriend trope). While I don't think it was entirely effective, I liked the author's willingness to try to build up a vastly different familial structure.

[Peter Rydén · Rating 4 out of 5]

The lotus flower: Jag tycker att denna historia fokuserar alltför mycket på familjen O'Brien (Miles och Keiko med barn) och deras relation till det cardassiska samhället när de arbetar där. Tyvärr saknas det cardassiska samhället i den höga grad som jag själv skulle önska. Mycket kommer in ändå, som exempelvis miljö och tankesätt, och jag får en god bild av det religiösa Cardassia. 5 av 10 för denna del.

Paradigm: Jag skulle verkligen se mer bilder av denna planet. Den verkar mycket intressant och de kulturella skillnader som finns mellan Andor och dagens Jorden beskrivs på ett mycket respektfullt sätt, upplever jag. Det här är helt klart den bästa delen av boken och rekommenderas å det varmaste! 9/10 för denna del.

[Patrick Hayes · Rating 3 out of 5]

Two stories in one book. Loved the first, but was bored to tears by the second tale.

Cardassia: takes place after the Dominion Wars and features a young Cardassian with a bomb threatening to blow up a science colony set up on the world that's run by Keiko O'Brien. Miles, their two children, and Garak are in the tale and it's fantastic. Garak is brilliant with every line and every action. Highly enjoyable read.

Andor: takes place after the events of the Typhon Pact books. It read like a sightseeing tour, even when the action began. There was not enough plot and too much description of the environment. I wasn't even halfway through the story when I just wanted my experience to end. A story that was flat out boring.

[Shoumik Hassin · Rating 3 out of 5]

'The Lotus Flower' by Una McCormack is the Cardassia story and it's really good. I mean, it has Garak in it and Keiko and Yevir both get good storylines? What's not to love. Plus McCormack has a slightly more literary quality to her writing I enjoy, a bit different from the usual plainspoken style of most of these books. A strong 4 stars.

'Paradigm' by Heather Jarman is the Andor story and I didn't like it at all. I wasn't opposed to the deep dive into Andorian tradition or the Shar-Prynn romance, but neither worked. Especially Prynn, who was so single-minded in this book that it made me worry that she's not going to have anything else to do but have a love-hate relationship with her father and pine after Shar this entire series. 2 stars with potential for a downgrade.

[Yvette · Rating 5 out of 5]

Character development!

I loved finding out about Andorians. Ever since Shan in Enterprise I have wanted to know more. I loved the reference to him and the reference to the Battle of Betazed.

[S.J. Saunders · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting explorations of a post-war Cardassia and a time of political and cultural upheaval on Andor.

3.5/5 Sometimes feels like a lot of buildup to nothing, or not enough to something, but still nice to explore things this side of the wormhole.

[Ash · Rating 2 out of 5]

Cardassian part was 3-4 stars. Interesting to see what happens after the dominion war.

However, the Andor part quickly made many references that made zero sense to me, possibly based on other ds9 books, so gave up quickly.

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

Two books in one
Both are good
Second one was a bit odd at first, but made sense as it went because I realized it was laying groundwork for information about Andorians which was new to Star Trek and taken for granted in the past. There is even a glossary of terms at the end that was useful.

[Caleris · Rating 3 out of 5]

1. Cardassia: 4-4.5/5
2. Andor: 2/5

[Sarah Roberts · Rating 4 out of 5]

Adored the Cardassia story so much I've read it twice, a rarity.

[Ann Marie McGinley · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent book for exploring worlds in the Star Trek: Deep Space Nine universe

[Rick Smith · Rating 2 out of 5]

didnt really care for this one

[Kathleen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Five stars for Una McCormack, and one facepalm for Heather Jarman.

[Tara Hamilton · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first story on Cardassia was a bit slow but the one on Andor was really good.