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Worlds of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine #2
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine: Worlds of Deep Space Nine #2: Trill and Bajor
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.TRILL: They are a people with secrets. For centuries they kept their true nature hidden, even taking disturbing steps to protect the small population of near-immortal symbionts with whom a privileged few Trill are joined, body, mind, and soul. They are a people who hold memory to be sacred, yet deny their own past. Now amid a whirlwind of scandal, accusations, and growing civil unrest, Ezri Dax must penetrate millennia of lies and deceptions, and rediscover what should never have been forgotten, before her civilization rips itself apart.
BAJOR: The honeymoon is over. Following the euphoria of Bajor's marriage to the Federation, the real business of making that unionwork has begun. But even on a world where politics and religion are intertwined, conflicting visions of Bajor's role in the interstellar arena divide the planet's leadership. As newly minted Captain Kira Nerys sets the tone for the kind of Starfleet officer she will be, First Minister Asarem makes a bold move to define Bajor's voice in the Federation, while the returned Benjamin Sisko prepares for a futurethat only he, as yet, can see.
BAJOR: The honeymoon is over. Following the euphoria of Bajor's marriage to the Federation, the real business of making that unionwork has begun. But even on a world where politics and religion are intertwined, conflicting visions of Bajor's role in the interstellar arena divide the planet's leadership. As newly minted Captain Kira Nerys sets the tone for the kind of Starfleet officer she will be, First Minister Asarem makes a bold move to define Bajor's voice in the Federation, while the returned Benjamin Sisko prepares for a futurethat only he, as yet, can see.
380 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published February 1, 2005
45 people are currently reading
509 people want to read
About the author
Andy Mangels
152 books43 followersAndy Mangels is an American science fiction author who has written novels, comics, and magazine articles, and produced DVD collections, mostly focusing on media in popular culture. As an openly-gay man, he has been a longtime advocate for greater visibility of gay and lesbian characters in various media, especially comics, including the coordination and moderation of the annual "Gays in Comics" panel for Comic Con International since it was begun in 1988. He is the founder of an annual "Women of Wonder Day" event, which raises funds for domestic violence shelters and related programs. As of 2011 he has had books on the USA Today "best-selling books" list three times. wikipedia
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
August 9, 2024
Space. Dad.
Spaaace. Dadddddd.
SPACE. DAD.
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Spaaace. Dadddddd.
SPACE. DAD.
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May 8, 2016
Another good DS9 story!
December 21, 2022
I enjoyed both stories in this book. One learns a lot about Trill culture and Bajoran culture. The characters are interesting and well-developed.
However, I wouldn’t recommend this to those who are new to the world of Deep Space Nine. They referred to a lot of characters and events that were in past books/episodes.
My only complaint was about the way the story on Bajor was written. It jumps around a lot - to different characters with different plot points. So the plots were popping in and out of the story and had no real “flow”. Awkward.
However, I wouldn’t recommend this to those who are new to the world of Deep Space Nine. They referred to a lot of characters and events that were in past books/episodes.
My only complaint was about the way the story on Bajor was written. It jumps around a lot - to different characters with different plot points. So the plots were popping in and out of the story and had no real “flow”. Awkward.
December 7, 2023
Summary:
Unjoined
Dr. Bashir is working triage at Trill's Manev Central Hospital; a neurogenic bomb went off, and there are thousands of casualties. The attackers are likely an anti-joined group called the neo-Purists.
1 week earlier: Federation officials convene to discuss the crises on Bajor and Trill. Some information about the parasites has been declassified, but Trill is keeping it a secret that the parasites may be genetic offshoots of the symbionts. Captain Sisko insists that the parasites are no longer a threat.
On Minos Korva, Dax, Bashir, Ro, and Taran'atar find the icy cavern where First Minister Shakaar was infected by a parasite. There is a bioluminescent green glow, just like Audrid (a prior Dax host) saw on the comet where she discovered the parasites. They only detect residual parasite DNA; they all seemingly died when the mother did. Ezri finds an ancient pottery shard.
Kira contacts them and says the Trill government needs Ezri there immediately. Julian insists on coming along, and Ezri eventually relents, though the Trill don't like outsiders involved in internal affairs.
En route to Trill, Julian studies the shard and finds that it's 12,000 years old, made by a dead civilization called the Kurl, which is 100s of light-years from Minos Korva.
They arrive at Trill's capital city of Leran Manev to find the streets filled with protesters. They're greeted by General Cyl and Hiziki Gard, who tell her she's expected to testify before the Senate immediately; Bashir isn't permitted inside.
Ezri finds Julian at Jadzia's grave. He tells her the pottery shard was from a Kurlan naiskos, a humanoid figurine with smaller figurines inside. He theorizes that Kurl and Trill may have been related. Cyl pages her and says her testimony was leaked and unjoined neo-Purists are rioting in the cities and spawning pools.
At the Senate Towers, Cyl takes them into a subterranean command center. They notice that the security feed has been hacked, and find that Senator Talris has been taken hostage. A shootout ensues; the Senator and insurgent are both killed. They find a bomb. Bashir signals the Rio Grande to beam it into space where it explodes, emitting an EMP.
Neo-Purist leader Nas Ditrel issues a statement that Kurl was an ancient Trill civilization that genetically engineered the symbionts, creating the parasites. Julian thinks the naiskos were native to Trill and imported to Kurl. Dax suggests they visit the Guardians of Mak'ala, who have been there for 25,000 years. Bashir protests, and she orders him to report to the Med-Center with Gard; she and Cyl go to Mak'ala.
Bashir finds an injured woman who the hospital turned away because she is un-joined. He helps her, and she says she overheard that there are several more bombs, and that they target only the joined. Julian tries to warn Cyl, but he is mugged by a street gang.
Dax and Cyl ponder if reassociation is outlawed is to stop Trill from remembering their shared past. There is still a distance between them, as Neema, a prior host of Cyl's, used to be Dax's, then Audrid's, daughter. Audrid killed Neema's dad, Jayvin Vod, when he was infected by a parasite. Cyl thinks the parasites revere the shards, keeping them to remember their history.
At the Caves, they find there's been weapons fire, and a dampening field is preventing communication. Cyl suggests using the shuttle's phasers to stun the crowd. Ranul Keru, on leave from the Enterprise, greets them at the caves. He takes Ezri to the senior Guardian Order members, but they are unmoved by her pleas. The symbionts overrule the Guardians and tell her to the bottom of the pool, which no one has ever done.
Ezri swims down until coming to a large chamber with an ancient symbiont the size of a manatee. It psionically tells her that the Annuated, the eldest symbionts, will help her; it is merely a caretaker that helps them assimilate the memories of symbionts that come here to die. Ezri realizes she's surrounded by 30 meter x 8 meter gigantic symbionts. The Annuated blasts her with an enormously powerful beam.
Dax is bombarded with memories dating back millennia. Early Trill space travelers discover a planet where Trill and symbionts can both survive: Kurl. A virus decimates the population; researchers modify the symbiont DNA to make them resistant. They find there's a better host connection if they attach to the brainstem through the mouth. They're re-engineered again when the virus mutates, which causes the hosts to go insane; the symbionts don't grant them access to their memories, and control them like parasites. The Trill military quarantines Kurl, and when ships try to leave, they unleash a biogenic weapon that kills the entire populace. The genocide is covered up, and Kurl is forgotten. Ezri returns to herself to find her environmental suit is failing.
Multiple bombs detonate around the Senate Towers, severing the link between joined symbionts and their hosts; most unjoined are unaffected. At Manev Central Hospital, Bashir deals with an onslaught of casualties. He finds a working computer terminal and tries to lookup Bethan Roa's research to try and help the joined Trills who had their connections severed, but has no luck.
Attackers rappel into the Mak'ala caves and attack the Guardians; a vehicle drives up and detonates a neurogenic bomb. Keru is only minorly injured, but Cyl is hurt badly. Keru takes him to the pool to get Cyl's symbiont into the water, and finds it full of dead symbionts. A living symbiont tells Cyl that Ezri's suit is failing; Cyl says he's going to to dive in and rescue her.
Bashir is upset that the hospital staff is quick to disregard the unjoined, and even joined hosts, to save the symbionts--though after a few days, host and symbiont become indissoluble, with separation always killing the host. He knows that Bethan Roa created a drug that would allow the host and symbiont to separate, but the Trill government covered it up. He searches the computer again for Duhan Vos, the joined Trill that Roa used his formula on, and finds the formula in those records. Bashir uses it on a patient who is healed almost instantly.
Ezri pleads for help and a caretaker symbiont named Memh, who deployed the weapons on Kurlan, takes her rapidly to the surface. They see dying symbionts sinking into the depths, and Ezri blacks out. She's awakened by Taulin, who swapped out her faulty suit module with his own. He tells her about the attack, and says he must get the Cyl symbiont to the Annuated to preserve their memories. They share a sorrowful goodbye as Ezri heads to the surface, and Taulin removes his suit for Cyl.
Ezri tells Bashir and President Maz what she learned. Maz doesn't believe her, so goes to speak with Memh at Mak'ala. Afterwards, Maz addresses Trill, revealing everything--even corroborating the claims about unequal treatment for the unjoined. She says 90% of the symbionts have been wiped out and declares that no new joinings will occur, and that all symbionts will be returned to the spawning pools when their hosts die, in order to replenish their population. She reveals that Dr. Bashir removed her symbiont with an experimental procedure and she is no longer President Maz, but President Durghan. She says with everyone becoming unjoined in the near future, their society can get back on even footing. The riots in the streets are replaced with "Durghan!" chants.
Ranul tells Ezri and Julian that the last few days may have spurred him into rejoining Starfleet sooner than later, but he needs to stay and help the symbionts for now.
En route to DS9, Julian confronts Ezri, saying he feels that she doesn't value his input, and maybe doesn't value him in general. She asks if he ever truly loved Ezri, or if it was just his latent feelings for Jadzia--she's not sure if her feelings are her own or Jadzia's either. They both admit that they've changed a lot over the last few months, and decide they're done as a couple--though they both still love each other.
Fragments and Omens
Ben Sisko finds Jake in the garden watching a bird in the sky. Jake admits that he feels aimless, that things keep happening to everyone around him, but not him. Kassidy tells him to follow the bird--just start walking.
General Lenaris surveys the remains of Sidau village, where an incendiary device exploded and killed 300 people. He tells Lt. Ro, who has recently rejoined Starfleet, that a Besinian ship was seen leaving the area, and the Defiant is in pursuit.
First Minister Asarem decides not to take punitive measures against Trill for Shakaar's assassination. Second Minister Ledahn tells her that the first representative to the Federation Council has died of a heart attack and a replacement is needed immediately. Bajoran law lets the FM handpick an interim representative, so Asarem wants to give the role to Magistrate Sorati.
Rena is forced to stay at an inn when excessive rains cause a mudslide/flood. She's working on a memorial design for her grandfather Topa when a Federation type asks to borrow some paper. She thinks he's flirting, but he seems more sincere than the rest of the rivermen. An announcement decrees that due to the floods, the road and barges are closed, and the patrons need to be relocated. Rena and the Fed get lumped together with the rivermen; she feels safer with him as her steward.
Major Cenn makes an out of line comment about Ro turning her back on Bajor during the Occupation, and says she should look to Bajor for answers; Lenaris dismisses him, and tells Ro that it's not about her, it's that so many of the Bajoran militia are leaving to join Starfleet. He says whatever her reasons for leaving before, she's atoned for it by now--and he was one of the ones that voted to allow her back in the Militia.
Ro reports to Commander Vaughn that ~250,000 Bajorans are transferring to Starfleet. Ro recommends restoring Kira's former role as Militia liaison on DS9, so the Bajoran Militia feels that it still has agency. He suggests Ro do it, but she says it should be someone from the Militia. He tells her he's glad she rejoined Starfleet, and that he knows what really happened on Garon II.
Rena learns that Fed's name is Jacob. One of the drunken river men makes untoward advances at her, but Jacob shoos him away. When she tries to sleep later, she realizes there's no lock on the door, and even with Jacob near by, she doesn't feel safe. She sneaks out into the night, though Jacob catches up with her in short order.
They hike over treacherous terrain through the night, eventually making it to the shoreline of her home, Mylea, at dawn. Rena slips and drops her sketchbook, the only thing she has left of her artwork, into a mud puddle. She curses the Prophets, saying she's given up everything for them, but they're not helping her. She asks them to send the Emissary or the Tears, and just then they see a ship diverting towards them.
Dr. Semna, who has taken over for Bashir while he's on extended leave, warns Vaughn that at 102 years old, he should consider giving up field work. This makes him angry, but she says if he doesn't decide it himself soon, a doctor is going to fail his health exam, and he'll be forced to retire in shame. He appreciates her candor and says he'll take it under consideration. He says she should consider joining Starfleet instead of returning to Bajor, but she says she's made up her mind.
Ambassador Quark appears just as Vaughn's exam is finishing up, bearing a birthday gift for Vaughn from Bajor: a single esani flower, plus an isolinear chip courtesy of Quark's bar, granting him some free drinks.
Hovath, the sirah of Sidau village, awakens to find himself in the custody of those who destroyed the village. An unseen woman tells him she's very familiar with his research on the architecture of the Celestial Temple, and says if he doesn't help, his wife Iniri will be thrown out an airlock. When he refuses to cooperate, the woman Iniri to be spaced.
Rena and Jacob are given a cabin belowdecks on the patrol boat. She tells Jacob that she's promised her recently deceased grandfather that she'll return to Mylea to help her aunt run the bakery. He says that based on how she reacted when she lost her sketchbook, she can't give up her art. She starts sobbing and he comforts her; before long she finds herself kissing him, and then some.
Rena awakens in a panic when they arrive at Mylea Harbor, remembering what happened the night before. When Jacob wakes up, she tells him that they had both needed each other's comfort, but she promised her grandfather that she would try to make things work with a man named Kail back home. Jacob is angry at being used, and doesn't talk to her again. Rena is greeted by Kail and her childhood friend Halar, who is starstruck when she sees Jake Sisko getting off the boat.
Kassidy asks Ben what his plans are for their future; he says that while he loves her and Rebecca more than anyone else, he still has a duty to Starfleet, the Bajorans, the Prophets, and the others. He says the Prophets explained to him that something is coming, but he can no longer recall what it was exactly, only that he needs to protect her and Rebecca from what's coming.
Rena is helping her bristly aunt Marja with the baking when Jacob shows up to retrieve a large order of rolls. Marja sends Rena with him to deliver the rolls, to her chagrin. They run into Kail and Parsh, who invite Jacob on a trip to Yyn, where unmarried couples can have sex duty free for a night. Rena flees back to her room and starts fervently working on Topa's memorial, until she practically collapses in exhaustion later that night.
Magistrate Sorati turns down Asarem's appointment as Federation Council, citing marital issues. With no other options, Asarem's sardonic aide Theno suggests she give the job to her ex-husband; Second Minister Ledahn agrees that Aldos is the best choice, and Asarem reluctantly agrees.
Vedek Solis meets with Opaka Sulan to ask her to be kai once again, but she says that is not her path any longer--but she does sense in his pagh a great desire to help the Bajoran people, exactly what it requires to be the kai. They walk into her room to find it filled with esani flowers; she is delighted.
Rena meets Halar, Parsh, and Kail at the pub. Kail gets boisterously drunk and starts insulting everyone around him, and says the Federation is no better than the Cardassians. Rena tells him she's done with him, and he takes a swing at her.
Hovath tells his captors that he'll tell them everything if they spare his wife. He believed that the wormhole has an infinite number of endpoints, but only those to the Alpha and Gamma Quadrant are unlocked; he says it was only a theory. She reveals the Paghvaram and says he is wrong. She reveals herself, but the ship is attacked by the Defiant.
The Defiant disables the freighter, though they detect a strange energy signature. Kira beams aboard with a security team and find the ship's mercenary crew all dead. They find a tortured Bajoran woman in an airlock and beam her to the medbay on the Defiant. They discover that the ship was running on autopilot, and realize the energy they detected was a cloaked shuttle departing. Nog says the warpcore is overloading, and they beam back to the Defiant just before the ship explodes. The woman, Iniri, succumbed to her injuries.
Back on DS9, Kira tells Vaughn to give their sensor logs to Gul Macet to see if he knows anything about a ship with Dominion shields and Cardassian weapons. Vaughn tells her about wanting to reinstate the Militia liaison position, and she says she'll discuss it with Ro later. She asks him to join her at Quark's tomorrow for a birthday drink.
Jacob stops Kail's swing in mid air, and gets thrown to the ground. After being chastised by Rena, Kail stumbles out of the pub. Rena leaves, but Jacob chases after her. He says he doesn't use his full name because people kept making a scene, and Rena realizes they're kindred spirits: she's been running from her family name too, as her family were Occupation heroes, and she can't live up to their reputation. The next morning, she finds that Jacob left her a story he wrote, a reworking a Bajoran legend into a modern concept.
Major Cenn arrives at DS9 and goes to Ro's office to apologize. He is shocked when she accepts his apology and then tells him that he's the station's new Militia liaison officer, as recommended by her and General Lenaris. He's appalled to work on Terok Nor, the former seat of Cardassian power, and she tells him to get over it; it's just a place, and it's whatever the people there make it. He shakes her hand, trepidatious about what he's gotten into.
Asarem asks her ex-husband Aldos to be the Bajoran representative. He says he ended their marriage and secluded himself away after the Circle tried to stage a coup against the Bajoran government at the behest of Jaro Essa because, although he was exonerated, Asarem couldn't have had her career if they were married. She says the Bajorans have forgiven him, so he needs to forgive himself, and he needs to fight for Bajor like the soldier he still is. He ultimately agrees to take the position.
At the Yyn archeological site, Rena shows Jacob the 25 foot tall cliff carvings that may be the only depiction of the Prophets. She also shows him her finished memorial for her grandpa, which he says is amazing. That night, after the Astur pageant, Jacob gives her a candle, signifying he wants to spend the night with her. She nervously accepts, and they make love through the night. In the morning, he tells her he loves her, and she says she loves him too.
Sisko throws a house party, with Kira, Vaughn, Asarem, and Opaka attending. Later in the evening, they begin to discuss the future. Opaka says she will reach out to the Eav'oq, to try and forge a relationship with them, and to prepare in case the Ascendants return. Sisko tells Kira that something is coming, and that the people here will play a big part, but he can't say what.
Jake surprises him, and introduces Ben and Kas to his new wife, Azeni Korena--a woman that Ben met in an alternate future. Everyone congratulates the happy couple, but then Kira gets a dire message from Ro: after reading O'Brien and Bashir's logs from their time in Sidau, she concludes that the attackers were there to obtain a bracelet containing an Orb fragment, the one the village sirah used to conjure the Dal'Rok. No one has any idea how powerful it is. Ro concludes that the only way they could've known about it was by getting the information from DS9's system.
Review: The Trill half was considerably more interesting than the Bajor half, but the Bajor story was still enjoyably cozy.
Unjoined
Dr. Bashir is working triage at Trill's Manev Central Hospital; a neurogenic bomb went off, and there are thousands of casualties. The attackers are likely an anti-joined group called the neo-Purists.
1 week earlier: Federation officials convene to discuss the crises on Bajor and Trill. Some information about the parasites has been declassified, but Trill is keeping it a secret that the parasites may be genetic offshoots of the symbionts. Captain Sisko insists that the parasites are no longer a threat.
On Minos Korva, Dax, Bashir, Ro, and Taran'atar find the icy cavern where First Minister Shakaar was infected by a parasite. There is a bioluminescent green glow, just like Audrid (a prior Dax host) saw on the comet where she discovered the parasites. They only detect residual parasite DNA; they all seemingly died when the mother did. Ezri finds an ancient pottery shard.
Kira contacts them and says the Trill government needs Ezri there immediately. Julian insists on coming along, and Ezri eventually relents, though the Trill don't like outsiders involved in internal affairs.
En route to Trill, Julian studies the shard and finds that it's 12,000 years old, made by a dead civilization called the Kurl, which is 100s of light-years from Minos Korva.
They arrive at Trill's capital city of Leran Manev to find the streets filled with protesters. They're greeted by General Cyl and Hiziki Gard, who tell her she's expected to testify before the Senate immediately; Bashir isn't permitted inside.
Ezri finds Julian at Jadzia's grave. He tells her the pottery shard was from a Kurlan naiskos, a humanoid figurine with smaller figurines inside. He theorizes that Kurl and Trill may have been related. Cyl pages her and says her testimony was leaked and unjoined neo-Purists are rioting in the cities and spawning pools.
At the Senate Towers, Cyl takes them into a subterranean command center. They notice that the security feed has been hacked, and find that Senator Talris has been taken hostage. A shootout ensues; the Senator and insurgent are both killed. They find a bomb. Bashir signals the Rio Grande to beam it into space where it explodes, emitting an EMP.
Neo-Purist leader Nas Ditrel issues a statement that Kurl was an ancient Trill civilization that genetically engineered the symbionts, creating the parasites. Julian thinks the naiskos were native to Trill and imported to Kurl. Dax suggests they visit the Guardians of Mak'ala, who have been there for 25,000 years. Bashir protests, and she orders him to report to the Med-Center with Gard; she and Cyl go to Mak'ala.
Bashir finds an injured woman who the hospital turned away because she is un-joined. He helps her, and she says she overheard that there are several more bombs, and that they target only the joined. Julian tries to warn Cyl, but he is mugged by a street gang.
Dax and Cyl ponder if reassociation is outlawed is to stop Trill from remembering their shared past. There is still a distance between them, as Neema, a prior host of Cyl's, used to be Dax's, then Audrid's, daughter. Audrid killed Neema's dad, Jayvin Vod, when he was infected by a parasite. Cyl thinks the parasites revere the shards, keeping them to remember their history.
At the Caves, they find there's been weapons fire, and a dampening field is preventing communication. Cyl suggests using the shuttle's phasers to stun the crowd. Ranul Keru, on leave from the Enterprise, greets them at the caves. He takes Ezri to the senior Guardian Order members, but they are unmoved by her pleas. The symbionts overrule the Guardians and tell her to the bottom of the pool, which no one has ever done.
Ezri swims down until coming to a large chamber with an ancient symbiont the size of a manatee. It psionically tells her that the Annuated, the eldest symbionts, will help her; it is merely a caretaker that helps them assimilate the memories of symbionts that come here to die. Ezri realizes she's surrounded by 30 meter x 8 meter gigantic symbionts. The Annuated blasts her with an enormously powerful beam.
Dax is bombarded with memories dating back millennia. Early Trill space travelers discover a planet where Trill and symbionts can both survive: Kurl. A virus decimates the population; researchers modify the symbiont DNA to make them resistant. They find there's a better host connection if they attach to the brainstem through the mouth. They're re-engineered again when the virus mutates, which causes the hosts to go insane; the symbionts don't grant them access to their memories, and control them like parasites. The Trill military quarantines Kurl, and when ships try to leave, they unleash a biogenic weapon that kills the entire populace. The genocide is covered up, and Kurl is forgotten. Ezri returns to herself to find her environmental suit is failing.
Multiple bombs detonate around the Senate Towers, severing the link between joined symbionts and their hosts; most unjoined are unaffected. At Manev Central Hospital, Bashir deals with an onslaught of casualties. He finds a working computer terminal and tries to lookup Bethan Roa's research to try and help the joined Trills who had their connections severed, but has no luck.
Attackers rappel into the Mak'ala caves and attack the Guardians; a vehicle drives up and detonates a neurogenic bomb. Keru is only minorly injured, but Cyl is hurt badly. Keru takes him to the pool to get Cyl's symbiont into the water, and finds it full of dead symbionts. A living symbiont tells Cyl that Ezri's suit is failing; Cyl says he's going to to dive in and rescue her.
Bashir is upset that the hospital staff is quick to disregard the unjoined, and even joined hosts, to save the symbionts--though after a few days, host and symbiont become indissoluble, with separation always killing the host. He knows that Bethan Roa created a drug that would allow the host and symbiont to separate, but the Trill government covered it up. He searches the computer again for Duhan Vos, the joined Trill that Roa used his formula on, and finds the formula in those records. Bashir uses it on a patient who is healed almost instantly.
Ezri pleads for help and a caretaker symbiont named Memh, who deployed the weapons on Kurlan, takes her rapidly to the surface. They see dying symbionts sinking into the depths, and Ezri blacks out. She's awakened by Taulin, who swapped out her faulty suit module with his own. He tells her about the attack, and says he must get the Cyl symbiont to the Annuated to preserve their memories. They share a sorrowful goodbye as Ezri heads to the surface, and Taulin removes his suit for Cyl.
Ezri tells Bashir and President Maz what she learned. Maz doesn't believe her, so goes to speak with Memh at Mak'ala. Afterwards, Maz addresses Trill, revealing everything--even corroborating the claims about unequal treatment for the unjoined. She says 90% of the symbionts have been wiped out and declares that no new joinings will occur, and that all symbionts will be returned to the spawning pools when their hosts die, in order to replenish their population. She reveals that Dr. Bashir removed her symbiont with an experimental procedure and she is no longer President Maz, but President Durghan. She says with everyone becoming unjoined in the near future, their society can get back on even footing. The riots in the streets are replaced with "Durghan!" chants.
Ranul tells Ezri and Julian that the last few days may have spurred him into rejoining Starfleet sooner than later, but he needs to stay and help the symbionts for now.
En route to DS9, Julian confronts Ezri, saying he feels that she doesn't value his input, and maybe doesn't value him in general. She asks if he ever truly loved Ezri, or if it was just his latent feelings for Jadzia--she's not sure if her feelings are her own or Jadzia's either. They both admit that they've changed a lot over the last few months, and decide they're done as a couple--though they both still love each other.
Fragments and Omens
Ben Sisko finds Jake in the garden watching a bird in the sky. Jake admits that he feels aimless, that things keep happening to everyone around him, but not him. Kassidy tells him to follow the bird--just start walking.
General Lenaris surveys the remains of Sidau village, where an incendiary device exploded and killed 300 people. He tells Lt. Ro, who has recently rejoined Starfleet, that a Besinian ship was seen leaving the area, and the Defiant is in pursuit.
First Minister Asarem decides not to take punitive measures against Trill for Shakaar's assassination. Second Minister Ledahn tells her that the first representative to the Federation Council has died of a heart attack and a replacement is needed immediately. Bajoran law lets the FM handpick an interim representative, so Asarem wants to give the role to Magistrate Sorati.
Rena is forced to stay at an inn when excessive rains cause a mudslide/flood. She's working on a memorial design for her grandfather Topa when a Federation type asks to borrow some paper. She thinks he's flirting, but he seems more sincere than the rest of the rivermen. An announcement decrees that due to the floods, the road and barges are closed, and the patrons need to be relocated. Rena and the Fed get lumped together with the rivermen; she feels safer with him as her steward.
Major Cenn makes an out of line comment about Ro turning her back on Bajor during the Occupation, and says she should look to Bajor for answers; Lenaris dismisses him, and tells Ro that it's not about her, it's that so many of the Bajoran militia are leaving to join Starfleet. He says whatever her reasons for leaving before, she's atoned for it by now--and he was one of the ones that voted to allow her back in the Militia.
Ro reports to Commander Vaughn that ~250,000 Bajorans are transferring to Starfleet. Ro recommends restoring Kira's former role as Militia liaison on DS9, so the Bajoran Militia feels that it still has agency. He suggests Ro do it, but she says it should be someone from the Militia. He tells her he's glad she rejoined Starfleet, and that he knows what really happened on Garon II.
Rena learns that Fed's name is Jacob. One of the drunken river men makes untoward advances at her, but Jacob shoos him away. When she tries to sleep later, she realizes there's no lock on the door, and even with Jacob near by, she doesn't feel safe. She sneaks out into the night, though Jacob catches up with her in short order.
They hike over treacherous terrain through the night, eventually making it to the shoreline of her home, Mylea, at dawn. Rena slips and drops her sketchbook, the only thing she has left of her artwork, into a mud puddle. She curses the Prophets, saying she's given up everything for them, but they're not helping her. She asks them to send the Emissary or the Tears, and just then they see a ship diverting towards them.
Dr. Semna, who has taken over for Bashir while he's on extended leave, warns Vaughn that at 102 years old, he should consider giving up field work. This makes him angry, but she says if he doesn't decide it himself soon, a doctor is going to fail his health exam, and he'll be forced to retire in shame. He appreciates her candor and says he'll take it under consideration. He says she should consider joining Starfleet instead of returning to Bajor, but she says she's made up her mind.
Ambassador Quark appears just as Vaughn's exam is finishing up, bearing a birthday gift for Vaughn from Bajor: a single esani flower, plus an isolinear chip courtesy of Quark's bar, granting him some free drinks.
Hovath, the sirah of Sidau village, awakens to find himself in the custody of those who destroyed the village. An unseen woman tells him she's very familiar with his research on the architecture of the Celestial Temple, and says if he doesn't help, his wife Iniri will be thrown out an airlock. When he refuses to cooperate, the woman Iniri to be spaced.
Rena and Jacob are given a cabin belowdecks on the patrol boat. She tells Jacob that she's promised her recently deceased grandfather that she'll return to Mylea to help her aunt run the bakery. He says that based on how she reacted when she lost her sketchbook, she can't give up her art. She starts sobbing and he comforts her; before long she finds herself kissing him, and then some.
Rena awakens in a panic when they arrive at Mylea Harbor, remembering what happened the night before. When Jacob wakes up, she tells him that they had both needed each other's comfort, but she promised her grandfather that she would try to make things work with a man named Kail back home. Jacob is angry at being used, and doesn't talk to her again. Rena is greeted by Kail and her childhood friend Halar, who is starstruck when she sees Jake Sisko getting off the boat.
Kassidy asks Ben what his plans are for their future; he says that while he loves her and Rebecca more than anyone else, he still has a duty to Starfleet, the Bajorans, the Prophets, and the others. He says the Prophets explained to him that something is coming, but he can no longer recall what it was exactly, only that he needs to protect her and Rebecca from what's coming.
Rena is helping her bristly aunt Marja with the baking when Jacob shows up to retrieve a large order of rolls. Marja sends Rena with him to deliver the rolls, to her chagrin. They run into Kail and Parsh, who invite Jacob on a trip to Yyn, where unmarried couples can have sex duty free for a night. Rena flees back to her room and starts fervently working on Topa's memorial, until she practically collapses in exhaustion later that night.
Magistrate Sorati turns down Asarem's appointment as Federation Council, citing marital issues. With no other options, Asarem's sardonic aide Theno suggests she give the job to her ex-husband; Second Minister Ledahn agrees that Aldos is the best choice, and Asarem reluctantly agrees.
Vedek Solis meets with Opaka Sulan to ask her to be kai once again, but she says that is not her path any longer--but she does sense in his pagh a great desire to help the Bajoran people, exactly what it requires to be the kai. They walk into her room to find it filled with esani flowers; she is delighted.
Rena meets Halar, Parsh, and Kail at the pub. Kail gets boisterously drunk and starts insulting everyone around him, and says the Federation is no better than the Cardassians. Rena tells him she's done with him, and he takes a swing at her.
Hovath tells his captors that he'll tell them everything if they spare his wife. He believed that the wormhole has an infinite number of endpoints, but only those to the Alpha and Gamma Quadrant are unlocked; he says it was only a theory. She reveals the Paghvaram and says he is wrong. She reveals herself, but the ship is attacked by the Defiant.
The Defiant disables the freighter, though they detect a strange energy signature. Kira beams aboard with a security team and find the ship's mercenary crew all dead. They find a tortured Bajoran woman in an airlock and beam her to the medbay on the Defiant. They discover that the ship was running on autopilot, and realize the energy they detected was a cloaked shuttle departing. Nog says the warpcore is overloading, and they beam back to the Defiant just before the ship explodes. The woman, Iniri, succumbed to her injuries.
Back on DS9, Kira tells Vaughn to give their sensor logs to Gul Macet to see if he knows anything about a ship with Dominion shields and Cardassian weapons. Vaughn tells her about wanting to reinstate the Militia liaison position, and she says she'll discuss it with Ro later. She asks him to join her at Quark's tomorrow for a birthday drink.
Jacob stops Kail's swing in mid air, and gets thrown to the ground. After being chastised by Rena, Kail stumbles out of the pub. Rena leaves, but Jacob chases after her. He says he doesn't use his full name because people kept making a scene, and Rena realizes they're kindred spirits: she's been running from her family name too, as her family were Occupation heroes, and she can't live up to their reputation. The next morning, she finds that Jacob left her a story he wrote, a reworking a Bajoran legend into a modern concept.
Major Cenn arrives at DS9 and goes to Ro's office to apologize. He is shocked when she accepts his apology and then tells him that he's the station's new Militia liaison officer, as recommended by her and General Lenaris. He's appalled to work on Terok Nor, the former seat of Cardassian power, and she tells him to get over it; it's just a place, and it's whatever the people there make it. He shakes her hand, trepidatious about what he's gotten into.
Asarem asks her ex-husband Aldos to be the Bajoran representative. He says he ended their marriage and secluded himself away after the Circle tried to stage a coup against the Bajoran government at the behest of Jaro Essa because, although he was exonerated, Asarem couldn't have had her career if they were married. She says the Bajorans have forgiven him, so he needs to forgive himself, and he needs to fight for Bajor like the soldier he still is. He ultimately agrees to take the position.
At the Yyn archeological site, Rena shows Jacob the 25 foot tall cliff carvings that may be the only depiction of the Prophets. She also shows him her finished memorial for her grandpa, which he says is amazing. That night, after the Astur pageant, Jacob gives her a candle, signifying he wants to spend the night with her. She nervously accepts, and they make love through the night. In the morning, he tells her he loves her, and she says she loves him too.
Sisko throws a house party, with Kira, Vaughn, Asarem, and Opaka attending. Later in the evening, they begin to discuss the future. Opaka says she will reach out to the Eav'oq, to try and forge a relationship with them, and to prepare in case the Ascendants return. Sisko tells Kira that something is coming, and that the people here will play a big part, but he can't say what.
Jake surprises him, and introduces Ben and Kas to his new wife, Azeni Korena--a woman that Ben met in an alternate future. Everyone congratulates the happy couple, but then Kira gets a dire message from Ro: after reading O'Brien and Bashir's logs from their time in Sidau, she concludes that the attackers were there to obtain a bracelet containing an Orb fragment, the one the village sirah used to conjure the Dal'Rok. No one has any idea how powerful it is. Ro concludes that the only way they could've known about it was by getting the information from DS9's system.
Review: The Trill half was considerably more interesting than the Bajor half, but the Bajor story was still enjoyably cozy.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 13, 2020
Review forthcoming
January 28, 2019
Trill - Nice to see some long overdue world-building and societal upheaval come to Trill. Exciting story with real consequences for the world.
Bajor-- I loved the splintered format, seeing what Bajor means to its people through a variety of lenses, and the way these stories were tied together thematically: past vs future, home vs beyond, tradition vs new frontiers, tradition vs progress. Jake and Rena's story was surprisingly well-done and quite sweet.
I enjoyed how much these two stories tied into existing canon, while bringing in a fresh8 perspective and new narratives. I also enjoyed how little exposition was thrown in to explain characters/events from other books or the show -- it assumes you're up-to-date already, and I appreciate not having that filler to have to skim over, like most other Trek books.
Bajor-- I loved the splintered format, seeing what Bajor means to its people through a variety of lenses, and the way these stories were tied together thematically: past vs future, home vs beyond, tradition vs new frontiers, tradition vs progress. Jake and Rena's story was surprisingly well-done and quite sweet.
I enjoyed how much these two stories tied into existing canon, while bringing in a fresh8 perspective and new narratives. I also enjoyed how little exposition was thrown in to explain characters/events from other books or the show -- it assumes you're up-to-date already, and I appreciate not having that filler to have to skim over, like most other Trek books.
March 23, 2018
I'd give this installment 4.5 stars if I could. In Part 1, I love me some Ezri, and I like learning about Trill and other non-Terran/Vulcan members of the UFP. And in Part 2, I have a HUGE soft spot for anything about Bajor, Ro Laren, and Jake Sisko - so this story was right up my alley.
March 9, 2019
Just like I did with the first book in the Worlds of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine series I will review these two stories separately.
UNJOINED 4 stars
This was a story that I got caught up in right away. It's about the chaos back on Trill concerning everything that's been happening with the parasites in previous novels. This is a storyline in particular that I've found to be really interesting. It takes us deeper into the relationship between the Trill symbionts and the parasites, and we get to know a lot more about Trill's history.
I like the mystery that's unraveled and how there's so much more to this whole story than I could have imagined. The symbionts are so much more than I could have imagined. There's so many secrets uncovered from this people that has lived with secrecy for so long that it's bound to change an entire society...
FRAGMENTS AND OMENS 4 stars
This story is about an attack on a Bajoran village and the aftermath of that, about Bajor adjusting to life after having joined the Federation and about a girl named Rena. It's a story with many layers to it. A story that I really liked.
I think that the parts about Rena and her struggles to wanting to honor her dead grandfather's wishes is really beautiful in a way. This was my favorite part of this novel. It's about the expectations that can be on a person's life and how it can end up being a heavy cross to bear. It's about finding your way in life.
UNJOINED 4 stars
This was a story that I got caught up in right away. It's about the chaos back on Trill concerning everything that's been happening with the parasites in previous novels. This is a storyline in particular that I've found to be really interesting. It takes us deeper into the relationship between the Trill symbionts and the parasites, and we get to know a lot more about Trill's history.
I like the mystery that's unraveled and how there's so much more to this whole story than I could have imagined. The symbionts are so much more than I could have imagined. There's so many secrets uncovered from this people that has lived with secrecy for so long that it's bound to change an entire society...
FRAGMENTS AND OMENS 4 stars
This story is about an attack on a Bajoran village and the aftermath of that, about Bajor adjusting to life after having joined the Federation and about a girl named Rena. It's a story with many layers to it. A story that I really liked.
I think that the parts about Rena and her struggles to wanting to honor her dead grandfather's wishes is really beautiful in a way. This was my favorite part of this novel. It's about the expectations that can be on a person's life and how it can end up being a heavy cross to bear. It's about finding your way in life.
June 4, 2022
UNJOINED: 5 stars
LOVED this exploration of terrorism, societal change, fanaticism, castes etc. This was brilliant. Also the ending to Julian and Ezri's relationship felt so natural. Never thought I would genuinely enjoy a book set on Trill but it was really great - the writers did a fabulous job of giving a place with fairly shallow worldbuilding a lot of depth and layers. Trill is not up there as a planet to watch - especially enjoyed the way what was going on on the planet directly affected their Federation membership. I don't think we've ever seen a planet's membership in doubt and that was great.
FRAGMENTS AND OMENS: 2.5 stars
A lot of new/side characters took the focus that I didn't really feel anything for or care about. This felt like one of those episodes that you have to watch because they cover so much change/political plot, but nothing was really interesting. Like reading a Wikipedia article. So much more could have been done with Bajor joining the Federation and it was only barely covered. Still wins points because I do enjoy where this is all going and Sisko's storyline was satisfying.
LOVED this exploration of terrorism, societal change, fanaticism, castes etc. This was brilliant. Also the ending to Julian and Ezri's relationship felt so natural. Never thought I would genuinely enjoy a book set on Trill but it was really great - the writers did a fabulous job of giving a place with fairly shallow worldbuilding a lot of depth and layers. Trill is not up there as a planet to watch - especially enjoyed the way what was going on on the planet directly affected their Federation membership. I don't think we've ever seen a planet's membership in doubt and that was great.
FRAGMENTS AND OMENS: 2.5 stars
A lot of new/side characters took the focus that I didn't really feel anything for or care about. This felt like one of those episodes that you have to watch because they cover so much change/political plot, but nothing was really interesting. Like reading a Wikipedia article. So much more could have been done with Bajor joining the Federation and it was only barely covered. Still wins points because I do enjoy where this is all going and Sisko's storyline was satisfying.
October 23, 2021
Like the previous “Worlds of Deep Space Nine,” this book is half really good book and half “just average” book. The first story, concerning Trill, was a bit of a struggle to get through. I’ve never been much interested in the Trill situation occurring during the DS9 relaunch, and dealing with nearly 200 pages of it was a bit of a chore.
With that being said, the Bajoran story was excellent. Focusing on the religion of the people, while also dealing with mystery, romance, and the future, this was a fun story to read. There was a lot of connective tissue between the show, as well as the books. By the epilogue, I really felt like I had read something special.
I’m looking forward to the next book.
With that being said, the Bajoran story was excellent. Focusing on the religion of the people, while also dealing with mystery, romance, and the future, this was a fun story to read. There was a lot of connective tissue between the show, as well as the books. By the epilogue, I really felt like I had read something special.
I’m looking forward to the next book.
July 21, 2023
'Unjoined' by Michael A Martin and Andy Mangels - 3 stars (I liked it)
So this has massive implications for the Trill that I'm pretty sure are just meant to be a band-aid on the fact that they are more interesting in concept than execution up until now. Still, I love that Ezri of all people is the focus of so much DS9 relaunch. Also, Bashir is really quite nasty here.
'Fragments and Omens' by J Noah Kym - 3 stars (I liked it)
Frankly, given that this is about Bajoran pastoralism, a Star Trek romance, and the joys of domestic life and family, I am shocked that I enjoyed this in any way at all. Especially chapters of Sisko's domestic musings. Really chill vibe. The rest jumps around too much for my liking.
So this has massive implications for the Trill that I'm pretty sure are just meant to be a band-aid on the fact that they are more interesting in concept than execution up until now. Still, I love that Ezri of all people is the focus of so much DS9 relaunch. Also, Bashir is really quite nasty here.
'Fragments and Omens' by J Noah Kym - 3 stars (I liked it)
Frankly, given that this is about Bajoran pastoralism, a Star Trek romance, and the joys of domestic life and family, I am shocked that I enjoyed this in any way at all. Especially chapters of Sisko's domestic musings. Really chill vibe. The rest jumps around too much for my liking.
January 29, 2020
You can't go into this cold. DS9 is the most serialized corner of the Trek universe and you need a passing familiarity with elements of the series, and certainly elements of the post-DS9-finale novels that continue the story. But with that out of the way, you'll be rewarded with a double-novel like this one, exploring issues on Bajor and Trill with surprising depth and intensity. For those following the long DS9 story, this novel is particularly revealing, and rewarding for those with long memories.
November 11, 2025
Better than the first volume
The first half of the novel is a Bashir and Ezri story on Trill. I nicely wraps up the parasite story, but it was a bit plodding at times. The second story is set on Bajor and involves multiple characters however the main focus is Jake. His story is a well written tale of love. This story saves the novel and makes it a must read in my opinion. Overall the second novel is far and away better than Worlds of DS9 Volume 1 and I look forward to Volume 3.
The first half of the novel is a Bashir and Ezri story on Trill. I nicely wraps up the parasite story, but it was a bit plodding at times. The second story is set on Bajor and involves multiple characters however the main focus is Jake. His story is a well written tale of love. This story saves the novel and makes it a must read in my opinion. Overall the second novel is far and away better than Worlds of DS9 Volume 1 and I look forward to Volume 3.
July 30, 2017
It was nice to find out more about the Trill homeworld, but I especially liked the Bajor section and the storyline about Jake Sisko.
February 25, 2020
Not As Exciting....
Not as exciting as other DS9 books. Left me wanting. Have to read prior book too in order to get a little more understanding.
Not as exciting as other DS9 books. Left me wanting. Have to read prior book too in order to get a little more understanding.
December 13, 2021
An intriguing look into Trill heritage and a bit of treading water with a whirlwind romance back on Bajor.
3.5/5 Interested to see how new developments shape the story moving forward!
3.5/5 Interested to see how new developments shape the story moving forward!
January 14, 2023
The Bajor section was a little hard to follow, but came together at the end.
December 22, 2023
Still don’t get why they felt they needed to put two books in each of these.
March 7, 2024
The book on Trill was nice and inciteful, but the one on Major was a wild ride that I enjoyed with relish , need Mum to write more
October 8, 2015
This book was okay. Neither story line really did much for me, but neither was spectacularly awful, either.
Trill:
The better of the two stories in my opinion. It answers quite a few questions about Trill history and society, and clears up some questions about the symbionts as well. It gives a rather dark origin to the parasites, but it makes sense. I'm not a huge fan of the "giant ancient symbionts" because I dont think it makes much sense...they state that symbionts grow that large naturally with age, but if they grow in a linear fashion with age, they would eventually become to large/old to have a human host, which we've never heard about. Exri seems surprised by the concept as well. I suppose they could have huge growth spurts waaaaay later on in life, or their size could be the effect (somehow) of the environment that far down in the symbiont pools...
As for the actual story, it was interesting. It wasn't awful, but it wasn't captivating either. It was very dark, but also seemed to unfold realistically. If taken as canon, though, this has HUGE implications for any future Trill characters later on in books and series...
As for Ezri and Julian...as much as them being together always seemed forced and awkward to me, the way the broke up seemed just as much so. Which is kind of fitting, I guess. I'm curious to see where they go with the characters from here.
Bajor:
I really didn't love this story. It jumped around so much that it was hard to care about the various plots going on. The mystery (unresolved at the end of the book, which is annoying) about who committed the murders did tie back into one of the earlier and less interesting episodes of DS9, which are always fun to see unearthed. So I enjoyed that bit of continuity. I liked seeing Ro deal with difficult people and her interesting solution to the problem of Bajoran representation on the station now that Starfleet was taking over due to Bajor joining the Federation. I didn't like Jake's story line at all. It seemed very cliche, and having it end with him marrying a girl he'd only known a month (without even telling/inviting his father!) just seemed forced. I could have done without the...romance scenes, too.
Trill:
The better of the two stories in my opinion. It answers quite a few questions about Trill history and society, and clears up some questions about the symbionts as well. It gives a rather dark origin to the parasites, but it makes sense. I'm not a huge fan of the "giant ancient symbionts" because I dont think it makes much sense...they state that symbionts grow that large naturally with age, but if they grow in a linear fashion with age, they would eventually become to large/old to have a human host, which we've never heard about. Exri seems surprised by the concept as well. I suppose they could have huge growth spurts waaaaay later on in life, or their size could be the effect (somehow) of the environment that far down in the symbiont pools...
As for the actual story, it was interesting. It wasn't awful, but it wasn't captivating either. It was very dark, but also seemed to unfold realistically. If taken as canon, though, this has HUGE implications for any future Trill characters later on in books and series...
As for Ezri and Julian...as much as them being together always seemed forced and awkward to me, the way the broke up seemed just as much so. Which is kind of fitting, I guess. I'm curious to see where they go with the characters from here.
Bajor:
I really didn't love this story. It jumped around so much that it was hard to care about the various plots going on. The mystery (unresolved at the end of the book, which is annoying) about who committed the murders did tie back into one of the earlier and less interesting episodes of DS9, which are always fun to see unearthed. So I enjoyed that bit of continuity. I liked seeing Ro deal with difficult people and her interesting solution to the problem of Bajoran representation on the station now that Starfleet was taking over due to Bajor joining the Federation. I didn't like Jake's story line at all. It seemed very cliche, and having it end with him marrying a girl he'd only known a month (without even telling/inviting his father!) just seemed forced. I could have done without the...romance scenes, too.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 28, 2015
Trill: Unjoined by Michael A. Martin & Andy Mangels (3/5 stars)
A very good exploration of Trill society that doesn't shy away from examining big issues. Secrets are anathema to open, functioning society, and Unjoined illustrates this beautifully. I enjoy the writing style of the team of Martin and Mangels, and the way they craft their story is fun to watch unfold. For example, at the beginning of the novel, we see Bashir bristling at the way that the Trill hospital he is in is favoring the treatment of joined patients while neglecting the unjoined ones. The reader, of course, agrees with Bashir that this is wildly unfair, and we are left thinking that the protests are overwhelmingly justified. However, later in the story, we learn the reason for this preferential treatment in this specific case, and new light is shed on the situation. The universe is most certainly not black and white, and the authors do an excellent job of showing this.
Full review: http://treklit.blogspot.com/2015/02/W...
Bajor: Fragments and Omens by J. Noah Kym (5/5 stars)
J. Noah Kym writes the Bajoran characters exceptionally well. Kira, Ro, First Minister Asarem, Opaka, Krim, Rena; all of the characters have a unique voice that really establishes the strength and diversity of the Bajoran people. If these stories truly purport to be the definitive representations of the worlds of Deep Space Nine, then Fragments and Omens succeeds brilliantly. Kym gives us a beautiful look at this world and her people, and sets the stage for the next chapter in the Deep Space Nine saga.
Full review: http://treklit.blogspot.com/2015/03/W...
A very good exploration of Trill society that doesn't shy away from examining big issues. Secrets are anathema to open, functioning society, and Unjoined illustrates this beautifully. I enjoy the writing style of the team of Martin and Mangels, and the way they craft their story is fun to watch unfold. For example, at the beginning of the novel, we see Bashir bristling at the way that the Trill hospital he is in is favoring the treatment of joined patients while neglecting the unjoined ones. The reader, of course, agrees with Bashir that this is wildly unfair, and we are left thinking that the protests are overwhelmingly justified. However, later in the story, we learn the reason for this preferential treatment in this specific case, and new light is shed on the situation. The universe is most certainly not black and white, and the authors do an excellent job of showing this.
Full review: http://treklit.blogspot.com/2015/02/W...
Bajor: Fragments and Omens by J. Noah Kym (5/5 stars)
J. Noah Kym writes the Bajoran characters exceptionally well. Kira, Ro, First Minister Asarem, Opaka, Krim, Rena; all of the characters have a unique voice that really establishes the strength and diversity of the Bajoran people. If these stories truly purport to be the definitive representations of the worlds of Deep Space Nine, then Fragments and Omens succeeds brilliantly. Kym gives us a beautiful look at this world and her people, and sets the stage for the next chapter in the Deep Space Nine saga.
Full review: http://treklit.blogspot.com/2015/03/W...
April 9, 2025
This was a great read for both worlds.
Trill. We finally pierce the veil of Trill secrecy as Ezri Dax returns home. In the aftermath of the parasite attack on Bajor, Ezri returns home to testify and finds her world in turmoil. There are worldwide protests- some demanding an end to symbiosis, some demanding symbionts for all Trill and some just demanding that the government tell the whole truth. With help from General Taulin Cyl and special government operative Hiziki Gard (both of whom have past life associations with Dax), Dax must seek information from the most ancient source on Trill- the symbionts themselves. Will what she finds help save her world or destroy it?
Bajor- I enjoyed seeing this diverse world through so many sets of eyes. Ben Sisko in retirement there with his wife, son and newborn daughter. Captain Kira Nerys and Lieutenant Ro Laren of Deep Space Nine, who view their homeworld in different ways. First Minister Asarem Wadeen, striving to do right by her people in the wake of her ascension to the top spot after Shakaar Edon was killed by alien parasites. Jake Sisko, looking to define his life now that he's a grown man. Azeni Korena, also looking to define her life after the death of her beloved grandfather. I loved the juxtaposition of the love story between Jake and Rena and the wanton destruction of the village of Sidau, where Dr. Bashir and Chief O'Brian once helped the people with their annual tradition of fighting the dal'rok.
This is easily my favorite of the three Worlds Of books.
Trill. We finally pierce the veil of Trill secrecy as Ezri Dax returns home. In the aftermath of the parasite attack on Bajor, Ezri returns home to testify and finds her world in turmoil. There are worldwide protests- some demanding an end to symbiosis, some demanding symbionts for all Trill and some just demanding that the government tell the whole truth. With help from General Taulin Cyl and special government operative Hiziki Gard (both of whom have past life associations with Dax), Dax must seek information from the most ancient source on Trill- the symbionts themselves. Will what she finds help save her world or destroy it?
Bajor- I enjoyed seeing this diverse world through so many sets of eyes. Ben Sisko in retirement there with his wife, son and newborn daughter. Captain Kira Nerys and Lieutenant Ro Laren of Deep Space Nine, who view their homeworld in different ways. First Minister Asarem Wadeen, striving to do right by her people in the wake of her ascension to the top spot after Shakaar Edon was killed by alien parasites. Jake Sisko, looking to define his life now that he's a grown man. Azeni Korena, also looking to define her life after the death of her beloved grandfather. I loved the juxtaposition of the love story between Jake and Rena and the wanton destruction of the village of Sidau, where Dr. Bashir and Chief O'Brian once helped the people with their annual tradition of fighting the dal'rok.
This is easily my favorite of the three Worlds Of books.
August 20, 2011
I enjoyed both stories in this book. Parasites from the 1st season STNG episode "Conspiracy" have returned, but are only mentioned peripherally in the first book "Trill". A security agent has assassinated Bajor's First Minister Shakaar, and Ezri Dax is recalled to Trill to testify. Rumours that the parasites are genetically close to Trill symbionts has terrorists determined to kill all the symbionts and make all Trill citizens equal. Ezri must penetrate millennia of lies and deception to re-discover what should never have been forgotten. Meanwhile, Dr. Bashir is caught up in the rioting and carnage and must learn how to save those joined Trill who are suddenly without their symbionts. Through it all Dax and Bashir must decide their own destiny - together or not.
The second book "Bajor" has two separate stories - A complete village - the one from DS9's season one episode "The Storyteller" - has been destroyed and new security chief Ro Laren must learn how and why. Meanwhile Jake Sisko has left his father's house on a journey of his own and returns with a surprise. Judging from the last line in the book, I am led to assume that the story continues with Book 3 which involves Ferenginar and The Dominion.
The second book "Bajor" has two separate stories - A complete village - the one from DS9's season one episode "The Storyteller" - has been destroyed and new security chief Ro Laren must learn how and why. Meanwhile Jake Sisko has left his father's house on a journey of his own and returns with a surprise. Judging from the last line in the book, I am led to assume that the story continues with Book 3 which involves Ferenginar and The Dominion.
June 3, 2012
This is the second of the "Worlds" series of Deep Space Nine relaunch novels. Like the first one, this is essentially two books in one. The first deals with parasite aftermath on Trill. All of the secrets surrounding the symbionts are revealed to the planet which causes social chaos. In this portion, we get to see not only how Trill is adjusting to the relationship of the symbionts and parasites, but the actual origins of the parasites. The Trill section of this book is quite vivid with the recollections of Ezri in the symbiont pool being one of the better moments. The Bajor portion of this book brings everything down. It jumps from one character to the other with a number of "mini stories." Bajor seems very tacked on where, given the amount of material the author has to work with, could have been quite good. There was only one major story element revealed surrounding Jake. There are the beginnings of a potential multibook story surrounding the destruction of a village, but the book doesn't go too deep into it. Overall, it is decent. If it was just Trill, the book would have four or five stars, but the Bajor section drags it down.
July 31, 2012
Finished this in the wee hours of the morning. The first thing to know is that it's two novellas bound in one (which is sort of obvious from the cover), which take place in chronological order. The second thing to know is both stories are placed in direct continuity with the DS9 novel "Unity", which should probably be read first.
Writingwise...essentially this is fanfic, and it reads like fanfic (particularly the first story), where characterization is more assumed than written out, and character-defining scenes may well get glossed over in favor of getting right to the action (because of course the characters are already known).
While I bought the book for the first story - about Trill - the second story (about Bajor) is more engaging and better-written.
I suppose the last thing to note is that this is probably not a good book for fans of the Bashir/Ezri Dax pairing.
Writingwise...essentially this is fanfic, and it reads like fanfic (particularly the first story), where characterization is more assumed than written out, and character-defining scenes may well get glossed over in favor of getting right to the action (because of course the characters are already known).
While I bought the book for the first story - about Trill - the second story (about Bajor) is more engaging and better-written.
I suppose the last thing to note is that this is probably not a good book for fans of the Bashir/Ezri Dax pairing.
April 30, 2013
Damn, this series is good. And to think I viewed them as a chore to get through. The Trill novella delves into the history of the symbionts with sequences that evoke genuine awe, and its examination of a culture divided by the revelation of bureaucratic corruption is quite compelling.
And the Bajor story has a nice story for Jake, who's being given better material in the books than he was in the series. And the number of engaging threads and characters revolving around Bajor that this short novel has to follow is a testament to the quiet world-building the writers and editors have been up to for the past few books.
It's not stunningly brilliant fiction, but these are great reads for DS9 fans. They're not cash-ins; they're genuinely ambitious and sometimes quite moving.
And the Bajor story has a nice story for Jake, who's being given better material in the books than he was in the series. And the number of engaging threads and characters revolving around Bajor that this short novel has to follow is a testament to the quiet world-building the writers and editors have been up to for the past few books.
It's not stunningly brilliant fiction, but these are great reads for DS9 fans. They're not cash-ins; they're genuinely ambitious and sometimes quite moving.
September 11, 2016
I only read the Trill novella since I'm not really interested in the "Sisko as prophet" storyline.
I read this because I wanted to read an Ezri-centred story, and I was a little disappointed. It didn't feel like they were on Trill, but on a modified Earth instead, and Julian was more an annoyance than anything else (I normally like Bashir). I also didn't really understand why the author chose to do what he did with symbiosis. I guess it just wasn't really for me. I always thought of the joined Trills as being something like athletes or adventurers, the ones who want to live life to their fullest, and the unjoined are like how Ezri was before, content to live her life out unjoined. But to show such a stark contrast between... it seemed so human.
I read this because I wanted to read an Ezri-centred story, and I was a little disappointed. It didn't feel like they were on Trill, but on a modified Earth instead, and Julian was more an annoyance than anything else (I normally like Bashir). I also didn't really understand why the author chose to do what he did with symbiosis. I guess it just wasn't really for me. I always thought of the joined Trills as being something like athletes or adventurers, the ones who want to live life to their fullest, and the unjoined are like how Ezri was before, content to live her life out unjoined. But to show such a stark contrast between... it seemed so human.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 26, 2009
There were some details that bothered me, mostly the fact that the Trill were continually refered to as "humanoid," even by the Trill themselves (when speaking of the hosts). It did keep my interest, but being part of the DS9 relaunch, you definitely need to have read some if not all of the preceeding books in the relaunch series. The plot of both stories depends very much on people and events introduced earlier. Not a bad thing by any means, given that the show did much the same thing; just something to be aware of if you're used to the stand-alone, semi-AU books that came out while the series first aired.
May 14, 2013
The second the the Worlds of Ds9 anthologies contains two stories. The first set on Trill follows the adventures of Ezri Dax and Julian Bashir as they uncover dark secrets from Trills distant past.
The second story takes place on Bajor. It chronicles the aftermath of Bajor's entry in to the Federation & follows the exploits of the Sisko family. Mostly on Ben settling into family life after his stay with the Prophets & Jake trying to find his place in the world
I really enjoyed catching up with the characters Well worth a read for any DS9 fan
The second story takes place on Bajor. It chronicles the aftermath of Bajor's entry in to the Federation & follows the exploits of the Sisko family. Mostly on Ben settling into family life after his stay with the Prophets & Jake trying to find his place in the world
I really enjoyed catching up with the characters Well worth a read for any DS9 fan
August 29, 2014
This is 2 novellas, one based on Trill, the other on Bajor. These carry on the storyline of the new season in the books. The Trill one involves Ezri and Bashir trying to clear up the parasite fiasco. You learn a lot more about the society, and it is intriguing. I particularly liked the elite realising there was an inequality. The Bajor story just carried on the season, with Sisko being a father, Ro investigating a massacre and Jake finding himself. A very good read.
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