NOTE: This review is for the Kindle version, and contains a few references to Kindle-specific problems, as well as some spoilers for the overall novel.
At its core, A Stitch in Time is an excellent character piece. The novel is certainly not a literary one, but nevertheless the writing is solid, straight forward, and well cut. I'll try to avoid too many tailor puns, but I'm being honest when I say that Robinson stitches together the various disparate parts of Garak revealed in the TV series into a cohesive, well-planned ensemble that's as honest as it is disarming, and he does it with the kind of precise skill that could only come from someone who has spent a long time inhabiting and thinking about his character.
On a technical level, Robinson is certainly no Kafka. Despite being about a spy, Robinson's writing lacks metaphorical depth, and his words (with a few notable exceptions) can be taken at face value with little to no loss in hidden meaning. However, considering that the novel is much more a character study than an intended epic, this isn't necessarily a flaw and works in favor of establishing the confessional style of Garak's address to Dr. Bashir.
Outside of this, on a basic level I was quite irritated with whoever was responsible for putting together the Kindle version of the book-- there were quite a few format errors that completely slipped by any possible editor it might have had, including one hilarious example where Barkan Lokar's name is suddenly Balkan, among other typos, punctuation errors, and sometimes entirely missing words. However, that's not really Robinson's fault but that of an inattentive editor, so it's not quite relevant to the review.
On a narrative level, I have little criticism. Robinson, like many actors, has a knack for storytelling. The novel moves along quite nicely and gives almost exactly enough information to satisfy the audience without becoming tedious. His Cardassia is a believable one, from the social structure (and it's rationalization) to his original characters, and the times when other DS9 characters appear are passable, if lacking the same depth in their personalities as afforded Garak and other Cardassians. In fact, the only moment that felt just a little too fanfiction-like was an encounter between Garak and an inebriated Klingon with a similar fear of small places-- I found it hard to believe that even a very drunk claustrophobic Klingon warrior would be reduced to tears and begging in such a situation. Drunken rage and humiliated submission, yes, but child-like tears... not so much.
The most important part of the novel, though, is of course Garak himself. and Robinson did a superb job of striking a balance between sympathetic outcast and state-made monster. Told in the first person, Garak makes no apologies or excuses for the murders and betrayal's he commits as an Obsidian agent. Any regret shown during those times is often of a shallow nature, such as passingly regretting the assassination of a Romulan politician because he was "starting to like the man". He shows no regret for, nor tries to hide, his ambition and the casualties that it occasionally resulted in, nor does he apologize for his satisfaction from a "job well done"-- be it a mended hem or a brutal interrogation. I think this is an extremely important part of Garak's character to include, because it reminds the audience that Garak is by no means perfect, or even what one would describe as a good man.
Yet Garak isn't heartless either; though his morals are often confused by Tain's early grooming and Garak's experience at Barram and in the Order, he does have a sense of right and wrong in relation to his work and his personal world. He struggles to find the line, but when he steps over it he genuinely feels sorry, though survival instincts almost invariably trump his regret. Robinson really does an excellent job of portraying a very delicate character arch that explores the growing turmoil of Garak's inner life as his slow understanding of himself places him at odds with the path he has been groomed for and set upon by Tain and Mila.
It's clear that Robinson knows what he's doing in this regard, and by the end of the novel Garak's early words in the prologue --"I am an unfinished man"-- really sum up the novel. Were this novel slightly more literary in nature, there might be plenty of analysis to be done on the nature of gardening and sewing and how each can serve as a metaphor for the unraveling, rebuilding, unraveling, and rebuilding that goes on in Garak's world to culminate in his character growth. However, Robinson (whether through intention or lack of ability) steers clear of pushing those points too far. As someone who enjoys that type of layered meaning, I was very aware of it's lack, but I think for the average reader it might be preferred that way.
One last thing I wanted to speak on, which --while not the most important aspect of the novel-- nevertheless holds some significance for me on a personal level: the portrayal of Garak's sexuality.
Before I read the book, I read an interview excerpt in which Robinson talks about how he avoided any explicit material for audience purposes. This isn't surprising, since even the most grim versions of the Trek universe are still mostly kid-accessible and the franchise maintains a precarious balance between being family friendly and being somewhat realistic about the lives of adult military members. While I understood his intention in maintaining an all-ages novel, it was apparent while reading that something was missing-- especially when you consider how very passionate Garak is in his expressions otherwise.
Yet despite this, I really have nothing but praise for the way that Garak's sexuality is presented. For as much inner turmoil as he goes through, Garak never spends unnecessary time questioning his attraction to the men and women that enter his life, nor does he ever apologize, mask, or lie about it. He is attracted to who he is attracted to, and there's never any question of the validity of his feelings in the moment, nor negating them when objectively viewing the past. His romance with Palandine is his most long lasting, and the one most explored in the book, but it doesn't feel like the typical Hetero-Ever-After type of love that makes other attractions look like experimenting. It's a deeply felt connection, one that he might have continued to share with Lokar as well as Palandine had Lokar not turned out to be a manipulative liar. Despite Lokar's betrayal, Garak never goes back to revise his initial attraction to him. He leaves it as is, condemning himself not for having those feelings but rather only for being fooled by Barkan's mask.
In terms of other, less explored attractions, I think it's very important to consider two things: one, that Garak states near the end that the quickest way to his heart is through conversation, and two, that the entire novel is written in context of a very long, confessional letter to his dear friend Dr. Bashir. I'm not saying this as a shipper --I am, at best, mildly affectionate of Garak/Bashir-- but it can't be denied that Garak deeply values his conversations with Bashir as well as other characters that he admittedly finds attractive, like Pythas and Dr. Parmak. On a personal level, I find Garak's sexuality as presented to be lovely, as it is a rare representation of bi/pan/omnisexuality that has all the depth of multilevel affection and attraction without the hypersexual stereotype or confused questioning that usually accompanies it in media. However, he's not made "safe"/sexless either-- Garak states very clearly that he often has one night stands to satisfy basic needs. Again, no questioning his real feelings for Palandine because of this, no demonizing it as greedy or confused (though, while I doubt Robinson would include that were Garak female, it is a point that Garak is male and therefore not quite so subject to bias against casual sex). It just is, as it just is for heterosexuals in mainstream media.
Overall, within the constraints presented by keeping it all-ages friendly, Robinson managed to write a very touching, very complicated portrayal of non-hetero sexuality/romance without making it either a "phase" or turning it into a cause. Of all the things done well in this novel, that is the one I appreciate the most.
Final score? As a character study I give A Stitch in Time a 5 out of 5. Robinson did an excellent job of taking what was given to us on Deep Space Nine and expanding it into an insightful, natural growth of Elim Garak's character. As a novel it gets a 4 out of 5, as it was written with a solid grasp on storytelling even if it does lack a certain depth. As a Kindle version, it gets a 3 out of 5-- the editors really fell asleep on the job, but it wasn't so bad as to be unreadable. Overall I really suggest it to anyone who ever found Elim Garak to be an appealing character and who might like to learn more about Cardassia. Don't expect much in terms of other DS9 characters, but if that's alright with you then it's time well spent.