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Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
Revenant
An all-new novel based on the landmark TV series Star Trek: Deep Space Nine from the acclaimed author of A Big Ship at the Edge of the Universe!
Jadzia Dax has been a friend to Etom Prit, the Trill Trade Commissioner, over two lifetimes. When Etom visits Deep Space Nine with the request to rein in his wayward granddaughter Nemi, Dax can hardly say no. It seems like an easy assignment: visit a resort casino while on shore leave, and then bring her old friend Nemi home. But upon arrival, Dax finds Nemi has changed over the years in terrifying ways…and the pursuit of the truth will plunge Dax headlong into a century’s worth of secrets and lies!
™, ®, & © 2021 CBS Studios, Inc. STAR TREK and related marks and logos are trademarks of CBS Studios, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Jadzia Dax has been a friend to Etom Prit, the Trill Trade Commissioner, over two lifetimes. When Etom visits Deep Space Nine with the request to rein in his wayward granddaughter Nemi, Dax can hardly say no. It seems like an easy assignment: visit a resort casino while on shore leave, and then bring her old friend Nemi home. But upon arrival, Dax finds Nemi has changed over the years in terrifying ways…and the pursuit of the truth will plunge Dax headlong into a century’s worth of secrets and lies!
™, ®, & © 2021 CBS Studios, Inc. STAR TREK and related marks and logos are trademarks of CBS Studios, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
308 pages, Paperback
First published December 21, 2021
61 people are currently reading
450 people want to read
About the author
Alex White
111 books528 followersAlex White was born and raised in the American south. He takes photos, writes music and spends hours on YouTube watching other people blacksmith. He values challenging and subversive writing, but will settle for a good time.
In the shadow of rockets in Huntsville, Alabama, Alex lives and works as an experience designer with his spouse, son, two dogs and a cat named Grim. Favored past times include Legos and racecars. He takes his whiskey neat and his espresso black.
Alex is the author of THE SALVAGERS book series (Orbit, 2018), a magical space opera treasure hunt, ALIEN: THE COLD FORGE (Titan, 2018)(yes, THAT Alien), and EVERY MOUNTAIN MADE LOW (Solaris, 2016), a dystopian Southern American yarn.
In the shadow of rockets in Huntsville, Alabama, Alex lives and works as an experience designer with his spouse, son, two dogs and a cat named Grim. Favored past times include Legos and racecars. He takes his whiskey neat and his espresso black.
Alex is the author of THE SALVAGERS book series (Orbit, 2018), a magical space opera treasure hunt, ALIEN: THE COLD FORGE (Titan, 2018)(yes, THAT Alien), and EVERY MOUNTAIN MADE LOW (Solaris, 2016), a dystopian Southern American yarn.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 101 reviews
December 24, 2021
I would read an entire series of Jadzia-centric Trill world books.
December 19, 2021
If you like Jadzia Dax, or even just the character of "Dax" in general, then you'll LOVE this book.
This was my first foray into a specifically "Deep Space Nine" book, and I have to say I thoroughly enjoyed it. I was afraid about breaking into books from this series, as DS9 is my least favorite of the Berman series and as a whole didn't hold my attention. I picked up this book as part of my goal to read every new Star Trek novel and because it was a standalone DS9 story, which seemed like a better place to start than anything in the Post-Nemesis continuity.
This book seemingly begins with a few chapters that appear to be run-of-the-mill for a tie-in. Luckily, the blandness ends there, as Alex White takes the story and makes it completely into his own.
One of the strengths of this book is the worldbuilding. A significant portion of this book takes place on Trill and deals with the Trills themselves. I've never been overly fond of Dax or the concept of Symbionts, and have only grudgingly accepted them as part of Star Trek lore. However, White was able to make them all seem fascinating and their history and mythology blended Science Fiction with Fantasy and made me really invested in the people of Trill...a true rarity for a tie-in book!
Another strength of this book lies in its handling of Jadzia Dax. Jadzia is obviously her own person, but as the show and this book show, she has a lot of complexity, especially regarding Dax's previous hosts. Curzon and Emony are the ones I've read the most about (except for Ezri who is Jadzia's successor), and they are present, but the Dax to take center stage in this story (or should I say, backstory) is Joran. I knew nothing about Joran, so I was fascinated by what Alex White brought to the table.
Unfortunately, so many of the best parts of this book stem from moments that would be considered spoilers, so I'll avoid them here. Suffice it to say that there were a number of moments that I thought were well executed and made me more interested in the story. I read this in only 1 day, partially because of the shortness of the story, partially because I had the time, and partially because it truly was an exciting read.
My largest problem with this book comes from the writing style White employs. There are several moments, particularly in the first third of the book, which made me bristle as I was reading entire paragraphs. Some of the descriptions felt a little cheesy and dare I say "goofy". White has an absolute handle on the macro side of writing, and also gets dialogue and action, but really struggles here with his description(and I don't blame Alex White for this, description is the hardest part of writing for me!).
A small weakness I'll give the book is its use of characters. The book is all about Jadzia, and rightfully so, but several other DS9 characters show up as well. Kira has a presence in the first half of the book while Worf and Bashir show up in the later half. I don't know whether this was a directive or not, but I believe that Kira should have been the companion for the entirety of the book, and Bashir and Worf should not have been included. It feels like they were only included because the powers at be wanted to include more DS9 characters to give it more of a grounding towards casual fans. This is ironic coming from me, as Worf and Bashir are the two characters from DS9 that I really like!
Despite those objections, I still think this book was very well done and tells a stand alone story that needed to be told and truly adds a ton of weight to the series and to the genre. This book was created with a specific purpose in mind, and Alex White absolutely nailed it. I was fully prepared to not enjoy the book going in, and I was thoroughly wrong.
If I can add one more praise to the book, Alex White paced this book perfectly. I'm usually saying that tie-in books need to be longer because they need more time to breathe. This book is only 300 pages, but White uses the economy of words well and no chapter in this book is without meaning and importance. There is no filler, resulting in a fast paced and intimate adventure.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book. If a standalone DS9 book can have this kind of meaning, I am interested in how I'll like reading the Post-Nemesis DS9 books next year. Until then, this book gets an 8.8 out of 10! Great job Alex White!
This was my first foray into a specifically "Deep Space Nine" book, and I have to say I thoroughly enjoyed it. I was afraid about breaking into books from this series, as DS9 is my least favorite of the Berman series and as a whole didn't hold my attention. I picked up this book as part of my goal to read every new Star Trek novel and because it was a standalone DS9 story, which seemed like a better place to start than anything in the Post-Nemesis continuity.
This book seemingly begins with a few chapters that appear to be run-of-the-mill for a tie-in. Luckily, the blandness ends there, as Alex White takes the story and makes it completely into his own.
One of the strengths of this book is the worldbuilding. A significant portion of this book takes place on Trill and deals with the Trills themselves. I've never been overly fond of Dax or the concept of Symbionts, and have only grudgingly accepted them as part of Star Trek lore. However, White was able to make them all seem fascinating and their history and mythology blended Science Fiction with Fantasy and made me really invested in the people of Trill...a true rarity for a tie-in book!
Another strength of this book lies in its handling of Jadzia Dax. Jadzia is obviously her own person, but as the show and this book show, she has a lot of complexity, especially regarding Dax's previous hosts. Curzon and Emony are the ones I've read the most about (except for Ezri who is Jadzia's successor), and they are present, but the Dax to take center stage in this story (or should I say, backstory) is Joran. I knew nothing about Joran, so I was fascinated by what Alex White brought to the table.
Unfortunately, so many of the best parts of this book stem from moments that would be considered spoilers, so I'll avoid them here. Suffice it to say that there were a number of moments that I thought were well executed and made me more interested in the story. I read this in only 1 day, partially because of the shortness of the story, partially because I had the time, and partially because it truly was an exciting read.
My largest problem with this book comes from the writing style White employs. There are several moments, particularly in the first third of the book, which made me bristle as I was reading entire paragraphs. Some of the descriptions felt a little cheesy and dare I say "goofy". White has an absolute handle on the macro side of writing, and also gets dialogue and action, but really struggles here with his description(and I don't blame Alex White for this, description is the hardest part of writing for me!).
A small weakness I'll give the book is its use of characters. The book is all about Jadzia, and rightfully so, but several other DS9 characters show up as well. Kira has a presence in the first half of the book while Worf and Bashir show up in the later half. I don't know whether this was a directive or not, but I believe that Kira should have been the companion for the entirety of the book, and Bashir and Worf should not have been included. It feels like they were only included because the powers at be wanted to include more DS9 characters to give it more of a grounding towards casual fans. This is ironic coming from me, as Worf and Bashir are the two characters from DS9 that I really like!
Despite those objections, I still think this book was very well done and tells a stand alone story that needed to be told and truly adds a ton of weight to the series and to the genre. This book was created with a specific purpose in mind, and Alex White absolutely nailed it. I was fully prepared to not enjoy the book going in, and I was thoroughly wrong.
If I can add one more praise to the book, Alex White paced this book perfectly. I'm usually saying that tie-in books need to be longer because they need more time to breathe. This book is only 300 pages, but White uses the economy of words well and no chapter in this book is without meaning and importance. There is no filler, resulting in a fast paced and intimate adventure.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book. If a standalone DS9 book can have this kind of meaning, I am interested in how I'll like reading the Post-Nemesis DS9 books next year. Until then, this book gets an 8.8 out of 10! Great job Alex White!
December 20, 2021
Magnificent. The first DS9 novel in a decade to be set during the run of the TV series, this is a superb follow-up to the episodes involving Trill society and the scandal surrounding the murderous mistake that was Joran Dax. It's the best ever exploration of Jadzia in prose, and it manages to do all sorts of amazing things, such as fleshing out the aftermath in Trill society in the wake of the 3rd season episode "Equilibrium", and laying the tentative first stones down the pathway to the marriage of Jadzia and Worf. I couldn't stop reading this...which is, ultimately, the highest praise I can give to any novel.
February 26, 2022
When it comes to stories about the Trill, it can seem that the only theme writers will explore is of candidates who were left disgruntled after rejection by the Symbiosis Commission (SC). This story starts on that familiar line, however the plot gets very interesting and the entire adventure is a great deal of fun. Obviously the SC cause a great deal of pain in Trill society, intended or otherwise.
We cover some familiar ground concerning Joran Dax - his tale of murder and the ensuing SC conspiracy to cover it up is here retold. This serves to quickly catch up those readers who aren't familiar with Trek lore but also gives a possible connection to the current mystery since the SC seem to be obstructing the present investigation also.
One early but memorable scene depicts a game of tongo that is much longer and more detailed than you might expect. I love this sort of exposition that brings little elements of the Trek universe to life and it was a lot of fun.
I always thought Jadzia was a fascinating but underutilised character and it is a pleasure to spend time correcting that error in book form, we find her here solving puzzles and kicking ass, which is as it should be. Nerys generally irritated me on screen but I found her character more likeable in this story, she wasn't out of character and I could definitely hear her voice but something was slightly different (probably the lack of focus on the prophets). Julian and Worf were both great on screen and in this story. I especially liked the way they were both presented here with Julian handled a little more maturely and Worf surprisingly drawn more delicately (even though his gruff demeanour still shone through). Other authors have sometimes gone over the top presenting Julian like a teenager and Worf like an ogre.
The author also provides possibly the best description you'll ever hear of a Klingon opera: "The harrowing strains of Klingon choristers wafted through the room as the opera began. They were grand and terrible, bellowing their mournful songs of glorious loss. Their discordance was like the tearing of hull plating." An opera which Worf would describe as, simply: "A classic."
This book is set at the perfect time to present the very early stages of the attraction between Jadzia and Worf, which this author has absolutely nailed. It never comes over forced and is sprinkled quite naturally into their interactions.
I'm trying to avoid mentioning exactly what is uncovered in the plot, but one element of the sinister activities could have been explored as a potential benefit to Trill society with delightfully controversial moral implications, but the story didn't go that way.
There was a spot where Julian and Worf seemed to switch roles momentarily, I can't really explain that very well without leaking too much, but basically Julian suggests an act of aggression and Worf explains why it won't work in a way which you might expect from a doctor.
Here's another quote that caught my attention: "Judging from the twitching of her eye and excruciated look, Dax had nailed her right in the symbiont" - Right. In. The. Symbiont. Oof.
I'm a big fan of Petkoff's Trek narrations and he did a fantastic job of Worf and Julian, his Nerys was fine too but I wasn't impressed with the Sisko and Jadzia voicings.
This book was exactly what I needed right now. After slamming through two thirds of the litverse books I took a Trek hiatus to do one of those book prompt lists (which I'm still working on), but only two months later I've already started experiencing Trek withdrawals and the audiodrama 'No Man's Land' just didn't do it for me. This had been parked in my audible library because it was released during my litverse run and being a standalone story set during the fourth season it served as a perfect Trek fix to sustain my Trek heart.
We cover some familiar ground concerning Joran Dax - his tale of murder and the ensuing SC conspiracy to cover it up is here retold. This serves to quickly catch up those readers who aren't familiar with Trek lore but also gives a possible connection to the current mystery since the SC seem to be obstructing the present investigation also.
One early but memorable scene depicts a game of tongo that is much longer and more detailed than you might expect. I love this sort of exposition that brings little elements of the Trek universe to life and it was a lot of fun.
I always thought Jadzia was a fascinating but underutilised character and it is a pleasure to spend time correcting that error in book form, we find her here solving puzzles and kicking ass, which is as it should be. Nerys generally irritated me on screen but I found her character more likeable in this story, she wasn't out of character and I could definitely hear her voice but something was slightly different (probably the lack of focus on the prophets). Julian and Worf were both great on screen and in this story. I especially liked the way they were both presented here with Julian handled a little more maturely and Worf surprisingly drawn more delicately (even though his gruff demeanour still shone through). Other authors have sometimes gone over the top presenting Julian like a teenager and Worf like an ogre.
The author also provides possibly the best description you'll ever hear of a Klingon opera: "The harrowing strains of Klingon choristers wafted through the room as the opera began. They were grand and terrible, bellowing their mournful songs of glorious loss. Their discordance was like the tearing of hull plating." An opera which Worf would describe as, simply: "A classic."
This book is set at the perfect time to present the very early stages of the attraction between Jadzia and Worf, which this author has absolutely nailed. It never comes over forced and is sprinkled quite naturally into their interactions.
I'm trying to avoid mentioning exactly what is uncovered in the plot, but one element of the sinister activities could have been explored as a potential benefit to Trill society with delightfully controversial moral implications, but the story didn't go that way.
There was a spot where Julian and Worf seemed to switch roles momentarily, I can't really explain that very well without leaking too much, but basically Julian suggests an act of aggression and Worf explains why it won't work in a way which you might expect from a doctor.
Here's another quote that caught my attention: "Judging from the twitching of her eye and excruciated look, Dax had nailed her right in the symbiont" - Right. In. The. Symbiont. Oof.
I'm a big fan of Petkoff's Trek narrations and he did a fantastic job of Worf and Julian, his Nerys was fine too but I wasn't impressed with the Sisko and Jadzia voicings.
This book was exactly what I needed right now. After slamming through two thirds of the litverse books I took a Trek hiatus to do one of those book prompt lists (which I'm still working on), but only two months later I've already started experiencing Trek withdrawals and the audiodrama 'No Man's Land' just didn't do it for me. This had been parked in my audible library because it was released during my litverse run and being a standalone story set during the fourth season it served as a perfect Trek fix to sustain my Trek heart.
January 14, 2022
This was a whole lot of fun -- nostalgic, glorious season 4 antics, Jadzia and Kira tearing it up, and early Worf and Dax romantic glimmerings. Dumbass doofball Bashir. I wish we'd spent more time on the station, but it made sense to focus primarily on Trill and keep poking at the complicated nuances of joining started by the Joran debacle. Good ol' Trek cultural breakdown.
For those of us who still had yucky feelings about Curzon and his treatment of Jadzia (and, you know, women) there are actually some satisfying conversations that happen.
Also zombies.
For those of us who still had yucky feelings about Curzon and his treatment of Jadzia (and, you know, women) there are actually some satisfying conversations that happen.
Also zombies.
December 21, 2021
Etom Pritt, a Trill Trade Minister and a friend of Curzon's asks Dax to help find his granddaughter, Nemi, who has recently washed out of the Trill Initiate program. Her search leads her back to the Trill homeworld and a shocking discovery which threatens to explode preconceived notions of Trill symbiosis.
White's writing is true to 'Star Trek: Deep Space Nine' and their characters feel knowingly vibrant. Their description of Bashir hints at his secret origins, but it is above all the way they bring Jadzia Dax to life that makes this novel sing.
White's writing is true to 'Star Trek: Deep Space Nine' and their characters feel knowingly vibrant. Their description of Bashir hints at his secret origins, but it is above all the way they bring Jadzia Dax to life that makes this novel sing.
December 26, 2021
The best of the books set around DS9. A story that Dax and Worf deserved in the series. Each of the characters play to their strengths and rely on that of each other. The mystery is well paced. Just a wonderful story all around.
March 20, 2024
I think this was simply fantastic. The characters were written extremely well, the early stages of Worf being a part of the crew and the flirting between him and Jadzia were expertly navigated. The Trill centered plot was enticing from the start to finish and the plot did all of this without my favorite DS9 character being a major player. (Captain Sisko) I think Alex White ought to get the chance to write more Trek in the future.
February 16, 2022
I really enjoyed the story and author's insights into the inter-workings of the Jadzia/Dax joining.
I always enjoyed her character in the Deep Space Nine TV show.
It was a pleasure to listen to the audiobook.
I always enjoyed her character in the Deep Space Nine TV show.
It was a pleasure to listen to the audiobook.
January 15, 2022
I was really looking forward to this book as a huge Jadzia and Kira fan but I was just so disappointed. Kira was written like her one trait was just blowing things up constantly which was odd. She wasn't the only one out of character to me, it felt like everything was written with everyone slightly to the left of how they were in the show.
It also made no sense to me why Kira would then know about the Rite of Emergence and Ezri wouldn't talk to her about it in Field of Fire, especially if she was summoning Joran and everything Kira then learns of Joran.
Which brings me to the thing I hated most about this: Joran.
While others might have liked it too the prose just didn't work for me, overall I was just disappointed in a book I was really looking forward to which is too bad because the concept was really interesting but I think better done in the Nine Lives of Dax.
It also made no sense to me why Kira would then know about the Rite of Emergence and Ezri wouldn't talk to her about it in Field of Fire, especially if she was summoning Joran and everything Kira then learns of Joran.
Which brings me to the thing I hated most about this: Joran.
While others might have liked it too the prose just didn't work for me, overall I was just disappointed in a book I was really looking forward to which is too bad because the concept was really interesting but I think better done in the Nine Lives of Dax.
February 21, 2022
Really enjoyed this. Felt very different to other Star Trek books; more focused on a single plot and character than is typical. That worked really well for me - looking forward to White writing more in the franchise.
March 3, 2022
This was a very enjoyable Star Trek novel. I had high hopes cause I liked Alex White's "Salvagers" series and I was not disappointed. There's lots of intrigue, high stakes, but also a personal angle that made me very invested in Jadzia solving the central problem of the book.
I especially enjoyed learning more about Trill and Jadzia's past and I like
The interactions between Worf and Jadzia were the cherry on top.
A minor negative point is that some of the twists/revelations were a little obvious, but not so much so that it ruined my reading experience.
I definitely hope Alex White will write more Trek novels in the future. They did a very good job here.
I especially enjoyed learning more about Trill and Jadzia's past and I like
The interactions between Worf and Jadzia were the cherry on top.
A minor negative point is that some of the twists/revelations were a little obvious, but not so much so that it ruined my reading experience.
I definitely hope Alex White will write more Trek novels in the future. They did a very good job here.
March 18, 2023
DS9 rules. Thank god for authors who truly love the same characters you do.
Finally, a proper look not only at the singular brilliance that is Jadzia Dax (exploring and developing her relationships with Kira Nerys, Julian Bashir and Worf), but also the nature and origins of the symbiont she is joined with, and, more broadly still, the Trill.
And if none of that makes sense to you, it's because you need Deep Space 9 in your life.
I thought the complex plotting was skillfully handled, mashing together the suspense and perils of an adventure story to gritty elements of crime and murder mystery -- with a little bit of Invasion of the Bodysnatchers thrown in. Awesome.
Finally, a proper look not only at the singular brilliance that is Jadzia Dax (exploring and developing her relationships with Kira Nerys, Julian Bashir and Worf), but also the nature and origins of the symbiont she is joined with, and, more broadly still, the Trill.
And if none of that makes sense to you, it's because you need Deep Space 9 in your life.
I thought the complex plotting was skillfully handled, mashing together the suspense and perils of an adventure story to gritty elements of crime and murder mystery -- with a little bit of Invasion of the Bodysnatchers thrown in. Awesome.
June 4, 2023
A delight. Some of my favorite things... Jadzia! Kira! Dr. Bashir! Solving problems with science! Letting the "extras" be competent! A truly scary villain! And Great Bird of the Galaxy, they worked in a redemption arc for Joran Dax!?! And it worked?!?
Yeah this was fun. My great sorrow is we cannot ever see it made into a movie. It would be a groovy movie - the set piece battle at the end with the power capacitors? I just see that really working visually.
Yeah this was fun. My great sorrow is we cannot ever see it made into a movie. It would be a groovy movie - the set piece battle at the end with the power capacitors? I just see that really working visually.
December 2, 2024
I just finished REVENANT by Alex White and I have to say that I really enjoyed it. I regretted the loss of the old Novelverse by Star Trek. It was messy, contradictory, and full of issues but it was important to me. However, I think this is one of my favorite Nu Trek books and bodes well for the revival of the classic series in literary form as well. In particular, this case is a Jadzia book set before her relationship with Worf.
I really liked this book for handling a lot of issues regarding the Trill and Trill joining. It's a thoroughly unfair system that prioritizes elitism and stigmatizes anyone who isn't Joined. So much so that the achievements of non-Joined Trill are marginalized. I remember this briefly came up in STAR TREK: RESURGENCE and was something that I never thought of before but the previous person is effectively dead the same way that "Tuvix" is. A Trill would have probably argued that both were still alive in their new form but another might say that Jadzia died when she became Jadzia Dax.
Indeed, I kind of wish we'd gotten more insight into Nemi because the idea of Trill who feel like they are unvalued by their society (and their accomplishments are meaningless) because they can't be part of the 1% elite. Star Trek should be a much more inclusive place, especially within the Federation. It implies that Trill is a place with a majority population who feel like second class citizens. It adds to the tragedy of the book, however. We also get a re-evaluation of Curzon Dax's horndog ways from the 1990s and what, in the 21st century (let alone 24th), was that he was an enormous creep who abused his position.
Mind you, I don't entirely buy the presentation of the Trill symbiotes in this book. The premise is that a surgery can turn one of them into a Gould-like parasite that takes over the body without merging. However, I'm not sure that works with the trill because they're made of a bunch of previous hosts who wouldn't see Trill symbiosis as a bad thing in the first place. The book gets around it in a clever way by making it so that there's not THAT many corrupted Trill symbiotes but I feel like it's still a bit of a stretch.
Overall, though, I think it's a great adventure.
I really liked this book for handling a lot of issues regarding the Trill and Trill joining. It's a thoroughly unfair system that prioritizes elitism and stigmatizes anyone who isn't Joined. So much so that the achievements of non-Joined Trill are marginalized. I remember this briefly came up in STAR TREK: RESURGENCE and was something that I never thought of before but the previous person is effectively dead the same way that "Tuvix" is. A Trill would have probably argued that both were still alive in their new form but another might say that Jadzia died when she became Jadzia Dax.
Indeed, I kind of wish we'd gotten more insight into Nemi because the idea of Trill who feel like they are unvalued by their society (and their accomplishments are meaningless) because they can't be part of the 1% elite. Star Trek should be a much more inclusive place, especially within the Federation. It implies that Trill is a place with a majority population who feel like second class citizens. It adds to the tragedy of the book, however. We also get a re-evaluation of Curzon Dax's horndog ways from the 1990s and what, in the 21st century (let alone 24th), was that he was an enormous creep who abused his position.
Mind you, I don't entirely buy the presentation of the Trill symbiotes in this book. The premise is that a surgery can turn one of them into a Gould-like parasite that takes over the body without merging. However, I'm not sure that works with the trill because they're made of a bunch of previous hosts who wouldn't see Trill symbiosis as a bad thing in the first place. The book gets around it in a clever way by making it so that there's not THAT many corrupted Trill symbiotes but I feel like it's still a bit of a stretch.
Overall, though, I think it's a great adventure.
January 17, 2024
This was a super-fun Dax-centric story told mid-season in the timeline. Highly recommended for DS9 and Trek lovers. JUSTICE FOR JADZIA!!
December 22, 2021
Alex White makes an excellent debut in the Star Trek universe with this character-driven story. It feels like a direct sequel to the third season episode Equilibrium. Jadzia Dax takes center stage, which sort of hurts the secondary characters (Kira, Bashir, and Worf), which are only there to aid the protagonist out of a few risky situations.
Like I already mentioned, Revenant is a character-driven story, and if you're a Dax fan, then you're in for a big treat. The murderous Joran Dax returns, and his backstory is fleshed out more. I was satisfied with how the character connects to the conspiracy plot. Also, you learn a bit more about the Trills.
Overall, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine: Revenant is a deeply layered novel that expands one of Star Trek's beloved characters. A must-read for any DS9 fan.
Like I already mentioned, Revenant is a character-driven story, and if you're a Dax fan, then you're in for a big treat. The murderous Joran Dax returns, and his backstory is fleshed out more. I was satisfied with how the character connects to the conspiracy plot. Also, you learn a bit more about the Trills.
Overall, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine: Revenant is a deeply layered novel that expands one of Star Trek's beloved characters. A must-read for any DS9 fan.
December 22, 2021
A Great DS9 Episode
Deep Space Nine is my favorite Star Trek series, so when I saw this book I immediately grabbed it. I’m very pleased to say that it reads as a great “lost” DS9 episode. This book focuses on Dax, my favorite character, but I also really loved her relationship with Kira.
If you’re craving more DS9, buy this book. You won’t be disappointed!
Deep Space Nine is my favorite Star Trek series, so when I saw this book I immediately grabbed it. I’m very pleased to say that it reads as a great “lost” DS9 episode. This book focuses on Dax, my favorite character, but I also really loved her relationship with Kira.
If you’re craving more DS9, buy this book. You won’t be disappointed!
January 16, 2022
“Dax, we hardly knew ye!” I think sums up my feelings for this book. It could perhaps be also applied to “Trills” in a more general sense. Alex White has penned a wonderfully fast-paced yet thoughtful tale wherein Dax explores aspects of her joined nature and parts of the Trill culture and politics we barely (hardly) got to see during the TNG and DS9 television series.
I particularly enjoyed her exploration of her past selves through the ritual of connecting with past hosts. There is great humor when Dax and Kira and the “ghost” of one of Dax’s previous hosts traverse an underground cavern, all the while having two separate conversations.
White really “gets” Dax but more so they really “get” Trills. This is a fun and enjoyable read and the interplay between a newly arrived to DS9 Worf and Dax is brilliant, especially keeping in mind how they end up together later in the series. (White writes both Kira and Worf brilliantly, too.)
Transport yourself back to the amazing Deep Space Nine tv series days by reading this book! And if you want an autographed copy, check out Alex White’s home town bookstore, Read It Again! ( https://www.read-it-again.com/book/97... ) White will sign a copy just for you!
5 out of 5 Klingon-Trill heart flutters!
I particularly enjoyed her exploration of her past selves through the ritual of connecting with past hosts. There is great humor when Dax and Kira and the “ghost” of one of Dax’s previous hosts traverse an underground cavern, all the while having two separate conversations.
White really “gets” Dax but more so they really “get” Trills. This is a fun and enjoyable read and the interplay between a newly arrived to DS9 Worf and Dax is brilliant, especially keeping in mind how they end up together later in the series. (White writes both Kira and Worf brilliantly, too.)
Transport yourself back to the amazing Deep Space Nine tv series days by reading this book! And if you want an autographed copy, check out Alex White’s home town bookstore, Read It Again! ( https://www.read-it-again.com/book/97... ) White will sign a copy just for you!
5 out of 5 Klingon-Trill heart flutters!
December 25, 2021
I introduced my partner to DS9 in 2021 — probably my third watch-through of the series including its first run. We just made it to Season 7 together. Seeing Dax and Worf through my partner’s eyes has been a highlight of the year. Anyway page 282 of this book broke me.
I’ve also been reading through this author’s books this last year. I’ve read and enjoyed their two Alien novels and their first two published original novels, so my anticipation for this book has just kept mounting.
Happily it’s met if not exceeded expectations. Revenant is great: exactly what a tie-in novel should be. A cracking adventure, building on and enriching the original property while remaining true and respectful to it. White does the work and gets the details and the characters right. I hope they have the opportunity to write another Trek novel, and I already suspect I will be revisiting this one.
I’ve also been reading through this author’s books this last year. I’ve read and enjoyed their two Alien novels and their first two published original novels, so my anticipation for this book has just kept mounting.
Happily it’s met if not exceeded expectations. Revenant is great: exactly what a tie-in novel should be. A cracking adventure, building on and enriching the original property while remaining true and respectful to it. White does the work and gets the details and the characters right. I hope they have the opportunity to write another Trek novel, and I already suspect I will be revisiting this one.
January 4, 2023
Today is the 30th Anniversary of the premiere of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.
To honor this occasion, I spent the evening finishing this book.
First, this is a quite DSN novel - it's not set after the end of the series (like most of the Relaunch series has been for the past 20 years), but instead goes back to the middle of the series run. Back when Jadzia was still alive, Worf had just joined the crew, and the Dominion War wasnt a thing.
Reading a book set in this time, I was reminded of how much I enjoyed some of the early DSN novels that were published; ones where you could pick it up, and read it, without having to know ALL the backstories from previous books.
Second, this felt like an espionage book more than a sci fi book - yeah, the sci fi element is hard to ignore, given aliens, high tech weapons, space craft, and transporters. But when Dax is sneaking around, I was reminded of some of the 1960's James Bond movies. I really enjoyed that part (at one point, I thought "how much fun would it be if they put out a DSN novel along the lines of Bashier's love of Cold War spy stuff").
Third, I like the origin story of Joran - the killer host from Dax's past. This whole time, we thought he was a killer. But now, we learn
Finally, I am really hoping that this is the start of a new approach to Trek novels - going back to the series run, and seeing what adventures they can have "between episodes". (Given that we got both a TNG and DSN novels, in recent months, where this happened, I like to see this also with series like Voyager and Enterprise).
(And one a more person note - I swear, all the talk of food got me craving junk food. Pastries and snacks. Candy and Pizza. It's like reading a Nero Wolfe novel on an empty stomach).
To honor this occasion, I spent the evening finishing this book.
First, this is a quite DSN novel - it's not set after the end of the series (like most of the Relaunch series has been for the past 20 years), but instead goes back to the middle of the series run. Back when Jadzia was still alive, Worf had just joined the crew, and the Dominion War wasnt a thing.
Reading a book set in this time, I was reminded of how much I enjoyed some of the early DSN novels that were published; ones where you could pick it up, and read it, without having to know ALL the backstories from previous books.
Second, this felt like an espionage book more than a sci fi book - yeah, the sci fi element is hard to ignore, given aliens, high tech weapons, space craft, and transporters. But when Dax is sneaking around, I was reminded of some of the 1960's James Bond movies. I really enjoyed that part (at one point, I thought "how much fun would it be if they put out a DSN novel along the lines of Bashier's love of Cold War spy stuff").
Third, I like the origin story of Joran - the killer host from Dax's past. This whole time, we thought he was a killer. But now, we learn
Finally, I am really hoping that this is the start of a new approach to Trek novels - going back to the series run, and seeing what adventures they can have "between episodes". (Given that we got both a TNG and DSN novels, in recent months, where this happened, I like to see this also with series like Voyager and Enterprise).
(And one a more person note - I swear, all the talk of food got me craving junk food. Pastries and snacks. Candy and Pizza. It's like reading a Nero Wolfe novel on an empty stomach).
December 2, 2024
This is a good Star Trek novel. The character's voices are captured very well and the story fits within the universe while also providing some more depth to it. The choice to focus on a single character with appearances by a few others worked out well, and Jadzia was a good character to pick.
If there's one thing that keeps this book at a 3 rather than a 4 for me, it's that it is so dark. I think that it's less that this book is actually darker than DS9, but more that the novel format intensifies that darkness because we're inside the character's heads.
If there's one thing that keeps this book at a 3 rather than a 4 for me, it's that it is so dark. I think that it's less that this book is actually darker than DS9, but more that the novel format intensifies that darkness because we're inside the character's heads.
September 2, 2025
Y'all, I have absolutely ZERO understanding of the world of Star Trek. Not zero knowledge, mind you. I know Kirk and Spock and Picard and George Takei and Uhura who is a bad ass. I know what a red shirt means and I've seen memes and gifs. But have I ever seen an actual episode? No. Do I know the difference between Deep Space 9 and Voyager? No. Do I know which incarnation Wil Wheaton was on? Not at all.
But when Alex White writes a novel, I read it.
Shelf: utterly biased but also the most critical reading I do, so.
But when Alex White writes a novel, I read it.
Shelf: utterly biased but also the most critical reading I do, so.
April 9, 2022
I rounded up to 4 from 3.5 in my head.
It’s been a long time since I’ve seen DS9 so I can’t really comment on any continuity errors but as a stand alone Star Trek book , other authors should take note. This is an actual novel instead of of fan service we usually get. This has a genuine mystery and a very interesting explanation. I really enjoyed the ride. God how I wish more of the Star Trek books were as good as this. Highly recommended to Star Trek fans and especially DS9 fans.
It’s been a long time since I’ve seen DS9 so I can’t really comment on any continuity errors but as a stand alone Star Trek book , other authors should take note. This is an actual novel instead of of fan service we usually get. This has a genuine mystery and a very interesting explanation. I really enjoyed the ride. God how I wish more of the Star Trek books were as good as this. Highly recommended to Star Trek fans and especially DS9 fans.
January 1, 2022
So sad I finished this book as fast as I did, it was so fun! What a great adventure, I loved it.
December 30, 2021
a very pleasant story for anyone interested in Jadzia Dax or the Trill species.
The reader makes a couple of small mistakes while reading, which is quite rare. I don't know how often it happens, but I've listened to tens of thousands of audio books since the 1980s, and I've only caught a few mistakes that weren't just a different opinion on pronunciation.
I was worried we wouldn't get more new "old" books after they wiped out the book universe in the last trilogy.
The reader makes a couple of small mistakes while reading, which is quite rare. I don't know how often it happens, but I've listened to tens of thousands of audio books since the 1980s, and I've only caught a few mistakes that weren't just a different opinion on pronunciation.
I was worried we wouldn't get more new "old" books after they wiped out the book universe in the last trilogy.
October 23, 2022
What a fucking ride. It’s creepy, it’s subtly queer, it’s really sweet, its a good mystery and there’s some pals doing crimes together. Highly recommend
December 23, 2021
A solid story focusing not only on Jadzia Dax, but Kira, Bashir and Worf.
More like this please, instead of that Discovery and Picard nonsense.
More like this please, instead of that Discovery and Picard nonsense.
January 21, 2022
With the very uncertain future of Star Trek fiction due to the multiple new series that are out there & the Coda trilogy bringing an end to novel-canon, Alex White's "Revenant" is a nice surprise for what will be the last book we see for a while. The book starts off as a simple premise with Jadzia Dax headed back to Trill to help figure out what is happening with a friend's granddaughter someone she's known since her days as Curzon. However, when Nemi (the granddaughter) turns into something far more than what she was, Jadzia ends up embroiled in something far more sinister than even she first imagined. White's story is breathtaking and the use of Trill society in this way is something that never really was explored in the series & even in the novels. The use of Joran Belar as a backdrop as well for parts of this add to the intrigue of this Dax host & an extremely dark secret that the Trill never wanted to admit. The ending is beyond surreal and in some respects, I wish could be considered canon. Overall, a very powerful, dark & moving story by a first time Star Trek writer who I hope we see more from in the future.
May 23, 2022
Along with re-reading/continuing with the Star Trek novel series from their starts, I restarted getting the newest releases to read as well. They’ve certainly improved a lot, on average, but I felt a bit frustrated that so many were from the original series cast, or its reboot. Where was the greatest Trek of all time? Where was Deep Space Nine? With the novels in disarray due to Picard upending canon, I was even more disappointed. Finally, after more than a decade (?) a DS9 novel appeared on the scheduled horizon. Revenant is fantastic, and I can only hope that more DS9 books will arrive to come, whether set during the timeline of the TV show as this novel is, or tweaked to mesh with the new canon.
Alex White’s Revenant is set near the start of DS9‘s fourth season, after “The Way of the Warrior” and prior to “Indiscretion”. A longtime friend of the Dax symbiote arrives on the station to beg Jadzia Dax’s help in guiding his rebellious granddaughter Nemi, who has turned from family and friends after being twice rejected by the Trill Symbiosis Commission for joining. Jadzia had served as a mentor, and a ‘big sister’ role model for Nemi, and decides to take a vacation leave from the station to go find the young woman who she has regrettably let drift away from her busy life in Starfleet. Jadzia is shocked that the Nemi she finds has changed even more than Nemi’s grandfather had realized. With horror, Jadzia learns that Nemi harbors an unauthorized symbiote. Her investigation into this meets resistance from Trill officials, and puts her life in danger by poking at a hornet’s nest of bureaucratic secrets and a threat from Dax’s own unclear past.
Revenant is a novel that will only really work for fans of DS9 who retain familiarity with the show, particularly how Trill society works and Dax’s past hosts. White returns here to the plot of Dax’s suppressed memories of a psychopathic host named Joran who committed murders, a history that the Symbiosis Commission knowingly tried to cover up and hide, even to the danger of Dax’s life. What has occurred to Nemi forces Jadzia to further face memories of Joran, as well as aspects of Curzon’s personality and choices that sit badly with her.
With this, White does something really important for DS9 and Dax’s character, confronting the problematic aspects of Curzon as a selfish, lecherous man who used power, and his weakness, to harass. The novel also provides more ‘humanity’ to Joran’s character, rationale for his acts of murders, and an answer to what happened to him. While that first really well into the plot of novel, and makes the story engaging, it does change how Joran’s personality is depicted within the TV series. Though still monstrous and disturbed, readers (and Jadzia) feel a great deal more sympathy for him. This also twists this thread out of canon alignment with later points in the TV series (such as Ezri’s grappling with previous host Joran.) But, given that such changes to ‘canon’ and logic happen all the time even within the TV show itself (just look at the introduction of the Trill in The Next Generation to what they are in DS9,) I hardly mind.
The other interesting aspect of Revenant is its inclusion of other DS9 crew members. Jadzia starts out on her own, but soon enlists the help of Kira. With Kira featured along with Jadzia on the cover of the book, I expected this partnership to remain. However, Kira stays for only a bit before heading back to the station to tag-team swap with Bashir and Worf. White handles the Jadzia-Kira friendship very well, and it would have been nice for that to be explored in more depth, particularly on that Kira side of things.
Again, I can’t complain about this too much, because the inclusion of Worf is one of the best aspects of Revenant. The relationship and marriage of Jadzia Dax and Worf did make sense (far more than any Troi-Worf relationship,) but I don’t recall the TV series spending too much time on the two characters getting to discover one another. White uses this Jadzia-centric novel as an opportunity to show just how she and Worf move past assumptions to a friendship, respect, and attraction. It’s not a plot thread I ever thought about wanting to see more of, but reading it here made me realize how great it can be when handled as well as White does.
In the acknowledgments at the end of the novel, Alex White asks that readers get their other books as well, and I’m now going to have to do this. I don’t recall reading their work before, but I am very impressed with Revenant‘s style, architecture, and characterization. I didn’t want to go much into the plot development, as I think that works better for readers to discover fresh. But, White handles the pacing and ultimate conclusion of the novel very well, even including a bit of technological science fiction that is more fitting than the usual techno-babble solutions that magically save the day in typical Trek.
CBS/Gallery Books, give White more Star Trek to write, and please – enough with the early periods of Trek, give us some more DS9.
Alex White’s Revenant is set near the start of DS9‘s fourth season, after “The Way of the Warrior” and prior to “Indiscretion”. A longtime friend of the Dax symbiote arrives on the station to beg Jadzia Dax’s help in guiding his rebellious granddaughter Nemi, who has turned from family and friends after being twice rejected by the Trill Symbiosis Commission for joining. Jadzia had served as a mentor, and a ‘big sister’ role model for Nemi, and decides to take a vacation leave from the station to go find the young woman who she has regrettably let drift away from her busy life in Starfleet. Jadzia is shocked that the Nemi she finds has changed even more than Nemi’s grandfather had realized. With horror, Jadzia learns that Nemi harbors an unauthorized symbiote. Her investigation into this meets resistance from Trill officials, and puts her life in danger by poking at a hornet’s nest of bureaucratic secrets and a threat from Dax’s own unclear past.
Revenant is a novel that will only really work for fans of DS9 who retain familiarity with the show, particularly how Trill society works and Dax’s past hosts. White returns here to the plot of Dax’s suppressed memories of a psychopathic host named Joran who committed murders, a history that the Symbiosis Commission knowingly tried to cover up and hide, even to the danger of Dax’s life. What has occurred to Nemi forces Jadzia to further face memories of Joran, as well as aspects of Curzon’s personality and choices that sit badly with her.
With this, White does something really important for DS9 and Dax’s character, confronting the problematic aspects of Curzon as a selfish, lecherous man who used power, and his weakness, to harass. The novel also provides more ‘humanity’ to Joran’s character, rationale for his acts of murders, and an answer to what happened to him. While that first really well into the plot of novel, and makes the story engaging, it does change how Joran’s personality is depicted within the TV series. Though still monstrous and disturbed, readers (and Jadzia) feel a great deal more sympathy for him. This also twists this thread out of canon alignment with later points in the TV series (such as Ezri’s grappling with previous host Joran.) But, given that such changes to ‘canon’ and logic happen all the time even within the TV show itself (just look at the introduction of the Trill in The Next Generation to what they are in DS9,) I hardly mind.
The other interesting aspect of Revenant is its inclusion of other DS9 crew members. Jadzia starts out on her own, but soon enlists the help of Kira. With Kira featured along with Jadzia on the cover of the book, I expected this partnership to remain. However, Kira stays for only a bit before heading back to the station to tag-team swap with Bashir and Worf. White handles the Jadzia-Kira friendship very well, and it would have been nice for that to be explored in more depth, particularly on that Kira side of things.
Again, I can’t complain about this too much, because the inclusion of Worf is one of the best aspects of Revenant. The relationship and marriage of Jadzia Dax and Worf did make sense (far more than any Troi-Worf relationship,) but I don’t recall the TV series spending too much time on the two characters getting to discover one another. White uses this Jadzia-centric novel as an opportunity to show just how she and Worf move past assumptions to a friendship, respect, and attraction. It’s not a plot thread I ever thought about wanting to see more of, but reading it here made me realize how great it can be when handled as well as White does.
In the acknowledgments at the end of the novel, Alex White asks that readers get their other books as well, and I’m now going to have to do this. I don’t recall reading their work before, but I am very impressed with Revenant‘s style, architecture, and characterization. I didn’t want to go much into the plot development, as I think that works better for readers to discover fresh. But, White handles the pacing and ultimate conclusion of the novel very well, even including a bit of technological science fiction that is more fitting than the usual techno-babble solutions that magically save the day in typical Trek.
CBS/Gallery Books, give White more Star Trek to write, and please – enough with the early periods of Trek, give us some more DS9.
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