Dawn of the Eagles

Star Trek: Terok Nor (A Saga of The Lost Era)
Dawn of the Eagles, 2360 - 2369 by S.D. Perry & Britta Dennison
Published June 2008
Read October 24^th 2014

Previous book (Terok Nor): Night of the Wolves
Next book (The Lost Era): One Constant Star

Purchase (MMPB): Amazon.com | Amazon.ca | Amazon.co.uk
Purchase (Kindle): Amazon.com | Amazon.ca | Amazon.co.uk

Spoilers ahead for Dawn of the Eagles and the Terok Nor miniseries!

From the back cover:

As violence all across Bajor continues to escalate, Cardassian forces tighten their grip on the captive planet, driving back the resistance at every turn; but on Terok Nor and elsewhere, the winds of change are stirring -- the beginnings of a hurricane that will alter the landscape of the Occupation. And while secret dealings, shifting alliances, and personal demons buoy the wings of revolution, a mysterious shape-shifting life form begins a journey that will decide the fate of worlds.

My thoughts:

In the first book of the Terok Nor trilogy, Day of the Vipers, James Swallow presented us with the seeds of the occupation: the initial contact and eventual entrenchment of the Cardassians on Bajor. In book two, Night of the Wolves, Perry and Dennison show us a world under the heel of Cardassian authority: bowed, but not completely broken. It is in this final book that the future of Bajor is to be determined. Will this world and her people bow to Cardassian rule and continue down the path of enslavement and eventual extermination, or will the Bajorans finally come together to throw off the shackles of Cardassian oppression once and for all? And, perhaps more importantly, how many more tired literary cliches can I include in this review? Read on to find out!

Natima Lang and Quark

As in the previous novel, there is a lot going on in Dawn of the Eagles. The story follows the paths of a great many characters as the final years of the Cardassian occupation are chronicled. There are a number of stand-outs: Kira and the Shakaar resistance cell dealing with the extreme conditions created by the anti-Bajoran sensor system implemented by the Cardassians was a compelling tale. Natima Lang, the Cardassian propagandist-turned-dissident and her ill-fated relationship with Ferengi bartender Quark was also a treat to read about. The authors obviously have a firm grasp on the characters in their story, and do an excellent job of making their motivations and actions seem realistic. However, my favorite character in this part of the trilogy was Odo.

In Dawn of the Eagles, we learn the true extent of Odo's role in the final years of the Cardassian occupation. Were it not for Odo, some of the Bajoran resistance's greatest triumphs would never have come to pass. We see this young and in some ways naive Changeling on a journey that will have him work for the Cardassians on Terok Nor, yet never truly be called that most dreaded of titles: "collaborator."

Odo as head of security on Terok Nor under the Cardassians.

At this point in his journey, Odo is still quite inexperienced in his dealings with "solids," an aspect of his character that the authors illustrate very well. Often perplexed at humanoid behavior, Odo sees his way through the world with an overriding sense of justice, and applies that philosophy to every situation he comes across. While Gul Dukat dreams of turning Odo to the Cardassian cause, Odo himself only sees that idea of justice as his master. It is fascinating to see him confront the situation on Bajor and Terok Nor, and witnessing these events through his eyes lends a new perspective to the Cardassian occupation.

As I mentioned above, there is a great deal happening in the pages of this novel. We see a myriad of plot threads tied up, and most importantly, we see characters we've grown to love over seven years of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and beyond at the beginning of their journeys. Readers who want to understand the motivations of characters such as Kira Nerys, Odo, Kai Opaka, and even Gul Dukat will love where this series takes their characters.

Final thoughts:

An eminently satisfying conclusion to the Terok Nor trilogy. While the final push by the Bajoran resistance leading to the Cardassian withdrawal felt a little rushed, the true heart of the story was what really counted: the characters. Perry and Dennison have a great feel for what makes these characters tick, and that expertise came through on every page of Dawn of the Eagles.

As a whole, the Terok Nor trilogy was a rewarding read for someone like me, who is a very big fan of Deep Space Nine. This trilogy of books makes an excellent companion piece to both the Deep Space Nine television series and the "relaunch" post-finale novel series.

Also by S.D. Perry & Britta Dennison:

• Star Trek: Terok Nor: Night of the Wolves (2008)
• Star Trek: Inception (2010)

My next read:

Next up is the resolution to The Left Hand of Destiny by J.G. Hertzler and Jeffrey Lang!

Night of the Wolves

Star Trek: Terok Nor (A Saga of The Lost Era)
Night of the Wolves, 2345 - 2357 by S.D. Perry & Britta Dennison
Published May 2008
Read September 22^nd 2014

Previous book (Terok Nor): Day of the Vipers
Next book (Terok Nor): Dawn of the Eagles

MMPB: Amazon.com | Amazon.ca | Amazon.co.uk
E-book (Kindle): Amazon.com | Amazon.ca

Spoilers ahead for Night of the Wolves and the Terok Nor miniseries!

From the back cover:

Eighteen years into the Occupation, a new star rises in Bajor's sky. It is the seat of power in this system, a place of slave labor and harsh summary judgments, the symbol of Cardassian might and the futility of resisting it. But even as the gray metal crown of Terok Nor ascends to its zenith, ragtag pockets of Bajoran rebels -- including a fierce young fighter named Kira Nerys -- have begun to strike back at their world's oppressors, and they intend to show the Cardassians that the night belongs to them.

My thoughts:

Night of the Wolves, the second book of the Terok Nor trilogy, continues the story of the Cardassian occupation of Bajor. Whereas the first book in the series focused on the lead up to the occupation, here we see life on Bajor under Cardassian rule. It is not a pretty picture.

One huge difference between this novel and the previous one is the way in which it tells its story. In Day of the Vipers, there was a very clear narrative progression, and the sense that one single story was being told. Night of the Wolves (and presumably the third book, Dawn of the Eagles) feels much more like a snapshot of events during this period, jumping from one story to the next in rapid succession. This is not necessarily a bad thing; the authors do an excellent job in stitching together much of the references and flashbacks to the occupation from episodes of Deep Space Nine while filling in the blanks with storytelling of their own. The result is a coherent picture of what the occupation did to Bajor.

A young Ro Laren, her life forever shaped
by her experiences under Cardassian rule.

The Cardassian annexation was a formative event for many of the characters we know and love in Trek. Most notably, Kira and Ro are permanently scarred by their experiences, as are countless other players, both large and small. I was especially enthralled with Ro's back-story as related in Night of the Wolves. The young Ro Laren is representative of one of the most insidious aspects of military occupation: the loss of culture and feelings of resentment and anger in the youth. All that the younger generation has ever known is occupation by the Cardassians. They no longer buy into the beauty and wonder of their own culture, hence Laren's disillusionment with the Bajoran religion. This generation was robbed of their childhood and innocence. This story gives her actions and behavior later in life added meaning and explanation.

At times dark and depressing, Night of the Wolves nevertheless shows glimmers of hope. In the face of Cardassian oppression, a resistance movement has formed, made up of Bajoran freedom fighters intent on reclaiming their world. However, we know from the bits and pieces of the history of the occupation gleaned from episodes of Deep Space Nine that it is going to get a lot worse before it gets better.

There are some truly exciting scenes in this novel, most notably the depiction of the Shakaar resistance cell's liberation of Gallitep, a Cardassian mining camp filled with Bajoran slaves marked for death. Referred to in the DS9 episode "Duet," seeing the liberation play out was very exciting.

Survivors of Gallitep, a brutal mining project using Bajoran slave labor. Gallitep was liberated by the Shakaar resistance cell, and Kira Nerys played a major role in that operation.

Final thoughts:

In many ways, this miniseries suffers from some of the same problems that the Star Wars prequel films did: it tells a story that does not end well. While the trilogy has to end with the liberation of Bajor, we know that there is going to be a lot of suffering before that happens, which is something that can sour a reader on this series. However, if one can get past that initial trepidation, Terok Nor is a trilogy with an excellent payoff: very well-written books telling an enthralling story about some of my favorite characters in Star Trek.

As a continuity buff and a huge fan of Deep Space Nine, reading this trilogy has been a huge treat for me. In this second book, Perry and Dennison have crafted a stark and brutally honest look at the occupation and the hellish conditions it produced for Bajor and her people. While this is easily one of the darkest chapters in Star Trek history, the long night must eventually end; dawn is coming.

Also by S.D. Perry & Britta Dennison:

• Star Trek: Terok Nor: Dawn of the Eagles (2008)
• Star Trek: Inception (2010)

My next read:

If all goes according to plan, look for my review of David Mack's brand-new entry into the 24th century storyline, Section 31: Disavowed, one week from today!

Day of the Vipers

Star Trek: Terok Nor (A Saga of The Lost Era)
Day of the Vipers, 2318 - 2328 by James Swallow
Published April 2008
Read March 18^th 2014

Previous book (The Lost Era): The Next Generation: The Buried Age
Next book (Terok Nor): Night of the Wolves

Purchase (MMPB): Amazon.com | Amazon.ca | Amazon.co.uk
Purchase (Kindle): Amazon.com | Amazon.ca | Amazon.co.uk

Spoilers ahead for Day of the Vipers and the Terok Nor miniseries!

From the back cover:

A seemingly benign visitation to the bountiful world of Bajor from the resource-poor Cardassian Union is viewed with cautious optimism by some, trepidation by others, and a calculating gleam by unscrupulous opportunists. What begins as a gesture of compassion soon becomes something very different. Seen through the eyes of participants on both sides -- including those of a young officer named Skrain Dukat -- the personal, political, and religious tensions between the Bajorans and the Cardassians quickly spiral out of control, irrevocably shaping the futures of both worlds in an emotionally charged and unforgettable tale of treachery, tragedy, and hope.

My thoughts:

The Cardassian occupation of Bajor is a 60-year period of history that was explored at various times in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, and the aftermath of which is the setting of the series itself. In the course of several episodes (such as "Necessary Evil," "Things Past," and "Wrongs Darker Than Death or Night"), we have seen what Bajor and Terok Nor were like during the occupation, but what about before the Cardassians arrived? What was Bajor like, and what led to the beginning of the occupation? It is the answers to these questions that make Day of the Vipers so compelling.

Many episodes of Deep Space Nine have shown us flashbacks of Bajor during the occupation (such as this scene from "Ties of Blood and Water"), but how did the occupation begin? Day of the Vipers answers this question.

Dramatic irony is used throughout the story. As readers familiar with the occupation of Bajor, we know where this is all headed: to a very dark, disastrous place. However, the characters in the story aren't privy to that information, and their plight is made all the more tragic due to the inevitability of what is to come. At times, you just want to reach into the pages to grab characters by the lapels and scream, "don't you see what is happening?!?" It is frustrating to witness the mistakes and deceptions that led to the horrors of the Cardassian occupation.

The true tragedy is the fall of two worlds, Bajor and Cardassia. Like Bajor, Cardassia was once a verdant planet with a population that lived in peace with nature. However, Cardassia has forgotten this and is now a desolate wasteland, home to a people who are desperate. This desperation is visited upon the Bajorans, who can't conceive of a people who would take what is theirs because they have none of their own.

The occupation is not only the story of Bajor, but of Cardassia as well. The famine and hardships experienced by that world directly led to the occupation of Bajor, a resource-rich world that proved extremely tempting to the resource-poor Cardassians.

Reading a few on-line reviews of Day of the Vipers, I noticed that some readers seemed to have been put off by the slower pace of the novel. However, I felt that the pacing of the story was very fitting. The Cardassian occupation was not an event that happened all at once; rather, there was a slow build-up. The Cardassians didn't arrive and invade Bajor militarily en masse, but instead insinuated themselves into Bajoran government and day-to-day life. The build-up to the occupation was slow and methodical, culminating in a horrific "false flag" incident in which a Bajoran fleet was destroyed by Cardassians acting as allies, while pinning the blame for the attack on the Tzenkethi. The slow build-up was perfect for the monumental importance of these events.

Final thoughts:

Day of the Vipers is an excellent beginning to the Terok Nor miniseries, setting up the horrors of the Cardassian occupation very well. At times quite dark and depressing (we all know where this story is headed), this novel nonetheless shows the resilience and pride of the Bajoran people. This is not the most accessible of Star Trek novels. I think that a casual fan of Star Trek would have a much harder time picking up this novel than a more conventional TOS or TNG novel. However, for ardent fans, Day of the Vipers introduces a pivotal piece of Star Trek history, and I would recommend this novel for any reader who loves Deep Space Nine and the rich, well-developed lore of that series.

Also by James Swallow:

• Star Trek: Titan: Synthesis (2009)
• Star Trek: Cast No Shadow (2011)
• Star Trek: The Next Generation: The Stuff of Dreams (2013)
• Star Trek: The Fall: The Poisoned Chalice (2013)
• Star Trek: Titan: Sight Unseen (2015)
• Star Trek: The Original Series: The Latter Fire (2016)
• Star Trek: Discovery: Fear Itself (2018)

My next read:

Continuing my series of reviews of the Deep Space Nine relaunch novels, my next review will be for S.D. Perry's Rising Son. Look for that soon!