Spoilers DS9: Ascendance by David R. George III Review Thread

I enjoyed it. It tied up the last of the old DS9 novels, filling in the last of the gaps, and prepped us for the new future. (It also tied up a lot of DRG III, going back as far as Serpents Among the Ruins.)

 

Serpents even?? Damn... I'm hoping to get this tomorrow.

 

Hmm. As to filler and exposition (i.e., recap of the story arc), I found that the 1/4 sheet of notes I left sticking out of SoF were invaluable in getting me back up to speed on what's going on, but wish I'd taken them in more detail. Perhaps a preface that provided such a recap would have been a helpful addition.

 

Does that mean that it might actually have overcorrected from Sacraments? Did it really not have any recapping at all?

 

I have read all of the previous DS9 books & I had no trouble following the story. I just finished the book...I voted Outstanding. It was the best DS9 book in a long while. Wrapped up the past in a satisfying manner, moved the current story forward, and ended on an intriguing note leaving one excited for the next chapter.

 

Well, there wasn't anything to remind me of what was going on with

Spoiler: Odo's

encounter with the "unknown shape-shifter,"

Spoiler: or with the

armada rolling out of the wormhole like oranges.

 

Got mine 7 hours ago today (00:00 of 29th here in the Philippines) via Google Play. Was expecting it on the 31st, surprised it downloaded my pre-order.

No opinion yet, I fell asleep -- nothing to do with the book, I was just too tired for the day. But I've been waiting for this for months! I'm not a big fan of DS9 even the TV series, but because of DS9 relaunch novels, I am now.

Now to continue reading…

 

I recommend it.

 

Read it this morning. It was very average, not bad but still so busy tying up loose ends and getting all the pieces in place for the next wave of DS9 books that it ends up being somewhat unsatisfying as a book in its own right. At least going forward that shouldn't be a problem apart from maybe that cliff hanger and the whole deathly dull fixing Vic storyline oh and the out of time Bajoran. So not all the loose ends then!

The Ascendant's plot in the past fizzles out quite quickly and doesn't feel anywhere near as traumatic as has been implied. It also doesn't really give any weight to Sisko or Kira's change in directions. And why rid Ro of one of her distinctive characteristics particularly in such a shallow way. By the end of the book she might as well be Kira.

It doesn't help that the writers style is so dry, some humour would be nice occasionally. The support crew get a bit of a look in, including some background on Stinson but remain horribly bland overall, not helped by the decision at the end. Why not bring in someone new and distinctive in that role to shake things up, it worked for Titan.

But generally it was still a decent read, pretty light on recapping for the most part and when it was used mainly at places where you could see the need. Though there was one bit when the Defiant called back to the station where we got 4 or 5 lines describing what we had just seen a page and a half ago!

Hopefully we'll be getting more DS9 books going forward but a bit more variety in authors would be nice.

 

So, I went to go pick this one up today at my local B&N and they didn't have it. While they were obliging in ordering a copy to the store, they couldn't explain why they hadn't ordered any copies to the store or why there were 5 copies on order for other customers. In an even further wrinkle, the website listed it as in stock the night before but they never sold any stock according to their POS software. And it seems like the book is disappearing from all my local stores, too. I checked on my phone in the store and the next three closest stores had it in stock, and now they're all gone too. And it seems unlikely this one book would sellout on day one when there 7 copies of "Sacraments of Fire" on the shelf.

 

I don't know how to do spoiler boxes/warnings so I won't be very detailed in my answer. I did feel that the Ascendants brought a traumatic level of danger to the Bajoran system...a major event which would be referenced in the years following. I didn't feel that it fizzled out at all and the novel's two main arcs came together well in the end. Although I am not always a fan of this author's work I felt he did a good job here.

 

I bought my copy at my local Chapters right before Xmas...7 copies remained on the shelf. I was in the store yesterday and only 3 copies are there now. My guess is that the book is selling well...the awesome cover likely helps too.

 

For future reference

Spoiler: How to make spoilers

The spoiler button is the yellow face with an x where his mouth should be in the main posting box (far right after all the lists, links, image and code buttons). Write out what you want to put in the spoiler code, select it, press the button and then write a short description of what the spoilers about in the prompt box.

 

Definitely.

Spoiler: I felt a real sense of danger

George did a good job in setting up an existential level of danger to the Bajoran system. How do you deal with a potentially genocidal threat from a vast fleet of technologically advanced religious zealots? How can you deal with it?

The resolution makes sense in retrospect, but it came as a surprise to me and did not seem contrived. Everything we knew--the death of Taran'atar, the devastation of Endalla, the involvement of the Even Odds--had been mentioned long before. Only now do we see how it all worked

Also, I am glad that Kira is back now.

 

Just saw my copy, going to start today.

 

The big long section between the prologue and the interlude had me on the edge of my seat, particularly near the end (and it also had me wishing for chapter breaks: I didn't care for the lack of chapter breaks in ADF's second HC novel, Bloodhype, and I don't care for the lack of chapter breaks in this opus).

Spoiler: The first mention of Algeron, and what happened there, . . .

. . . is a Chekhov's Gun

 

I went to my Barnes and Nobles store looking for the new Ds9 novel they didn't have it in stock yet. I really want to get this book soon.

 

So, am I correct in that this is not a complete flashback novel set just after the events of Soul key? From the typings in this post, it seems that, at the very least, there is a framing sequence and interstitials taking place in the present continuity. I am about seven years behind in my reading (just going to start Destiny this upcoming month), and was wondering if I could read this without ANY references to current novels.....

 

Unfortunately no; this is a sequel to Sacraments of Fire, and both books split time between soon after Soul Key and shortly after The Fall.

 

So far I've visited three book stores locally and I still haven't been able to find it. I really hope to find it soon (tomorrow is my last ditch before ordering it online: I can usually find Trek novels at the grocery store of all places).