The DS9 Relaunch - will it ever return to its roots again?

[Allyn Gibson]

No, but it does violate the creative conceit that the DS9 Relaunch had been operating on previously: That it was a heavily-serialized story with many important events happening in rapid succession, with relatively little time in between crises.

Where you see that as a positive, I actually see that as a mild negative. What you describe is storm, storm, storm. There's never any pause, there's never any calm. The television series didn't go from crisis to crisis without pause; in the middle of the Dominion War we could have something like "Take Me Out to the Holosuite." The serialized novels haven't done a lot of that. There's no change of pace. There's no pause to catch one's breath. However, I also recognize that a pause like that isn't really possible in the publishing line as it's constituted now. When you're only getting one DS9 novel a year that continues the story, do you tell the next balls-to-the-walls story, or do you go for a romp on Risa? There's no right or wrong answer here, and I understand why things are structured as they are, but I think that a pause from the breakneck pace of narrative wouldn't be at all a bad thing.

 

[Christopher]

No, but it does violate the creative conceit that the DS9 Relaunch had been operating on previously: That it was a heavily-serialized story with many important events happening in rapid succession, with relatively little time in between crises.

I don't think that's a valid characterization at all. It's the way parts of the series went, but it wasn't some absolute requirement. The goal was to be similar to DS9 itself, a series which was somewhat serialized but had various different threads going on and developing at different paces. And there was no overarching mandate that there be "little time between crises." The only reason the Gateways crisis came so soon on the heels of Avatar is because John Ordover wanted to do one of his gimmicky multi-series crossovers at that point and Marco agreed to tie into it. So that was due to external factors. Then came Mission: Gamma, a miniseries that unfolded over the course of four months, with a series of episodic tales in the Gamma Quadrant and a gradually building arc in the Alpha Quadrant which didn't really come to a head until the final month and then ran directly into Unity -- after Rising Son, which went back to the very beginning and explored that span of nearly six months from another perspective, and The Left Hand of Destiny, which jumped back to a couple of months before the start of the Relaunch.

Then after that, we got Worlds of DS9, six separate short novels telling different events scattered over the remaining three months of 2376 -- a very different tempo and format from Mission: Gamma and Unity, just as those had had a different tempo and format from what came before. WoDS9 ended with a big crisis that led directly into the three following books, and that brings us up to the present.

So the DS9 Relaunch has never been limited to a single storytelling format or pacing. It does the series an injustice to say it was meant to be only one narrow thing. It's always included a wide range of storytelling approaches and its tempo has varied considerably all along.

... and then suddenly we go from all that in just one year and skip another five years?

That's a pretty fundamental break from the DS9 Relaunch's creative conceits.

Uhh... the editors changed. What did you expect to happen?

 

[Therin of Andor]

serves only to alienate (at least part of) the readers...

Everything alienates some readers.

When I first started reading ST novels in 1980, I would hang out for Andorian characters, cameos of Arex and M'Ress, references to ST:TMP, more scenes with favourite regulars, etc. Sometimes I would plough through book after book, still not finding what I wanted. But the books aren't written for me. And, over more recent years, there have been an abundance of Andorian characters (including one whole novel set on Andor), continuing roles for Arex and M'Ress, and even a sequel novel to the events of ST:TMP (featuring that films catalogue of new Starfleet aliens).

Every ST fan has his or own quirky preferences, and we can't all be satisfied by any one novel. It's impossible. Maybe you're not getting exactly what you want out of particular series at the moment, but if sales are good it's likely that the novels are still satisfying an appropriately large sector of the readership. It amazes me how often people seem to blame the authors and Pocket for their own memories. The events and characters in some books really stick with some readers, and not with others. I read most of the ST books once only, many as close to the time of publication as possible; I have very strong memories of some early novels, and rather faded memories of others, including quite recent ones. Other recent books are indelibly imprinted on my mind.

The Borg, the Mirror Universe and time travel stories are some of the most popular canonical episodes/movies. It's not surprising that the novels continue investigate these themes. But everything tends to be cyclic. If the DS9 books aren't to your liking at the moment, but they used to be, chances are the pendulum will swing back in your favour eventually. I'm trying to imagine how DS9 can possible "return to its roots" since, from "Avatar" on, the Relaunch seems to have been about all the characters moving on from the springboards set off in "What You Leave Behind". The characters are still moving on.

... and then suddenly we go from all that in just one year and skip another five years?

That's a pretty fundamental break from the DS9 Relaunch's creative conceits.

And yet, one of the most commonly asked questions on this board, in recent years, was "When will DS9 'catch up' to the other 24th century book series?"

 

[JD]

Also, IIRC, Destiny had a line about dealing with the Ascendants as having occured in the past. Doesn't it mean (providing I do indeed remember actual events and not imagining it...), that the 5-year jump will "skip over" those events?

I remember the line about how Ezri had to deal with the fallout of the Mirror Universe events, but I don't recall a line specifically about the Ascendants. Doesn't mean it wasn't there, just that it didn't fix itself in my mind.

I wonder what the best approach might be, if it did happen in "the gap"? Depending on the nature of the story, perhaps a "Tales of the Ascendancy War" anthology? Anchor it with two novellas, and then tell stories of how the various crews may have dealt with the problem. I can't imagine that it was an all-DS9 fest.

I've been thinking that it probably will be just DS9. The Ascendants are only interested in the Bajorans as other worshipers of the Prophets, so I don't really see them being that interested in the rest of the Alpha/Beta quadrants. Now I can easily see ships like the Enterprise, or Aventine or Titan (if it is post-Destiny), coming to help, but I don't see them being more than "guest stars" or cameos.

 

[RonG]

Also, IIRC, Destiny had a line about dealing with the Ascendants as having occured in the past. Doesn't it mean (providing I do indeed remember actual events and not imagining it...), that the 5-year jump will "skip over" those events?

I remember the line about how Ezri had to deal with the fallout of the Mirror Universe events, but I don't recall a line specifically about the Ascendants. Doesn't mean it wasn't there, just that it didn't fix itself in my mind.

I wonder what the best approach might be, if it did happen in "the gap"? Depending on the nature of the story, perhaps a "Tales of the Ascendancy War" anthology? Anchor it with two novellas, and then tell stories of how the various crews may have dealt with the problem. I can't imagine that it was an all-DS9 fest.

I've been thinking that it probably will be just DS9. The Ascendants are only interested in the Bajorans as other worshipers of the Prophets, so I don't really see them being that interested in the rest of the Alpha/Beta quadrants. Now I can easily see ships like the Enterprise, or Aventine or Titan (if it is post-Destiny), coming to help, but I don't see them being more than "guest stars" or cameos.

that was my initial thought - having the "crisis" center on DS9 / Bajor (as it naturally should) while having guest "spots" - if you recall back to the start of DS9-R, CoE (then SCE), as well as TNG, had "guest roles" in various places.

 

[ProtoAvatar]

The DS9 Relaunch - up until "Unity", it obviously followed an overall plan, which, in my opinion, improved the quality of the books. After "Unity" it obviously lacks such planning - and I, too, think that it suffers because of it.
I'm aware that there are excuses - change of editors - but this does not change the fact that the DS9 relaunch doesn't know where to go these days - or, to be more precise, that it changes the direction every three books.

The 2010 schedule confirmed that the DS9 books will jump forward 5 years and deal with the typhon pact.
The success of this decision ultimately depends on the quality of the books, but, at first sight, the decision seems uninspired to me - and not only because the overall plan changed again:
The period the DS9 relaunch explored until now (immediately after the dominion war) was quite interesting; now the relaunch will jump forward to a period explored by most other trek lit series.
Plot threads the DS9 relaunch built up for years (the ascendants, the dominion) are abandoned/suspended/heavily delayed, frustrating the readers.

And to all this, one can add the significant delays the DS9 relaunch suffered in recent years (which caused it to looose momentum and, probably, readers) - and yes, I'm aware there are excuses for this, too.

 

[Therin of Andor]

After "Unity" it obviously lacks such planning - and I, too, think that it suffers because of it.

Balderdash! Marco Palmieri deliberately planned the six planet-based stories ("Worlds of DS9") to be a change of pace. They were just as "planned" as all the previous Relaunch books, but did enable the storyline to split in at least six directions.

the DS9 relaunch doesn't know where to go these days - or, to be more precise, that it changes the direction every three books.

?????

There haven't been enough books since WoDS9 to set that pattern.

 

[Sean Aaron]

Well, I'm really on the fence here. After Soul Key I'm happy to pick up the past novel Never-Ending Sacrifice, but not continuing Soul Key has me conflicted about future DS9 novels.

Any idea what the plot of the next book is going to be?

 

[RonG]

I think, and I'm voicing my own personal feelings and nothing more, that the DS9-R *feels* disjointed.

Real-world issues (layoffs and delays) only strenghten that *feeling* (regardless of the current\ recent schedule's planning, or lack thereof).

it is that feeling, which I fear is costing the series readership.. and it's not a place I like to envision my once-favorite TrekLit series in...

 

[Therin of Andor]

I fear is costing the series readership.

You have no proof that "The Soul Key" sold less copies that previous volumes of the Relaunch. Idle speculation based on no facts whatsoever.

 

[Allyn Gibson]

I fear is costing the series readership.

You have no proof that "The Soul Key" sold less copies that previous volumes of the Relaunch. Idle speculation based on no facts whatsoever.

I haven't bought The Soul Key, yet. 'Course, I haven't seen it in stores yet. So, in that regard, Ron's speculation is factually correct; TSK has sold less than Fearful Symmetry, because I haven't bought one.

(And yes, Ian, I know you, and I know you'll say, "Buy it from Amazon," but you know what? I like patronizing brick-and-mortar stores. For me, Amazon is the last resort, not the first.)

Seriously, though. If you consider the economic climate that led to Pocket scrapping the Crucible hardcover and dismissing two senior editors in the tie-in office, then it's entirely likely that The Soul Key will move fewer copies than Fearful. On the other hand, it's possible there's still some residual new-fan interest from the film, and The Soul Key could see a bump in sales from that. (However, I shudder to think what someone who doesn't know much about Star Trek beyond the film would even make of The Soul Key.)

Ron's speculation may be "idle," but it's not unfounded. Readers will leave a series because they don't like it anymore or because they can't afford it anymore. Face it, Star Trek books are a luxury, not a necessity.

 

[Therin of Andor]

Face it, Star Trek books are a luxury, not a necessity.

That has always been the case. Why must I "face it"?

I've been buying ST novels since 1980 and have heard fans whining of the cost and frequency of ST novels since that date. I've even had fans who cry poormouth insisting that I should lend them my copies since they can't afford copies of their own.

ST books are certainly a luxury. Most of mine have actually cost me extra because I choose to get air freighted copies from my local shop instead of waiting for their top-up supplies of ship-freighted copies three months after the US release.

I like patronizing brick-and-mortar stores. For me, Amazon is the last resort, not the first.

What's eating you???????

I buy my ST books from bricks and mortar stores, too, only ordering from Amazon when I know it'll be impossible to buy locally. But I worked hard to find a regular, dependable, enthusiastic, understanding local supplier, and I help my current favourite shop to keep pace with what's coming so they don't miss anything. And I pre-order, to make sure they're ordering at least one of everything.

 

[C.E. Evans]

Personally, I stopped after Unity because I felt that was a good "jumping off" point. Having never been a fan of the Mirror Universe in the DS9 era, nothing dealing with that really appealed to me, so for me it was just a case of eventually returning to DS9 once all that blew over. Jumping ahead to bring DS9 in line with the other 24th-Century titles was exactly what I was hoping for as a kind of re-relaunch and to see what things had changed in the interim...

 

[Therin of Andor]

Personally, I stopped after Unity because I felt that was a good "jumping off" point.

I'm sure that's one reason why the editors decided to fade out the book numbers when they did, with TOS #97 - because if they'd gone with the planned/announced #98-100 trilogy, lots of people would have chosen to stop collecting all ST novels with #100. You should never offer people a good jumping-off point.

 

[Allyn Gibson]

Nothing's eating me, Ian. It's just that the last time I said I hadn't found a book yet, you said, rough paraphrase, "Go to Amazon." So I was trying to preempt your retort to "Go to Amazon." *shrug*

 

[Therin of Andor]

Nothing's eating me, Ian. It's just that the last time I said I hadn't found a book yet, you said, rough paraphrase, "Go to Amazon." So I was trying to preempt your retort to "Go to Amazon." *shrug*

And was that such a terrible suggestion?

So have you pre-ordered from a bricks and mortar store, or are you playing a teasing game with yourself to see if anyone stocks it without your suggestion?

 

[Paris]

...You should never offer people a good jumping-off point.

^Agreed . Cliffhangers are a must if you're telling a big interconnected story. It keeps people on the edge of their seat and always wanting more. I was also one of the people who stopped after "Season 8" ended with Unity. I've bought the interveneing books (Season 9) and plan on reading them at some point down the line...

 

[ProtoAvatar]

The DS9 Relaunch - up until "Unity", it obviously followed an overall plan, which, in my opinion, improved the quality of the books. After "Unity" it obviously lacks such planning - and I, too, think that it suffers because of it.
I'm aware that there are excuses - change of editors - but this does not change the fact that the DS9 relaunch doesn't know where to go these days - or, to be more precise, that it changes the direction every three books.

The 2010 schedule confirmed that the DS9 books will jump forward 5 years and deal with the typhon pact.
The success of this decision ultimately depends on the quality of the books, but, at first sight, the decision seems uninspired to me - and not only because the overall plan changed again:
The period the DS9 relaunch explored until now (immediately after the dominion war) was quite interesting; now the relaunch will jump forward to a period explored by most other trek lit series.
Plot threads the DS9 relaunch built up for years (the ascendants, the dominion) are abandoned/suspended/heavily delayed, frustrating the readers.

And to all this, one can add the significant delays the DS9 relaunch suffered in recent years (which caused it to looose momentum and, probably, readers) - and yes, I'm aware there are excuses for this, too.

Balderdash! Marco Palmieri deliberately planned the six planet-based stories ("Worlds of DS9") to be a change of pace. They were just as "planned" as all the previous Relaunch books, but did enable the storyline to split in at least six directions.

?????

There haven't been enough books since WoDS9 to set that pattern.

So, the plan for 'Worlds of DS9" was to be one-shots, to have no overall plan. This is essentially equivalent to "Worlds of DS9" having no overall plan.

Then we had a mirror universe years-long storyline (delaying the ascendants/the dominion built up stories). And, as mentioned, I'm aware of the excuse in this case, too: it was supposed to be a 2 book quick foray into the mirror universe - well, in the end, it was anything but "quick".

And now, the plan changed again to include the typhon pact.

And then there were the "Terok Nor" and "Never Ending Sacrifice" books - essentially one-shots with little connection to the DS9 relaunch.

As I said - after "Unity", the DS9 relaunch books were disjointed, they had no consistent overall planning.

 

[Therin of Andor]

So, the plan for 'Worlds of DS9" was to be one-shots, to have no overall plan. This is essentially equivalent to "Worlds of DS9" having no overall plan.

No, the plan was for each story to have an intimate solo planet story but to introduce elements that would develop for the Relaunch as a whole.

"Worlds of DS9" developed Shar's family and the Andorian population problem, Cardassia's redevelopment and O'Brien's return from Earth, Sisko settling on Bajor, the Trill symbiont scandals, the birth of Leeta's baby and the coming of the Ascendants. That's hardly "no overall plan".

they had no consistent overall planning.

Consistent with what?

 

[Christopher]

I'm puzzled by the notion that the DS9 post-finale books were "supposed" to be only one thing, and that any variation constitutes an abandonment of some rigid "plan." That's missing the point. The DS9 novels under Marco were always willing to experiment, to try new things and explore variations on the format. Mission: Gamma, Rising Son, The Left Hand of Destiny, WoDS9, these were all experiments, different from what had come before or what came after. Of the 19 DS9 books, there is no majority group that you can point to and say "These all fit the same pattern." It's always been characterized by variety and willingness to experiment.