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I have a feeling that was probably a common problem for people. I was kinda surprised when hey said here that they were being released under one title, but weren't actually connected. I really think it would have been alot less confusing for people if they had just released then under their respective series banners, because I really thought they had more in common with their respective series than each other. But then I guess that does bring up the question of how to title Zero Sun Game and Rough Beasts of Empire.
I really thought they had more in common with their respective series than each other. But then I guess that does bring up the question of how to title Zero Sun Game and Rough Beasts of Empire.
I think "Typhon Pact" fulfilled exactly the premise we were told about - right here - by the authors themselves when the books were announced.
And you can bet that, if they'd come out as entries in four separate series, people would be screaming about Pocket's "missed opportunity" to promote the four books under an umbrella title. And asking, "If I'm a Titan reader, do I still have to buy the Aventine book and the DS9 book and the TNG book to get the whole story?"
Supposedly, four books that match via cover art and sub-series title, coming out in quick succession, display better in bookshops and sell much better than four more-random, single titles.
And you can bet that, if they'd come out as entries in four separate series, people would be screaming about Pocket's "missed opportunity" to promote the four books under an umbrella title. And asking, "If I'm a Titan reader, do I still have to buy the Aventine book and the DS9 book and the TNG book to get the whole story?"
Really? Why do you say that? I can't think of any time I've read a set of Trek books with related themes not under an umbrella title and thought "these really should have had one". Nor can I think of any time anyone's done that before.
Really? Why do you say that? I can't think of any time I've read a set of Trek books with related themes not under an umbrella title and thought "these really should have had one". Nor can I think of any time anyone's done that before.
Huh? But they would've been under an umbrella title, presumably, just as the equivalently structured Day of Honor and Section 31 were. It's just that it would be an umbrella subtitle in addition to the individual series titles.
But as stated, that would've been difficult in this case since two of the novels weren't series-specific.
Since we didn't know about Sarina's True Intent until the very last scene, the lack of suspicion seems more "justified" in the reader's eyes--as it was a lack we took part in.
I was frankly disappointed by his puppy-dog love for Sarina, though at least he acknowledged that the first time around it was completely inappropriate.
I'd like to see Bashir develop a romance that didn't seem to be "love at first sight", though I guess right now that would be a conflict in terms of where the overall story seems to be going.
Funny, that's kind of how Bashir/Ezri developed. The feelings didn't happen overnight. It took a whole 4/5 of a season before they admitted their respective feelings.
Of course...we all read how that turned out. *sigh*
Keep Bashir & Sarina together and have Ezri traking them down. Every good spy story needs some romantic tension.
And I don't think that Bashir doesn't at least suspect who Sarina (and by extension himself) are working for. After all, how many missions has he done for Starfleet Intelligence and how many have
Section 31
been involved with? He's in love but he's not stupid.
The excellent DS9 characters had been underused recently - with the exception of Ezri, Bashir, and of course Captain Sisko.
As a DS9 fan I would be happy if every book incorporated my favorite crew, but it would suffice if they were able to give the crew a "get back together and save the universe" story.
Since we didn't know about Sarina's True Intent until the very last scene, the lack of suspicion seems more "justified" in the reader's eyes--as it was a lack we took part in.
I was frankly disappointed by his puppy-dog love for Sarina, though at least he acknowledged that the first time around it was completely inappropriate.
I'd like to see Bashir develop a romance that didn't seem to be "love at first sight", though I guess right now that would be a conflict in terms of where the overall story seems to be going.
Funny, that's kind of how Bashir/Ezri developed. The feelings didn't happen overnight. It took a whole 4/5 of a season before they admitted their respective feelings.
Of course...we all read how that turned out. *sigh*
A little specific there, in your story suggestions....
Still, I agree that a BIG thing missing in ZSG was the triangle element. I mean, for goodness sake--you're having Julian involved in a new relationship--you have Ezri with a major role--and after that one scene--one scene--there's no follow-up?
No scenes where Ezri at least reflects on what happened? There are quite a few scenes there with Ezri, and none of them have any personal thoughts from her. Her thoughts are all plot-based, not character-based.
And I don't think that Bashir doesn't at least suspect who Sarina (and by extension himself) are working for. After all, how many missions has he done for Starfleet Intelligence and how many have
Section 31
been involved with? He's in love but he's not stupid.
Hmm...I hope you're right. At least show him develop suspicions, in the next book--early in the next book, I'd say--otherwise, you're really treading the line of Hitchcock's bomb going off.
Since we didn't know about Sarina's True Intent until the very last scene, the lack of suspicion seems more "justified" in the reader's eyes--as it was a lack we took part in.
Funny, that's kind of how Bashir/Ezri developed. The feelings didn't happen overnight. It took a whole 4/5 of a season before they admitted their respective feelings.
Of course...we all read how that turned out. *sigh*
A little specific there, in your story suggestions....
Still, I agree that a BIG thing missing in ZSG was the triangle element. I mean, for goodness sake--you're having Julian involved in a new relationship--you have Ezri with a major role--and after that one scene--one scene--there's no follow-up?
No scenes where Ezri at least reflects on what happened? There are quite a few scenes there with Ezri, and none of them have any personal thoughts from her. Her thoughts are all plot-based, not character-based.
And I don't think that Bashir doesn't at least suspect who Sarina (and by extension himself) are working for. After all, how many missions has he done for Starfleet Intelligence and how many have
Section 31
been involved with? He's in love but he's not stupid.
Hmm...I hope you're right. At least show him develop suspicions, in the next book--early in the next book, I'd say--otherwise, you're really treading the line of Hitchcock's bomb going off.
Ezri would make a good character to show up on rare occasions. After all, a really fast ship should be doing more that just supporting a couple of spies. However, those occasions should be written like gangbusters.
That said, I'd keep Bashir with Sarina. Genetically advanced super-spies of the galaxy? Sounds like a rollicking good read to me!
Seeing as the whole set-up of tracking down S31 has been left to rot on the vine I'd take full advantage of it. After all, they're the ones who almost singlehandedly defeated the founders. They're willing to make the tough choices, as opposed to Picard when he was given the chance to take out the Borg in I, Borg. He wouldn't even try because it might hurt the drones. In the meantime, how many people were assimilated, including Ensign Lynch who Picard rather cold bloodedly gunned down?
Let's see a series with real people as opposed to the Stepford Starfleet we somtimes get.
Meh, I like Bashir better as DS9's doctor. I guess I could maybe see the spy thing as an occasional diversion, but definitely not as his regular career. Besides, if he leaves I don't think we'll have any TV characters left, and I'd like to see at least one of them still on the station.
He was a doctor for years. He's capable of a lot more than that. Let's turn him loose and see what his full potential is. This is a guy who made three bullseyes in darts without even looking at the board. Keeping him on DS9 is a waste of material. His medical knowledge can also come in handy on various espionage missions too.
I'd love Ezri on a mission, too--not just flying around to get them out of tough spots--I'm taking about actually on the mission. Have her and Julian actually interact for long periods of time. Have her clash with Sarina a bit--play up the triangle!
A little specific there, in your story suggestions....
Still, I agree that a BIG thing missing in ZSG was the triangle element. I mean, for goodness sake--you're having Julian involved in a new relationship--you have Ezri with a major role--and after that one scene--one scene--there's no follow-up?
No scenes where Ezri at least reflects on what happened? There are quite a few scenes there with Ezri, and none of them have any personal thoughts from her. Her thoughts are all plot-based, not character-based.
And I don't think that Bashir doesn't at least suspect who Sarina (and by extension himself) are working for. After all, how many missions has he done for Starfleet Intelligence and how many have
Section 31
been involved with? He's in love but he's not stupid.
Hmm...I hope you're right. At least show him develop suspicions, in the next book--early in the next book, I'd say--otherwise, you're really treading the line of Hitchcock's bomb going off.
Ezri would make a good character to show up on rare occasions. After all, a really fast ship should be doing more that just supporting a couple of spies. However, those occasions should be written like gangbusters.
That said, I'd keep Bashir with Sarina. Genetically advanced super-spies of the galaxy? Sounds like a rollicking good read to me!
My problem with that is--when Bashir finds out, is he just going to shrug it off? Somehow, Bashir doesn't strike me as one to let anyone--especially someone to whom he's trusted his heart--get away with playing him for a fool.
Seeing as the whole set-up of tracking down S31 has been left to rot on the vine I'd take full advantage of it. After all, they're the ones who almost singlehandedly defeated the founders. They're willing to make the tough choices, as opposed to Picard when he was given the chance to take out the Borg in I, Borg. He wouldn't even try because it might hurt the drones. In the meantime, how many people were assimilated, including Ensign Lynch who Picard rather cold bloodedly gunned down?
Let's see a series with real people as opposed to the Stepford Starfleet we somtimes get.
I really hope at some point we'll get details regarding the events that must have transpired to sweep the DS9 characters away from the station. ZSG was the first DS9-related book I'd read since Soul Key, and in a way it was heartbreaking to see the station's roster practically unrecognizable.
Change is good. Embrace the change. After all they've been through I'd rather not see someone press the reset button and put everyone back where they were.
Sisko is tied to Bajor and the Prophets so he'll still be around, in spirit if not in person to begin. Kira's still on Bajor. Ro's on the station as is Quark. Prynn and Vaughn are still around as well. I'd like to see more Bajoran influence on the station, at least in terms of the culture and feel of it. It may be a Federation station but it's still in the Bajoran system. Much as you'd expect Spacedock to reflect Earth, DS9 should feel more Bajoran.
I'd prefer to see DS9 populated with more new characters as well as Vaughn, Prynn, Ro & Quark with Kira on Bajor. Sisko has a connection to the prophets and Bajor that cannot be denied so he'll have to return at some point as well.
For Bashir, Ezri and the rest, let them get on with their lives. Have their stories continue, drawing on what shaped them during their time on DS9 while letting them grow in new ways. I'd prefer that the original crew not all end up back on the station.
The station is now only a part of the DS9 story. Sisko, O'Brien, Garak, Rom, Ezri, Bashir and co are all off elsewhere. Kira has quit too - it would be good to have Bashir back on the station...
Change is good. Embrace the change. After all they've been through I'd rather not see someone press the reset button and put everyone back where they were.
Sisko is tied to Bajor and the Prophets so he'll still be around, in spirit if not in person to begin. Kira's still on Bajor. Ro's on the station as is Quark. Prynn and Vaughn are still around as well. I'd like to see more Bajoran influence on the station, at least in terms of the culture and feel of it. It may be a Federation station but it's still in the Bajoran system. Much as you'd expect Spacedock to reflect Earth, DS9 should feel more Bajoran.
I guess. But I'd still rather not lose any more characters than we already have. I'm not saying don't allow the characters to change and grow, I'd just rather not have to keep spreading the focus in order to include the characters. IMO that was where New Frontier started to go downhill. But I then there is Vanguard, so maybe it is possible if handled by the right people. And I actually do agree with you on the Bajoran thing.
Margaret's plan was to jump forward, period. The DS9 post-finale continuity was Marco's baby, and I figure Margaret wisely decided she couldn't imitate what he'd done, and that it was better to get some distance from it and make a fresh start. She suggested from time to time that she might someday do an anthology or something to fill in the gap, but I don't think it was ever a definite plan, and certainly it wasn't something she wanted to do right away. Her focus was on moving forward with the new direction.
So how do things stand with the new order ? Things seem so different in the DS9 camp now that it would seem a little unsatisfactory to explain the changes with a few flashbacks (if we are lucky) or a conversation or two.
