DS9: Avatar, Book Two by S.D. Perry Review Thread (Spoilers!)

[Defcon]

DS9: Avatar, Book Two by S.D. Perry

Blurb:
RETURN TO THE EDGE OF THE FINAL FRONTIER.

As the Federation prepares to launch a counterstrike against the Dominion, Colonel Kira Nerys searches for a way to prevent another galactic holocaust. But when a newly discovered prophecy propels Jake Sisko on an impossible quest and threatens to plunge all of Bajor into chaos, Kira is forced to choose between being true to her faith...and being true to herself.

Meanwhile, as the combined crews of Deep Space 9™ and the Starship Enterprise™ struggle to stop a terrorist plot to destroy the station and the ship, lives change, new friendships are forged, and the shocking truth behind a grisly murder is revealed.

THE ASTONISHING RENEWAL OF THE EPIC ADVENTURE.

_________________________________

My short review from a decade ago:This second Avatar novel rounds up the story nicely. The storylines started in the first book are continued and intervowen. Some questions are answered, other not. Some new little side stories are started, like Quark's affection for Ro or Nog's problems with the Jem'hadar. Overall both Avatar novels combined are a worthy for the rebirth of Deep Space Nine and wants you to see more.

 

[Reanok]

I voted outstanding the story has excellent writing and I like how the characters are handled in this book there's a lot of excitement and action this book surprise twists and turns that totally don't expect.I really like Kira&Kassidy yates are portrayed in this book .Also Ro Laren and Picard.The interaction with the enterprise crew too.

 

[Thrawn]

Another easy "Outstanding". Perhaps these should've only been 1 long book, but regardless, a hell of a kickoff to the LitVerse.

 

[JD]

Another outstanding vote for me, pretty much for the same reason as the first.

 

[tomalak301]

I recently reviewed this book in my thread:

Avatar II - Outstanding

I loved Avatar I, mainly for the excitement of new trek and new DS9 to dig into. However, it was obvious set up for book 2 and thankfully, I was able to read book 2 right after book 1. I know a lot of complaints for these two books were that they could have been one novel, and I agree, but from my perspective, they almost were.

Anyway, I loved Avatar II. They took everything from book 1 and paid it off, while still leaving the groundwork for the rest of the DS9 Relaunch. There was plenty of action, from Kitan'iklan almost destroying the station to Kira and Vaughn saving the station, and the revelations about Oihalu's book and the prophecies within. We also got an Odo sighting, and the introduction to Toran'atar, who I took to be the new Odo, an outsider who really is at the station with peaceful intentions but is there to learn about other cultures.

I think the thing I loved most about this book, much like Avatar 1, was the journeys the characters take, and how the novel was very character driven. I've only started reading the novels in the Trek-lit verse, but so far my favorite characters are Commander Vaughn and Colonial Kira.

Kira's story here was absolutely incredible. It's amazing how much Perry got her so right, how in Season 1 she was this difficult person to work with who didn't believe the federation had any right to be there, to Season 7 helping the cardassians fighting the dominion, to these books where she was more than a capable leader. She makes everyone around her stronger, even Ro, who she had problems with but still worked well together. But the real reason I love Kira? It was the end of the book where she sent the book to Bajor's general public saying everyone has the right to know this book exists, and then her Orb of Memory experience and Chapter 18 when she reveals the 10,000 graves in the lower part of Bal'hala. In fact, when I was reading that chapter, I actually got a little emotional, mainly when Kira told Kasidy that these people died for what they believed in and that her baby wasn't a symbol or an icon. I think that chapter and scene might have been my favorite scene in the entire book. As for Vaughn, man his journey from Orb Experience to First officer on DS9 was equally as impressive. For a new character, he sure made an impact in a major way.

 

[DS9forever]

I recently reviewed this book in my thread:

Avatar II - Outstanding

I loved Avatar I, mainly for the excitement of new trek and new DS9 to dig into. However, it was obvious set up for book 2 and thankfully, I was able to read book 2 right after book 1. I know a lot of complaints for these two books were that they could have been one novel, and I agree, but from my perspective, they almost were.

Anyway, I loved Avatar II. They took everything from book 1 and paid it off, while still leaving the groundwork for the rest of the DS9 Relaunch. There was plenty of action, from Kitan'iklan almost destroying the station to Kira and Vaughn saving the station, and the revelations about Oihalu's book and the prophecies within. We also got an Odo sighting, and the introduction to Toran'atar, who I took to be the new Odo, an outsider who really is at the station with peaceful intentions but is there to learn about other cultures.

I think the thing I loved most about this book, much like Avatar 1, was the journeys the characters take, and how the novel was very character driven. I've only started reading the novels in the Trek-lit verse, but so far my favorite characters are Commander Vaughn and Colonial Kira.

Kira's story here was absolutely incredible. It's amazing how much Perry got her so right, how in Season 1 she was this difficult person to work with who didn't believe the federation had any right to be there, to Season 7 helping the cardassians fighting the dominion, to these books where she was more than a capable leader. She makes everyone around her stronger, even Ro, who she had problems with but still worked well together. But the real reason I love Kira? It was the end of the book where she sent the book to Bajor's general public saying everyone has the right to know this book exists, and then her Orb of Memory experience and Chapter 18 when she reveals the 10,000 graves in the lower part of Bal'hala. In fact, when I was reading that chapter, I actually got a little emotional, mainly when Kira told Kasidy that these people died for what they believed in and that her baby wasn't a symbol or an icon. I think that chapter and scene might have been my favorite scene in the entire book. As for Vaughn, man his journey from Orb Experience to First officer on DS9 was equally as impressive. For a new character, he sure made an impact in a major way.

Nice review. Were you thinking of Battlestar Galactica when you wrote "Colonial Kira"?

 

[Paris]

Really loved this one! I just finished reading it for the first time and this opening duology has me wanting more and more DS9! I'm glad i waited to read all these books until i had everything from the relaunch. After i'm through with Jeff Mariotte's new TOS offering, Serpents in the Garden, i'm going to jump right into DS9: S31: Abyss

 

[tomalak301]

I recently reviewed this book in my thread:

Avatar II - Outstanding

I loved Avatar I, mainly for the excitement of new trek and new DS9 to dig into. However, it was obvious set up for book 2 and thankfully, I was able to read book 2 right after book 1. I know a lot of complaints for these two books were that they could have been one novel, and I agree, but from my perspective, they almost were.

Anyway, I loved Avatar II. They took everything from book 1 and paid it off, while still leaving the groundwork for the rest of the DS9 Relaunch. There was plenty of action, from Kitan'iklan almost destroying the station to Kira and Vaughn saving the station, and the revelations about Oihalu's book and the prophecies within. We also got an Odo sighting, and the introduction to Toran'atar, who I took to be the new Odo, an outsider who really is at the station with peaceful intentions but is there to learn about other cultures.

I think the thing I loved most about this book, much like Avatar 1, was the journeys the characters take, and how the novel was very character driven. I've only started reading the novels in the Trek-lit verse, but so far my favorite characters are Commander Vaughn and Colonial Kira.

Kira's story here was absolutely incredible. It's amazing how much Perry got her so right, how in Season 1 she was this difficult person to work with who didn't believe the federation had any right to be there, to Season 7 helping the cardassians fighting the dominion, to these books where she was more than a capable leader. She makes everyone around her stronger, even Ro, who she had problems with but still worked well together. But the real reason I love Kira? It was the end of the book where she sent the book to Bajor's general public saying everyone has the right to know this book exists, and then her Orb of Memory experience and Chapter 18 when she reveals the 10,000 graves in the lower part of Bal'hala. In fact, when I was reading that chapter, I actually got a little emotional, mainly when Kira told Kasidy that these people died for what they believed in and that her baby wasn't a symbol or an icon. I think that chapter and scene might have been my favorite scene in the entire book. As for Vaughn, man his journey from Orb Experience to First officer on DS9 was equally as impressive. For a new character, he sure made an impact in a major way.

Nice review. Were you thinking of Battlestar Galactica when you wrote "Colonial Kira"?

No but I guess I mis-spelled Colonel

 

[Therin of Andor]

Perhaps these should've only been 1 long book...

According to John Ordover, IIRC, for a time it seemed that two Trek books in the same series/arc, displayed side-by-side, often sold more copies than single books and looked good on shop shelves, so it made very good sense from a marketing standpoint to publish duologies that supported each others' sales.

 

[Masiral]

I voted Above Average for both books. They were a good start to the DS9 Relaunch. I did have some issue with the use of acronyms throughout the duology - some of them were never defined, or were less than obvious.

 

[DS9forever]

I voted Above Average for both books. They were a good start to the DS9 Relaunch. I did have some issue with the use of acronyms throughout the duology - some of them were never defined, or were less than obvious.

Any examples?

 

[Masiral]

I voted Above Average for both books. They were a good start to the DS9 Relaunch. I did have some issue with the use of acronyms throughout the duology - some of them were never defined, or were less than obvious.

Any examples?

Bajoran PG (which I figured out was for "provisional government"),
SEWG (for EV suits, but never explained what the acronym stood for),
Starfleet MI (which I assume stands for "Military Intelligence," which seems odd for Starfleet)
and there was a fourth one that I can't find now that I wasn't able to figure out.

 

[Christopher]

^"SEWG" is from the TNG Technical Manual. It means Standard Extravehicular Work Garment.

 

[DS9Continuing]

My favourite unexplained acronym is RFN, used by Bowers in Zero Sum Game.

(I know exactly what it means, and I laughed out loud, it just went unexplained in the text itself.)

.

 

[Jarvisimo]

^^ You seen it in Vanguard too - in Reap the Whirlwind at least Reyes says it once, and it appears at other points too. And of course FUBAR is in the final book. Totes unexplained, but nice context to Quinn's 'fuck the prime directive' and second 'fuck'. David Mack, we salute you & HBO-esque Trek writing

 

[Tarheel]

I just finished Book Two and voted Outstanding in the poll. Combined with Book One, this was a perfect restart to the DS9 epic and easily fits as the premiere of Season 8. I felt that S.D. Perry captured the essence of the show perfectly and all of the new characters were great additions as well. I'm just mad at myself for letting this one sit on my shelf for over a decade...