Just curious...Did they forget to ask, or did she avoid answering the question?
Spoilers DS9: Enigma Tales by Una McCormack Review Thread
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And also how Kukalaka managed to survive the destruction of Deep Space Nine.
At this point, I'm pretty sure that Kukalaka is a changeling.
I didnt listen to it yet since I havent read to book yet, but I asked Bruce about it on Twitter and he seemed to not have even noticed the date discrepancy situation during his reading of the book. I guess that kind of thing isn't important to everyone.
^What the hell is wrong with that guy??
Kidding aside, I just finished the book last night! It took a while for me to get through, but that tends to happen with all of Una's books for me. The beginning parts always seem so disconnected and I like to take my time just enjoying the world she crafts. Then all of a sudden everything starts picking up and the pieces start fitting together.
I do, however, agree that the end just kinda happens but honestly, I'm not sure how else it could have been done, so this isn't really a complaint but more of just an observation on my part.
And I was expecting to get really annoyed with Pulaski, given everyone's comments on the thread, but honestly she was quite the larf! I loved how annoying and ass-backwards she was being about Garak. Loved Pulaski in The Missing so I'm glad that love continued through this book. And the hound racing was such a silly but hilarious detail. Una captures her character and expands on her so well. I was never a Pulaski fan from the show, but her novel personality is great and still manages to be the same character.
Kidding aside, I just finished the book last night! It took a while for me to get through, but that tends to happen with all of Una's books for me. The beginning parts always seem so disconnected and I like to take my time just enjoying the world she crafts. Then all of a sudden everything starts picking up and the pieces start fitting together.
I do, however, agree that the end just kinda happens but honestly, I'm not sure how else it could have been done, so this isn't really a complaint but more of just an observation on my part.
And I was expecting to get really annoyed with Pulaski, given everyone's comments on the thread, but honestly she was quite the larf! I loved how annoying and ass-backwards she was being about Garak. Loved Pulaski in The Missing so I'm glad that love continued through this book. And the hound racing was such a silly but hilarious detail. Una captures her character and expands on her so well. I was never a Pulaski fan from the show, but her novel personality is great and still manages to be the same character.
Pulaski and Garak's sections with Bashir brought a couple tears 
. I hope when he inevitably gets better and comes back to the books it's well serving to the difficulties his friends are having right now.
. I hope when he inevitably gets better and comes back to the books it's well serving to the difficulties his friends are having right now.
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Pulaski and Garak's sections with Bashir brought a couple tears
If he does come back, I hope he is a bit different, not 100% the same. Just shake up the character a bit.
Yes. I'm reminded of one of David Gerrold's old Starlog columns, from sometime not long after TWOK. He argued that one must be very careful when killing characters off, then bringing them back from the dead, because it tends to trivialize the stakes.
Well, they've been doing a great job with Data in my opinion. I hope Bashir gets a similarly good makeover as well.
Agreed. The new Data is an interesting character but he comes across as a redeemed Lore - ruthless and selfish. It still feels like good, role-model Data is dead.
I don't see a point in changing Bashir. What good of it? He'd most likely change into somebody more cynic or sarcastic.
I don't see a point in changing Bashir. What good of it? He'd most likely change into somebody more cynic or sarcastic.
That's an interesting read on the new Data. Personally, I feel like he is still good natured, but his priorities have changed. Whereas his original drive was to discover more about himself and his place, he now is focused on protection of Lal and exploration of what he's become. It's different, for sure, but to me he's still the same Data... just a bit more adult for lack of a better word. Yeah, adults can be selfish sometimes. But honestly, Data could be pretty cold and calculating when he needed to be during the series anyway, but his overall naiveté made it less pronounced.
With Bashir, I see your point, but I feel like he could also go the exact opposite way. I actually feel he's already too cynical now as is, a development that's been happening since the tv series proper when his enhancements were revealed and his dealings with 31.
The thing about Data Soong is that that isn't just a name. He's Data's memories and personality matrix running in a positronic brain and body that were built for Noonien Soong's consciousness. So his "instincts," his inbuilt tendencies and drives, are Soong's, even though his mind and will are Data's. He thinks like Data but feels and reacts like Soong.
^ That never even occurred to me! That adds a totally different dimension to his character. I should go reread The Light Fantastic with that in mind.
So, I finally got around to reading this.
One thing that I was struck by was the notion that, left to TV, say there had been several more seasons of DS9, the continuation would have been less ambitious due to the limitations of the medium. That the DS9 cast of characters have diverged so greatly in the books is in part due to the greater latitude they have, especially where the ongoing atonement and rehabilitation of Cardassia is concerned. In this respect books allow far more subtlety and that particular ongoing story needs it.
I can't say I was particularly impressed by either Pulaski or Alden here, both came across as people stuck in the past, still fighting the last war - so, of course, they get utterly outplayed by Garak, who's fighting the new war.
There was a wry - and far more effective for its subtlety - potshot at the idea of institutional loyalty and how covering up crimes for the sake of perception of an institution can be so very seductive. In the book, it's the Cardassian military, in the real world? Quite a few suspects come to mind, with the same, suspect defences offered.
I also greatly liked the central concept of an Enigma Tale, it's so very, very Cardassian.
All in all it was an excellent read.
One thing that I was struck by was the notion that, left to TV, say there had been several more seasons of DS9, the continuation would have been less ambitious due to the limitations of the medium. That the DS9 cast of characters have diverged so greatly in the books is in part due to the greater latitude they have, especially where the ongoing atonement and rehabilitation of Cardassia is concerned. In this respect books allow far more subtlety and that particular ongoing story needs it.
I can't say I was particularly impressed by either Pulaski or Alden here, both came across as people stuck in the past, still fighting the last war - so, of course, they get utterly outplayed by Garak, who's fighting the new war.
There was a wry - and far more effective for its subtlety - potshot at the idea of institutional loyalty and how covering up crimes for the sake of perception of an institution can be so very seductive. In the book, it's the Cardassian military, in the real world? Quite a few suspects come to mind, with the same, suspect defences offered.
I also greatly liked the central concept of an Enigma Tale, it's so very, very Cardassian.
All in all it was an excellent read.
This is exactly correct.
Wait, he did? I'm glad to hear that!
I like Bashir, I really do. He was one of the few characters in the novels I felt had a true understanding of just how horrible this universe can be, and yet he still didn't give up. But yes, I also feel he should remain comatose. Like hbquickcomjamesl said, it trivializes everything. And Star Trek has a bad trackrecord with that. EIther the hero survives the sacrifice play ALL THE TIME, or they die. But give it a good few months, sometimes a year or two, and hey presto, they're back. Data and Janeway being some good examples of that. Spock ofcourse. And if it isn't about sacrifice. Characters who commit crimes, have done bad things. Even if it was for the sake of the greater good. It's a small tap on the wrist. 'You won't ever make admiral now Picard'. The guy already didn't want to be.
No, I think it would make sense that Julian doesn't come back.
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