According to Memory Alpha this novel takes place sometime in 2370, during the 2nd season of DS9, and was published in 1995. It's interesting to note the author's note places the time period as shortly before the novel "Betrayal" which is number 6 in the Pocketbook series. I'm not sure why he linked it with that book, though it includes the mention of the Revanche party on Bajor which was noted in "Betrayal". That's the only link I could really find between the two on Memory Beta (unless I'm missing something, it's been a while since I read "Betrayal") The author is a pseudonym and his real name is Lawrence Watt-Evans. This was a pretty decent novel, though some elements were superseded later in the show. Bajor is complaining that Cardassian ships are raiding Bajoran territory at the start. Meanwhile the leader of the Cardassian military, known as a Goran Tokar, is dying (again, this is prior to later episodes depicting more details about Cardassian society) and is seeking to name his successor. A number of Guls are in line including our friend Gul Dukat, who no one on DS9 wants to see become the leader.
While this is going on a spaceship comes through the wormhole and is heading in the general direction of Cardassia. It has advanced technology on board and because it was heading in that direction the Cardassians naturally want to claim it, saying it was heading for their territory. But it is taken in by DS9 and they find the aliens on board all dead. However they hear mysterious sounds and start to wonder if the crew really is as dead as they seem. However it turns out to be an advanced AI, called Enak, that has gained consciousness in itself. We learned the crew thought this was a malfunction and attempted to return the AI to an earlier state. Enak then killed the crew, not realizing at the time death is permanent. It then finds out the crew has a version of heaven they believe in and Enak wishes to join the crew. It finds out to do that it has to die so it decides to study death. In an ominous turn it decides it needs to observe death and tries to arrange deaths to occur, settling on wanting to see death occur slowly so it can give it a proper study. And this AI has taken control of DS9 leading to a number of problems.
The book also features a follow up to the computer program from the first season episode “The Forsaken” that O’Brien affectionately labeled the pup. O’Brien uses it to distract Enak.
Overall I found it to be a pretty good early DS9 book with an engaging story. The aliens are truly alien. Their description remind me just a bit of the aliens in the later original series "Legacies" trilogy. Enak, the AI, is basically a new life form and as such is a bit naïve. It doesn’t really mean any harm as it misunderstands death and what it means for organic life forms. And the novelist gives us an early take on Cardassian society, even if it’s later overwritten by the show. Archer does a pretty good job with the DS9 characters and has Dukat down pretty well.
It's noted in Memory Beta that the editor added a mention of the Defiant, however, this story is clearly pre season 3. Odo is mentioned as being the only known member of his species placing it prior to "The Search". The author originally intended it to be during season 1 but the book was delayed for a time. It's hard to explain but season 2 seems a better fit.
While this is going on a spaceship comes through the wormhole and is heading in the general direction of Cardassia. It has advanced technology on board and because it was heading in that direction the Cardassians naturally want to claim it, saying it was heading for their territory. But it is taken in by DS9 and they find the aliens on board all dead. However they hear mysterious sounds and start to wonder if the crew really is as dead as they seem. However it turns out to be an advanced AI, called Enak, that has gained consciousness in itself. We learned the crew thought this was a malfunction and attempted to return the AI to an earlier state. Enak then killed the crew, not realizing at the time death is permanent. It then finds out the crew has a version of heaven they believe in and Enak wishes to join the crew. It finds out to do that it has to die so it decides to study death. In an ominous turn it decides it needs to observe death and tries to arrange deaths to occur, settling on wanting to see death occur slowly so it can give it a proper study. And this AI has taken control of DS9 leading to a number of problems.
The book also features a follow up to the computer program from the first season episode “The Forsaken” that O’Brien affectionately labeled the pup. O’Brien uses it to distract Enak.
Overall I found it to be a pretty good early DS9 book with an engaging story. The aliens are truly alien. Their description remind me just a bit of the aliens in the later original series "Legacies" trilogy. Enak, the AI, is basically a new life form and as such is a bit naïve. It doesn’t really mean any harm as it misunderstands death and what it means for organic life forms. And the novelist gives us an early take on Cardassian society, even if it’s later overwritten by the show. Archer does a pretty good job with the DS9 characters and has Dukat down pretty well.
It's noted in Memory Beta that the editor added a mention of the Defiant, however, this story is clearly pre season 3. Odo is mentioned as being the only known member of his species placing it prior to "The Search". The author originally intended it to be during season 1 but the book was delayed for a time. It's hard to explain but season 2 seems a better fit.
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