Terok Nor

[chris32482]

I've just started reading Terok Nor: Day of the Vipers. I was wondering about everyone's opinion on this book, and the series as a whole. So far, I seem to be having a little difficulty getting into it.

I think it may be because most of the other Trek novels I've read have been focused on the established characters, so I was already familiar with the major characters and their situations and able to jump right into the story. But with DotV, all the characters are new so far, except Dukat. At least, I hope that's what it is, because I really want to like this series. The Bajor/Cardassia conflict is one of my favorite stories in all of star trek.

Of course, I'm only about 100 pages into the book, so I'm certainly not going to pass judgement on it. Not until at least, say, 150 pages in, because otherwise it wouldn't be fair.

 

[DeVario]

I personally like this series. The first book took some time for me also because of all the unfamiliar characters, but I got to like Darrah Mace. As I was reading the next two books (which start to bring in the more familiar faces) I started wondering where he was at, since he isn't as prominent. But stick with it if you're up to it, because it gets good once it gets into the Occupation itself.

 

[LightningStorm]

I thought the first book was great. It did take me a while as well to get into it, but once in it was quite engrossing.

The 2nd book was good as well, didn't take as long to get into it, but not quite as good as the first.

The 3rd book, I began reading it very shortly after it came out. I still have yet to reach the halfway point (I've read many other books since starting this one). It is boring.

 

[JD]

I loved the first one, and thought the other two were good. But then again I'm used to reading Trek books with new characters, so I'm used to that stuff and I was able to just jump right in. The trilogy provides alot of great backstory for the Bajoran and Cardassian characters in the show, even some of the minor one off characters. Plus it gives us a chance to see alot of the stuff that they talked about throughout the series.
Yeah, Darrah doesn't really play much of a role in the second two books.

 

[donners22]

I wrote a full review, but I won't paste the whole thing here since you haven't finished it.

In summary...

While the story itself is good, many characters seem two-dimensional. The book focuses on events, and uses characters as a means to an end. There are greedy power-seekers, weak politicians, warmongers (with a hint of a jab at real-life politics), peaceful clergy, gung-ho pilots and suspicious police, characters who seem designed to fill a role rather than exist as developed characters themselves. The exception is Dukat, the only really established character to feature heavily in the book. One can empathise and even sympathise with him, and though his actions to hasten the Cardassian takeover are quite shocking, they make sense from his perspective
...

The book covers an important part of DS9 history, and does it quite well. While some characters are not really developed, the main storyline, and the way in which the Bajoran annexure takes place, is interesting and logical. It would be a tough task to make this entertaining when the eventual result is known to the reader and so few of the characters are recognisable, but the author does a good enough job to ensure it is an enjoyable read.


Wolves is not as interesting, though still a good read, and with deeper characters.

 

[Trent Roman]

I liked the Terok Nor series; but then, I got into the first book in short order, so perhaps we just have different tastes. Maybe if you think of it as an original novel? Certainly, the authors had to make a lot of stuff up (and yet, so convincingly that I think back on the series now and I'm not sure what aspects of Bajoran/Cardassian culture originated in the show and which in the books), and because of the time-frame, we're short on established characters, although there's at least one more name you ought to recognize before the book is out.

Day of the Vipers was probably my favourite of the trilogy, for the strong, multi-faceted plot and the sense of being deeply embedded within historical events. The following two books are also recommended, but are more disjointed in their plotting, not unified by an overall arc, a lot more 'slice of life'-ish. But there are many more established characters in those books, whose 'origin stories', as it were, are fascinating to watch unfold, so you might actually prefer them to Day....

Fictitiously yours, Trent Roman

 

[donners22]

^ That's a good point. I think Vipers has the most historically significant and complex plot, with a variety of political machinations.

The other two books operate on a smaller scale, and Wolves in particular has a heck of a lot going on, with quite a lot of jumping between plots. However, it also has established characters, which can make it easier for some to get into.

 

[Nerys Ghemor]

It took me a long time to get into it, longer than I usually give a book. BUT--that said, once I got into it, it was one of the most rewarding Trek books I've read in a LONG time, and that's saying something. The ending left me just...well, you'll find out.

Definitely read the other two as well. I highly recommend it!

For me, the Oralian Way plot was the most compelling one, but then I have personal reasons for that, so I'm not sure how most others perceived it.

 

[DimesDan]

I read all three volumes over the summer last year when they came out.

I honestly can't remember much apart from I really enjoyed Vipers and it did take me a while to get into it, but that was more because I had a bit on my plate and not the quality of the book itself. I got a real kick out of the reference to a certain Welsh Sci Fi series towards the end of the novel and the whole infultration and fall of Bajor was gut wrenching in parts.

As for Wolves and Eagles, they were ok, but just not as good as Vipers and I must admit some of the characters linking did seem a little contrived, but then again, that can sometimes be the case in Trek.

 

[Steve Roby]

I liked Day of the Vipers the best of the three, because James Swallow had a lot more freedom to create his own story than Perry and Dennison did in the other two volumes. He was dealing mostly with characters we don't know and events we've never really known much at all about, whereas the other two books, dealing with more familiar characters and building up to the beginning of the TV series, had to incorporate a lot more bits and pieces of backstory from a lot of episodes. Working in all that material made for a somewhat more disjointed experience. Still worthwhile, though.

 

[Thor Damar]

I though that the Terok Nor series was a great read myself. The characterization of Skrain Dukat was interesting and at times sympathetic (this only lasts for a few chapters then the Dukat we all know and don't love comes back). To be honest I concentrated more on the Cardassian side that the Bajorian side (for obvious reasons) and I found a lot there to appreciate.

Like Nerys Ghemor I found the Oralian Way to be a fascinating aspect for a different reason perhaps, but I thought the timing was wrong and it owned too much to the DS9R novels IMO.

 

[ronny]

I enjoyed all three books although I did like the first one the best. I didn't have any problems getting into them, in fact I remember finishing them all rather quickly. But then there are times I think of myself as a DS9 fan as opposed to a Star Trek fan.

 

[T'Ressa Dax]

I thought all three books were good. I was also a little slow to get into the first one, though I did like Darrah Mace almost from the first. Kept skimming to see what was next and had to resist the temptation to skip over some of Dukat's part. I did enjoy the glimpse of Kira and Ro in the resistance, along with other plot points I won't spoil for you.

 

[neogothboy74]

I loved the first volume. The 2nd & 3rd were good, but not as good as the opening volume. I loved all the continuity with the series, and the subtle ties to the relaunch novels. I look forward to rereading them someday.