Andy Mangels

Cathedral has been the best of the "Mission Gamma" Mini-Series inside the DS9 Relaunch.

For the first time in the series the portion of the story that actually takes place in the gamma quadrent is as interesting as what is happpening back on DS9.

The Defiant send Bashir Nog and Ezri out to explore a new part of space in their shuttle craft. Nog somehow turns the subspace frequency into some annoying subtonal ferengi music. This ends up being important later in the story. Some strange stuff show more happens, Dax and Ezri seperate, Bashir becomes stupid, and Nog grows his leg back.

The meet some new Instectoid aliens, the one that guides them the crew names "Sacajawea" Reminds me of the endless possibilities we have in literature that we are limited to in TV/Film. Only the secrets this Cathedral/Anthem hold and the intergalactic peace behind Sacajawe's people and thier sworn enemies can return our beloved characters to their original ability.

Prynn was almost no where to be seen, realizing i Had even forgot her last name until the end of the book.

Back in the Alpha quadrent the strange love affair between Ro and Quark continues in a way that actually makes me wanting more. Tar'antar seeks the advice of Vic Fontain, and everyone is glad that Jem'hadar are not as hard on Las Vegas as Klingons.

The revealing of the last orbs I was so expecting in the previous book, may actually show up here, after a third story line begins where once every 6 chapters or so we see Vedek Yhair on Bajor hanging out Elhim Garrek. I highly recommend Cathedral to anyone who likes Star Trek, I recommend you read all the DS9 relaunch, but I think this book may have enough to live on its own. show less

Like the last book in this series there are two separate stories by two separate authors. Also like the last book one is really good and one is not. The first story takes place on Trill and focuses on the aftermath of the parasites attack from Unity and political and civil turmoil that resulted. It was incredibly entertaining, and like Left Hand of Destiny there is some great back story with one entirely unbelievable scene.

The second story focusestakes place on Bajor and focuses in the Sisko show more family in their new home. The author tries really hard to be creative but in the end its nearly 300 pages to tell us that Jake Sisko has a new love interest, and she tries to give us a surprise ending. I am looking forward to see how other Start Tek authors take the story, but on its own it wouldn't be worth reading. show less

This is a good book to get into after watching Star Trek: Nemesis. It basically picks up right from the start of Riker's command of the U.S.S. Titan - a new 'Luna' class starship.

I really enjoyed the book and, honestly, found myself not wanting to put it down. The most enjoyable aspect of the book for me was the fact that it really starts a whole new era of Trek adventures for some of the familiar TNG characters I love. I felt that the authors really took Riker and Deanna and pushed them show more forward into a "post-Enterprise" chapter of their lives. Sure, they're the same people as they were before, but, as you know yourself if you've ever moved to start a new career, there's a "fresh start" aspect of the experience that leads to change. It's interesting to me to see how things are changing for Riker and Deanna and the Trek universe as a whole. I feel that the authors captured that well.

Some of the points that the more negative reviews have are legitimate, though. I did feel like there were too many new characters and I had a hard time keeping them all straight. There is also an overbearing sense that the main point the authors were trying to make - on a moral level - was that bigotry is wrong. They really did emphasize this, almost to the point of ad nauseam.

I was able to get through that, though, and still really enjoyed the book. There are a couple of 'surprise' appearances by other characters that I didn't see coming, and that are well-written. If you read some of the other reviews, I'm sure you can find out who they are. show less

I've been enjoying a lot of Far Out retellings for a discussion in the Children's Books group. This is a "Fractured Fairy Tale" but it's much in the same vein as that series, though these might be for a slightly older audience. There's enriching back matter in this series, too, though maybe not quite as much as the Far Out books.

Anyway, this particular entry was fine, with important themes, but it didn't quite work for me. Maybe because it tried to do too much, what with the stepsisters' show more vlogs (?) and the stepmother's whatever being almost a subplot.

But it's short, and a good fit for the target audience... say, 'tween girl reluctant readers, especially. show less