Rating: 
Summary: The Women of Star Trek get it on in the Mirror Universe
Review: I went off in search of the "Dark Passions" books because of a friend who wanted to know if I had read the Star Trek books with the lesbian encounter. However, if you think I am going to give away who the happy couple are in the first of Susan Wright's two books, you are sadly mistaken. What we have in "Dark Passions" are the evil twins of the 24th-century women of Star Trek in the Mirror Universe where humanity has been enslaved by the Klingon, Cardassian, and Bajoran Alliance. Book One features: Kira Nerys, the Intendant of Bajor; Deanna Troi, the Intendant of Betazed and Imzadi to Worf, the Klingon Regent; and Annika Hansen, the trained assassin of the Obsidian Order. Sisko, O'Brien and Keiko are wandering around as supporting characters, but the emphasis is most definitely on the ladies. Wright is providing the backstory on when Major Kira and Dr. bashir rediscover the Mirror Universe where Kirk encountered Mr. Spock with a goatee way back when. As such "Dark Passions" does not really intrude on any of the Deep Space Nine episodes where the two universes temporarily collide. Everybody is making a grab for power in the new order where the number one rule is not to trust anybody as the games within games are played out. Half of the fun is the way these familiar characters are twisted in the Mirror Universe. Sure a few things get forced--Annika Hansen is known as Agent Seven of Corps Nine for the Obsidian Order--but there always has to be well grounded ironic relationship between the known and alternative realities. Too bad we have to go to the Mirror Universe to see the ladies rule.
Rating:
Summary: The Women of Star Trek get it on in the Mirror Universe
Review: I went off in search of the "Dark Passions" books because of a friend who wanted to know if I had read the Star Trek books with the lesbian encounter. However, if you think I am going to give away who the happy couple are in the first of Susan Wright's two books, you are sadly mistaken. What we have in "Dark Passions" are the evil twins of the 24th-century women of Star Trek in the Mirror Universe where humanity has been enslaved by the Klingon, Cardassian, and Bajoran Alliance. Book One features: Kira Nerys, the Intendant of Bajor; Deanna Troi, the Intendant of Betazed and Imzadi to Worf, the Klingon Regent; and Annika Hansen, the trained assassin of the Obsidian Order. Sisko, O'Brien and Keiko are wandering around as supporting characters, but the emphasis is most definitely on the ladies. Wright is providing the backstory on when Major Kira and Dr. bashir rediscover the Mirror Universe where Kirk encountered Mr. Spock with a goatee way back when. As such "Dark Passions" does not really intrude on any of the Deep Space Nine episodes where the two universes temporarily collide. Everybody is making a grab for power in the new order where the number one rule is not to trust anybody as the games within games are played out. Half of the fun is the way these familiar characters are twisted in the Mirror Universe. Sure a few things get forced--Annika Hansen is known as Agent Seven of Corps Nine for the Obsidian Order--but there always has to be well grounded ironic relationship between the known and alternative realities. Too bad we have to go to the Mirror Universe to see the ladies rule.
Rating: 
Summary: a question
Review: if she was never a borg how can her name is seven of nine ? I haven't red this book yet and I don't expect anyone to ruin it for me or anyone else I just want to know if it is explained or is it just an oversight
Rating:
Summary: a question
Review: if she was never a borg how can her name is seven of nine ? I haven't red this book yet and I don't expect anyone to ruin it for me or anyone else I just want to know if it is explained or is it just an oversight
Rating:
Summary: The biggest surprise to me is the "other" Winn
Review: In this alternate universe Trek story, we get a conniving, power-hungry Deanna Troi--quite a departure from the warm earth-mother Counselor Troi. Keiko isn't the sensible schoolteacher wife of Miles 'Brien, she's Troi's personal maid. Seven Of Nine isn't a Borg--she's a human agent for Cardassian intelligence. Kira Nerys was always a tough cookie, but this Kira uses that basic strength in the manner of a loathed and feared tyrant. But will you get a load of this universe's Winn? We know her as a smarmy, two-faced religious leader--here she's a mid-level bureacrat trapped between the hammer of higher-ups who don't give a damn about her or her constituents, and the anvil of those constituents, who expect the moon and stars of her (and proabably sulk when they don't get it). Where "our" Winn patronizingly calls Kira "child", this Winn actually is a dedicated foster parent who has raised several waifs to adulthood. Author Susan Wright may have done a real number on the Troi that one website calls "Beloved Betazoid", but she has turned the slave-of-expediency Winn into a true woman of courage.
Rating: 
Summary: A fun ride in the Mirror Universe
Review: Initially when I found out this was a two book series I was annoyed b/c I felt that it was really one book broken into two to increase revenue. After reading both, I realize that although this is partially true, the two books each have a very different flavor to them. Book One really sets the tone with the mad rush for power in the former Terran Empire. In the beginning none of the charachters really came across as one of the "good guys" (or gals as the case may be) and it wasn't until about halfway through the story that it became clear who the protagonist was. There are lots of cameo's by charachters from NegGen, DS9, & Voyager who show up in some very unexpected places; I half expected Kirk or Uhuro to be thrown into the mix. In addition, there are also some very unlikely romantic pairings, which will keep the reader off balance - as one reviewer mentioned "this is not your father's Star Trek". I can honestly say that the plots twists kept me guessing all the way through both books. Both of which are a quick read and lots of fun. Susan Wright left the door open for further books in this continuity, but these will be tough to top.
Rating:
Summary: A fun ride in the Mirror Universe
Review: Initially when I found out this was a two book series I was annoyed b/c I felt that it was really one book broken into two to increase revenue. After reading both, I realize that although this is partially true, the two books each have a very different flavor to them. Book One really sets the tone with the mad rush for power in the former Terran Empire. In the beginning none of the charachters really came across as one of the "good guys" (or gals as the case may be) and it wasn't until about halfway through the story that it became clear who the protagonist was. There are lots of cameo's by charachters from NegGen, DS9, & Voyager who show up in some very unexpected places; I half expected Kirk or Uhuro to be thrown into the mix. In addition, there are also some very unlikely romantic pairings, which will keep the reader off balance - as one reviewer mentioned "this is not your father's Star Trek". I can honestly say that the plots twists kept me guessing all the way through both books. Both of which are a quick read and lots of fun. Susan Wright left the door open for further books in this continuity, but these will be tough to top.
Rating:
Summary: Star Trek Dark Passions I of II - Absolutely stunning!
Review: Over the years, Susan Wright has proven herself to be an extremely reliable author in the Star Trek universe and this "Dark Passions" duology is no exception to that. I found the entire story to be thoroughly intriguing, extremely well paced and the characterizations to be perfect for what one might expect of these characters in the mirror universe. With this small duology, Susan Wright took the rather apropos approach of building upon the known and unknown characters in the Star Trek Deep Space Nine mirror universe episodes and created an extraordinary story that actually takes place prior to start of the series, giving her the advantage of having all of the characters to use and giving her the opportunity to create a much more original story to include killing certain characters off. This is an extremely powerful story that involves the majority of the female characters in the current Star Trek universe, proving their "mettle" so to speak and using them to perfection. The only true complaint I would lodge about this duology falls more into place with the decisions of those at Pocket Books than with the author and that is the fact that this "novel" was broken into two books. Considering the rather standard sized text and the fact that the first book is only 232 pages and the second is 200 pages, this could've and should've been one novel instead of an obvious ploy to ply an extra $6.99 out of "passionate" Star Trek readers; bad on the powers that be at Pocket Books. The cover art for this novel makes this and the second novel that much more intriguing considering the originality of the story. The Premise: As it might spoil the story a bit I won't delve too deeply into the premise of this wonderful story. Suffice it to say, this story involves the majority of the major female characters from "The Next Generation," "Deep Space Nine" and "Voyager" in extremely enlightening roles carrying an extremely original story to fruition through healthy amounts of intrigue and action... Overall, I highly recommend this and the second book in this small duology to any and all fans of Star Trek fiction and especially to those that thoroughly enjoyed the mirror universe episodes on Star Trek Deep Space Nine. {ssintrepid}
Rating:
Summary: Star Trek Dark Passions I of II - Absolutely stunning!
Review: Over the years, Susan Wright has proven herself to be an extremely reliable author in the Star Trek universe and this "Dark Passions" duology is no exception to that. I found the entire story to be thoroughly intriguing, extremely well paced and the characterizations to be perfect for what one might expect of these characters in the mirror universe. With this small duology, Susan Wright took the rather apropos approach of building upon the known and unknown characters in the Star Trek Deep Space Nine mirror universe episodes and created an extraordinary story that actually takes place prior to start of the series, giving her the advantage of having all of the characters to use and giving her the opportunity to create a much more original story to include killing certain characters off. This is an extremely powerful story that involves the majority of the female characters in the current Star Trek universe, proving their "mettle" so to speak and using them to perfection. The only true complaint I would lodge about this duology falls more into place with the decisions of those at Pocket Books than with the author and that is the fact that this "novel" was broken into two books. Considering the rather standard sized text and the fact that the first book is only 232 pages and the second is 200 pages, this could've and should've been one novel instead of an obvious ploy to ply an extra $6.99 out of "passionate" Star Trek readers; bad on the powers that be at Pocket Books. The cover art for this novel makes this and the second novel that much more intriguing considering the originality of the story. The Premise: As it might spoil the story a bit I won't delve too deeply into the premise of this wonderful story. Suffice it to say, this story involves the majority of the major female characters from "The Next Generation," "Deep Space Nine" and "Voyager" in extremely enlightening roles carrying an extremely original story to fruition through healthy amounts of intrigue and action... Overall, I highly recommend this and the second book in this small duology to any and all fans of Star Trek fiction and especially to those that thoroughly enjoyed the mirror universe episodes on Star Trek Deep Space Nine. {ssintrepid}
Rating:
Summary: Star Trek Dark Passions I of II - Absolutely stunning!
Review: Over the years, Susan Wright has proven herself to be an extremely reliable author in the Star Trek universe and this "Dark Passions" duology is no exception to that. I found the entire story to be thoroughly intriguing, extremely well paced and the characterizations to be perfect for what one might expect of these characters in the mirror universe. With this small duology, Susan Wright took the rather apropos approach of building upon the known and unknown characters in the Star Trek Deep Space Nine mirror universe episodes and created an extraordinary story that actually takes place prior to start of the series, giving her the advantage of having all of the characters to use and giving her the opportunity to create a much more original story to include killing certain characters off. This is an extremely powerful story that involves the majority of the female characters in the current Star Trek universe, proving their "mettle" so to speak and using them to perfection. The only true complaint I would lodge about this duology falls more into place with the decisions of those at Pocket Books than with the author and that is the fact that this "novel" was broken into two books. Considering the rather standard sized text and the fact that the first book is only 232 pages and the second is 200 pages, this could've and should've been one novel instead of an obvious ploy to ply an extra $6.99 out of "passionate" Star Trek readers; bad on the powers that be at Pocket Books. The cover art for this novel makes this and the second novel that much more intriguing considering the originality of the story. The Premise: As it might spoil the story a bit I won't delve too deeply into the premise of this wonderful story. Suffice it to say, this story involves the majority of the major female characters from "The Next Generation," "Deep Space Nine" and "Voyager" in extremely enlightening roles carrying an extremely original story to fruition through healthy amounts of intrigue and action... Overall, I highly recommend this and the second book in this small duology to any and all fans of Star Trek fiction and especially to those that thoroughly enjoyed the mirror universe episodes on Star Trek Deep Space Nine. {ssintrepid}
| 
