Rating: 
Summary: Not all that great
Review: I went into this book with low expectations after reading the first one. Sadly though, I was still disapointed. There are no appearences of O'Brien or Worf in either book. There is virtually no Odo either. Sisko is the worst of all though. I don't want to spoil the ending so I can't really say anything specific. If you like plot resolution, these books are probably not for you. It is good to see DS9 back again though.
Rating: 
Summary: DS9 begins 8th season in novel form
Review: In May 2001, Pocket Books published Avatar, a Star Trek: Deep Space Nine novel, in two volumes. It's written by S.D. Perry, who has previously contributed two stories to The Lives of Dax and has written the novelizations of Timecop and Virus. Under the name Stella Howard, Ms. Perry has written an original novel based on the series Xena: Warrior Princess.Avatar begins three months after DS9's finale, "What You Leave Behind," and focuses on Colonel Kira's command of the station. A surprise attack by what's left of the Dominion kills hundreds of Starfleet and Bajoran militia officers as well as civilians. As well, an ancient Bajoran text is discovered that incites religious controversy among the populace - one of its prophecies is that the birth of the son of the Emissary (Kasidy Yates' unborn child) will require the death of 10,000. What that actually means will be revealed at the end of the second volume, but several of the more conservative elements of Bajoran religious hierarchy have their own interpretation of it. We meet again a former Enterprise officer who becomes the station's new chief of security, and are introduced to three new characters - Commander Tiris Jast, a Bolian senior officer who commands the Defiant; Shar, the reticent Andorian science officer; and Elias Vaughn, a longtime Starfleet officer at a crossroads in his life. I found both volumes of the novel hard to put down. In the post-TOS era, Deep Space Nine has always been my favorite and I'm glad to see the "8th season" begin with a well-considered blend of action, characterization and thought-provoking issues of religion, culture and society. Pocket Books is taking up the threads of themes begun in Star Trek: The Next Generation and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine quite effectively and I look forward to further adventures in this series.
Rating:
Summary: Exceptional continuation of the "Deep Space Nine" saga
Review: One does not pick up "Star Trek" novels expecting to find great literature. We read them for plots which extend the television legacy, and are satisfied with action and dialogue that are at least congruent with what we have seen on television. For that reason, "Avatar: Books I and II" (and the two "Deep Space Nine" novels which follow it) are a wonderful surprise. They are, in fact, great literature. The intricacies of the plot, and the breadth of the character development are superior to those in most "Trek" novels, but what makes these works truly stand out above the others I have read is the writing itself. It is so lush and descriptive that images are brought to mind with a clarity and brilliance that rivals the images we have seen on the screen. These books are not merely an attempt to substitute for television episodes or films; they are great works in their own right. That following novels by different authors are equally well-written is a great gift to fans of "Deep Space Nine." The other thing that makes this novel and its successors -- "Section 31: Abyss," and the "Gateways" installment, "Demons of Air and Darkness" -- so outstanding is the employment of internal monologue to truly engage the reader. We are not merely observers and listeners, but equal participants in the unfolding adventure. We share the fears, pain, joys, and triumphs of the characters as each faces her or his particular challenges. It is a privilege to experience the "Deep Space Nine" universe through the characters' eyes and minds, enabled by these gifted writers. A word of caution, however: as with the television series itself, do not expect events which unfold in "Avatar" to be tidily wrapped up in the end. Much is shaken up and left for summation in future novels. My advice is to read these two books first, then continue with "Abyss" and "Demons of Air and Darkness." Then do what I am doing now: wait will gleeful anticipation for further novels, sharing my hope that they are as brilliantly crafted as "Avatar."
Rating:
Summary: Outstanding
Review: Really enjoyed this wonderful story. Check out my review of the first volume. I couldn't put this one down once I started and can't wait for the continuation in the next installment. A must-have for all DS9 fans!
Rating: 
Summary: Continue along the edge of the Federation Frontier...
Review: Rounding up the new cast, this second book in the "Avatar" duet picks up where the last book left off: Three months after the events in the episode series, a new attack on the station prompts this new crisis. Crew replacements for those who left in the season finale are here, including some really strong previously seen characters (Ro Laren), and some new characters with strong writing behind them (It's nice to see an Andorian again, for example). The plot kicks into high gear, with a surprise switch at the ending that really made me smile. Fans of the DS9 series are in for some good characters, a very good mystery and action based plot, and some good use of the original cast of characters. Climb aboard this series, it's worth it.
Rating:
Summary: Continue along the edge of the Federation Frontier...
Review: Rounding up the new cast, this second book in the "Avatar" duet picks up where the last book left off: Three months after the events in the episode series, a new attack on the station prompts this new crisis. Crew replacements for those who left in the season finale are here, including some really strong previously seen characters (Ro Laren), and some new characters with strong writing behind them (It's nice to see an Andorian again, for example). The plot kicks into high gear, with a surprise switch at the ending that really made me smile. Fans of the DS9 series are in for some good characters, a very good mystery and action based plot, and some good use of the original cast of characters. Climb aboard this series, it's worth it.
Rating:
Summary: Star Trek Deep Space Nine is back!
Review: This book was great. I always hate when a star trek series ends but it is nice that they are keeping it going in the books. This book lets you revisit a few of the old charters and some new ones like Ro Laren. This book had a good plot and did not let me put the book down. Basically what happens is the Enterprise while out in the badlands runs into some old cardassian freighter. They find something very interesting there and decide to head for the closest starbase, DS9. Mean while on DS9 the station is suddenly attacked by three dominion attack ships almost destroying the station and disabling the defiant. The only thing that saved the station was another attack ship that was heavily damaged that came out after the three other ships and tried to stop them before being destroyed. A little later they discover that one of the soldiers from the attack ship had beamed over and said he was sent by Odo. He also says the three ships were defying orders and had attacked DS9 on there own. Because of this attack on DS9 the Federation Alliance is nervous and builds up a fleet to go to the Gamma Quadrant and keep a lid on the Dominion. People are afraid now that there will be another war with the dominion and the only ones who can stop it is Kira and the Crew of Deep Space Nine. The story goes on from there but I will not ruin for you.
Rating:
Summary: The Deep Space 9 saga continues
Review: This is a review of the two part Star Trek: Deep Space Nine story called Avatar. The only disappointment I with the Deep Space Nine TV series was with the way they ended it. It was a bit anti-climactic, the final episode wasn't well-written, but it also left me really wishing that we could see where the characters would go from there. Thus, I was overjoyed when I saw that Pocket Books was going to continue the Deep Space Nine story, starting with the two book series called Avatar, by S.D. Perry. Was it worth the wait? Was it worthy of the Deep Space Nine name? To quote a famous 60s persona stuck in the 90s, "YEAH, BABY!" Avatar contains a wonderful mix of the characters fans love along with a selection of new characters that have a lot of potential. Perry has come up with a very plausible way for the story to continue, that contains action, intrigue, romance, and personal strife. Probably the best portrayed, though, is Colonel Kira. Kira was one of my favourites on the TV show, and it's a testament to Perry's writing that I could hear Nana Visitor speaking the lines and going through the conflicts that the story puts her through. Kira is so well-rounded (though it does help that the TV show provided a wonderful springboard for this), and Perry paints the angles and the gray areas of the character marvelously. When Kira has to go through a crisis of faith, with the prophecy making her choose between her religious beliefs and what's best for the people of Bajor, I could feel the tension radiating off of the page. The rest of the returning characters succeed admirably as well. Dr. Julian Bashir and Ezri Dax continue the relationship that they formed during the last season of the TV, but they find that interspecies romance isn't always what it's cracked up to be. Nog, the young Ferengi ensign who matured greatly during his fighting in the war, especially when he lost his leg in battle, has become the new Chief of Operations on the station. He's still dealing with the emotional trauma of the war, and it doesn't help when a Jem'Hadar warrior from the Dominion beams on board and claims to be there on a peace mission. All of the characters are very true to their characterization from the series, but Perry expands on that as well. All of them seem real, but they show the ability to grow in interesting ways. I look forward to more character growth in the rest of the series. The new characters are just as good. I found Ro Laren the most intriguing. She's a character from the Star Trek: The Next Generation series, a Bajoran who joined a rebel group against the Federation, but is now the new security chief on the station. She brings a real emotional conflict with her, trying to decide where she belongs, and whether or not she belongs among her fellow Bajorans. She doesn't have the same faith in the Prophets that her people do, and this often puts her into conflict with Kira. I found that Ro's character really stood out in this one, and I think she'll quickly become my favourite of the new bunch. She'll always have a slight chip on her shoulder, which will bring her into some conflict with the rest of her compatriots. It should be interesting to see how her relationship with Kira develops, especially after what happens at the end of the book. I found the Vaughn character slightly annoying, just because he seemed almost too perfect. He's 101 years old, only a Commander but yet seeming to have the ear of all the higher-ups in Starfleet. He doesn't really come across as haughty; he's actually more philosophical than anything else. However, he just seems to know everything. Hopefully his character will be a little subtler in subsequent books. Ensign Shar, the Andorian technical officer, is also given a nice character hook, but not much is done with it. I think that will be done more in future books as well. What we are given, though, is very nice. I've said a lot about the characters, mainly because I think they are very important to any Star Trek series, whether it's a book series or TV series. But how is the plot? I'm pleased to say that Perry hits a home run with that as well. It's the perfect continuation from the TV series, yet completely understandable to anybody picking this up with no knowledge of the series. It even has a complete timeline of the TV series at the beginning of Book 1, which is a tremendous help to new readers as well as forgetful older readers as well. Perry blends the plots very well, all of them interacting at points, but having their own resolution. There's no contrived "one size fits all" solution to everything. In fact, not everything is completely resolved, and the book actually ends on an emotional cliffhanger, which I found pleasing. It really brought the feel of the TV series back to the books, as if this is a true continuation, Season 8 if you will. Character arcs don't end in the same book where they begin. The book is self-contained plot-wise, but things aren't necessarily rosy when the book ends. I found this a really nice touch. There are no gaping plot holes, and everything leads naturally into each other. There are no contrived situations either. Perry writes with ease, and her prose is very good for this kind of book. It's not literature, but it doesn't aspire to be. Instead, it aspires to be a great Star Trek novel, and in that it succeeds admirably. Between the two books, you get over 500 pages of action-adventure, interesting characters and lots of drama. What more could you ask for?
Rating:
Summary: The Deep Space 9 saga continues
Review: This is a review of the two part Star Trek: Deep Space Nine story called Avatar. The only disappointment I with the Deep Space Nine TV series was with the way they ended it. It was a bit anti-climactic, the final episode wasn't well-written, but it also left me really wishing that we could see where the characters would go from there. Thus, I was overjoyed when I saw that Pocket Books was going to continue the Deep Space Nine story, starting with the two book series called Avatar, by S.D. Perry. Was it worth the wait? Was it worthy of the Deep Space Nine name? To quote a famous 60s persona stuck in the 90s, "YEAH, BABY!" Avatar contains a wonderful mix of the characters fans love along with a selection of new characters that have a lot of potential. Perry has come up with a very plausible way for the story to continue, that contains action, intrigue, romance, and personal strife. Probably the best portrayed, though, is Colonel Kira. Kira was one of my favourites on the TV show, and it's a testament to Perry's writing that I could hear Nana Visitor speaking the lines and going through the conflicts that the story puts her through. Kira is so well-rounded (though it does help that the TV show provided a wonderful springboard for this), and Perry paints the angles and the gray areas of the character marvelously. When Kira has to go through a crisis of faith, with the prophecy making her choose between her religious beliefs and what's best for the people of Bajor, I could feel the tension radiating off of the page. The rest of the returning characters succeed admirably as well. Dr. Julian Bashir and Ezri Dax continue the relationship that they formed during the last season of the TV, but they find that interspecies romance isn't always what it's cracked up to be. Nog, the young Ferengi ensign who matured greatly during his fighting in the war, especially when he lost his leg in battle, has become the new Chief of Operations on the station. He's still dealing with the emotional trauma of the war, and it doesn't help when a Jem'Hadar warrior from the Dominion beams on board and claims to be there on a peace mission. All of the characters are very true to their characterization from the series, but Perry expands on that as well. All of them seem real, but they show the ability to grow in interesting ways. I look forward to more character growth in the rest of the series. The new characters are just as good. I found Ro Laren the most intriguing. She's a character from the Star Trek: The Next Generation series, a Bajoran who joined a rebel group against the Federation, but is now the new security chief on the station. She brings a real emotional conflict with her, trying to decide where she belongs, and whether or not she belongs among her fellow Bajorans. She doesn't have the same faith in the Prophets that her people do, and this often puts her into conflict with Kira. I found that Ro's character really stood out in this one, and I think she'll quickly become my favourite of the new bunch. She'll always have a slight chip on her shoulder, which will bring her into some conflict with the rest of her compatriots. It should be interesting to see how her relationship with Kira develops, especially after what happens at the end of the book. I found the Vaughn character slightly annoying, just because he seemed almost too perfect. He's 101 years old, only a Commander but yet seeming to have the ear of all the higher-ups in Starfleet. He doesn't really come across as haughty; he's actually more philosophical than anything else. However, he just seems to know everything. Hopefully his character will be a little subtler in subsequent books. Ensign Shar, the Andorian technical officer, is also given a nice character hook, but not much is done with it. I think that will be done more in future books as well. What we are given, though, is very nice. I've said a lot about the characters, mainly because I think they are very important to any Star Trek series, whether it's a book series or TV series. But how is the plot? I'm pleased to say that Perry hits a home run with that as well. It's the perfect continuation from the TV series, yet completely understandable to anybody picking this up with no knowledge of the series. It even has a complete timeline of the TV series at the beginning of Book 1, which is a tremendous help to new readers as well as forgetful older readers as well. Perry blends the plots very well, all of them interacting at points, but having their own resolution. There's no contrived "one size fits all" solution to everything. In fact, not everything is completely resolved, and the book actually ends on an emotional cliffhanger, which I found pleasing. It really brought the feel of the TV series back to the books, as if this is a true continuation, Season 8 if you will. Character arcs don't end in the same book where they begin. The book is self-contained plot-wise, but things aren't necessarily rosy when the book ends. I found this a really nice touch. There are no gaping plot holes, and everything leads naturally into each other. There are no contrived situations either. Perry writes with ease, and her prose is very good for this kind of book. It's not literature, but it doesn't aspire to be. Instead, it aspires to be a great Star Trek novel, and in that it succeeds admirably. Between the two books, you get over 500 pages of action-adventure, interesting characters and lots of drama. What more could you ask for?
Rating:
Summary: I WANT MORE!!!!!!!!!!!!!! NOW!
Review: This is really a review for both books 1 & 2 of the series, being as they should have been published togehter, even at a more expensive price would have been okay, cause I would much prefer to have them in one volume. Anyway, the plot his been discussed to death so I think I'll just ad one thing in reference to the quote from the back of the book that says on the adventure someone will: "make a starling discovery...that will affect the destiny of an entire civilization..." Well this, I believe, refers to the book that was discovered, and how it will forever change the way bajor looks at religion. From now on the civilization founded upon strict adherence to one religion is going to be forced to start leniently letting factions branch off based on such books as the one discovered. No longer will such books be turned in to the vedeks and burned instantly, they will be explored as the one discovered in Avatar was. Anyway, just my two cents. I thought what that vedek did to Kira was rather unbelivable though. Sure he was upset at her, but wouldn't the rest of the vedek assembly see that she was following the 'will of the prophets' as they did prove that prophecy true. Ah - well. It'll make a good plot point in further books. Speaking of further books: I WANT MORE!!! NOW! I just found out that S31: Abyss picks up where Avatar left off so I'm off to buy and read it. But it'll be over in days and then where will I be!?!?!?! I want one a week! Boy I miss the show. So to anyone else missing the show, it's great to see them finally picking up where the show left off and expanding on the epic story that DS9 began. I also like seeing the enterprise in the story cause it just makes sense. Them being in the same part of the universe, you'd think they'd cross path's more often! Kudos to S.D. Perry!
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