Rating: 
Summary: Great companion to the TV show!
Review: I just got this book today, and am just flying through it. It is filled with a complete rundown of all 176 episodes of Deep Space Nine, plus behind the scenes information about each episode, which is my favorite part of the book. The author interviewed the cast and crew about every episode. It really gives some great insight into the interworkings of the best Star Trek series out there. I just kind of wish that the pictures in it were in color. Other than that, it is well worth the money.
Rating: 
Summary: Voluminous Behind the Scenes Chronicle
Review: I will not repeat what John DiBello said above. He covers well what the book contains. My real beef is not the contents of the book which was written by a man who spent time every day on the set chatting up everyone from the producers to the propmen and grips, and certainly spent more time over seven years, than did any of the producers who came and went over the years. My problem is with the unfulfilled promise of a definitive work on the development of the characters and the story line. Yet the organization is chronological and the only index is that of the episodes in the order aired. So if you want to trace all the episodes concerning Tora Ziyal, for example, an important and beloved secondary guest character, you have to spend a lot of time flipping back and forth. It is really essential that you have the Star Trek Encyclopedia close at hand (and reading that sitting in an arm chair, at the same time you are reading this one, you might be crushed by the two.:oD) In other words, what I want from such a work, is the themes, the byplay, the threads that recur through the stories. See my reviews of the Babylon Five guides for what I think is an excellent procedure. So far, no one has yet beat the episode summaries published in the annual double issues of Cinefastique and the thematic articles therein for detail and analysis. This book is a mine of information, but not a readily accessible one. Even a character index would have helped. That and a players index and a staff index would have taken up only a few pages out of 800 plus. And publishing the entire work in two parts would certainly have helped my arms from cramping.
Rating:
Summary: Why is it out of print?
Review: I WOULD likely give this book 5 stars, if I could get it, but that leads into my next question. Why, with the show now becoming available on DVD, is this book OUT OF PRINT?
I'm hoping it's just because they are in the process of fixing some of the previous issues/complaints with the book (i.e. thin paper stock, blurry pictures), and then will be putting the book back out. I've recently seen both the TNG and VOYAGER books in stores, and they look pretty nice (thick paper, not so flimsy)- but I do recall the one time I looked at this book that I thought it was put together kind of cheaply at the time (this was about a year ago, see above mentioned reasons for why).
Anyone with any info on this, please feel free to reply.Thanks!
Rating:
Summary: Why is it out of print?
Review: I WOULD likely give this book 5 stars, if I could get it, but that leads into my next question. Why, with the show now becoming available on DVD, is this book OUT OF PRINT?
I'm hoping it's just because they are in the process of fixing some of the previous issues/complaints with the book (i.e. thin paper stock, blurry pictures), and then will be putting the book back out. I've recently seen both the TNG and VOYAGER books in stores, and they look pretty nice (thick paper, not so flimsy)- but I do recall the one time I looked at this book that I thought it was put together kind of cheaply at the time (this was about a year ago, see above mentioned reasons for why).
Anyone with any info on this, please feel free to reply. Thanks!
Rating:
Summary: Sisko lives! And here's how to keep track of his adventures
Review: I'm an avid fan of the "Star Trek The Next Generation Companion," and this all-new volume examining what is arguably the best (certainly the most controversial) Trek series is must reading for anyone intrigued by the creation, scriptwriting and production of the series. Each and every episode is covered in depth with a plot summary and detailed history "behind the scenes" of the episode's creation, writing, and filming. One of the reasons I enjoyed DS9 so much is the involved storyline of the series--the Dominion War--and having each of the episodes laid out in chronological order, with extensive detail on the structure of the storyline and subplots, helped me appreciate even more what Berman and Piller and company set out to do. It's filled with entertaining stories and nuggets of background information--how did they do they, where did they get the idea for that, what worked (and didn't)...it's ideal for the Star Trek fan as well as anyone interested in television writing and production. I don't entirely agree with some of the previous review comments: understand that a book like this takes time to write and create, not to mention publish, have sales reps advance into bookstores, and print and ship. I work in publishing, and with very few exceptions, publishing books takes a *long* lead time. There's no way this could have been ready (or as complete) if it were issued last year. I'd also say, again as someone working inside publishing, that adding color photographs and a hardback binding, while nice, would dramatically increase the price of the book, probably to forty dollars or above. The very best compliment I can give a book like is that it makes me want to go back to the original source again. If you're a Trek fan, I dare you to pick this up and not get totally involved in it, and *then* want to dig out your tapes and rewatch all your favorite episodes...and even a few that this book will give you a brand new appreciation for.
Rating:
Summary: An awesome book
Review: I've been reading pages of this book everyday and it's so fascinating to learn how much effort was put into creating this wonderful television show.. It's a great book.
Rating: 
Summary: Informative, but not quite entertaining
Review: I've found this to be an excellent and informative episode guide, but not as entertaining as its TNG counterpart. The episode synopses are well written and detailed, and have helped fill in the episodes I've missed on TV. However, background information isn't provided for all the episodes. While the background info is more complete that the TNG version, it isn't as entertaining, lacking many of the inside jokes that made reading the TNG Companion so much fun. Worth owning for any Star Trek fan.
Rating:
Summary: Should have been a hardcover
Review: In comparison to the ST:TNG Companion, the DS9 book is twice the size and has much more insight into the making of the show. I was rather surprised at some of the insights; one being that Anson Williams (Potsie, from Happy Days) had directed an episode (Statistical Probabilities). What most interested me was the source material that the writers used. I expected the old English literature references, but I didn't realize that they were re-doing so many plots from old movies and TV shows. I do have a few complaints and quibbles: One, the book took a year after the show ended to be released. I believe that the interest level in the book would have been much higher among non-Trekkers if they had released it last August. Two, the 700+ pages make it very unwieldy when you're trying to read it. It's heavy, and the spine probably won't handle much abuse. It's hard to read if you're lying down on the couch or in bed. You almost have to sit at the kitchen table. It should have been a hardcover edition. Three, there are no color plates. It should have been rather easy to add some color inserts. And the black and white photos that are used don't convey enough information about the episodes that they're illustrating and the cutlines say very little. And it's not necessary to capitalize the word "Actor" or "Director" on first use, and certainly not necessary in EVERY background synopsis. I guess that Erdmann was assuming that each background story he wrote had to stand alone. Well, I bought the book to read it from cover to cover; I don't need to re-identify the regular cast members by their FULL NAME in each synopsis. (Sorry, but I'm an English major and a journalist, and I tend to get cranky about such things.)
Rating:
Summary: The *DEFINITIVE* TV Show Companion
Review: It seems that every show from "The Little Rascals" to "Twin Peaks" has gotten the companion treatment, but this one has got to be the best I've seen in a while. Clearly a labor of love, Erdmann has written a humorous, insightful, and above all, honest book. Fans will love it, but even for non-fans, it's a fantastic example of what TV show compendiums should be.
Rating:
Summary: Must Have for DS9 Fans!!!
Review: Not only is this book entertaining but informative. It explores the reasons why many think that Deep Space Nine is the best Star Trek series ever.
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