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Summary: The Abyss Also Gazes
Review: "Contend not with dragons less you become a dragon yourself, and if you gaze into the abyss, the abyss also gazes into you." --- Friedrich NietzscheI picked this up to pass time while waiting for my son to be released from jail. So when I started this, I was not in the most receptive of moods. By the second chapter, I was totally hooked. This is a psychological novel, more so than the average Trek fare. This is Julian's book. He must do a favor for the people he hates most in the Universe, Section 31, and also confront the road not taken. He must contend with the dragon, a fellow Genetically Enhanced doctor who has confirmed the worst predictions of the Federation by taking Khan as his role model. The dragon is Julian-as-he-might-have-been, Julian finds it all too easy to get inside his opponents head, but far more difficult to get back out.
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Summary: Section 31, only DS9 can pull it off with vengeance
Review: While reading these Section 31 novels ( which I've been looking foward to for some time now), I wondered like many how Section 31 would carry in each Trek era. Picard's account was rather interesting, Janeway and crew had a rather weaked tie to the threat yet Seven's own personal threat with Sloan made it good reading yet the best of all has to be this book. It, unlike many novels, carries on from where Avatar left off. It pulls in different episodes and movies and futher explains them, making everything so clear and so enjoyable as well. The relationships were explored too, taking everyone to a new level. This was, all 292 pages, one of my favorite novels of 2001. Now, I'll give you reasons why. I wont spoil it for you but yet give you an idea of how good it is. Contenuing the campain and arguments of Khan for a better Federation, Dr. Ethan Locken challenges Section 31 in a deadly dual. Hes breeding his own Jem'Hadar, constructed, like Khan, his own little piece of the action. We learn that Commander Vaughn too has delt with it over his years in the fleet, also we get questions left by Avatar answered that gives us a rather nice something to look foward to between Vaughn and the Ensign whom hated to see him come to DS9. We see more of Ro in this novel too, she thinks and gives her opinions of Odo, Picard and the Enterprise, which are all interesting and we see more of Ro Laren, the Maquis who still carries her personal mission. Colonel Kira deals with her issues in Avatar, finding her position is going to get much harder to keep. The book is basically a Bashir novel-dealing with genetic enhancements and the things Khan and his followers delt with during the Eugenics Wars. Ezri Dax isn't the clueless and confused woman we saw in the series yet the Trill who relies on Jadzia and the others to help her-- not Counselor Dax yet Lieutenant Dax, soon to be commander Dax perhaps. Empok Nor, Shakaar, connections to Inssurection- its all in this one book. Its a good book, beyond good. Secion 31 isn't handled as perfectly and gracefully in the other books. If you want the ideas, the beliefs, the spirit of Section 31, come here. Perhaps you should save this book for last in the series to read, its a rather nice finale to it all. Everyone contenues to change with DS9's new relaunch and characters grow with it. For us Voyager fans, we can only hope the post-adventures are handled as well as the new DS9 ones are.
Rating: 
Summary: A deep look at Julian Bashir
Review: Abyss kept me going til the end, and did something which many star trek novels do not do. Perhaps this is a theme which is becoming more common(I hope), I found it tied into several other books of the other star trek series quite well. Books like these greatly enhanse the rich tapestry of the Star Trek universe. Julian Bashir must go deep into the Badlands to a secluded planet where Dr. Ethan Lockgen, another genetically enhanced individual like Bashir, is producing Jem'Hadar soldiers. An evil, and disturbed madman, he belives that his superior intelect can bring in a new utopian era for the federation once it is 'cleansed' of inferior species who would stand in the way of his vision of the future. When Bashir and his comrads arrive at the secluded world, he and Ezri Dax are taken prisoner, while Commander Ro and Taran'Atar work from outside the compound along with a local community of inhabitants who have suffered horribly at the hands of the Jem'Hadar and Dr. Lockgen. Lockgen is trying to convince Bashir of the beautiful vision of the future which is his, and it almost seems as if Bashir is tempted, for a while at least. To find out the rest you'll need to read the book! Abyss is a riviting and thoughtfull read.
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Summary: A deep look at Julian Bashir
Review: Abyss kept me going til the end, and did something which many star trek novels do not do. Perhaps this is a theme which is becoming more common(I hope), I found it tied into several other books of the other star trek series quite well. Books like these greatly enhanse the rich tapestry of the Star Trek universe. Julian Bashir must go deep into the Badlands to a secluded planet where Dr. Ethan Lockgen, another genetically enhanced individual like Bashir, is producing Jem'Hadar soldiers. An evil, and disturbed madman, he belives that his superior intelect can bring in a new utopian era for the federation once it is 'cleansed' of inferior species who would stand in the way of his vision of the future. When Bashir and his comrads arrive at the secluded world, he and Ezri Dax are taken prisoner, while Commander Ro and Taran'Atar work from outside the compound along with a local community of inhabitants who have suffered horribly at the hands of the Jem'Hadar and Dr. Lockgen. Lockgen is trying to convince Bashir of the beautiful vision of the future which is his, and it almost seems as if Bashir is tempted, for a while at least. To find out the rest you'll need to read the book! Abyss is a riviting and thoughtfull read.
Rating: 
Summary: average stuff
Review: Average stuff here. As one of the thinnest S31 books out, "Abyss" ends quickly and isn't worth the price. Maybe at 3 or 4 bucks it'd be okay. As one person put it, "Abyss" has a weak plot that you really don't care about, and its resolution is unimpressive. Nearly a third of the book is spent setting up the mission Bashir, Dax, and Ro must go on. The rest mostly has the characters talking about what they're gonna do, then they spend the few last pages doing it.. and you don't really get into it. What shines is the character development as Bashir deals with S31's latest offer. but that's about it. Bummer.
Rating:
Summary: Eh...
Review: Being completely honest, this isn't the greatest book to come from Trek. As a matter of fact, it's probably one of the worse ones. But only because this book seems to droll and doesn't go anywhere. The character development is present, but not as interesting as other Trek books. The plot itself [stinks]. There are better books in the world than this one.
Rating:
Summary: Satisfying reading
Review: Did you find the Jem'Hadar of DS9 interesting? If you did this book is a must read. After finishing it I felt as if I had been allowed a glimpse into the mind of a killing machine. But I'm getting ahead of myself. "Abyss" sees Julian Bashir being asked by Section 31 to stop one of their own. This agent, Dr. Ethan Locken, is genetically enhanced and they fear he is out to set himself up as a new Khan with an army of Jem'Hadar to back him. But Bashir soon learns it is not as simple as that. While not long, the book was well paced and the characterizations subtle. Flashs of humor help to keep the story from getting too bogged down in philosophical debate about right and wrong and who gets to decide exactly what that is. A thorougly satisfying and enjoyable read.
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Summary: More Insights into Bashir, Ezri, Vaughn and the rest.
Review: Do not let the cover fool you, this book is not only about Bashir, though it does center on him. I found myself puzzled at how Bashir had been relegated to the relationship character in Avatar Book 1, but surprisingly Bashir's relationship with Ezri has really grown on me. Both of them are going through changes in their lives and are reflecting on what that means. Bashir, the genetically enhanced human who has been and still continues to wear a mask in public (and private!) is starting to tear away at his mask. Ezri is coming to terms with what it means to be a joined Trill. This is magnificent stuff people! The excerpt page of this book (at the front) is a warning from Vaughn to Bashir about Section 31 that had me intrigued to read the book ASAP. I'm quite glad where Vaughn and Bashir's relationship with Section 31 ended (or started), and I look forward to another 31 book in the future. I find 31 to be a very refreshing Trek idea, so I hope it isn't dismantled for some time to come (if ever!). "Abyss" continues where Avatar left off (or actually after the events in the SCE book "Miracle Workers"), and it's good to see that it doesn't bother reintroducing everyone, but assumes you've read Avatar and know the deal. If you haven't, it is not entirely essential to read them, though I do recommend doing so as it feels like all the DS9 Relaunch novels are really just episodes of an untelevised Season 8. Avatar was the two part season premier, and Abyss is the 3rd (or 4th) episode. One thing I really enjoy is how easily these books read like episodes. The continuity between authors and plotlines is amazing! It is so well done, and the characterization is so spot on that it is impossible not to visualize these novels as Season 8 of DS9! I like learning more about Ro's past; some of it comes out here.
I love Taran'atar. Whenever I'm expecting some comment from him, he always comes up with a different perspective, which incidentally Kira herself reflects on! Kudos to the writers! The continued reflection on their gods between Nerys and Taran'atar is fascinating. And seeing Kira becoming more familiar with command and actually acting like a leader is awesome. I was quite suspect in Avatar of Kira in charge, but I must say the authors have really fleshed her character out the most. Also cannot wait to see what happens with her "Attainment".
Seeing Taran'atar in action versus other Jem'Hadar was brilliant, and even more so was his unseen (yet obvious) diplomacy with Locken's First. Locken, the bad guy, another enhanced person, is a great character. The authors do a good job making him seem sane to Bashir. It made me question first impressions and how people wear their masks. It is interesting to uncover the truth behind Locken through other (non-Bashir) characters. Great stuff.
Bashir's conversation with Ezri about his mask and about genetically enhanced people was my favorite in this book. It (alongside with Khan and the Eugenics Wars) makes me wonder how soon all this will be applicable to our non-Star Trek ideals and soon-to-be-doomed world. You learn more about Ensign ch'Thane and his dilemma, and about Prynn Tenmei and a bit to why she's angry with Vaughn. All this stuff is very well developed in subsequent novels, which once again makes me wonder if all the DS9 Relaunch authors had a huge plan when they set out to write these fantastic novels! Reading the book there were questions that ran through my head, such as why Section 31 didn't infiltrate Locken themselves but choose instead to use one man. But thankfully, all my questions were answered in the end (and throughout) as if the authors knew how their readers would think! The only weird part about the novel is the Ingavi (an odd warp-capable species), but hey this IS Star Trek! I definitely recommend reading this novel as either a Trek fan, definitely a DS9 fan (and more so as part of the Relaunch), as a stand-alone Section 31 fan, and definitely as a Bashir fan! However, this book reads like an episode and is not as in-depth or thought-provocative as Garak's "A Stitch in Time" or the Reeves-Stevenses' "Millennium" trilogy, both of which I highly recommend. Look for my next review of Demons of Air and Darkness, or Episode 5 of Season 8 of the DS9 Relaunch.
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Summary: Back to the edge of the final frontier(again)
Review: Don't be decieved. Though this book falls under the SECTION 31 umbrella, it's more a continuation of the new DS-9 timeline begun in Avatar. The books main story finds Dr. Bashir, Ezri, and Lt. Ro in the Badlands facing off against a Khan-esque villian. Thankfully, the story doesn't spend too much time on the moral or ethical implications of Section 31. In fact, Section 31 only serves to set Bashir off on this adventure. Action and phaser-fire abound, but the characters are the real focus here. Bashir has some well-written exchanges with both Ezri and Ethan Locken, the story's villian. Their exchanges reveal new insights into both Ezri and Bashir's personalities. Lt. Ro and the station's new Jem'Hadar 'ambassador' also play prominate parts in the story, with Taran'atar recieving some much-needed characterization. Events on DS-9 are also explored, with particular focus on the station's mysterious new first officer, Elias Vaughn. All-in-all, this book is wonderful continuation of the new Deep Space Nine relaunch, and a decent stand-alone story to boot.
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Summary: As DS9 fan from childhood
Review: DS9 is the first series that I watched from the start after I became obsessed with star trek. I came into half way through NG and was excited at the prospect of a new series. Over the ensuing 7 years I wavered between it and Voyager but found in the end that I enjoyed DS9 more than anything else. The character that intrigues me the most was Dr. Bashir and his ongoing relationship with Jadzia. When finally in season 7 Bashir had a chance with Ezri I saw it as the beginning of a truely wonderful relationship, one we had all be waiting to happen for the doctor. This book explores the new developed realtionship between the good Doctor and Ezri in a way that no book or episode did. I truely loved this book and would read it a thousand times over. It has great character, a fast moving plot and the ever ominous Section 31 so what more could you ask for. I definately recommend this book to any star trek fan.
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