Rating: 
Summary: I cannot believe this is a first time novelist
Review: I think this book might be one of the best Trek novels I have read. The pace was nice, and the Gamma stuff held my attention throughout the book. These aliens drew a nice parallel to many caste systems here on earth. And the stuff on the station...wow. I was thinking this Andorian story line wasn't going anywhere, and after the shocking events at the end of the book, it has my attention. But the thing that got me the most was Shakaar. Turning the story around and making him out to be the unyielding jerk was a pleasent surprise on the level of making Winn the Kai instead of Bareil. Also, I like what is happening to Julian and Ezri. They seemed to be ironing out some of their annoying tendencies from the last book, and by the end of this one, I liked seeing Ezri solving problems on her own and not relying on her previous hosts. I guess Julian didn't have a lot to do in this story, but at least he wasn't acting like such a wuss. I have to say again that it is nice to see evolution in these characters. Bones has been grumping about Spock for 50 years, and it is still funny, but it can get old. These characters are always changing, and I love it that there is no reset button. The problems with Kira and Shakaar are going to be troubling them 7 books from now, just like in real life. Very cool. My compliments to the author, she did a fantastic job. If it wasn't spelled out in her bio, I would not have believed this was her first novel.
Rating: 
Summary: Slow and steady
Review: I tried to really sum up this book in my subject line, 'Slow and Steady', because essentially that is how the book is. Heather Jarman has written a great 2nd novel in the Mission Gamma series, and considering that it is her first book, it is a commendable achievement.The story begins with the Defiant exploring the Gamma Quadrant, and they become trapped in some sort of nanotechnology minefield. A friendly races arrives to help them, called the Yrthny, and the Defiant heads back to their homeworld for repairs. In their efforts to the repair the Defiant, the crew become drawn into the internal affairs of the Yrthny, which is an interesitng political situation. On DS9, the political manouverings continue, and we mainly see them from Kira's perspective. Into the plot also enters the Cardassians, led by Ambassador Natima Lang and Gul Macet, a close relative of the late Gul Dukat. Some old wounds are reopened, but above all we see the two races trying their hardest to achieve peace, yet some individuals are trying to disrupt that peace, which makes for interesting reading. I found Jarman's treatment of the Cardassians particularly refreshing, considering what they did. All too often during the tv series, the Cardassians, Dukat in particular, got away with horrendous crimes. Gul Dukat himself was a murderer, war criminal, and a rapist, a man who lied, tricked and decieved people, especially when he wanted to have intimate relations with a woman. He had several illegitimate children, and was willing to kill them (and their mothers) just to protect his career. In this book, Jarman tries to show just what some of the other characters thought about this sort of behaviour, especially with regards to Ziyal. The plot doesn't move with great leaps and bounds, in both the Alpha and Gamma Quadrants. The book is also fairly light on the action, and while I didn't mind this, some readers may have other thoughts. The story has a satisfying ending, but there is also a big shock on the way for certain characters. While I found the story to be well written (Jarman is obviously well educated in both writing and Trek lore) it was verbose at times, especially when it came to details regarding the Yrthny. Often the Yrthny affairs were convoluted and confused, and I found them a little hard to make sense of, all the more so as they didn't contribute that much to the plot. The Andorian backstory was also a little dragged out, and while it was an interesting insight into their culture, it wasn't properly explained until much later in the book, which was frustrating. In conclusion, I recommend this book to readers of the Mission Gamma series and DS9 series in general. If you're just a casual fan, this probably isn't the book for you.
Rating:
Summary: Heather Jarman's Debut a success
Review: If this is Heather Jarman's first Star Trek: Deep Space Nine book I have to say she has a good future writing DS9 fiction. All the characters are on target. I like the storyline with Gul Mucet (Dukat's Brother) and his new status as an ex Cardassian keeper of the empire. No longer is Cardassia terrorizing the people of Bajor. This series is exactly what Star Trek needs. A continual story arc with interesting characters. Col. Kira has her hands full with all the new people on board. You have to ask yourself is the Federation on the side of the Bajorians? Kira is being pulled by her loyalty to Bajor and her duties as Col. of the station. She's not Starfleet. This is what makes the dynamic of the story so interesting. Ro is now security chief and has many of Kira's traits. It will be interesting to see where they take this series of books. Lets hope that the editor has a lot of plot twists just like the TV series.
Rating: 
Summary: Are Starfleet officers' families like those of TV cops?
Review: It's a bit of a cliche about the spouse of a TV cop that he or she has problems with that mate's career to the point of being whiny and self-pitying. Look at Faith Yokas' husband Fred on "Third Watch". Remember Lacy's husband Harvey on "Cagney & Lacy"? Or all the wives of other fictional lawmen. I suppose it makes the character less one-dimensional than in the old days--nobody knew or cared who Sergeant Friday went home to. That's what makes the story of Andorian Starfleet officer Thri'shar and his family an annoying distraction to the main story of the Defiant's current mission, which is where Shar himself is at the moment. He's up to his butt in alligators in the Gamma Quadrant and his spouses back on the station do little else but whine about how self-centered he is to be away from them--and even battle amongst themselves over this non-issue. To the point of waging a violent domestic battle in Quark's bar, necessitating the intervention of security chief Ro Laren, as well as that of Sickbay. It's not as much a case of "we'll miss you while you're gone" as it is "we're going to be a bunch of overage brats until you drop everything and get back here--NOW!" The problem isn't helped much by an explanation during the story by an Andorian diplomat that this mentality on the part of Andorian families is a symptom of a societal worry that the race is headed for distinction, so everyone is mega-obsessed with the whole issue. Don't get me wrong--for there to be side-issues involving pivotal characters in a story does indeed make a story more character-driven, but when one of those narrative "tributaries" takes over almost half of a book, that's crossing the line...The Deep Space Nine franchise remains the best of them all...
Rating:
Summary: Wow!
Review: Just Like Book One of the Mission: Gamma series, "This Gray Spirit" has everything that has always made DS9 such a remarkable series: drama, political intrigue, lots of action and well-written characters, in both the Alpha and Gamma Quadrants. One of the plot lines that surprised me the most was the Cardassian angle. Though the end of the Dominion War brought well deserved consequences to the Cardassians, you can't help but have sympathy for their circumstances, deserved or not. Gul Macet, for example, is a great deal more humble than when we first saw him in TNG's "The Wounded". It's also easy to notice that there is considerable difference between hime and his deceased cousin, Dukat. It's fascinating to watch as Kira finally begins to come to terms with her former opressors. It gives her character a whole new depth that should bode well for her, despite the hard-heartedness of some of the rest of the Bajoran people. It will be interesting to see what the future holds for the people of Bajor, and for the crew of DS9. I cannot wait for book 3.
Rating: 
Summary: Good, but weaker than the first.
Review: One of the hallmarks of Deep Space Nine was its incredibly large cast, allowing the writers remarkable freedom in the relationships and situations developed on board our favorite outpost in the middle of nowhere. Heather Jarman's first entry into this universe (as well as that of professional writing!) succeeds for the most part, though I didn't get that sense of cohesiveness that most skilled DS9 writers have attained (both for the TV show itself as well as some of the re-launch book authors such as S. D. Perry and David R. George), wherein the events happening in one plot thread resonate with events in another. Nevertheless, the events being portrayed in this second chapter of the "Mission Gamma" series managed to hold my interest. Defiant continues to explore the Gamma Quadrant, the crew almost immediately getting into another sticky (literally, given the arachnoid nature of one of the alien species in this book) situation, one which requires the unique talents of one Ezri Dax, who is still trying to find her own unique 'equilibrium' as a joined Trill. Her journey through diplomacy and politics on an alien world was fascinating to me, how she seemed both to be flying by the seat of her pants in trying to thwart an imminent civil war as well as calling on nearly 400 years of experience of the symbiont she hosts. Jarman does a good job portraying both Ezri, and Dax. This time, though, the exploration aspect of the series took a back seat to the political intrigue and machinations aboard DS9, and thus Kira plays a larger role than she has since the re-launch begain in "Avatar". We see her political and religous views conspire together to force Kira, already excommunicated from the Bajoran faith, risk her career to speak her conscience yet again, and most undiplomatically. When she finds out that one of Bajor's politicians seems to be deliberately stalling peace talks between Bajor and Cardassia, she confronts the diplomat responsible, and from there follows a path that leads straight to Bajor's chief executive (and Kira's former lover) Shakaar, an event that caught me completely by surprise and a wonderful example of how the re-launch authors seem to have been granted permission to shake up the status quo on DS9 by introducing new characters and giving more depth and motive to established ones. There's nothing really to nitpick about Jarman's writing, I just felt it didn't draw me into the action and drama as well as the prior efforts in the series. The book seems more episodic rather than a novel that flows from one event to the next, and several times I caught myself reviewing prior chapters to refresh myself on current events. Nevertheless, "This Gray Spirit" upholds the general excellent quality of all the DS9 re-launch books, and has me eagerly awaiting the concluding chapters of this portion of the DS9 saga.
Rating:
Summary: Good story, for the most part...
Review: Overall, this one has a good story. It has a lot of twists and interaction between characters and the two main stories about the Defiant and the summit at DS9 are real page turners. The only parts I tend to completely bypass is the Andorian romance and conflict between bondmates. However, that part of the story gets good near the end. That selfish jerk Shar really needs to get knocked off in the next book. So far, I've read the first two of the Mission Gamma Series, and this one is the better of the two. The characters are consistent with what's been established in past DS9 works (unlike Mission Gamma One) and with the exception of Andorians, all the characters are interesting. I find it really disconcerting that ouside of Kira and Dax, the main characters in the past are relegated to VERY short sequences so that you barely know they exist anymore. Also, the Jem'Hadar on DS9 seems to have vanished into thin air, which is a pity because he is one of the more interesting of the newer characters. To make a long critique short: Too much Andorian romance! Too little real action, adventure, or political intrigue!
Rating:
Summary: Good story, for the most part...
Review: Overall, this one has a good story. It has a lot of twists and interaction between characters and the two main stories about the Defiant and the summit at DS9 are real page turners. The only parts I tend to completely bypass is the Andorian romance and conflict between bondmates. However, that part of the story gets good near the end. That selfish jerk Shar really needs to get knocked off in the next book. So far, I've read the first two of the Mission Gamma Series, and this one is the better of the two. The characters are consistent with what's been established in past DS9 works (unlike Mission Gamma One) and with the exception of Andorians, all the characters are interesting. I find it really disconcerting that ouside of Kira and Dax, the main characters in the past are relegated to VERY short sequences so that you barely know they exist anymore. Also, the Jem'Hadar on DS9 seems to have vanished into thin air, which is a pity because he is one of the more interesting of the newer characters. To make a long critique short: Too much Andorian romance! Too little real action, adventure, or political intrigue!
Rating:
Summary: ST-DS9: Mission Gamma: This Gray Spirit
Review: Star Trek - Deep Space Nine: Mission Gamma: This Gray Spirit written by Heather Jarman is a character-driven book with a deep rich narrative making this one of the better Star Trek book series to date. What I liked about this book is how descriptive and detailed the character-driven narrative is, making an enjoyable entertaining read. The distinctive merit of this fascinating book lies in its lively portrayal of a varied and eccentric cast of characters along with the cast of the regulars in this series. This book is spiced just right for your reading pleasure and the story moves quickly, political intrigue escalates to a fever pitch as Gul Macet (Gul Dukat's brother) arrives on Deep Space Nine with an unexpected passenger. Now on a mission of peace and hope, old wounds seem to fester between the Cardassian's Ambassador Natima Lang and Colonel Kira Nerys, now in charge of Deep space Nine. There is also an interesting sub-plot between Ro and Kira as Ro is charged with more responsibility of Deep Space Nine as Kira tries to find herself in the path of the prophets. The Starship Defiant is exploring the Gamma Quadrant and has a bout with some very interesting aliens with a rather unique biological makeup. As the balance of power in the Gamma Quadrant becomes unstable... Lieutenant Ezri Dax and Ensign Thirishar ch'Thane are in a gut check time to pull off a compromise preventing a genocidal civil war. All this action-packed adventure is written very well as you find youself reading till you find out what the result will be. So far, the first two installments of this series is better than Trek has been in the past, as we read this book is a feast of information and insight working its way through the turbulent course known as Deep Space Nine. This is well worth your time to read and enjoy this rich tapestry of descriptive writing. I'll see you for the Mission Gamma concluding adventures of Cathedral and Lesser Evil soon. It will be very interesting to see how this story will end... fascinating... indeed. The characters are well fleshed out making for an interesting story that will captivate you.
Rating:
Summary: Better than the first
Review: This book is better than its opening book but not entirely strong yet. There's action and contact with aliens that brings resolution to the Vaughn/Tenmei tension but still we're waiting for something to happen, something bigger than the dry belabored political issues that spin on and on and on.
I think that these books are to be some sort of special form for the DS9 series, a block of books a year?
Kira spends a lot of time walking around frustrated, angry, having really nothing to do but be a symbol of strength.
Ummmmmm, aren't their any renegade.......pick a species!
The Vahni are boring as the Defiant and crew warp through the Gamma Quadrant. What about a renegade changeling? Some kind of diabolical plot throughout the Gamma sector the Defiant would be involved in. But everything is so.....bland, safe, sanitary, Next generation.......you know wiritng this I'm a little upset.....I was originally gonna make it 3 stars but no, no, no it deserves only two!
Onto Book Three!
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