Cathedral (Star Trek Deep Space Nine: Mission Gamma, Book 3) [Mass Market Paperback]

Michael A. Martin (Author), Andy Mangels (Author)

Book Description

Series: Star Trek Deep Space Nine | Publication Date: October 1, 2002

A four-book odyssey of space exploration, political intrigue, religious schism, deadly conspiracies and startling revelations, this is Deep Space Nine at its best. Peace talks test the morality and resolve of two longtime enemies, the Bajorans and the Cardassians. But when politics and diplomacy fail, a strange alliance of alien religions offers unexpected hope for lasting peace. Meanwhile, a mysterious ancient artifact challenges the crew of the Defiant by 'restoring' crewmembers who have survived life-altering transformations, propelling them into personal journeys of self-discovery during a dangerous military confrontation. PLUS this volume sees the shocking death of a recurring character from the TV series.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"After seven addictive seasons...the best sci-fi soap opera of them all" -- The Times "The best incarnation of Trek yet" -- Starburst

About the Author

Andy Mangels and Michael A. Martin are the bestselling authors of the SECTION 31 Star Trek: The Next Generation novel ROGUE -- one of the fastest-selling Star Trek novels in years.

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 404 pages
• Publisher: Pocket Books (October 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0743445643
• ISBN-13: 978-0743445641
• Product Dimensions: 6.9 x 4.2 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.5 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #150,702 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The Quality of this Series Continues to Rise!, October 1, 2002

By 

Jonathan Burgoine "bookseller" (Ottawa, Ontario Canada) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Cathedral (Star Trek Deep Space Nine: Mission Gamma, Book 3) (Mass Market Paperback)

It is obvious that the powers-that-be behind the DS9 relaunch are working to make this the best-written set of Star Trek books to date. The "Mission Gamma" quartet continues to improve in quality of both writing and plot, and I, for one, can't wait for the next - and final - issue in teh quartet.

"Cathedral" continues the two major story arcs: the Defiant's exploration of the Gamma Quadrant, and the inception of Bajor into the Federation. The Defiant half deals with the apex of the trip through the Gamma Quadrant, where events conspire to force Nog, Bashir, and Ezri Dax to do some sincere soul-searching about the paths their lives have taken. The counterpoint of the various character's spiritual sides was quite an enjoyable reading experience, and as the summary gives away, watching Julian Bashir's genetic enhancing degrade was fabulous plot.

The Bajor-Federation half of the story was just as satisfying, and there are hints of some pretty dark things on the way - I've come up with a few theories as to what is going on, but the book was written so well that I'm not sure, which is the perfect result. Of interest is that Vedek Yevir's taking of centre stage for a good deal of this half of the book, and doing so in a very well characterized way. He's not as one dimensional as we've previously seen, something that is well received of this reader, at least.

Martin and Mangels also brought us the Section 31 Next Generation novel "Rogue," which showed their already fantastic characterization and writing skills, and it is with great pleasure that I see them as a part of the DS9 Relaunch.

You certainly won't see the ending coming, that's for sure. It'll leave you waiting for more.

'Nathan

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The stuff on the station keeps me going., November 6, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Cathedral (Star Trek Deep Space Nine: Mission Gamma, Book 3) (Mass Market Paperback)

During the first few seasons of DS9 on television, the Gamma Quadrant was *horribly* underutilized. Here we have Star Trek, this wonderful mythical universe that laid open the galaxy to human and alien explorers, and Deep Space Nine, a part of that rich universe, a remote outpost at the mouth of a galactic Nile River, the Gamma Quadrant wormhole.

The writers during the first few years of the show could only use this premise for "funny alien of the week" stories. Until they started dropping hints about The Dominion, and suddenly, the wormhole and where it led became scary, ominious, dangerous.

I think this illustrates some of the reasons DS9 has always been considered the 'problem' child of Trek mythos. DS9 doesn't really do the 'exploration' thing very well, but it does a fantastic job of putting good people in very bad places, and lets us see how they work things out. Their morals may get a little bruised, but for the most part, the Federation crew of DS9 is committed to exploring the most important part of the galaxy: the quest to find a way to unite sentient beings together in common cause. Cowboy diplomacy at its finest.

So, 3/4 of the way through the "Mission Gamma" series, I find myself rushing through the sections describing the Defiant's current mission of exploration in the Gamma Quadrant. All the *really* fun and meaty stuff is happening back on the station. From Andorians in dire straits, to Cardassians, Bajorans, and Federation members celebrating (finally ... maybe) Bajor's entry into the Federation, these sections of "Cathedral" are alive, snapping and crackling with all the conflict, tense moments, huge cast, interweaving plotlines, and "Oh my god, I can't believe they can do that on STAR TREK" moments I've come to expect and love from DS9.

As such, I found it very difficult to get "into" the experiences Bashir, Nog, and Ezri Dax have as a result with a mysterious alien artifact. The aliens who protect this artifact are one-dimensional, and are there only to provide artificial tension. Bashir's loss of his genetic enhancements reduces him pretty quickly to a gibbering idiot, yet log entries he makes are surprisinly lucid. It all just didn't mesh very well for me, and for the first time I felt the authors entrusted to carry on DS9 into an "eighth season" didn't quite have a full grasp on some of the characters they were writing. It's almost like one author wrote the Gamma Quadrant scenes in the book, and the other wrote the stuff back on the station. Perhaps that is indeed how the book was created, but unfortunately I found it jarring, taking me out of the story several times.

Nevertheless, the incredible drama unfolding on the station, not to mention an absolute STUNNER of an ending, have got me salivating in anticipation over the last entry in the series, "Lesser Evil". The stuff on the station is definitely what has kept me going throughout this series, and it's so good I find myself able to forgive myself for not liking the "exploration" stuff. From one cleric's decision to act in accordance with his faith and not his politics, to a betrayal so shocking I was shaking when I put the book down, the Alpha Quadrant's where the action is at. Originally gave this book three stars, but bumped it up to 4. That cliffhanger, if you're a true fan of DS9, will really leave your jaw hanging.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars ST-DS9: Mission Gamma: Cathedral, October 29, 2002

By 

Joe Zika "Khemprof" (Cincinnati, Ohio) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Cathedral (Star Trek Deep Space Nine: Mission Gamma, Book 3) (Mass Market Paperback)

Star Trek Deep Space Nine: Mission Gamma: Cathedral Written by Michael A. Martin and Andy Mangels is the thrid book in a four series and the story continues from where book two left off.

This book is part of the relaunch of "Deep Space Nine" since the television series. Here again, this volume of the relaunch is very well-written the the characters go through a real soul searching. The book has two main themes as we read on... the Defiant is on an exploratory tour of the Gamma Quadrant when they come upon an artifact in their space exploration. We all know the Julian Bashir has been genetically enhanced when he was six years old on Adigeon Prime and has alway wonder what his life would have been like had his parents not had him genetically
altered. As Bashir is going through progressive neurological deggeneration, Dax is becoming an unjoined Trill, and Nog is reverting back to a true Ferengi. The detail of this story is wonderful as all of his unfolds.

The second theme of the book is back on Deep Space Nine with Ro Laren, a failing diplomacy between Bajor and Cardassia, and Vedek Yevir is no longer just a cardboard character. This story is filled with intrigue, tragedy and some true callings, making for one good tale.

"Cathedral" continues with the very richly written narrative of the first two books as this series brings excitement back into Deep Space Nine. "Lesser Evil" is the fourth book in this series and should wrap-up Mission Gamma. "Entrprise: What Price Honor?" will be out soon. See you around the galaxy...