Twilight (Star Trek Deep Space Nine: Mission Gamma, Book 1) [Mass Market Paperback]

David R. George III (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 2002 | Series: Star Trek Deep Space Nine (Unnumbered Paperback) (Book 1)

A four-book odyssey of space exploration, political intrigue, religious schism, deadly conspiracies and startling revelations, this is Deep Space Nine at its best. The starship Defiant embarks on a three-month voyage of exploration into unknown space, where both cosmic mysteries and inner truths await the crew. Meanwhile those who remain on space station Deep Space Nine face incredible changes in their lives as the planet Bajor moves a major step closer to joining the Federation...

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

David R. George III is the critically-acclaimed writer of the Star Trek: Voyager episode 'Prime Factors' and the Deep Space Nine novel (with Armin Shimerman) THE 34TH RULE.

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 504 pages
• Publisher: Pocket Books (September 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0743445600
• ISBN-13: 978-0743445603
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.1 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (30 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #896,218 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great start to a continuing Trek, September 12, 2002

By 

Michael Hickerson - See all my reviews

This review is from: Twilight (Star Trek Deep Space Nine: Mission Gamma, Book 1) (Mass Market Paperback)

DS9 was the richest and most textured of any of the modern Trek shows, so the idea that it could continue long beyond our television screens and in a series of novels wasn't exactly a huge stretch. But the fact that it would continue and continue as well as it has is nothing short of a miracle. The DS9 saga continues on the printed page and if you're a fan of DS9 or just looking for a good Trek saga, you can't really go wrong with Twilight.

Twilight is the first of a four-book arc that delves into the exploration of the Gamma Quadrant. The story builds slowly, continuing the events of the last time we saw the DS9 crew in the Gateways saga. It then is content to move into the build-up to and exploration of the Gamma Quadrant by the Defiant. But there's a lot more being explored here than just space itself. The relationships between characters are also being explored--from Vaughn and his daughter Prynn to Quark and Ro to Bashir and Ezri to Kira and her relationship with Bajor and the Federation now that she's been Attained. It's the character exploration that really powers the story and keeps the pages turning. And there are a good number of pages to be turned--this book checks in at just over 500 pages. But it's worth it.

There are some major surprises in here and some things that will have great interest to the on-going DS9 storyline. I won't ruin them here for you--it takes out part of the fun. David R. George also takes on the length of the Star Trek universe by bringing in some old friends and new some races as well. It all adds up to what may be one of the most enjoyable Treks published this year--and with Greg Cox's latest Khan masterpiece, In the Name of Honor and Immortal Coil all lurking out there, that is saying a great deal.

I will say this--if you've not read any of the other DS9 re-launch novels, I'd sugget picking them up first. It will make this reading experience that much more rich and enjoyable. This is the kind of book that makes me anxious for the next installment and restores my faith in Trek publishing.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Starts with a bang and rarely lets up., September 16, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Twilight (Star Trek Deep Space Nine: Mission Gamma, Book 1) (Mass Market Paperback)

I will give David R. George credit for one thing ... he writes Trek action better than any other author who's attempted to craft a story in one of the most well loved fictive universes out there.

The story begins with Defiant on the run from some very xenophobic aliens last seen in the Gateways saga, and George makes you feel as if you're right on the bridge of the battleship, feeling the intensity and danger along with the characters. From that point forward, George deftly manages numerous plot threads introduced since the DS9 re-launch, handling both the political intrigue on the station itself, as well as the marvelous sense of exploration that Trek does so well, as Defiant heads into the Gamma Quadrant to renew the United Federation of Planets mission of exploration and peaceful first contact.

While there are some of my favorite DS9 characters conspicuously absent in the re-launch (Martok, Chancellor of the Klingon Empire most prominent amongst them), the characters that have been introduced manage to be both well-rounded and yet still have that signature DS9 chip on the shoulder. The strained relationship between Commander Elias Vaughan and his daughter (also serving on DS9) is a prime example of the gritty relationships that have always been a hallmark of this incarnation of Star Trek. Their conflict is resolved in a very satisfactory manner, with both characters having to go through sheer emotional and physical hell before finally letting go of old grudges and hatreds in order to heal a wounded relationship between father and daughter, and the beefy length of the book (500+ pages) allows you time to get to know and care about these two before things end up happily ever after.

This book is the first of four in the "Mission Gamma" series. Here's hoping the following 3 authors can follow David R. George's excellent opening chapter.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars the best I've read so far, May 28, 2004

By 

Haseeb - See all my reviews

This review is from: Twilight (Star Trek Deep Space Nine: Mission Gamma, Book 1) (Mass Market Paperback)

Upto this point, mission Gamma part 1 is this best I've read in the relaunch series.

Although like the series in general, this book is mostly character driven, it still has all of the elements of a good sci fi novel. Stumbling upon strange new worlds and beings, making new discoveries and learning of infinite possibilities beyond the realm of what we experience every day is the stuff of good science fiction. This book has all of that

The Mission Gamma part 1 revolves around three main plots which are:

Vaughn and a crew from DS9 go on a mission of exploration into the Gamma quadrant.

The crew stumbles upon two new worlds and three different kinds of alien species. One of these species communicates by changing epidermal colors and patterns. The other two species are not not of corporeal form and live in a different realm. Not much is known about them (or it) other than something called the thoughtscape is the most prominent part of its existence and has the ability to establish communion with others rather then to communicate.

Quark's relationship with Ro (security officer)

A Romance develops between the two. I was a bit skeptical that anything would come of it at first and did not like the idea. As I read more about their relationship however, I've become more interested in seeing how far it would go.

Elias Vaughn's relationship with his daughter

Before this story a was puzzled as the way Prynn resented her father. This story clarifies everything nicely

Bajor's future as it moves closer to joining the United Federation of Planets and how this may effect Ro and Quark's future as well.

Quark is concerned that when the federation takes over the station, he will be out of a job because the Federation is essentially a moneyless organization. Ro is concerned because she and starfleet don't have good relations. So what will be her new place on a federation controlled space station (assuming she is even allowed to stay)?

While new relations are forged, others face an uncertain future, and some explore uncharted territory in the Gamma Quadrant; Taranatar continues to explore and observe humanity on the space station. Some parts involving Taranatar are very funny. A Jemhadar would be the last I would think to be in a holosuite studying partial differential equations. That's the beauty to this entire genre, just when you think you've read it all you find something that takes you by surprise. Star Trek is so full of surprises.

I also would like to add that the writer (David R. George III) is one of the best I've read so far. The character development is superp and he brings things together well with no inconsistentcies while writing a relatively complex plot.