Star Trek: Deep Space Nine relaunch
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The Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (DS9) relaunch is a number of novels released since 2000 detailing events involving the characters and locales portrayed in the television series. Set after the series finale, "What You Leave Behind", these novels differ from other Deep Space Nine books in that they form a continuing storyline. Plot points include relations between the Federation and the Dominion following the defeat of the latter in the series finale, the rehabilitation of devastated Cardassia and its relations to Bajor, Bajor's admittance into the Federation, and the renewed exploration of the Gamma Quadrant. Additionally, in the style of the television series, the books contain a large number of subplots focusing on the development of specific characters
To offset the departure of characters in the series finale a number of new main and recurring characters are introduced. These include The Next Generation`s Ro Laren as Security Chief; an Andorian Science Officer named Tirishar ch'Thane, through whom and his family the reader is introduced to Andorian culture; the 100 year old Commander Elias Vaughn, who has a background in intelligence and blackops, as the station's new Executive Officer, and his daughter Prynn Tenmei as the Defiant's helmsman.
These books are especially notable within Star Trek literature, mostly due to the distinctive structure of DS9 as compared with previous and subsequent series: characters in DS9 developed dramatically through the seven-year run, with a substantial number of oft-recurring characters. Also, DS9 had strong story arcs; compared to the adventures of the Enterprises and Voyager, events and developments were continuous across more than a handful of episodes.
Although, like all other Trek fiction, the Relaunch books are not considered canon by Paramount Pictures, owner of Star Trek, many Trek fans feel that the books are part of a greater whole (informally labelled the Star Trek Expanded Universe) and contend that the books should be considered canon nonetheless.
Books in the series, and other books with events relevant to the relaunch, are, in order of release:
- A Stitch in Time, by Andrew Robinson (May 2000): presented as a letter from DS9-resident Cardassian spy and tailor Garak (writer Andrew Robinson's character from the series) to Dr Julian Bashir, Garak recounts his life story, and also notes developments on Cardassia after the end of the Dominion war. This book was not originally published as part of the Relaunch, but as the editor of the Relaunch considers it to have the same relevance to these books as an episode of the series, it was retroactively added to the relaunch line-up.
- N-Vector, by K.W. Jeter (August 2000 - November 2000): a four issue comic book limited series/miniseries details an adventure of the crew of DS9 and the Defiant between Benjamin Sisko's disappearance and Elias Vaughn's joining the crew. In it, the crew deals with some unusual behavior by Quark which leads to the discovery of a Romulan experiment gone awry. It introduces the character of Tiris Jast who serves as executive officer of the station and commanding officer of the Defiant until Vaughn's arrival.
- The Lives of Dax (1999, reprinted 2003): A compilation of stories involving each of the Dax hosts; Ezri's story is set during the relaunch, though the book was originally published as a standalone; it was also retroactively added to the Relaunch canon several years later.
- Avatar, 2 books (S.D. Perry, May 2001): Introduced DS9's new executive officer, Commander Elias Vaughn. These two volumes were the first official Relaunch books to be published.
- Section 31: Abyss, (Jeffery Lang and David Weddle, July 2001): Dr. Bashir, working for shadowy Starfleet Intelligence agency Section 31, is assigned to deal with a rogue S31 agent who has taken control of a Jem'Hadar cloning facility abandoned by the Dominion after the war, and who, like Bashir, is genetically enhanced.
- Gateways 4: Demons of Air and Darkness (Keith R.A. DeCandido, September 2001): Part of the cross-series Gateways sequence, this book focuses on the effort to save a group of colonists endangered by radiation, and on Quark's negotiations with the mysterious aliens who claim to control access to the gateways.
- Gateways 7: What Lay Beyond - "Horn And Ivory" (Keith R.A. DeCandido, 2001, reprinted October 2002): In a follow up to the previous story, Kira finds herself trapped in Bajor's distant past — and must come to accept her new role on Deep Space Nine.
- Mission Gamma: The refurbished USS Defiant embarks on a mission of exploration in the Gamma Quadrant, captained by Vaughn. Comprised four books:
- * Twilight (David R. George III, September 2002)
- *This Gray Spirit (Heather Jarman, September 2002)
- *Cathedral (Michael A. Martin and Andy Mangels, October 2002)
- *Lesser Evil (Robert Simpson, November 2002).
- Rising Son (S.D. Perry, January 2003): Chronicles the adventures of Jake Sisko in the Gamma Quadrant following his attempt to make contact with his father in the Wormhole at the end of Avatar.
- The Left Hand of Destiny (2 books, J.G. Hertzler and Jeffrey Lang, May and June 2003): Events involving Commander Worf and Chancellor Martok (co-writer J.G. Hertzler's character from the series) upon their victorious return to the Klingon homeworld, based around an attempted coup against Martok.
- Unity (S.D. Perry, November 2003, to be reprinted December 2004): Following startling events, the apparent assassination of Bajoran First Minister Shakaar Edon, and the return of the parasites seen in TNG "Conspiracy", Bajor finally enters the Federation.
- Worlds of Deep Space Nine, vol 1: Cardassia and Andor (May 2004): Chief O'Brien and family adjust to perilous life on Cardassia, working for the Federation rehabilitation mission; Ensign Thirishar ch'Thane visits his homeworld to fulfill cultural and familial obligations.
- Worlds of Deep Space Nine, vol 2: Trill and Bajor (February 2005): Ezri Dax and Julian Bashir face unrest and revelations on Trill; the station crew encounters new challenges as Bajor integrates into the Federation.
- Worlds of Deep Space Nine, vol 3: The Dominion and Ferenginar (February 2005): Quark and Ro Laren battle political intrigue on Ferenginar; Odo deals with a strange discovery in The Dominion.
- Warpath (David Mack, April 2006): The Jem'hadar Taran'atar has brutally attacked Captain Kira and Lieutenant Ro, and Commander Vaughn must track him down.
- Fearful Symmetry (Leanna Morrow, April 2007): Follows on from Warpath.
External links
article at Memory Alpha, the Star Trek wiki
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