Demons of Air and Darkness

Demons of Air and Darkness is another adventure in the continuing saga of Star Trek: Deep Space 9. After the TV series ended, Pocket Books decided to continue the adventures of the station and some of its crew (other crewmembers had moved on in the final episode). The first two books (Avatar books one and two) were a wonderful beginning. I haven't read Section 31: Abyss yet, but I found this one in the library and decided to check it out. While not being as good as Avatar, it's still up there. It's well written, with just a bit too much Trek continuity for my taste to mar the quality. Sounds a bit convoluted, doesn't it? Thankfully, Candido does a good job of juggling all of the different storylines. First, I should tell you that this book is actually Book 4 in the Gateways 7-part series that goes through all of the Trek book series. However, you do not need to have read any of the other books to know what's going on. All of the books are designed to stand on their own two feet, and this one does, except that you have to read book 7 to find out what ultimately happens to Kira. That was a bit annoying, since I now have to track that book down. But it is manageable. Overall, this is another winner in the DS9 series. The characters are well-defined, with all of them getting their moment in the spotlight. The cool thing about a continuing series is that the characterization can be carried through subsequent books, and this one is no exception. Ever since Avatar, we have known that there is some tension between Ensign ch'Thane and his "mother" (for lack of a better term). This storyline is touched upon in this novel as well. Ch'Thane is a very interesting character, and the Andorian race (which ch'Thane is one) is fleshed out from what we have seen in the TV series. Evidently, the race is dying out, and his mother is very upset that he won't come home and start a family on Andor. He is, however, very happy in Starfleet and has no desire to go home. It doesn't make matters any easier that she is on the Federation council. It is all very interestingly done, and I look forward to further exploration of this fascinating species. The bad thing, of course, about continuing series is that the characterization can be carried through to subsequent books. Thankfully, this doesn't become a problem in this one. The previous book was about Doctor Bashir and involved the Jem'Hadar named Taran'atar. He evidently learned a lot about humans and the Federation in that book, but anything important is summarized in this book, so it's not a problem. He's also an interesting character given a lot to do, especially when he joins Kira in the Delta Quadrant. He ends up getting into the fight of his life. Candido portrays all of this well, including the inner conflict that Taran'atar has during the fight. He is torn between protecting Kira and the joy of conflict. It was nice having the needed information from Abyss given in this one, so you don'

If you have read any of my previous DS9 reborn reviews, you know that I have read all four of the new DS9 books. In this episode, Antimatter waste has started polluting and poisoning the Human colony Europa Nova, A colony that has been in place for over 100 years. It's colonists have survived, flourished, even fended off the Dominion during the war, without the help of the Federation or any other government. The closest ships are at DS9.Kira, Bashir, and new characters Commander Vaughn and Jem'Hadar Taran'atar, accompanied by dozens of Starfleet, Bajoran, and civilian ships set out to evacuate the entire planet's population. In doing so, they discover the pollution's source, an Iconian "Gateway"(TNG:EPISODE:"Contagion")being used as an apparent dumping ground from the Delta Quadrant. Meanwhile, Quark is negotiating a deal for the Orion Syndicate for possession of the Gateway network from the Iconians.Author Keith R.A. DeCandido has created a story better written than much of the series. Rather than merely assign lines to characters, DeCandido further expands our knowledge and understanding of Taran'atar and Elias Vaughn and the rest of the cast. We learn more of Ensign Ch'thane's secret, Kira strands herself in the Delta quadrant(permanently?)to keep her oath to Europa Nova's President. You will be left on the edge of your seat at the conclusion of each chapter, and he has formed suspenseful, exciting scenes that are easy to visualize. Although part of the Gateway "series" of books, it IS NOT necessary to read any of the five other books, to read this story. I -almost- would give it a 4 out of 5, as Simon & Schuster decided, as with the other 5 books, to conclude the stories in a hardcover book 7. The conclusion to this book is on page 83 in book 7. Sometimes humorous, sometimes shocking, always intriguing! Buy this book now, and the other four new Deep Space Nine books. Read my other reviews on the other new DS9 books.

I had never read any of Keith DeCandido's books before this one, and I hadn't read any of the "DS9 8th Season" books (...). (...)this DS9 book was FANTASTIC! Action, characterization, thrills, spills, excitement, and the best treatment of Kira you'll ever see. Everything that was good about DS9 is in this book: Kira kicks butt, Quark is greedy and funny, Nog is balancing his Ferengi and Starfleet selves, and, best of all, no Worf! (I hate Klingons.) Buy it. Buy it NOW.

Would someone just bang me in the eye when I start griping about the Trek "series" books *before* I even crack one cover? I've got to say without doubt the "Gateways" series has been the best so far.While it's not *that* important for you to read them in the order they are numbered, I have found doing so could help to keep sense of the goings-on. However, since I am *not* reading them in order, I have also found you can still make sense of things, especially if you're familiar with the Big Picture That Is Star Trek.But if you've been needing lessons on how to keep a thousand plot threads in the air at the same time, just ask Keith R.A. DeCandido! Thanks to the Gateways and a boatload of cleverness, he's all over the galaxy in this novel, and it's a good thing the chapters tell the locations, or otherwise you'd need to make notes.This novel abounds with fine characterizations of the people we love the most (Kira, Nog, Quark, Bashir, Dax, Laren, Yates), a few new ones (Shar, Vaughn, Taran'atar), several we love to hate (Hirogen, Orion, Malon), and a whole host of people on the outside edges that I hope we'll learn more about.Grand adventure awaits, with some mystery and downright confusion thrown in for good measure. Read the book. One daring aside: If you're *really* interested in the re-launch of DS9, don't start with this book. Go back and start with the two "Avatar" books, then read the DS9 installment of the Section 31 series, titled "Abyss," and THEN read this one. I guarantee you won't be disappointed.

I really hate the words "to be continued"!But I can handle them in a great series like this!I remember the Iconians from the Original Star Trek, but never imagined they would turn up again in this way. This series is similar to the double Helix series, where each set of doctors thru each book gains a little more knowledge. In this series we learn about the "Iconions" and their gate-way technology for moving from one part of the universe to another, and posibily thru time as well. I very much enjoyed learning the reason Quark took a dabo girl with him to a degotiation, and the Jem-Hadar fight was great and well staged.Of course, the big question that will not be answered for awhile..."Where is Kira?"............