u/Significant-Town-817

Well, at least it's not The Fight

1% chance, 99% faith

And just like that, one of the best Star Trek novel series of the recent years comes to an end. What a joy to conclude it with an adventure through space and time!

I absolutely loved To Defy Fate from beginning to end! A story as captivating in its plot as it is electrifying in its pacing. Plots involving multiple realities and time travel are nothing new to the franchise, but I certainly think Dayton Ward presents the best version of this concept, finding a balance between the nostalgia of revisiting the past and looking forward to the future with optimism.

If there's one thing I must also praise, it's the great follow-up given to Wesley Crusher and the Aegis/Travelers lore. We had already seen their activities in Prodigy Season 2, and it's a real treat to see more of the organization in charge of protecting the sacred timeline (where have I heard that before?) as well as Wesley's role as a Traveler. If we really don't get a new audiovisual product in the near future, I'm all for a series of novels focused on Time Lord Wesley's travels through space and time. Definitely one of New Trek's greatest achievements.

What can I say about the characters? I thoroughly enjoyed most of them. I loved Raffi and Seven (thank you, Mr Ward, for retconning that nonsense about them not being able to be together because of Starfleet protocol); it was a pleasant surprise to see Kore Soong again, who, along with Guinan, gives the story greater synergy, making it feel more connected to the first two seasons; finally, the family bond between Wesley, Beverly, and Picard is unique, completely winning me over with the emotional father/mother and son moments. It would have been great to have Jack around too, but I guess there were already enough characters.

Additionally, I must highlight the book's main antagonist: Likara. I found her as an ingenious way to bring the Rumulan evacuation storyline full circle, given the interesting motivations she has behind, which the novel does a great job of plausibly developing. I would have liked to spend more time with her, but I certainly found her great and her conclusion as melancholic as it was satisfying.

Perhaps my only reservations are that, while I commend the way the conflict is used to revisit several iconic moments from the saga, I feel these are concentrated in only one era: the 90s. This makes sense initially, but later on I would have liked (SPOILER) to see some action in the TOS era with Kirk and Spock, in ENT and see Archer (Mestral doesn't count), or even Michael and the Discovery. Additionally, while I appreciate Guinan's presence, I feel that she and (SPOILER) Kovich are the weakest parts of the book. Initially, I was excited to see him there, but they don't do much; they just chat for a loong time in the timeless room until they're rescued. Yes, that was somewhat disappointing.

In conclusion, this was a fantastic novel, very solid and a fitting farewell to the Picard novel series, a series that has earned its place on my bookshelf as one of the best Star Trek books I've ever read!

I didn't expect to see so many references to other series in this novel

Falco repeatedly told me to cover him when I could barely keep my own ship alive 😭

Why didn't I notice that at first? A mystery

Honestly, I didn't expect to see this here!

Also, how dare you, Picard!?

Honestly, that was pretty fine!

From the very beginning, the Empire/Rebel alliance plot was captivating, and I was very interested in following the story. For a book that reaches almost 400 pages (in my language), it never feels slow, allowing me to read several chapters in one sitting!

The plot, as I said, was captivating and held my attention from the very beginning to end. It has several fun moments with the original trio, such as Leia preparing Han and Luke for a "diplomatic entry" on Bakura or the dinner at the senator's house. Speaking of characters, I absolutely loved Luke in this book. He strikes a balance between a Jedi knight, still searching for his role in the galaxy, and his chemistry with Dev reflects the master he is destined to become.

Furthermore, I found most of the secondary characters very interesting, like Dev, whose personal conflict as a slave and his redemption are deeply moving; or Gaeriel, who not only presents an interesting conflict as a faction oppressed by the Empire, but also a very unique perspective on the Force (I'd even say similar to what we have in canon with the path of the open hand) that sometimes clashes with Luke's. a Also, special mention goes to Commander Thanas. It's great to see a more nuanced perspective of an Imperial for that time, far removed from the black-and-white, often incompetent portrayal of them in the films.

Additionally, I really enjoyed the villains, both Nereus, who satisfactorily fulfills his role as a despicable Imperial, and the Ssi-Ruuk, terrifying and intriguing as a new faction. I wish we had gotten a deeper look at them.

Perhaps my only problem with the book is that, despite its length, I don't feel that much happens during the first half. Things move quite slowly, and then the pace picks up around the three-quarter mark, rushing through events like the Bakuran rebellion and the orbital attack. Kathy Tyers is a great writer, but I do feel the story could have been condensed to deliver a more polished work, though I certainly don't regret the final result.

In general, an entertaining novel and a great start to my post-ROTJ books journey!

I made a Star Trek curi based on Invincible!

Also, does anyone else feel that Jhet'leya/Lyndsay Ballard resembles the Borg queen?

I don't think there are enough words to describe everything I felt while reading this novel. But I can try.

First of all, what an incredible beginning! The first 25 to 30 pages are an absolute delight, detailing the state of post-war Cardassia in a way that is both desolate and tangible. In just a few pages, Andrew Robinson manages to evoke the misery on the streets of Cardassia Prime in a powerful way, leaving me eager for what would come next. Also, I must praise his work in the audiobook version. The combination of the prose, along with his unique voice, were captivating!

After that, the novel does an incredible job establishing the profile of its protagonist through the three main narrative threads that run through it: Garak's past, his "present" (his time in DS9), and his future. Reconciling these three versions of him allows to see the image of a man who longed to be loved as much as he longed to serve others. This yearning for connection led him to become a spy with multiple masks and gives special meaning to the fact that, under his words, all his stories were true. Lies become real when you constantly live within them.

On the other hand, while this novel delivers an enchanting backstory for its protagonist, it also delves even deeper into his relationship with his biological father, giving us a look to Tain's attempts to mold his son in his own image, and how his "failure" led him to torment him . It is really dishearting read how Garak tries to connect with a man who only saw him as nothing more than a tool at the service of his interests.

Likewise, I was also captivated by the portrayal of the Cardassian society: the futile attempts of its citizens to see beyond the truth of their rulers and their obsession with status, factors that have precipitated the deterioration of their society. The novel manages to construct a political backdrop that expands upon what was seen in DS9, adding a layer of exceptional realism.

Finally, this novel can be many things: a post-war tale; the autobiography of an outcast; the study of a society on the brink of collapse. But above all, this is a man's final effort to reconnect with what was his most significant bond during his exile, a letter full of feelings and affection in which he not only reconciles with his past but also manages to embrace the future, finally finding his place among his people.

I can't recommend this novel enough, not only to the DS9 fans, but to anyone who wants to read a great science fiction novel! Simply wonderful!