Star Trek: Deep Space Nine relaunch
Encyclopedia
The Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (DS9) relaunch is an unofficial name for a series of non-canon novels released since 2000 detailing events involving the characters, species and settings portrayed in the television series
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
.
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, the Mirror Universe, 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.
Following the production of The Soul Key, editor Marco Palmieri left Pocket Books
, leaving the future of the DS9 Relaunch series in question. Margaret Clark replaced Palmieri as editor of the series, and commissioned the novel The Rough Beasts of Empire (part of the Typhon Pact crossover) set five years into the series' relative future, with no intention of covering the intervening years. With Clark's own subsequent departure from Pocket Books, that decision may be reconsidered.
Ro Laren
as Security Chief; an Andorian
Science Officer named Thirishar ch'Thane (or Shar for short), through whom the reader is introduced to Andorian culture; the 100 year old Commander Elias Vaughn, who has a background in intelligence and black ops (as featured in the TNG / Dominion War crossover novel, Battle of Betazed), as the station's new Executive Officer
; his daughter Prynn Tenmei as the Defiant's
helmswoman
; and Taran'atar, a Jem'Hadar
observer sent to live on the station by Odo. Colonel (later Captain) Kira Nerys
is shown as the station's new commander.
Television program
A television program , also called television show, is a segment of content which is intended to be broadcast on television. It may be a one-time production or part of a periodically recurring series...
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine is a science fiction television series set in the Star Trek universe...
.
Summary
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 DominionDominion (Star Trek)
In the Star Trek universe, the Dominion is a ruthless and militaristic Gamma Quadrant state consisting of many different races. The Dominion wages war on the United Federation of Planets and its allies in the late 24th century, acting as an antagonist in the TV show Star Trek: Deep Space...
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, the Mirror Universe, 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.
Following the production of The Soul Key, editor Marco Palmieri left Pocket Books
Pocket Books
Pocket Books is a division of Simon & Schuster that primarily publishes paperback books.- History :Pocket produced the first mass-market, pocket-sized paperback books in America in early 1939 and revolutionized the publishing industry...
, leaving the future of the DS9 Relaunch series in question. Margaret Clark replaced Palmieri as editor of the series, and commissioned the novel The Rough Beasts of Empire (part of the Typhon Pact crossover) set five years into the series' relative future, with no intention of covering the intervening years. With Clark's own subsequent departure from Pocket Books, that decision may be reconsidered.
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'sStar Trek: The Next Generation
Star Trek: The Next Generation is an American science fiction television series created by Gene Roddenberry as part of the Star Trek franchise. Roddenberry, Rick Berman, and Michael Piller served as executive producers at different times throughout the production...
Ro Laren
Ro Laren
Ro Laren is a recurring fictional character on Star Trek: The Next Generation, played by Michelle Forbes.Ro Laren was also planned to be a main character in the two following Star Trek television shows, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and Star Trek: Voyager...
as Security Chief; an Andorian
Andorian
Andorians are a fictional race of humanoid extraterrestrials created by D. C. Fontana for the Star Trek universe. They are native to the icy M-class moon Andoria , which orbits a blue, ringed gas giant. Definitive traits include their blue skin, a pair of cranial antennae, and white hair...
Science Officer named Thirishar ch'Thane (or Shar for short), through whom the reader is introduced to Andorian culture; the 100 year old Commander Elias Vaughn, who has a background in intelligence and black ops (as featured in the TNG / Dominion War crossover novel, Battle of Betazed), as the station's new Executive Officer
Executive officer
An executive officer is generally a person responsible for running an organization, although the exact nature of the role varies depending on the organization.-Administrative law:...
; his daughter Prynn Tenmei as the Defiant's
USS Defiant
The USS Defiant is a fictional starship in the television series Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and the feature film Star Trek: First Contact...
helmswoman
Helmsman
A helmsman is a person who steers a ship, sailboat, submarine, or other type of maritime vessel. On small vessels, particularly privately-owned noncommercial vessels, the functions of skipper and helmsman may be combined in one person. On larger vessels, there is a separate officer of the watch,...
; and Taran'atar, a Jem'Hadar
Jem'Hadar
In the fictional Star Trek universe, the Jem'Hadar are the shock troops of the powerful Dominion located in the Gamma Quadrant. Genetically engineered for strength and resolve, they are also short-lived and believe that "victory is life." They are bred to perceive the Founders, enigmatic...
observer sent to live on the station by Odo. Colonel (later Captain) Kira Nerys
Kira Nerys
Kira Nerys , played by Nana Visitor, is a main character in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.-Backstory:Per Bajoran custom, her family name, Kira, precedes her given name, Nerys. She has two brothers , and her parents' names are Kira Taban and Kira Meru...
is shown as the station's new commander.
Books
Books in the series, and other books with events relevant to the relaunch, are, in order of release:- The Lives of DaxDax (Star Trek)Dax is the name of a fictional being in the Star Trek universe, a Trill symbiont. It's a very long-lived slug-shaped sentient worm-like life form that lives inside the bodies of a succession of Trills, a race of humanoid aliens. The symbiont merges with its host by a process called "joining" after...
(edited by Marco Palmieri, 1999 trade paperback, 2003 mass-market paperback): A compilation of pre-finale stories involving each of the Dax hosts, framed by a conversation between Ezri DaxEzri DaxEzri Dax , played by Nicole de Boer, is a counselor aboard Deep Space Nine in the seventh season of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.-Casting:The role of Ezri Dax was created when Terry Farrell decided to leave the show and her character was subsequently killed by Dukat.When Nicole de Boer read for the...
and Vic Fontaine. The framing narrative is set two weeks after the DS9 finale and three months prior to Avatar. The book was originally published as a standalone coda to the series, as the framing narrative contains no effect upon nor foreshadowing of the Relaunch plot; but the Relaunch canon retroactively added this book several years later, as the novels came to use some of Dax's stories here as a base for the storyline. - A Stitch in TimeA Stitch in Time (book)A Stitch in Time is a May 2000 Star Trek: Deep Space Nine novel written by Andrew Robinson.-Synopsis:Presented as a letter from DS9's resident Cardassian spy and tailor Elim Garak to Dr Julian Bashir, Garak recounts his life story, and also notes developments on Cardassia after the end of the...
, by Andrew Robinson (May 2000): presented as a letter from DS9-resident Cardassian spy and tailor Elim GarakElim GarakElim Garak is a fictional character from the television series Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, in which he is portrayed by Andrew J. Robinson. In the series, Garak is an exiled spy from the Cardassian empire and a former member of a prestigious Cardassian intelligence group called the Obsidian Order...
(writer Andrew Robinson's character from the series) to Dr. Julian BashirJulian BashirLieutenant Julian Subatoi Bashir, M.D., played by Alexander Siddig, is a main character in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. Bashir is the chief medical officer of space station Deep Space Nine and the USS Defiant.-Overview:...
, 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 the editor of the Relaunch considers it to have the same relevance to these books as an episode of the series, starting with a reference in Avatar (wherein Dr. Bashir reads Garak's letter). A Stitch in Time has been 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 QuarkQuark (Star Trek)Quark is a fictional character in the American television series Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. The character, which was played by Armin Shimerman, was depicted as a member of an extraterrestrial race known as the Ferengi, who are stereotypically ultra-capitalist and only motivated by...
which leads to the discovery of a RomulanRomulanThe Romulans are a fictional alien race in the Star Trek universe. First appearing in the original Star Trek series in the 1966 episode "Balance of Terror", they have since made appearances in all the main later Star Trek series: The Animated Series, The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine, Voyager...
experiment gone awry. It introduces the character of Tiris Jast, a Bolian female, who serves as executive officer of the station and commanding officer of the Defiant until Vaughn's arrival. Jast also cameos in The Next Generation: Maximum Warp, a novel duology. - Avatar, 2 books (S.D. Perry, May 2001): As Deep Space Nine recovers from the end of the war, Jem'HadarJem'HadarIn the fictional Star Trek universe, the Jem'Hadar are the shock troops of the powerful Dominion located in the Gamma Quadrant. Genetically engineered for strength and resolve, they are also short-lived and believe that "victory is life." They are bred to perceive the Founders, enigmatic...
ships attack in an attempt to restart hostilities. The station barely survives, but then a cloaked Jem'Hadar soldier is discovered onboard. Meanwhile, KiraKira NerysKira Nerys , played by Nana Visitor, is a main character in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.-Backstory:Per Bajoran custom, her family name, Kira, precedes her given name, Nerys. She has two brothers , and her parents' names are Kira Taban and Kira Meru...
and RoRo LarenRo Laren is a recurring fictional character on Star Trek: The Next Generation, played by Michelle Forbes.Ro Laren was also planned to be a main character in the two following Star Trek television shows, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and Star Trek: Voyager...
deal with a long-lost Bajoran prophecy. The book introduces all four of DS9's new regular characters. - Section 31: AbyssAbyss (Star Trek)Abyss is a Star Trek: Section 31 novel written by David Weddle and Jeffrey Lang-Synopsis:Shortly after the Deep Space Nine series finale, Dr. Julian Bashir is once again confronted by Section 31. The group is Starfleet's 'black ops', answerable to no one...
, (Jeffrey Lang and David WeddleDavid WeddleDavid Weddle is an American television producer and writer, best known for episodes of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine , The Twilight Zone , Battlestar Galactica , and CSI: Crime Scene Investigation with writing partner Bradley Thompson...
, July 2001): Dr. BashirJulian BashirLieutenant Julian Subatoi Bashir, M.D., played by Alexander Siddig, is a main character in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. Bashir is the chief medical officer of space station Deep Space Nine and the USS Defiant.-Overview:...
is sent by shadowy intelligence agency Section 31Section 31In the Star Trek fictional universe, Section 31 is an autonomous intelligence and defense organization. It is presented as a special security operation, manned by Federation citizens, that is not subject to the normal constraints of Starfleet ethical protocols...
to deal with a rogue S31 agent who has taken control of a Jem'Hadar cloning facility abandoned by the DominionDominion (Star Trek)In the Star Trek universe, the Dominion is a ruthless and militaristic Gamma Quadrant state consisting of many different races. The Dominion wages war on the United Federation of Planets and its allies in the late 24th century, acting as an antagonist in the TV show Star Trek: Deep Space...
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 DefiantUSS DefiantThe USS Defiant is a fictional starship in the television series Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and the feature film Star Trek: First Contact...
embarks on a mission of exploration in the Gamma Quadrant, captained by Vaughn. Meanwhile, those left behind on DS9 deal with political upheavals on Bajor. Comprises four books:- Twilight (David R. George III, September 2002). In the GQ, Elias Vaughn and Prynn Tenmei's shuttle crashes on a mysteriously deserted planet. In the AQ, a Starfleet Admiral arrives with the news that Bajor's membership in the Federation has been accepted.
- This Gray Spirit (Heather Jarman, September 2002). In the GQ, Ezri DaxEzri DaxEzri Dax , played by Nicole de Boer, is a counselor aboard Deep Space Nine in the seventh season of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.-Casting:The role of Ezri Dax was created when Terry Farrell decided to leave the show and her character was subsequently killed by Dukat.When Nicole de Boer read for the...
and Shar clash over how to help a politically torn planet. In the AQ, Cardassia's request for peace with Bajor leads to surprising repercussions. - Cathedral (Michael A. Martin and Andy MangelsAndy MangelsAndy Mangels is an American science fiction author who has written novels, comics, and magazine articles, and produced DVD collections, mostly focusing on media in popular culture...
, October 2002). In the GQ, Bashir, Dax and Nog are affected by a strange space-borne artefact. In the AQ, religious upheavals threaten to disrupt the upcoming Federation signing ceremony. - Lesser Evil (Robert Simpson, November 2002). In the GQ, Vaughn discovers the wreckage of a BorgBorg (Star Trek)The Borg are a fictional pseudo-race of cybernetic organisms depicted in the Star Trek universe associated with Star Trek.Whereas cybernetics are used by other races in the science fiction world to repair bodily damage and birth defects, the Borg use enforced cybernetic enhancement as a means of...
vessel, containing Prynn Tenmei's mother Ruriko. In the AQ, Kira must track down a new enemy - or rather a very old one that has unexpectedly returned.
- Rising Son (S.D. Perry, January 2003): Lost for months in the Gamma Quadrant, Jake SiskoJake SiskoJacob "Jake" Sisko, played by Cirroc Lofton, is a character on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. He is the son of Deep Space Nine's commanding officer, Benjamin Sisko.-Overview:...
has numerous adventures which end in his discovery of long-lost Bajoran religious leader Kai Opaka. - The Left Hand of Destiny (2 books, J.G. Hertzler and Jeffrey Lang, May and June 2003): Events involving Commander WorfWorfWorf, played by Michael Dorn, is a main character in Star Trek: The Next Generation and in seasons four to seven of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. He also appears in the films based on The Next Generation. Worf is the first Klingon main character to appear in Star Trek, and has appeared in more Star...
and Chancellor MartokMartokMartok is a recurring character in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, played by actor J. G. Hertzler.-Overview:Little backstory is given regarding the early life of Martok, except for a brief history sketched by himself in the Deep Space Nine episode "Once More Unto the Breach"...
(co-writer J.G. Hertzler's character from the series) upon their victorious return to the KlingonKlingonKlingons are a fictional warrior race in the Star Trek universe.Klingons are recurring villains in the 1960s television show Star Trek: The Original Series, and have appeared in all five spin-off series and eight feature films...
homeworld Qo'noS, based around an attempted coup against Martok. This was written after Avatar but set before it. - Unity (S.D. Perry, November 2003 hardcover, December 2004 mass-market paperback): The Defiant crew returns to find DS9 under threat by the parasites seen in the TNG episode "Conspiracy."
- Worlds of Deep Space Nine: three novels about six civilizations.
- Volume 1: "The Lotus Flower" (Cardassia) and "Paradigm" (AndorAndorianAndorians are a fictional race of humanoid extraterrestrials created by D. C. Fontana for the Star Trek universe. They are native to the icy M-class moon Andoria , which orbits a blue, ringed gas giant. Definitive traits include their blue skin, a pair of cranial antennae, and white hair...
) (Una McCormack; Heather Jarman, May 2004): Chief O'BrienMiles O'Brien (Star Trek)Miles Edward O'Brien, played by Colm Meaney, is Chief of Operations in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. Before DS9, he appeared as a recurring transporter chief in Star Trek: The Next Generation...
and Garak work together to thwart an unusual hostage situation at the new planetary reclamation project; Shar returns home to fulfil cultural and familial obligations. - Volume 2: "Unjoined" (TrillTrill (Star Trek)The Trill are a fictional species of symbiotic life forms, depicted in the Star Trek media franchise. First introduced in an episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation, the species became a major part of the spin-off series, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, which featured a Trill named Dax as one of its...
) and "Fragments and Omens" (Bajor) (Andy MangelsAndy MangelsAndy Mangels is an American science fiction author who has written novels, comics, and magazine articles, and produced DVD collections, mostly focusing on media in popular culture...
& Michael A. Martin; J. Noah Kym, February 2005): Ezri Dax and Julian Bashir face unrest and revelations on TrillTrill (Star Trek)The Trill are a fictional species of symbiotic life forms, depicted in the Star Trek media franchise. First introduced in an episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation, the species became a major part of the spin-off series, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, which featured a Trill named Dax as one of its...
; the station crew encounters new challenges as Bajor integrates into the Federation. - Volume 3: "Satisfaction Not Guaranteed" (Ferenginar) and "Olympus Descending" (The DominionDominion (Star Trek)In the Star Trek universe, the Dominion is a ruthless and militaristic Gamma Quadrant state consisting of many different races. The Dominion wages war on the United Federation of Planets and its allies in the late 24th century, acting as an antagonist in the TV show Star Trek: Deep Space...
) (Keith R.A. DeCandido; David R. George III, February 2005): Quark and Ro Laren investigate accusations against Quark's brother RomRom (Star Trek)Rom is a recurring character on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. He is played by Max Grodénchik.Rom is a Ferengi, the son of Keldar and Ishka. He is Quark's younger brother, and the father of Nog.-Overview:...
; Odo deals with a strange discovery about the FoundersDominion (Star Trek)In the Star Trek universe, the Dominion is a ruthless and militaristic Gamma Quadrant state consisting of many different races. The Dominion wages war on the United Federation of Planets and its allies in the late 24th century, acting as an antagonist in the TV show Star Trek: Deep Space...
.
- Volume 1: "The Lotus Flower" (Cardassia) and "Paradigm" (Andor
- Warpath (David MackDavid Alan MackThis article is about the Star Trek and Wolverine novelist. For the comic book artist, see David W. Mack.David Alan Mack is a writer best known for his freelance Star Trek novels...
, April 2006): The Jem'Hadar Taran'atar has brutally attacked Captain Kira and Lieutenant Ro, and Commander Vaughn must track him down. Meanwhile, in the Mirror UniverseMirror Universe (Star Trek)The Mirror Universe is a fictional parallel universe in which the plots of several Star Trek television episodes take place...
, IntendantIntendantThe title of intendant has been used in several countries through history. Traditionally, it refers to the holder of a public administrative office...
Kira plans to take over that galaxyGalaxyA galaxy is a massive, gravitationally bound system that consists of stars and stellar remnants, an interstellar medium of gas and dust, and an important but poorly understood component tentatively dubbed dark matter. The word galaxy is derived from the Greek galaxias , literally "milky", a...
- and more. - Fearful Symmetry (Olivia Woods, July 2008): Contains two parallel storylines. In "Book 1," Kira recovers physically and emotionally from her injuries. She distrusts everyone, dealing with the mirror version of Iliana Ghemor, who slowly reveals our universe's Iliana's plan. "Book 2" follows Iliana's past on Cardassia, as she changes from idealistic artist to bitter widow to cold-hearted Obsidian Order agent to Bajoran imposter to abused prisoner to revenge-obsessed megalomaniac.
- The Soul Key (Olivia Woods, July 2009): Continues the story of Iliana Ghemor in the Mirror Universe, as she attempts to become that universe's Emissary.
- The Never Ending Sacrifice (Una McCormack, August 2009): The story of Rugal, a Cardassian boy raised by Bajorans, introduced in the episode "Cardassians".
- Zero Sum Game (David Mack, November 2010): Set five years after The Soul Key. Details a covert assignment undertaken by Dr. Bashir and Sarina Douglas into Breen territory.
- Rough Beasts of Empire (David R. George III, January 2011): Set four to five years after The Soul Key, this novel follows the characters of Ambassador SpockSpockSpock is a fictional character in the Star Trek media franchise. First portrayed by Leonard Nimoy in the original Star Trek series, Spock also appears in the animated Star Trek series, two episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation, seven of the Star Trek feature films, and numerous Star Trek...
and Captain Benjamin SiskoBenjamin SiskoBenjamin Lafayette Sisko, played by Avery Brooks, is the main character of the television series Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.-Early life and career:...
in the aftermath of the Borg Invasion (Star Trek: Destiny) and the creation of the Typhon Pact.