Following the excellent “The Sorrows of Empire“, this mirror universe novel has a decidedly DS9 flavor. We pick up the story following “Soul Key” as the mirror universe is brought forward to the same time frame that exists in other Star Trek novels at this moment.

With this novel, David Mack has cemented the legitimacy of a new series focusing on “the other side”. This isn’t just Spock with a beard or Kira in leather anymore. This novel has built a foundation for new stories and new perspectives on characters new and old. What’s more, he has managed to maintain the parallel feeling of characters. Similar at their core, yet different based on their experiences. Where on the one hand he has managed to tie up some loose ends left behind by the television episodes, the other he has expanded the entire scope of this other universe and sent it hurling into a new era for all of the factions and characters involved.

The author has always had an excellent sense of staying true to the television actors portrayals and the writers vision of each character. Needless to say, each one feels familiar and so each paragraph comes easy to the mind’s eye. That also extends to characters created outside of the shows and those evolved from minor characters. He’s also not the least bit afraid of making waves. A death here, a betrayal there, a change of heart elsewhere. Opposite sides of the same coin doesn’t do these characters justice at all.

There are a lot of detractors that criticize DS9′s dark and brooding wartime years. To me, it provides a balance to the “utopian optimism” that pervades Star Trek in its peace-mongering story arcs, scientific discovery and exploration. This novel, takes the mirror universe’s dark side and adds some of that optimism. Not to a happy ending level but a new beginning one. A lot of behind the scenes political Chess playing, clashing egos, subterfuge and interpersonal conflicts drive this story forward while giving it a grand scope which will shape future stories written.

Coupled with the dialog and interaction, are fantastic action sequences that make the pages turn by themselves. Ship combat is detailed and tactics and strategies are well thought out and explained. The pacing is excellent and there’s never a dull moment from beginning to end. I can feel Keith DeCandido and Peter David’s influence in how David Mack wrote characters they have developed over the years. He has masterfully merged both styles into this novel which almost feels like a three-way collaboration.

Best Trek novel of the year? Without a doubt. The cliffhanger alone is worth the price of admission but the whole novel is a fantastic experience. I suspect this story is the lead-in to David’s upcoming trilogy next year but I may be wrong. If it is, then I can’t wait to see what happens next because it’ll be a doozy. If not, then there’s two unknown storylines I can’t wait to read.