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alexegol's review against another edition
4.0
Initial thoughts: This was really fun to read, and a lot more accessible than I thought it'd be. Only major qualms are that I don't really know what the Vic Fontaine thing was all about, and I think I definitely need to finish DS9 before the Jadzia story makes sense.
msbananananner's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
4.25
lefthandedmatt's review against another edition
4.0
This contains a bunch of short stories, each detailing one of the hosts of the Dax symbiont. It makes for good variety with a common link. I loved Dax on the show, both as Jadzia and Ezri, so there's a lot here that I found to enjoy. As with any story collection, some of these are much better than others, but overall I would quite happily recommend this. If we're getting technical then it's the first entry in the DS9 relaunch novels, as it was retroactively added in, but certainly isn't an essential part of it.
Ezri: The framing story is set after the end of the TV show and shows Ezri finally beginning to come to terms with her unwanted joining. It involves Vic, who was never my favourite character, but he's on the sidelines. It's a strong opening and good insight into Ezri's feelings.
Lela: This is a delightful story about Dax's first host, and very true to the spirit of the morality of Star Trek. Lela is a young and inexperienced politician who deals awkwardly with a first contact situation and realises the importance of learning from the mistakes she makes, even when she felt like she was doing the right thing.
Tobin: He is a nervous and fidgety scientific engineer, serving on a research vessel when the Romulans attack. It's quite a humorous story, made all the more so by having him teamed up with a Vulcan.
Emony: the story of Dax's third host is a charming little tale, and I think the reason I enjoyed it so much was due to its simplicity. There's no sci-fi here, it's just a little romantic story against the backdrop of some simmering racial tensions. Interestingly, much of the story is told through the eyes of a very young Leonard McCoy.
Audrid: this tale is a bit more grim than anything else so far. It's presented in the form of a letter that Audrid has written to her daughter, attempting to explain the circumstances around her father's death. It ties into the early (and notoriously gruesome) TNG episode 'Conspiracy'. The fact that the story is presented with all the text in italics makes it a bit hard on the eyes, but it's mostly gripping.
Torias: a very short and direct story about how Torias dies. It sets up the DS9 episode 'Rejoined' and is well written, although doesn't really give us much character or detail. It's set shortly before Wrath of Khan and features Saavik. An exciting little story but a bit plain."
Joran: the least enjoyable story for me so far, given how full of clichés it is. It's trying to do a Star Trek version of a Hannibal Lector sort of tale, a tortured creative soul and the obsessed detective who's the only one who can understand how he's thinking. It ends very abruptly and is mercifully short."
Curzon: honestly, I have no idea what happened in this one. It seems like all Star Trek short story collections will inevitably have a story involving insane aliens that use organic technology and just make no sense. Plus, why is Ben Sisko narrating a story in a book of stories that are supposed to be about Dax telling HER own stories?
Jadzia: much like Curzon's story, I was a bit lost as to exactly what was happening here. This features Jadzia's sister, Ziranne, and is a follow up of sorts to the episode 'Invasive Procedures'. Confusing at points in regards to the weird science and unclear writing style, but there's some nice flashbacks to Jadzia's childhood.
Ezri: The framing story is set after the end of the TV show and shows Ezri finally beginning to come to terms with her unwanted joining. It involves Vic, who was never my favourite character, but he's on the sidelines. It's a strong opening and good insight into Ezri's feelings.
Lela: This is a delightful story about Dax's first host, and very true to the spirit of the morality of Star Trek. Lela is a young and inexperienced politician who deals awkwardly with a first contact situation and realises the importance of learning from the mistakes she makes, even when she felt like she was doing the right thing.
Tobin: He is a nervous and fidgety scientific engineer, serving on a research vessel when the Romulans attack. It's quite a humorous story, made all the more so by having him teamed up with a Vulcan.
Emony: the story of Dax's third host is a charming little tale, and I think the reason I enjoyed it so much was due to its simplicity. There's no sci-fi here, it's just a little romantic story against the backdrop of some simmering racial tensions. Interestingly, much of the story is told through the eyes of a very young Leonard McCoy.
Audrid: this tale is a bit more grim than anything else so far. It's presented in the form of a letter that Audrid has written to her daughter, attempting to explain the circumstances around her father's death. It ties into the early (and notoriously gruesome) TNG episode 'Conspiracy'. The fact that the story is presented with all the text in italics makes it a bit hard on the eyes, but it's mostly gripping.
Torias: a very short and direct story about how Torias dies. It sets up the DS9 episode 'Rejoined' and is well written, although doesn't really give us much character or detail. It's set shortly before Wrath of Khan and features Saavik. An exciting little story but a bit plain."
Joran: the least enjoyable story for me so far, given how full of clichés it is. It's trying to do a Star Trek version of a Hannibal Lector sort of tale, a tortured creative soul and the obsessed detective who's the only one who can understand how he's thinking. It ends very abruptly and is mercifully short."
Curzon: honestly, I have no idea what happened in this one. It seems like all Star Trek short story collections will inevitably have a story involving insane aliens that use organic technology and just make no sense. Plus, why is Ben Sisko narrating a story in a book of stories that are supposed to be about Dax telling HER own stories?
Jadzia: much like Curzon's story, I was a bit lost as to exactly what was happening here. This features Jadzia's sister, Ziranne, and is a follow up of sorts to the episode 'Invasive Procedures'. Confusing at points in regards to the weird science and unclear writing style, but there's some nice flashbacks to Jadzia's childhood.
bajoranjay's review
5.0
Exceptionally well-written collection of short stories that flesh out Dax's history, full of familiar friends from throughout Trek.
erinbrenner's review
3.0
I loved visiting with a few favorite DS9 characters and learning more about the Dax character. Having different writers tell the various Dax story helps give each Dax character their own voice.
That said, every so often the writing would clunk. The emotions would be overdone, the explanation too given by a character too obvious ("As you know..."), the foreshadowing blatant. Unfortunately, the closing paragraphs of the book displayed that daytime-soap-opera, arch tone and it's stayed with me since finishing the book, which dampens the whole book.
That said, every so often the writing would clunk. The emotions would be overdone, the explanation too given by a character too obvious ("As you know..."), the foreshadowing blatant. Unfortunately, the closing paragraphs of the book displayed that daytime-soap-opera, arch tone and it's stayed with me since finishing the book, which dampens the whole book.
bdplume's review
5.0
This is the first time we've seen just what it might be like to live as this type of being.
sailsgoboom's review
3.0
While I love the idea of telling Dax's story through an anthology-- with different authors and voices and perspectives-- the main failing of this book was not adequately tying all these stories into *one life*. "How can Ezri Dax be more than the sum of her parts?" is presented as the most important question framing the book, but more could have been done to attempt to answer this. Who, exactly, is Dax separate of the hosts?
That said, many of the individual pieces were fascinating character and/or world-building pieces, answering and raising other questions about Trill, symbionts, and identity. The biggest running theme was the progression of Trill society from being isolationist and guarded to joining Starfleet; and throughout this, Dax is at the forefront of embracing new alien culture and pushing towards more openness.
Ezri-- I like the framing of her telling this to Vic Fontaine. Some interesting perspective of her as Ezri Tigan before the joining, extra detail on how the joining took place, and is unique in showing a negative perspective from a Trill regarding the symbionts.
Lela-- Shows what early Trill politics were like. Good story, could have been more richly told, but sufficient.
Tobin-- Exciting fun story with Romulans capturing his ship, some cool thoughts on how his weaknesses are also his strengths.
Emony-- Barely about Emony herself, but instead focuses on a poorly characterized Bones and a half-baked plot about community-building at alien Olympics. Not worth reading at all. I really wish the conflict with the gymnast aliens that hate the Trill was better developed-- it would have better explained why the Trill were so secretive and careful about opening up with such fundamental parts of their culture with alien species generally.
Audrid-- FANTASTIC. Richly textured, emotionally driven, and raises fascinating questions about the role of family for joined Trill as well as the origins of Trill/symbiont joinings.
Torias-- Nothing particularly wrong with it, other than that the only dramatic tension is his wife's anxiety test flight, which as we know from the show she's right and he dies. Doesn't really add much.
Joran-- Excellent, suspenseful chapter. Perspectives on Trill culture regarding joined vs unjoined within society, crime w/i Trill society, and a pretty okay crime mystery.
Curzon-- BY FAR MY FAVORITE HOLY SHIT. Goes above and beyond in depicting truly *alien* species. Nuanced and emotionally driven (Sisko is chewing the scenery a bit over the top at the end, but he does that in the show so I guess it works??), and raises FASCINATING philosophical questions about the nature of identity w/r/t individuals vs greater society, very relevant to joined Trill!! It's told through Sisko's perspective, but the story is driven by the complexity of Curzon's characterization, with his contradictions (boisterous but diplomatic, etc).
Jadzia-- Depicts her relationship with her sister!! and more about joined vs unjoined Trill in their society, through a kidnapping/theft investigation w/ Verad. Interesting details on physical/mental medical facts about Trill/symbionts.
That said, many of the individual pieces were fascinating character and/or world-building pieces, answering and raising other questions about Trill, symbionts, and identity. The biggest running theme was the progression of Trill society from being isolationist and guarded to joining Starfleet; and throughout this, Dax is at the forefront of embracing new alien culture and pushing towards more openness.
Ezri-- I like the framing of her telling this to Vic Fontaine. Some interesting perspective of her as Ezri Tigan before the joining, extra detail on how the joining took place, and is unique in showing a negative perspective from a Trill regarding the symbionts.
Lela-- Shows what early Trill politics were like. Good story, could have been more richly told, but sufficient.
Tobin-- Exciting fun story with Romulans capturing his ship, some cool thoughts on how his weaknesses are also his strengths.
Emony-- Barely about Emony herself, but instead focuses on a poorly characterized Bones and a half-baked plot about community-building at alien Olympics. Not worth reading at all. I really wish the conflict with the gymnast aliens that hate the Trill was better developed-- it would have better explained why the Trill were so secretive and careful about opening up with such fundamental parts of their culture with alien species generally.
Audrid-- FANTASTIC. Richly textured, emotionally driven, and raises fascinating questions about the role of family for joined Trill as well as the origins of Trill/symbiont joinings.
Torias-- Nothing particularly wrong with it, other than that the only dramatic tension is his wife's anxiety test flight, which as we know from the show she's right and he dies. Doesn't really add much.
Joran-- Excellent, suspenseful chapter. Perspectives on Trill culture regarding joined vs unjoined within society, crime w/i Trill society, and a pretty okay crime mystery.
Curzon-- BY FAR MY FAVORITE HOLY SHIT. Goes above and beyond in depicting truly *alien* species. Nuanced and emotionally driven (Sisko is chewing the scenery a bit over the top at the end, but he does that in the show so I guess it works??), and raises FASCINATING philosophical questions about the nature of identity w/r/t individuals vs greater society, very relevant to joined Trill!! It's told through Sisko's perspective, but the story is driven by the complexity of Curzon's characterization, with his contradictions (boisterous but diplomatic, etc).
Jadzia-- Depicts her relationship with her sister!! and more about joined vs unjoined Trill in their society, through a kidnapping/theft investigation w/ Verad. Interesting details on physical/mental medical facts about Trill/symbionts.
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