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mostlyaudrey's review against another edition
3.0
The reason I picked up this audiobook was to hear more adventures of Garak in Garaks voice and on that front the book delivers 100%.
But after a while I realized maybe I liked Garak being a mystery after all. Garak constantly talks about Cardassian culture but seems to be missing the forest for the trees. His whole life revolves around service to the state, a state that doesn't seem to help him in any way at all and he never questions anything. That being said I really liked the ending, seeing a new future for Cardassia and the birth of a Neo-Liberal regime.
There were a lot of moments that felt like Garak had some sort of magic abilities that maybe they weren't described well or maybe he can just do magic (it is Star Trek after all) but I wasn't sold on it.
I think I largely disliked the overarching narrative of Garaks growth between the eras because I was unable to related at any point. I had no context for why he was making the decisions he was making or how the situations he was in was affecting him and as a result his reactions always felt jarring.
But after a while I realized maybe I liked Garak being a mystery after all. Garak constantly talks about Cardassian culture but seems to be missing the forest for the trees. His whole life revolves around service to the state, a state that doesn't seem to help him in any way at all and he never questions anything. That being said I really liked the ending, seeing a new future for Cardassia and the birth of a Neo-Liberal regime.
There were a lot of moments that felt like Garak had some sort of magic abilities that maybe they weren't described well or maybe he can just do magic (it is Star Trek after all) but I wasn't sold on it.
I think I largely disliked the overarching narrative of Garaks growth between the eras because I was unable to related at any point. I had no context for why he was making the decisions he was making or how the situations he was in was affecting him and as a result his reactions always felt jarring.
beekzor's review against another edition
5.0
If you loved Deep Space 9, you’ll love this book. Written and read by the actor who played Garak on the show.
sheldor314's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
dackiechan's review against another edition
4.0
What a cool read! Great time exploring some of the before and after background of a character that is so deservingly well-loved.
inky_paws's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
wtheriac's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
A fun if melancholic return to one of my favorite Star Trek characters.
spiffxp's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I passed over DS9 when it first came out, thinking at the time that B5 was better, and that they were both basically ripping each other off anyway. It wasn't until three years ago that I finally agreed to sit down and watch the show with someone who proclaimed they would skip all the dumb or non-consequential episodes. Of which there were apparently many in the first season or two.
Sure enough, I walked away from that experience deciding that Deep Space Nine had way more depth and nuance than I had given it credit for. Characters I initially hated grew to become my favorites. And one of those characters was Garek.
Which probably makes me predisposed to like this, but so what. I never expected to read a star trek book in my life and yet here I am. I think it worked as a great character study. I'm not sure if any backstory could fully live up to the character and expectations set by the show. But I think this is as good an attempt as any I could hope for, and I was happy with it.
This didn't redefine the character for me, I don't know that it truly blew my mind, but I really enjoyed reading it. I'll probably read it again someday when I decide to dip back into DS9 for a while.
Sure enough, I walked away from that experience deciding that Deep Space Nine had way more depth and nuance than I had given it credit for. Characters I initially hated grew to become my favorites. And one of those characters was Garek.
Which probably makes me predisposed to like this, but so what. I never expected to read a star trek book in my life and yet here I am. I think it worked as a great character study. I'm not sure if any backstory could fully live up to the character and expectations set by the show. But I think this is as good an attempt as any I could hope for, and I was happy with it.
This didn't redefine the character for me, I don't know that it truly blew my mind, but I really enjoyed reading it. I'll probably read it again someday when I decide to dip back into DS9 for a while.
ecolite99's review against another edition
5.0
How do I even begin to review a book that fostered such emotional attachment that I found myself bringing it with me around the house just to have it nearby?
Elim Garak is just one of /those characters/ for me. I knew from his first appearance in Deep Space Nine that I was not going to be normal about this man. A former intelligence agent for the Obsidian Order, Garak was exiled to Terok Nor/Deep Space Nine for reasons we never come to learn in the show. It's clear that blood is on Garak's hands, but he is such a deeply complex and likable character that it doesn't truly matter what he's done in his past--not to Julian Bashir, station CMO, who is drawn to Garak's lies and secrets and mysterious personality. The two form a close but tenuous bond based on a mutual love of engaging conversation and literary critique.
We come to learn bits and pieces of Garak's past throughout the show, but it's not until Andy Robinson's A Stitch in Time that all of his past is laid bare. As the actor who portrayed Garak, Andy put a lot of time into coming up with a backstory and motivations for his character. And boy, did that time and effort pay off. Andy has brilliantly constructed the world of Cardiassian society and Garak's history within it. It's clear that he understands Garak in exactly the same way I do, and that was truly special (and sometimes harrowing) to experience. There were many moments throughout my reading where I found myself staring introspectively into the distance as I reflected on how closely I could relate to the bitter loneliness of this book. Andy, why are you staring into my soul? I thought this was supposed to reveal things about Garak, not me!
The novel is framed as a nearly-400-page letter to Julian, asking him to bear witness to Garak's past and his healing from it. This letter is an explanation of why Garak is the way he is--a baring of his soul to the one person who has ever been willing to understand. It's a terribly intimate piece of writing. Although their relationship has grown distant, Garak ends his letter by inviting Julian back into his life--to behold the person he has become, and share in the healing of himself and of Cardassia.
Andy handles this story beautifully, and gives so much depth to Cardassian society and its people. Kelas Parmak is a gift of a character, and Palandine, Pythas Lok, Tolan, and Mila the regnar are all wonderful additions to the Star Trek canon. I also love the ideas introduced about spiritual and political healing--both things the war-ravaged Cardassia desperately needs. Although this novel deals heavily with loneliness and isolation, betrayal and manipulation, it is ultimately a hopeful story. Both individuals and societies can heal with the help of community--a timeless message we all need to hear.
If you've read this book, please talk to me about it! I have so many thoughts I couldn't put into this review, and like Garak, "the surest way to [my] heart is through conversation."
Elim Garak is just one of /those characters/ for me. I knew from his first appearance in Deep Space Nine that I was not going to be normal about this man. A former intelligence agent for the Obsidian Order, Garak was exiled to Terok Nor/Deep Space Nine for reasons we never come to learn in the show. It's clear that blood is on Garak's hands, but he is such a deeply complex and likable character that it doesn't truly matter what he's done in his past--not to Julian Bashir, station CMO, who is drawn to Garak's lies and secrets and mysterious personality. The two form a close but tenuous bond based on a mutual love of engaging conversation and literary critique.
We come to learn bits and pieces of Garak's past throughout the show, but it's not until Andy Robinson's A Stitch in Time that all of his past is laid bare. As the actor who portrayed Garak, Andy put a lot of time into coming up with a backstory and motivations for his character. And boy, did that time and effort pay off. Andy has brilliantly constructed the world of Cardiassian society and Garak's history within it. It's clear that he understands Garak in exactly the same way I do, and that was truly special (and sometimes harrowing) to experience. There were many moments throughout my reading where I found myself staring introspectively into the distance as I reflected on how closely I could relate to the bitter loneliness of this book. Andy, why are you staring into my soul? I thought this was supposed to reveal things about Garak, not me!
The novel is framed as a nearly-400-page letter to Julian, asking him to bear witness to Garak's past and his healing from it. This letter is an explanation of why Garak is the way he is--a baring of his soul to the one person who has ever been willing to understand. It's a terribly intimate piece of writing. Although their relationship has grown distant, Garak ends his letter by inviting Julian back into his life--to behold the person he has become, and share in the healing of himself and of Cardassia.
Andy handles this story beautifully, and gives so much depth to Cardassian society and its people. Kelas Parmak is a gift of a character, and Palandine, Pythas Lok, Tolan, and Mila the regnar are all wonderful additions to the Star Trek canon. I also love the ideas introduced about spiritual and political healing--both things the war-ravaged Cardassia desperately needs. Although this novel deals heavily with loneliness and isolation, betrayal and manipulation, it is ultimately a hopeful story. Both individuals and societies can heal with the help of community--a timeless message we all need to hear.
If you've read this book, please talk to me about it! I have so many thoughts I couldn't put into this review, and like Garak, "the surest way to [my] heart is through conversation."
mapsco1984's review against another edition
4.0
Ok, I can't believe that I'm admitting that I even know who these characters are, much less that I'd want to read a book about them. But the fact is, as a teenager, though I'd never paid attention to any of the other Star Treks, I stumbled onto Deep Space Nine and was instantly drawn in, because it was like nothing I saw on TV. It asked hard questions, gave hard answers, and had complex characters that were several shades of grey.
Elim Garak of course is the epitome of this, though I never really noticed him or was interested in him while watching the show. But when I saw Dirty Harry and was like "Holy crap, I know who that is!" I got more interested. And when I read that he had written a book based on his own back story of Garak, without a ghost writer, and that it was actually getting really good reviews, I really wanted to read it.
For people who like the character Garak because he's mysterious and vague, I don't recommend this book. Robinson basically tells Garak's whole story in 3 parts: his time as a child and then as a spy, his time in exile on Deep Space Nine, and his time rebuilding Cardassia. Not every minute detail of his history is explained, but you do learn the truth from the lies, and if you'd rather make up your own story about why he was exiled, then don't read this.
However, I thought it was great. Robinson has clearly spent a LOT of time in this character's head in order to understand him so well, and he deftly weaves what we know about him into the stories, and the way Garak thinks and speaks is absolutely dead on. What also amazed me is that Robinson captured the voices of the OTHER Deep Space Nine characters very well. I don't know if he talked to his fellow actors about them, or if he just immersed himself in Trek research (poor man) but he not only gets his own character, but all the others as well.
On top of that, the stories themselves are interesting. Robinson works hard to show how an alien planet and way of thinking are severely different from our own, and doesn't fall into the trap of basing alien ways of life on a thinly veiled version of one of our own cultures. Also fascinating is that despite the fact that the stories are not done chronologically (we jump between assassin, exile, and rebuilder), Garak's voice remains constant yet maturing throughout the three.
Overall, very well done. Robinson is clearly a very intelligent and talented person, and it sucks that his career was curtailed right when it started due to Dirty Harry. However, if he ever finds himself struggling to find acting jobs, I highly recommend he take up a writing career on the side.
Elim Garak of course is the epitome of this, though I never really noticed him or was interested in him while watching the show. But when I saw Dirty Harry and was like "Holy crap, I know who that is!" I got more interested. And when I read that he had written a book based on his own back story of Garak, without a ghost writer, and that it was actually getting really good reviews, I really wanted to read it.
For people who like the character Garak because he's mysterious and vague, I don't recommend this book. Robinson basically tells Garak's whole story in 3 parts: his time as a child and then as a spy, his time in exile on Deep Space Nine, and his time rebuilding Cardassia. Not every minute detail of his history is explained, but you do learn the truth from the lies, and if you'd rather make up your own story about why he was exiled, then don't read this.
However, I thought it was great. Robinson has clearly spent a LOT of time in this character's head in order to understand him so well, and he deftly weaves what we know about him into the stories, and the way Garak thinks and speaks is absolutely dead on. What also amazed me is that Robinson captured the voices of the OTHER Deep Space Nine characters very well. I don't know if he talked to his fellow actors about them, or if he just immersed himself in Trek research (poor man) but he not only gets his own character, but all the others as well.
On top of that, the stories themselves are interesting. Robinson works hard to show how an alien planet and way of thinking are severely different from our own, and doesn't fall into the trap of basing alien ways of life on a thinly veiled version of one of our own cultures. Also fascinating is that despite the fact that the stories are not done chronologically (we jump between assassin, exile, and rebuilder), Garak's voice remains constant yet maturing throughout the three.
Overall, very well done. Robinson is clearly a very intelligent and talented person, and it sucks that his career was curtailed right when it started due to Dirty Harry. However, if he ever finds himself struggling to find acting jobs, I highly recommend he take up a writing career on the side.