Reviews

A Stitch in Time by Andrew J. Robinson

agessaman's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

This book is absolutely the best Star Trek extended universe novel that I've read. Andrew J. Robinson's writing and audiobook narration are fantastic. This book does an amazing job recontextualizing Garak and exploring the culture of Cardassians both before and after the Dominion war.

emeraldreverie's review

adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I have read the prose of this before. This time I opted to listen to AJR's audiobook and legit cried when it finished. Thank you AJR for such a deeply felt book. My absolute favorite trek book.

sunfishe's review against another edition

5.0

This is my favorite trek novel I've ever read. Andrew Robinson's narration is superb. Simultaneously it clears up many mysteries DS9 left over the simple tailor Garak, while also posing many more questions -- including the question of whether the entire book is a lie. It left me wanting to go back and rewatch every DS9 episode Garak ever appeared in.

theciz's review against another edition

adventurous emotional sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

A great backstory of my favourite character from Deep Space Nine, Garak, written by the actor. I was very impressed that this was both not written with a ghost writer, and also actually good. God knows any Extended Universe book is going to be a coin toss on readability, but this one was worth it. 

Our favourite unreliable narrator Garak writes a confessional letter to his dear Doctor Bashir, detailing his life before DS9, just before the invasion of Cardassia, and his new life rebuilding after the Dominion have left. The first half, which goes over Garak's childhood and "schooling" is the better part, and Robinson has some very intriguing ideas when it comes to fleshing out Cardassian culture and spirituality. 

If I have a pet peeve, it’s that there’s no retreads from anything featured in an episode - which not only means you have to have a decent recollection of most episodes featuring Garak, as well as the finale of the series in general, but I also felt robbed of an alternate POV from Robinson’s excellently crafted narration. It can also make the book feel a little choppy in parts. 

Although the book is well written enough that Garak’s voice shines through authentically, the newly released audiobook read by Robinson really enhances the experience, and I definitely recommend that version.

anigoose's review

2.0

I absolutely listened just for the newly recorded audiobook by andrew robinson.  

theramblingreader's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful 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

4.25

mamareadstuff's review against another edition

adventurous challenging hopeful reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

atdemeny's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

dannybaruela's review

adventurous hopeful reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

jazzypizzaz's review against another edition

4.0

(I would like to reiterate that I rate books based on personal enjoyment and benefit, not any semblance of "objective" or "literary" quality.) This book was exactly what I wanted to read-- it met all my expectations and provided a wonderful coda to Star Trek: DS9. On the show, Garak is one of the most intriguing characters, with only the occasional hints at a rich backstory and always misdirection as to his true motivations. This book provides exactly the type of character study-- along with melancholy, growing pains, wistfulness, amusing anecdotes, betrayal, political intrigue-- one longs for after watching him on the show... It particularly works as a biography for Garak specifically-- the loose thematic chronology and ponderings fit his sense of "truth" (nothing is as simple as events happneing in chronological order), as does his allusion at the beginning that everything in the book may be lies (but witin the lies hides the truth). With the overarching format as a letter he is writing to Dr. Bashir, this makes for fascinating reading-- what parts are lies and why? is his goal to explain himself and make sense of his life, to rope Bashir into standing witness for his dark past and hopeful future, as he claims? is it to garner sympathy or spur reconnection with his former friend? I was also surprised at how very personal the book is-- overall it's deeply sad, introspective, and ponderous, currying new sympathy for the character.

Highly recommend to anyone who enjoys Star Trek: DS9.