Zero Sum Game (Star Trek: Typhon Pact #1)

I was eagerly awaiting the new Typhon Pact series and found it so so in the end. There were some interesting parts, but it seemed too short. Compared to Iain Banks' latest novel, Surface Detail, which I'm also reading, it's a tiny little book which I cruised through in less than a day.

The Typhon Pact seems to be including all "branches" of the ST universe together. This novel is about Deep Space 9's characters.

As the blurb says, the bad guys have stolen the plans for the slipstream drive. It is vital the Federation does something about it or else they will lose their only tactical advantage and, in their weakened state after the Borg rampage, will ultimately fall to the Pact. The send in Bashir and another genetically enhanced Human to carry out the mission. Needless to say, they ultimately succeed.

The Good:

1. We find out more about the previously reclusive Breen. Some quite interesting aspects of their culture which I found enjoyable to read.
2. The Typhon Pact is a realistic rival to the Federation and Klingons. Better than the Mega advanced Borg.
3. I find myself liking Captain Ezri Dax more and more. Quick with the one liners and quick with surprise tactics.

The Not So Good:

1. For genetically enhanced people, Bashir and Douglas don't seem to do anything particularly special. In fact, Bashir seems quite unprepared and naive and far less capable than even some normal people. The reason for his inclusion for this mission is revealed at the end (well, it's revealed at the beginning, but the REAL reason is implied at the end).
2. Seems too short. Perhaps I've grown used to reading more intricate novels and become used to more depth in my characters.

The "I wonder how this is going to pan out":

1. Do NOT, I repeat, DO NOT skip to the end. There is a surprise and I'm not sure whether or not it's good or bad for DS9.

Should you read this book? If you're a ST fan, sure, go ahead. If not, you might want to read one of the many ST books which came before this first.

I had a personal thought, which was that with their incredible speed, starships could be sent out and the Federation could set up their own shipyards far beyond the Alpha Quadrant out of reach of any other Power. I wonder if they would do this in the books?

After reading Mack's Destiny three part series; I have to say that I am sad to see he is only writing this entry. Bashir and Dax's characters are right on target. It's like the TV show is still in progress. I'd like to think that he will author more DS9 books. The quality is there. The mysterious Breen have a few of their secrets revealed in this novel. However, I wish it had as much action as the Destiny books.

When I started this novel I was surprised to see what happened to many of my favorite characters. While some writers are inconsistant, Mack has proved to be a favorite. I have to wonder if he ever wrote an orginal series book? I'd like to see him write a novel based in the J.J. Abrams universe.

Not the best Star Trek book, but certainly readable. We're in the aftermath of the attempted Borg invasion and how the weakened Federation must face a new foe, the newly organized Typhon Pact. The Federation's big advantage is the new slipstream drive, and the focus of the book is the theft of the technology by the Pact, and Julian Bashir's participation in a covert mission to destroy the enemy's copy of the plans. A taste of Deep Space Nine, where Bashir and Quark are the only remnants from the TV series. For me the low point was the short interjection by Bashir's flawed genetically enhanced former companions. The highpoint is the first introduction to the society of the mysterious Breen. Fortunately sequels seem to be coming on a monthly basis, much faster than in many other recent Star Trek novel series.

Okay, you're probably wondering what I mean by the above statement. Well, here it is. One of the reasons I love Star Trek is because of how upbeat it is. No matter what the problem or danger, there was always a solution! In the end, the good guys win. What was Kirk's philosophy? "I don't believe in no win scenarios." The reason I liked Star Trek over Star Wars, or Battlestar Galactica was because it's focus was not on war and conquering, but on peace and harmony. Yes, there were war like species, and yes there were times when they had to fight and war, but it was always the future that they looked to. A future of exploration and peace.
I couldn't even get through this book! When I read about Nar, and how she was tortured to death, I was absolutely disgusted! Then to continue to read how the Breen "dissidents" were found and slaughtered, it was too much, and the book landed in the trash can. Torture and genocide are NOT what Star Trek is all about! I haven't really read a good Star Trek book since the Destiny Trilogy. And even though it was about war with the borg, what happened in the end? The Caeliar were prodded to show mercy and take responsibility for their part in creating the borg. They then proceeded to give each and every borg back their individuality. THAT is Star Trek!
If Gene Roddenberry were alive to see the direction that the Star Trek Universe is taking, he'd be outraged, just as I am!

I loved DS9 and liked Bashir, so I started this with great hopes. But the book just didn't hold my interest.

No character development: they went here and then they did this and then they went there. What did Bashir think about his partner killing a Breen? He didn't much like it. And that's about as close as you get to character development.

One reviewer said there is a surprise ending, but I couldn't work up the interest to flip to the back and check it out. I didn't care.

After the long wind up to Destiny with the Borg saga, the actual action of Destiny itself, and then the aftermath books, we have a new and very real threat. The Typhon Pact is a fantastic addition to the Trek universe. Ever since Trek got a story line way back in the DS9 books and the "A Time to..." series with TNG, things have been getting better and better (with the exception of "Before Dishonor" which was simply terrible), and "Zero Sum Game" is a prime example of that.

THE GOOD:
Captain Dax is really starting to grow on me. Ever since she went command-track years ago at the beginning of the DS9 books, Ezri has really grown and evolved. She is quick-witted, intelligent, and is a true Dax.

We finally learn more about the Breen after 15 years of wondering about them.

We have a new enemy that we have never seen before where we don't know how it will end. I.e. No "the Borg are going to kill tons of people but in the end they'll just vanish." The Typhon Pact is a very real threat that isn't so much the typical harbinger of Doomsday.

THE BAD:
It's too short. I want more Typhon Pact now, please.

The Genetically Enhanced are back.... again.

A bit of a larger time gap than I would have liked since "Losing the Peace," "Over a Torrent Sea," and "A Singular Destiny." It's been over a year in the Trek timeline since Destiny occurred.

OVERALL:
Strongly recommended. This story is going to be truly unlike we've seen before in Trek, with all the characters and books interacting and flowing as one. What Destiny started, the rest is taking note of and continuing.

I was greatly looking forward to this book, especially since Dr. Bashir, my favorite Star Trek character, was to be featured so prominently in the book. Unfortunately, this was one of the few Star Trek books that I have been disappointed in. David Mack did a very poor, inaccurate job of portraying his character. You would never know Dr. Bashir was a super-intelligent, genetically enhanced man by the way he followed Sarina Douglas' (a woman Bashir considered his lost love) lead without being able to give much to their mission except as a dogsbody. This was in sharp contrast to the Section 31 Abyss book by David Weddle and Jeffrey Lang. The plot as a whole was okay, and I did love the cliffhanger at the end, but I hope the follow-up novel is written by someone else.

Since I don't expect great literature from Star Trek books, I found this one to be so-so. Just read this if you want to keep up with what's going on the the ST Universe.

Only a couple of things irked me while reading the story. The first was the minor continuity issues. For example at one point someone mentions that Dr. Bashir was held prisoner by the Breen. That never happened. He was held prisoner by the Dominion before they were allied with the Breen. The second was the habit of referring to the genetically enhanced quartet as "the Jack Pack". I don't know why that bothered me but it just seemed stupid.

The book is an easy read and a solid B+ as far as Trek Lit goes. My advice? Borrow it from a friend or read it in a book store while drinking a hot chocolate.

"Zero Sum Game" continues the post-Destiny storyline, arguably one of the best mini-series of Trek novels, and declines markedly in quality. "Zero" has its high moments, especially its substantial and well-written look into the Breen, but much of the novel is otherwise unexceptional. I expected more from David Mack than a formulaic and grossly grim story.

The central plot, Starfleet's attempt to obtain potentially power shifting technology, has been told numerous times before. Unfortunately, "Zero's" banal storyline isn't complimented by much in the way of compelling character development. When Bashir and his partner Sarina aren't busy running from something, killing something, or planning to blow something up, Ezri is plotting to do the same aboard the Aventine. Too much of the novel plows forward action scene by action scene, like "Die Hard" in the Beta Quadrant, with more grisly violence and militancy than I remember being in the series. "Zero's" Federation is hawkish and so emphatic in its intent to maintain hegemony that it's hard not to see a greater semblance to Cold War America than Roddenberry's vision of the future; this is not the kind of organization where Captain's quibble about a few civilian deaths, ala Sisco in "The Pale Moonlight." Even Bashir ends up a merciless and dour man.

The few twists of the story have been done before and I will not elaborate on their details. Many do not come as unexpected. Ultimately, only the Breen figure as "Zero's" novelty and it is here that Mack displays his real creativity. Keeping with the Cold War motif, Breen society comes across as a North Korea-like police state--but I won't spoil the novel's saving grace by revealing anything further. "Zero" is a ultimately middling venture for Mack, as much as I wanted it to be more. It stands on one leg, the chance to see the Breen in depth for the first time, but fails on its other counts.

This book reads like a DS9 episode transcript - one of those dull, middling, forgettable character-spotlight episodes. Yeah yeah there are few interesting plot points but overall its a big yawn.

You can read somebody else's review if you want a story breakdown. This review is about the entirety of the book and how it just fail to really deliver much of anything. Yes, the deep dive into the Breen culture is interesting and innovative and for that alone if you are into Star Trek you should read it, just be prepared to be disappointed with the story. Same can't be said for the Breen cities where 1/2 the book is set, the concept is neat but not interesting at all. Thing is I don't buy that the design of the cities couldn't have been made more interesting since virtually the exact same design is used in the Dept. of Temporal Investigation book to describe the Time Nexis and there is it clear and exciting.

Bashir is a bore and there is absolutely no reason for it. His is completely reactive with no internal drive other than to service the plot and to be all moon-y eyed over his long-lost love suddenly coming back into his life. Yet the so-called (re-ignited) romance with Sarina feels forced and relies way too much on her appearances on the TV show. As for Sarina, she's a blank slate used to move the plot. Yes, that twist at the end is SO interesting, and by 'so interesting' I mean I read the entire book knowing that something wasn't right and kept waiting for something interesting to actually come from her and then it finally did - in the final 3 pages.

Dax and the her crew are fine enough. She's as plucky as ever - believable as a captain? not so much but she's entertaining for sure and helps gives some light to this otherwise boring book.