Enigma Tales

Genial! Un gran libro para los fans de Deep Space Nine

Terrific story. I love Garak-my favourite character in DS9. The convolutions of Cardassian politics fascinated me on both screen and in literature. Anyone who loves a good political thriller couldn't help liking the wonderfully complex 'plain and simple tailor' Garak.

Another magnificent DS9 tale by the best DS9 author! The political intrigue of Cardassia and how Garak navigates through them is always interesting to see, how comited he is about transforming his world and his people in something better than the sins of their past. On the negative side, Pulaski is one of the most annoying and blind characters ever created for Trek, living in a simplistic world of black & white, indisposed to aknowledge the multiple shades of grey in real, normal life...

(Crossposted from Goodreads) Oh, my gosh, Julian! Poor Julian! What the heck happened? As with "Without You, there is no Us", I hardly know how to rate this. Una McCormack is rapidly becoming one of my favorite SF authors, and this detailed look at Cardassia during the reconstruction should thrill all DS9 fans. I was initially disappointed because most of my favorite characters from the show and from "The Never-Ending Sacrifice" did not make an appearance. Thus, we never find out what happened to Rugal, Penelya, and Hulya. Nor do we learn more about the O'Brien's. And Julian Bahsir scarcely appears at all. The book seems, at first, to focus on Katherine Pulaski, the blunt doctor from "Next Generation". As Cardassia tries to find its feet after generations of tyranny and years of devastating losses, there are elements that would destabilize it. The main plot features a threat against a young Cardassian historian, a kidnapping, and the possibility that one of Cardassia's most admired figures, the freedom fighter and Professor Natima Lang, is actually a war criminal. Elim Garak tries to negotiate all this, with help from a terrific young Cardassian policewoman and his trusted doctor, Kelas Parmak. Garak himself is in a position of power now, after years of exile, and this has its challenges for him. McCormack does a wonderful job of presenting a healing society and rather complex characters. On reading "The Crimson Shadow" , the prequel to this book, I had to knock "Enigma Tales" down to four stars. As good as this book is, that one is even better. Still, this is well worth reading for all fans of thoughtful SF, and all fans of Garak. I am going to leave you with some of his words. (Both this book and "Crimson Shadow" frame their chapters with letters from Garak to his friend, Dr. Bashir): (Garak is telling Bashir about his experiences as an ambassador to earth:) "...in Berlin, I saw a city that had redeemed itself, I walked through a district that had at one point been the administrative center of a vile regime, and which had been laid low at the end of a great and bitter war. I loved Paris, doctor, but I knew Berlin. I pass through a city like that every day."