nicky2910's book reviews

Shar asks Bashir for help when studying the Meta-Genome provided by the Tholians leaves the Andorians stumped in their search for a cure for their fertility crisis. Bashir obtains a whole copy of the Meta-Genome and invites fellow-geneticistis to Bajor to come up with a cure. And they are successful, but not everyone actually wants to help the Andorians. And so Bashir risks everything to reach Andor himself.

I have to admit, I actually detest the way Bashir's kind of flaunting his superior intellect around and, of course, comes up with an ingenious cure. But, in this case, my anger and disbelief rather rests with the rest of the Starfleet officers we know, since at least Bashir's motivation is true and heartfelt. I emphasize that because there always are those who just obey without question - but the characters we know, we saw develop over 25 years, should be above mere obedience. And I realize that in a military hierarchy you can't just question orders left and right, but sometimes when things are as obvious as here, there can't be any doubt or hesitation. So, especially Ezri with her 9 lifetimes worth of experience didn't really endear herself to me.

And so, we have a president pro tem of the Federation after Bacco's assassination who's using the Andorian secession to build his own base of power, practically using the Andorians as example for what is to come if ever any other member of the Federation should even contemplate an exit (blockade, misinformation, even covert military action, keeping a cure from a species on the verge of extinction). We have the Andorian government who are also withholding strands of the genome to the scientists because the ruling party wants to have a tighter hold on the rule first (fighting the progressives who'd arguably benefit from a cure which consists of rewriting the genetic code of the whole species). And we have the Typhon Pact who are trying to entice the Andorians into joining by giving them bits of the genome. All around, it's bad to be an Andorian right now.

In the end, the cure is delivered, it works, Andor is reapplying for membership in the Federation and the leader of the Progressives announces her candidacy for President fo the Federation, opposing the president pro tem. Maybe another nitpick here: the Typhon Pact and the government (before it's voted out of office) are awfully impassive, considering they have major stakes in the game. But by then, the book focuses more on Bashir than on the whole political situation on a larger scheme.

Bashir himself faces a life-sentence for treason in using the meta-genome.

The novel itself is, as per usual for Mack, well written, suspenseful and fast-paced. Since I haven't read the earlier novels depicting the Andorian crisis and secession, the background here is a bit missing. Another unheard plea to the publishers to include a "previously on"-section... Just one thing, though: if it needs 4 people to conceive one child, small wonder that the process is prone to flaws. Just one little aberration, and the whole balance is off.

Overall: engaging.