DS9: The Never Ending Sacrifice

[altariel]

Pocket Books announced their upcoming Star Trek schedule at Shore Leave last weekend, and if you scroll right down that page to September 2009, you'll see my name attached to a forthcoming DS9 novel called The Never Ending Sacrifice: "Continuation of the post-TV DS9 saga with emphasis on the Cardassians."

The Never Ending Sacrifice is the title of a book that Garak called "the finest Cardassian novel ever written". I'd better not disappoint.

In the meantime, you can read me coming across as grumpy in an interview with SFX about franchise fiction and shared universes.

Comments

[stultiloquentia.livejournal.com]

Ooh. My roommate has been doing her best to lure me into DS9, but as per usual, I suspect I'll eventually be lured in via the kitchen door -- i.e. by fan writers such as you. Awesome interview, IMO.

[greylin.livejournal.com]

Excellent news - congratulations! I really enjoyed the interview. :)

[glitterboy1.livejournal.com]

I can't imagine you disappointing.

With regard to the interview, nice one! I think you start off by giving the first question the clear answer that it deserves, and the rest of it comes across with self-awareness, humility and generosity. As for grumpiness, I don't think so.

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

Go, you! You come across as very definite and articulate in the interview, not grumpy.

[rfmcdpei.livejournal.com]

This is, wow. Another novel? Many, many thanks are coming your way from this corner.

[temeres.livejournal.com]

SFX, haven't bought a copy of that in years. I notice that they still position the cover star (Batman in this case) to obscure the base of the F and thus make the title look like SEX.

[lame-pegasus.livejournal.com]

Good interview. Very good interview. *smiles*

[altariel.livejournal.com]

Thank you! :-D

[altariel.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

[altariel.livejournal.com]

Thank you! :-)

[altariel.livejournal.com]

Ha! :-D I shall keep at the back of my mind so that it doesn't intimidate me, and near the front of my mind to inspire me! Thank you!

[altariel.livejournal.com]

Hopefully this one will tempt you...

[altariel.livejournal.com]

Oh, it's such a great show! The earlier seasons have a reputation for being slow and talky, but that's the kind of thing I like. It's the darkest Trek, more world-weary, less idealistic - or, perhaps, less naively idealistic. It thinks very hard about religion and colonialism and war, and while doesn't always get it right, it does try.

Received wisdom is that it doesn't take off until season 4 (when Worf comes over from TNG). While it's true that that's when the story arc really starts to gather pace, I think the earlier seasons contain some real gems. Those seasons focus on the situation on Bajor, after the end of the Cardassian occupation, as it tries to put itself together again.

Because there's much more story arc than in the other Trek series, DS9 is also able to develop strong narratives for the characters: not just the main crew, but for some of the recurring characters, who have some great stories (sufficiently detailed to intrigue the fan writer, but sufficiently sketchy that she can get her into teeth into them!)

If you want a list of episodes to try, let me know and I'll do a top ten, or something like that.

[altariel.livejournal.com]

Thank you! Glad you enjoyed the interview!

[altariel.livejournal.com]

Yay!

[altariel.livejournal.com]

No, I haven't bought SFX in years either. The SEX thing in the title is so wild and rebellious it's almost like punk.

[altariel.livejournal.com]

Thank you! :-D

[altariel.livejournal.com]

*goes shy* Aw, thank you!

Ooh, if you can face a story about This Damned City, there is a sweet little Numb3rs fic here: an American in England.

[altariel.livejournal.com]

I hope you enjoy it when it's finally out! :-)

[altariel.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I'm very excited about this new project. Glad you enjoyed the interview!

[altariel.livejournal.com]

I'm taking over the planet incredibly slowly... Still, I can always fall back on the Masterplan if needs be!

(thank you)

[altariel.livejournal.com]

;-) It is shaping up nicely, thank you!

[altariel.livejournal.com]

I think it's a great title too! (Although when I finally twigged what it had to be, it was a real slap-forehead-with-palm-and-yell-D'OH! moment!)

[altariel.livejournal.com]

Thank you! :-D It's still taking shape right now.

[lizblackdog.livejournal.com]

Plain, simple and modest? It's as good as bought already.