New in bookstores today is the science fiction thriller Star Trek: Deep Space Nine: Revenant ($16.00 U.S./$22.00 Canada, Gallery Books) by Alex White, author of A Big Ship at the Edge of the Galaxy and Alien: The Cold Forge. It's the first novel set during the television series timeline since 2005's Hollow Men by Una McCormack.

Revenant is set after the DS9 episode The Way of the Warrior and before Indiscretion. As you can probably guess by the cover art, Jadzia Dax is the main character in this tale that has her traveling to Argelius II on shore leave. No, she's not there for a vacation. An old friend Etom Prit, the Trill trade commissioner, had visited her on Deep Space 9 and asked for her to help his daughter Nemi, who was seen gambling at a casino resort in the Argelian chief city of Luminox.

Something happens on Argeius II that sends Lieutenant Commander Dax to the Trill homeworld to investigate what really happened to Nemi. She calls upon Major Kira to help investigate possible wrongdoings in the Symbiosis Commission. With danger around every corner, Captain Sisko gets involved with the situation and orders Major Kira to return to Deep Space 9 and sends Dr. Bashir and Lieutenant Commander Worf to help Dax unravel a conspiracy. To do so, Dax must confront her past lives.

Final Thoughts

Alex White makes an excellent debut in the Star Trek universe with this character-driven story. It feels like a direct sequel to the third season episode, Equilibrium. Jadzia Dax takes center stage, which sort of hurts the secondary characters (Kira, Bashir, and Worf), which are only there to aid the protagonist out of a few risky situations.

As I already mentioned, Revenant is a character-driven story, and if you're a Dax fan, then you're in for a big treat. The murderous Joran Dax returns, and his backstory is fleshed out more. I was satisfied with how the character connects to the conspiracy plot. Also, you learn a bit more about the Trills.

Overall, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine: Revenant is a deeply layered novel that expands on one of Star Trek's beloved characters. A must-read for any DS9 fan. -- ★★★★✰