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(Review of both this book and the one that precedes it in the series)

This is a plausible, fun and engaging continuation of the DS9 story and I had a lot of fun with it! In particular, the author's interpretation of Kira's subjectivity and point of view feels "right," and although the appearance of Ro seems like a gimmick at first, her presence in the story ends up catalyzing rich character development on Kira's part. (Plus, Quark's crush on Ro is really funny.) I'm not big on Star Trek novels but this one was worthwhile.

The authors warn that their conclusions might be discouraging, because they (convincingly) show that our present predicament was not inevitable—that we could have chosen to make a different world, but didn't. What I found discouraging (or at least bracing) is how the authors show that the task ahead of us—to make a more just world—isn't just about subtracting "civilization" and returning to humanity's supposed egalitarian past. It will involve constructing something new that is contextual and tactical, and that needs constant maintenance.

One of the many things I admire about this book is how Claire uses what seem like formal "tricks" (both with the material text and the underlying narrative structure) without producing even a hint of ironic distance—if anything the "tricks" make the writing more raw and revealing.