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BOOK
Star Trek
Deep Space Nine
Warpath

Author: David Mack
Pocket Books
RRP: £6.99, US $7.99, Cdn $10.99
ISBN 1 416 90144 2
Available 02 May 2006


Taran'atar is plagued by doubts and nightmares, alone in his quarters aboard the
Deep Space Nine space station the Jem'Hadar finally and irrecoverable snaps. In a state of rage that few humans could survive, the Honoured Elder destroys his room and leaves Captain Kira Nerys and Lieutenant Ro Laren near to death. Fleeing the station aboard the stolen runabout Euphrates with Ensign Tenmei, Taran'atar is pursued by Commander Vaughn on board the Defiant...

Warpath is written by David Mack, a well respected author. He's a multi talented writer who co-penned the episodes Starship Down and It's Only a Paper Moon for the original DS9 show. He has also successfully turned his hand to short story and comic book writing. Throw in his role as an independent film maker it's a wonder his wife Kara ever sees him. So, given his background, I was really looking forward to reading his new novel.

The odd thing about Warpath is that at three hundred and forty-four pages long not much happens in the book. Don't get me wrong, what does happen is riveting writing of the finest calibre. Basically Taran'atar goes nuts, steals a shuttle and heads off being chased by the Defiant, whilst on the station Kira and Ro fight for their lives. At first sight that doesn't look like much of a plot, but what Mack does so skilfully is to show you the events from each individuals perspective, this really allows the reader to get inside the characters heads - to be drawn along with their motives, hopes and fears. This format makes the book into a real page turner. The chapters are short and within them the alternation between the characters keeps the story going at a cracking pace.

I've obviously lost track of the continuing stories of DS9, I didn't know that Sisko was back from the dead. A lot of the characters from the show are in the book, including a return villain, who I won't reveal so as not to spoil your enjoyment. They are all well written and it was delightful to be able to spend so much time inside their heads.

If there was one thing I didn't like about the book it was the ending. You get to page 344 and the writing stops, just when things are starting to hot up. Worse still, there was no indication that there was another novel to follow. What! That's not fair. Lets hope that the publisher has Mack chained to a chair somewhere, writing the next one. I, for one, want to know what happens next.

Charles Packer

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