The third Star Trek: Typhon Pact novel is
ostensibly the most alluring of them all, largely due to the promise of its
cover, which juxtaposes a surprisingly-clean-shaven and short-haired Benjamin
Sisko with an elderly Spock who can’t be far off his silver screen date with a
genocidal, time-travelling Romulan. Such a conjunction is not only unique but
will be instantly appealing to most readers of the range, which is more than
could be said of another heavy political novel grounded on Romulus, which is
what this book’s innards actually provide. This makes David R George III’s
novel a very difficult one to consider objectively, as it’s almost impossible
to look past one’s disappointment at the dearth of any meaningful Spock / Sisko
interaction, and, to a lesser extent, the missed opportunity to examine one of
the coalition’s lesser-known cultures, such as the lightly-touched-upon
Tzenkethi.
For what it
is though, Rough Beasts of Empire is
actually very absorbing; perhaps even the finest of the post-finale
Romulan-driven novels (of which there are many). Whilst the plot is admittedly slow and character-driven,
George handles its twists and turns with remarkable poise, often leaving the
reader in the unfamiliar – and thus rather exciting – position of trying to
unravel the motives of the novel’s heroes as well as those antagonising them.
The
green-blooded Star Trek legend
carries the political aspects of the book dexterously, as an attempt on his
life prompts him to opportunistically reconsider his strategy towards reunifying
Vulcan and Romulus. Between the events of The
Next Generation’s “Unification” episodes and the start of this novel, Spock
has done little more than continue to preach from the shadows. Here, however, he
elects to capitalise upon the recent divide of the Romulan people into two
discrete states by manipulating the Star Empire’s praetor into legalising his
Unification movement, the idea being that it would serve her ends to reunify
the Romulan people, as Romulus couldn’t hope to reunify with Vulcan until it is
itself whole again. As events play out, the move reveals a hard edge to the
Vulcan that you’ll be hard-pressed to find outside a J J Abrams film, which
I find fascinating.
Sisko’s
thread of the narrative focuses more on his emotional state than it does
incident or agenda, and it’s made even more difficult to follow thanks to the
author’s holding back of certain knowledge until the book’s end, not to mention
the four years that have passed for the captain since the events of The Soul Key. This is made up for though
by George finally giving credence to the prophecy that Sisko would “know
nothing but sorrow” should he defy the will of the Prophets by marrying
Kassidy, which of course made sense when the Deep Space Nine television series’ finale tore the newlyweds apart,
but was subsequently rendered meaningless by the captain’s happy return from
the Celestial Temple in print. George has such a wonderful handle on Sisko’s
gallant, pugnacious spirit that even when he seems to be acting against his
character, as he often does here, the portrayal still holds true, and is
eventually vindicated in the novel’s culminating, heartbreaking revelation.
If you’re
looking for a slow and insightful read, then they don’t come much better than Rough Beasts of Empire. However, if you
saw the cover illustration, caught your reflection and noticed that you were
drooling, then be warned – this isn’t an adventure for a Typhon Pact-busting
Spock and Sisko tag team; it’s two quiet tales of politics and providence,
linked only by their respective effects on the fateful leader of a breakaway
nation.
Rough Beasts of Empire is currently available in paperback (cheapest price online today is £5.33 from AbeBooks) and e-book formats (£4.41 from Amazon’s Kindle Store or £4.49 from iTunes).
