Star Trek: Deep Space Nine: Fearful Symmetry

Book review
Written by Olivia Woods
Pocket Books paperback
Release date Out now

Iliana Ghemor – a double for Captain Kira Nerys – is wreaking havoc in two universes...

This is an unusual book, to say the least. Like the old two-novels-in-one you read one side, then flip the book over and read the other. Unlike those books, though, the two stories intersect at key points.

Side One is set in the "present day" for Deep Space Nine, where a Mirror Universe Iliana is trying to persuade our universe's DS9 crew that her counterpart is going to cause them yet more serious trouble. Meanwhile Ben Sisko has an Orb experience that explains the connection between the Mirror Universe and ours, and sends Elias Vaughan on a mission. This section moves at a fast pace, without losing any characterisation, and leaves the reader eagerly awaiting the next instalment.

Side Two is the biography of our universe's Iliana, using all the information mentioned in the various DS9 episodes, and adding one hell of a twist to explain what happened to her between 2361 and the end of the Dominion War. Without spoiling anything, it gives a whole new, really horrifying angle to one of the central characters of the series.

Fearful Symmetry was originally set to appear last year, but has benefited from the delay. Both the DS9 backstory told in the Terok Nor trilogy and the Mirror Universe stories chronicled last year add to its texture. Patrick Holm

VERDICT: 8/10
Woods skilfully mixes various threads together, as well as making you want to immediately re-read Warpath and Side One after completing Side Two.