This book epitomizes why DS9, currently being relegated to reruns on Spike TV--DVR them, people, they're still magnificent--survives whereas "Enterprise" died.

I read a review of "Hollow Men" that teased me with the notion Luther Sloan of Section 31 popped up, as he does in the Voyager S31 book and even gets a mention in the TNG S31 book. All of the books did S31 justice, but this one more so of course. And I am categorically stating this now: Sloan is one of my favorite Star Trek characters, picking up where Elim Garak left off. Garak gets discussed in "Abyss" when Ezri tells Julian he's attracted to mystery...like Garak. Julian responds, "I always thought of Garak as charming, not mysterious." Ezri replies, "He was both," and then suggests that Julian is inexplicably drawn to charm and mystery. In this case, she speaks of his new nemesis, Ethan Locken, a genetically enhanced Khan Noonien Singh wannabe. Unlike Syndrome of "The Incredibles" (another tale about people with superhuman abilities wearing masks), Locken wants himself and himself alone to be "super." And Julian has to stop him thanks to our favorite covert ops agency. Section 31 knows his worst fears and his weaknesses...however, as we saw in the series, they can clearly underestimate him.

Cole, the new Section 31 agent who sends Julian Bashir on a mission the eve of his trip to Earth with Ezri (to visit Julian's parents no less, "Then it must be love," Cole says), remarks on Julian's past dealings with Section 31: "Courteous, but direct. Sloan noted that in his profile...Anyone who could outthink Sloan wouldn't have a problem with a tyro like Locken."

Cole is intelligent, ruthless, smooth, and less compelling than Sloan, who had tremendous Garak-like appeal as a sexy spy villain who saw himself as a "good guy" of sorts (the complexity and sexiness was in large part thanks to the casting and performance of William Sadler), with better lines than Cole and more personality, thanks to the unique onscreen chemistry between Julian and Sloan. Change one letter in Cole's name and, appropriately, you get "cold." Although there's an intelligent and dynamic analysis of the Federation's enemies as well as some mentions of the genetically enhanced "Jack Pack" (savants Julian interacted with in the series), and a subtle reference to "In The Pale Moonlight" in a discussion between Cole and Julian, Section 31 is clearly the despised enemy as they always have been. Julian hates Section 31 but, as he did in the series, is forced to employ their tactics to defeat them, just as Sisko had to compromise his morality in "In The Pale Moonlight." Dancing with the devil and staring into the abyss...and yet Julian isn't lost to intrigue.

When Julian faced Sloan in the series, he had Miles O'Brien to pull him back from the brink. This time, he has the still-confused Ezri Dax, whose relationship with Julian grows and becomes deeper than the soap-opera of "Avatar." Ezri has her own baggage to deal with, especially since in the series her previous host Jadzia Dax failed in a mission because of the personal relationship between Jadzia and Commander Worf. But Ezri isn't hostage to her hosts' pasts any more than Julian is hostage to his genetic engineering or his love of espionage. But will this fledgling relationship between two people be enough to stand against evil and the abyss? Will Cole die just as Sloan did, and what does he think of his predecessor in the efforts to recruit/manipulate Julian? And what will happen to Ethan Locken?

There's some meat here, but also lovely moments and character development of the ensemble cast. Kira Nerys struggles with being Attainted, or excommunicated from Bajor because once again--surprise--she tried to fight religious corruption. And yet her faith stands. Ro Laren matures further in her new role. There's a delightful conversation between Ro and Ezri where Ro discusses Captain Jean-Luc Picard and his "great cologne" as well as his wine snobbery. Ezri reciprocates with her affection for Ben Sisko, who is still with the Prophets, which Kasidy Sisko, Joseph Sisko, and Jake Sisko try to deal with...although more heartache may be ahead for the Sisko family.

Taran'atar helps out Ro, discusses Dominion divinity with Julian, and conveys some of Odo's best lines.

Shar Ch'Thane doesn't get as much to do as, say, Commander Elias Vaughn and the mysterious, bitter Prynn Tenmei, especially since Vaughn has some experience with Section 31 himself.

All in all, a good read that makes us happy DS9 survives, at least in print.

I would recommend reading this book 3rd, following the sequence of Trek series--Cloak (TOS), Rogue (TNG) and now Abyss. The book is not only an excellent read, but it dives into character development, using the hints from DS9 to truly explore Bashir, Ezri, and a few others. I think Bashir's character was enormously expanded in this book alone. I couldn't put it down. The entire Section 31 series has been outstanding--the best series of Trek books I've read. In each book of the series, the organization Section 31 evolves. This book is no different, and perhaps shows 31's evolution even more. I highly recommend this book to any Trek fan.

Do not let the cover fool you, this book is not only about Bashir, though it does center on him. I found myself puzzled at how Bashir had been relegated to the relationship character in Avatar Book 1, but surprisingly Bashir's relationship with Ezri has really grown on me. Both of them are going through changes in their lives and are reflecting on what that means. Bashir, the genetically enhanced human who has been and still continues to wear a mask in public (and private!) is starting to tear away at his mask. Ezri is coming to terms with what it means to be a joined Trill. This is magnificent stuff people!

The excerpt page of this book (at the front) is a warning from Vaughn to Bashir about Section 31 that had me intrigued to read the book ASAP. I'm quite glad where Vaughn and Bashir's relationship with Section 31 ended (or started), and I look forward to another 31 book in the future. I find 31 to be a very refreshing Trek idea, so I hope it isn't dismantled for some time to come (if ever!).

"Abyss" continues where Avatar left off (or actually after the events in the SCE book "Miracle Workers"), and it's good to see that it doesn't bother reintroducing everyone, but assumes you've read Avatar and know the deal. If you haven't, it is not entirely essential to read them, though I do recommend doing so as it feels like all the DS9 Relaunch novels are really just episodes of an untelevised Season 8. Avatar was the two part season premier, and Abyss is the 3rd (or 4th) episode. One thing I really enjoy is how easily these books read like episodes. The continuity between authors and plotlines is amazing! It is so well done, and the characterization is so spot on that it is impossible not to visualize these novels as Season 8 of DS9!

I like learning more about Ro's past; some of it comes out here.
I love Taran'atar. Whenever I'm expecting some comment from him, he always comes up with a different perspective, which incidentally Kira herself reflects on! Kudos to the writers! The continued reflection on their gods between Nerys and Taran'atar is fascinating. And seeing Kira becoming more familiar with command and actually acting like a leader is awesome. I was quite suspect in Avatar of Kira in charge, but I must say the authors have really fleshed her character out the most. Also cannot wait to see what happens with her "Attainment".
Seeing Taran'atar in action versus other Jem'Hadar was brilliant, and even more so was his unseen (yet obvious) diplomacy with Locken's First.

Locken, the bad guy, another enhanced person, is a great character. The authors do a good job making him seem sane to Bashir. It made me question first impressions and how people wear their masks. It is interesting to uncover the truth behind Locken through other (non-Bashir) characters. Great stuff.
Bashir's conversation with Ezri about his mask and about genetically enhanced people was my favorite in this book. It (alongside with Khan and the Eugenics Wars) makes me wonder how soon all this will be applicable to our non-Star Trek ideals and soon-to-be-doomed world.

You learn more about Ensign ch'Thane and his dilemma, and about Prynn Tenmei and a bit to why she's angry with Vaughn. All this stuff is very well developed in subsequent novels, which once again makes me wonder if all the DS9 Relaunch authors had a huge plan when they set out to write these fantastic novels!

Reading the book there were questions that ran through my head, such as why Section 31 didn't infiltrate Locken themselves but choose instead to use one man. But thankfully, all my questions were answered in the end (and throughout) as if the authors knew how their readers would think!

The only weird part about the novel is the Ingavi (an odd warp-capable species), but hey this IS Star Trek!

I definitely recommend reading this novel as either a Trek fan, definitely a DS9 fan (and more so as part of the Relaunch), as a stand-alone Section 31 fan, and definitely as a Bashir fan! However, this book reads like an episode and is not as in-depth or thought-provocative as Garak's "A Stitch in Time" or the Reeves-Stevenses' "Millennium" trilogy, both of which I highly recommend.

Look for my next review of Demons of Air and Darkness, or Episode 5 of Season 8 of the DS9 Relaunch.

This book in my opinion is one of the best of the DS9 books in the relaunch series. The action couldn't be better, the machinations of Section 31 have fascinated me since I first heard of them on the TV series and the plots which are not only action driven but character driven are put together very well. I sincerely hope that more Section 31 based DS9 books will come out in the future.

As we know from the television series, Sloan is dead so another mysterious character known as Cole fills his spot. Cole mysteriously appears in Dr. Bashir's room asking him questions and in a round and about way gets him to go on a dangerous covert mission for Section 31. This mission will challenge and test Dr. Bashir in ways he has never experienced before. Dr. Bashir must match wits with another genetically enhanced individual called Dr. Ethan who used to work for Section 31 but betrayed them. Dr. Ethan is a eugenicist who took over a planet where he breeds Jimhadar soldiers loyal to him and conducts genetic experiments making clones and designing weapons to destroy others who are deemed inferior. Ezri, Ro Lauren and Taran'atar all go with him to the planet Sindorin to assist in bringing Dr. Ethan to justice, but he also would like to crush Section 31. Sindorin is where most of the story takes place. There are quite a few good firefights and suspence as well as some very good dialogue.

The book also advances other plots from previous books as well. By the way, Jake is still lost and Cassidy still didn't have the baby yet.