Dr. Julian Bashir is turning out to be a lot like Jack Bauer. Being a hero time and again but getting damned for his efforts. I mean, Bashir essentially committed treason, but we should be able to look past a little thing like that, right? Section 31 can!
Star Trek: Section 31: Disavowed
Author: David Mack
Pages: 330
Format: eBook
Originally Published: November 1, 2014
Publisher: Pocket Books
View on Goodreads
Date Completed: May 5, 2024
My rating: 
Thoughts
I know a lot of people get tired of Section 31; especially its use on newer Star Trek series like Discovery. If done well, I really enjoy stories with Section 31. Similarly, people are tired of the Mirror Universe. Again, I don’t mind a good Mirror story. But how could you possibly combine the two? Author David Mack is always someone you can count on to make such things happen.
The basic gist of the story is that the Breen are going to invade the Mirror Universe, steal a “jaunt ship” from the Galactic Commonwealth (basically, the new Empire, but better), and bring it back into our universe. Section 31 wants Bashir and his partner, Sarina Douglas, to stop them. They both know the Breen and they both know Section 31. And Bashir wants to take down 31 from the inside. And so does Sarina… I think.
This novel has a lot of action, intrigue, and mystery. All things I love. Unfortunately, it had been years since I’d read Mack’s previous forays into the Mirror Universe, The Sorrows of Empire and Rise Like Lions. So there was a bunch going on that kind of lost me. That said, the premise with the Breen wanting the jaunt ship was a really cool way to tie in the Mirror Universe continuity.
I’m not sure I like the character of Sarina Douglas anymore. She was okay on the show and it kind of made sense for her and Bashir to end up together. And I love a good mystery. But I don’t really know if I like where her character is going. She’s gotten a little dark and may turn out not to be the person Bashir thought she was. And I really don’t like that for Bashir. He’s one of my favorite Deep Space Nine characters, so I only want what’s best for him.
Overall, I gave this novel 3 (really, 3.5) out of 5 stars. It will be a little while before I get to it, but I can’t wait to read Control, David Mack’s follow up to this one!
