Teaser

Who is Elim Garak? A simple tailor as he claims, or an agent of Cardassia’s most secretive organisation? Now, with the Dominion War at an end, it is time for Garak to reveal all. This is his story, in his own words. And it’s all true. Especially the lies . . .

Review

Few incarnations of Star Trek can boast such an impressive supporting cast as Deep Space Nine. Across seven seasons there were numerous recurring characters, from bumbling Ferengi Rom to suave hologram Vic Fontaine. Yet few made such an immediate impression as simple tailor Elim Garak. Originally intended as a one-off appearance, Garak ended up becoming a fixture of the show’s final arc. And with that popularity came questions. Questions that were naturally asked of actor Andrew J Robinson at conventions. Rather than simply rely on existing scripts, Robinson decided to create a full memoir of Elim Garak, a collection of notes that was eventually picked up by publisher Pocket Books and expanded into a full novel. It’s a testament to both the character’s enduring appeal and Robinson’s skill as a writer that the book was released once as a standalone, incorporated into the Litverse a few years later, and has now been rereleased as an audiobook read by Robinson himself. Not bad for a one-off appearance.

The obvious question is can the man write? There are an ever increasing number of authors who turn their attention to prose fiction, and not always with the best results. Sometimes there are co-writers involved, but that’s not the case here. Editors, yes, and experts on Trek canon, to be sure. But the words are Robinson’s own. By and large it’s a success. I could quibble with the lack of overall plot or the disjointed nature of chapters, but that would mean treating the book as a conventional narrative. It’s not that. It’s a memoir, comprised of journal entries and letters from Garak to Bashir. You have to expect a certain degree of jumping around. As a narrator, Robinson is even stronger. Age has not robbed any of Garak’s demeanour, which comes across more clearly in audio alone than you might expect. And while impersonating iconic characters is no easy feat, Robinson’s Quark and Odo aren’t half bad.

The story itself is broken down into three acts. The first takes place in Garak’s school days, with young Elim training at an exclusive academy. It’s here that we see how brutal Cardassian society can be. I have to give Robinson credit for not falling into the traps usually found in school-set fiction, as even the battles fought between students are decidedly non-deadly. The second act sees Garak serving as a member of the Obsidian Order, which delves deeply into Cardassian politics, and reminds us that this affable tailor is far from the nicest man in the galaxy. Finally we see Garak in exile on Terok Nor in the months before the start of Deep Space Nine. Scattered throughout these acts are sections set during the show and after the end of the Dominion War.

Since this book largely exists to fill holes in what the show told us about Garak’s past, there are no real surprises in here. Garak’s story is one of repeated failures and powerful enemies. It’s a tragedy in the finest tradition. But along the way we get wonderful insights into Cardassia’s history, it’s people, and it’s beliefs. This is where Cardassian religion was first depicted, and the long history of struggle that led to the conflicts seen and referenced on screen. It’s as much a book of worldbuilding as it is an exploration of character. It’s especially impressive to see just how much of this book was picked up by later authors in developing Cardassia. A fine legacy for a humble tailor to leave, with countless threads running through over twenty years of storytelling.

Long out of print in paperback, this audiobook is a wonderful way to experience Deep Space Nine through a different perspective, and hopefully sets a trend for bringing back old ideas in new forms.

Audio Stats

• Narrated by Andrew J. Robinson
• A Deep Space Nine Novel
• First published 2000 (Audiobook 2023)
• Published by Simon & Schuster Audio
• 12hrs 28 mins runtime