[Buecher] Fearful Symmetry (Spoiler)

Baerbel Haddrell
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Dies ist meine Besprechung von "Fearful Symmetry" von Olivia Woods. Nach
langer Wartezeit ist dies der neueste Band der DS9 Relaunch Serie.


S P O I L E R

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After I was left with a multiple Kira storyline and confused about which
Iliana Ghemor is which after “Warpath”, for the first time I wasn`t
looking forward to the next DS9 Relaunch book because I learned before
getting it that “Fearful Symmetry” is indeed mainly following part of
the multiple Kira story, namely the Iliana Ghemor confusion.

To my big surprise, I enjoyed the book from the beginning and now that I
have finished it I must say, it is excellent. I was very close to skip
the book but now I am very glad that I gave it the chance it deserves.
The big plus is, this time I wasn`t confused. Olivia Woods explained the
background Warpath needed in order not to only understand the part of
the ongoing storyline dealing with the two Ilianas but also to be able
to actually care. The book is short, especially compared to other recent
Star Trek books, but to me it was definitely worth it. If you are not
sensitive about spoilers, I would even recommend to read “Fearful
Symmetry” before “Warpath”. I think I would have enjoyed and appreciated
“Warpath” much more that way round and I intend to start reading
“Warpath” again, at least until “Greater than the Sum” arrives.

I have never seen a “flip book” before and it seems, also not my SF and
comics shop where I got it from. It is an interesting idea and it works
very well. After finishing the book I went back and compared the part in
both stories where the story threads intersected. Especially at these
points it was interesting to compare the differences but also the
similarities. It is a clever book and now I am hoping we will see the
flip book format again.

I read “Side One” first but want to start my review with “Side Two”.
This second part of the book tells the story of the Cardassian Iliana
Ghemor who was surgically altered to not only look like Kira but also to
assume her identity in order to infiltrate the Bajoran resistance.

I found the story to be very touching and thought provoking. First of
all, I read about Iliana the victim. The way the Cardassian state
manipulated her was chilling but not surprising. I also expected it from
the beginning that the death of Iliana`s fiancé was arranged in order to
prompt her to join the Obsidian Order. Ataan`s messages to her showed
very well the twisted, sick logic Cardassians used to justify their
crimes. I could also see how Iliana`s personality was poisoned by it.

On the other hand, sheltered or not, Iliana especially showed at the
beginning that she was not a mindless follower but a critical thinker.
She was able to make her own decisions and choices. As much as I felt
for her at times, I refuse to excuse bad choices with faults in the
upbringing of the person. Yes, she was manipulated but, no, nobody
forced her to join the Obsidian Order, give up her art career and choose
to become a different person in many ways.

I remember discussions about Section 31 and the argument some people use
that all members of that organization are terrorists. To me, the
Obsidian Order was something very similar and this example is one of
many showing that this argument is not working. It is not that simple.

Illiana allowed herself to be driven further and further away from the
person she was and being turned more and more into a killer loyal to the
State. But for becoming the madwoman I remember from “Warpath”,
something very drastic had to have happened.

“Terok Nor” (at least the two books I have read so far of that trilogy)
showed very clearly that Dukat was a villain from the beginning. But it
also showed that this was happening in stages, that he became
progressively more ruthless over the years. I remember that after he
crossed another threshold by brutalizing Kira`s mother, his comfort
woman, he didn`t like what he was seeing in the mirror and wanted to get
rid of that memory by killing her. I would never have expected that he
kept Iliana for years as his sex slave and punching bag whenever he felt
the need to get rid of some steam.

It does not only show Dukat`s way into darkness but also progressively
into madness. Kira`s mother was his pet, his toy but in his own twisted
way he cared for her. Although he brutalized Bajor and its people, his
way of thinking was that it is nevertheless happening for their own good
and he expected some gratitude and recognition for it, which never came.
With Meru, it was the same. He felt betrayed by the ungrateful Bajorans
and his ungrateful comfort woman. Her daughter, Kira, disappointed him
too by being a resistance fighter – or from Dukat`s perspective, a
terrorist. I think this background explains Dukat`s actions. He couldn`t
kill the real Kira or order her to be killed like her mother. He didn`t
want to harm her but nevertheless, she needed to be punished.

I would never have expected that DS9 Relaunch would take Dukat that far
down the abyss but it makes a lot of sense. I certainly understand the
Iliana I met in Warpath a lot better because that this woman is
completely mad by now is not surprising at all. Knowing her background,
it makes this character so much more tragic. On some level, I wish she
could be helped and healed but on another level I am afraid that she is
beyond help. First of all, she needs to be stopped.

I wonder if the real Kira will find out from her surviving prisoner what
happened to Iliana. I think she should, also because it would make
dealing with her more complex and interesting from a story telling
perspective. (Or was this already mentioned before and I forgot about it?)

This brings me to “Side One”. I could understand very well the
tremendous stress the real Kira was under, physically and
psychologically. Kira is a passionate woman and sometimes this causes
her to lash out at others without thinking things through properly. I
could understand her initial attitude towards Vaughn but nevertheless,
it was wrong and Vaughn, who has his own problems like his tendency to
worry about his usefulness, reacted more strongly than what is
reasonable, too. I am not so sure if Vaughn really recovered from
feeling hurt but it was good to see that Kira recognized her mistake.

The revelation that the MU Sisko is still alive and, according to the
Prophets, needs to be convinced to accept his role as Emissary is very
interesting and I am very curious how things will develop. I can
understand why this mission is so important and to a degree why Vaughn
is the natural candidate to do it. But in what way is Sisko betraying
him? I am sure, we will find out but it makes me wonder already. I know
Sisko is able to make very painful decisions, also sacrificing his own
conscience, when he thinks that the end justifies the means and the
stakes are high enough. I hope this is not the start of another tragic
road for Vaughn because I think he has suffered enough in the past.
Vaughn is a very experienced man and my hope is, whatever Sisko has
planned for him, he can turn it around into something positive, also for
himself. I most definitely don`t want him to be killed off. After
Calhoun, he is my favourite Star Trek book-only character.

It was good to see that Ro is starting to overcome her physical and
psychological problems as well. I want to add at the end of my review
that I enjoyed the part with Quark and his bar because inserting a bit
of humour into this serious book was a good idea. And I really like
Treir. She is a great character.

It is good to know, too, that next year I can look forward to two more
DS9 Relaunch books!

Baerbel Haddrell
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