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Star Trek: The Mirror Universe Trilogy #2
Dark Victory
James T. Kirk returns to the mirror universe that was first seen in the original televised Star Trek, to engage in a battle with the cleverest and most dangerous foe he has ever encountered, his mirror universe duplicate.
352 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published April 1, 1999
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599 people want to read
About the author
William Shatner
135 books809 followersWilliam Shatner is the author of nine Star Trek novels, including the New York Times bestsellers The Ashes of Eden and The Return. He is also the author of several nonfiction books, including Get a Life! and I'm Working on That. In addition to his role as Captain James T. Kirk, he stars as Denny Crane in the hit television series from David E. Kelley, Boston Legal -- a role for which he has won two Emmy Awards and a Golden Globe.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews
April 6, 2010
Saying that this book is by Shatner is misleading. He has two co-writers on his Star Trek books, Judith and Garfield Reeves-Stevens. They also wrote the excellent book, Federation, that I recently finished reading.
You can see their influence in the books. In particular, this book has a lot of nice touches and a lot of the secondary characters are used really well. In particular, this book makes good use of one of my favorite DS9 characters, Garak, the humble Cardassian tailor. The continuity and background of all of the Star Trek series (at the time...this is pre-Enterprise) are used.
However, the writing on Kirk feels....off. You would think that the author who played the character would have a strong feeling for the character, but I get the feeling that Shatner takes more control on the character and writes him in a way that he imagines the character, not the way he is usually written. Picard also feels off.
The writing is never fantastic, but it is entertaining and the story has enough "neat" moments to keep you reading through and wanting more. A fun, if not fantastic, read.
You can see their influence in the books. In particular, this book has a lot of nice touches and a lot of the secondary characters are used really well. In particular, this book makes good use of one of my favorite DS9 characters, Garak, the humble Cardassian tailor. The continuity and background of all of the Star Trek series (at the time...this is pre-Enterprise) are used.
However, the writing on Kirk feels....off. You would think that the author who played the character would have a strong feeling for the character, but I get the feeling that Shatner takes more control on the character and writes him in a way that he imagines the character, not the way he is usually written. Picard also feels off.
The writing is never fantastic, but it is entertaining and the story has enough "neat" moments to keep you reading through and wanting more. A fun, if not fantastic, read.
May 29, 2015
Another cliff hanger ending. I was not quite as happy with this story as the first book.
Off the top:
The secret orginazation is a little much, but Garak, the taylor, from DS9 was refreshing.
I liked the wedding, but good grief, couldn't they at least have had a wedding night together? Read it yourself, if you want to know more!
Dr. M'Benga was quite a different person in this story than in the first one. Too much of a difference for me.
I don't remember Baylok (first 5 year mission character and TV episode guy) as part of a "First Federation". They are the Preservers?
And that is the lead-in to the last book in the trilogy - by the same name.
Off the top:
The secret orginazation is a little much, but Garak, the taylor, from DS9 was refreshing.
I liked the wedding, but good grief, couldn't they at least have had a wedding night together? Read it yourself, if you want to know more!
Dr. M'Benga was quite a different person in this story than in the first one. Too much of a difference for me.
I don't remember Baylok (first 5 year mission character and TV episode guy) as part of a "First Federation". They are the Preservers?
And that is the lead-in to the last book in the trilogy - by the same name.
January 15, 2023
You stole a universe from me, James. And now I’m here to do the same to you.
--Emperor Tiberius the First
On the bridge of the duplicate Voyager, Captain James T. Kirk stares at his own dark reflection. The face that stares back smiles in triumph. Tiberius the First, the most depraved dictator in human history, sits smugly in the center chair on the bridge of the Enterprise-E. Star Trek: Dark Victory kicks off with the shocking revelation that Tiberius has survived to the 24th century and has been secretly manipulating the strings all along. William Shatner and his collaborators continue the story with even more twists and turns and secret revelations.
Caesar’s Return:
Tiberius escaped Spock’s coup and helped forge the Klingon-Cardassian Alliance. Realizing that his collaborators would betray him, he slipped away in a Sleeper Ship. His ship went off course and he was lost for 78 years. Discovered by an Alliance survey ship and awaked, Tiberius took over the ship and began to plan his return to power. Here is where the expository information becomes somewhat more complex than the average Star Trek story. The background could be a novel in and of itself.
Kirk vs. Kirk:
As Voyager cuts loose with phasers in a desperate attack on the Enterprise-E, Tiberius escapes to the surface of a nearby asteroid. Chasing his counterpart, Kirk engages the deposed tyrant in a desperate battle—neither giving ground as the asteroid spins towards its own chaotic end in the plasma storms of the Goldin Discontinuity. Tumbling off the edge of the asteroid, Tiberius mysteriously vanishes just as a secret Starfleet task force arrives to take control of the situation. Just as quickly as it began, the fight is over.
Conspiracies:
Convinced that Tiberius is dead, Kirk returns to Chal to begin his life with Teilani. The happiness of their reunion is shattered when Teilani is mysteriously poisoned. As Dr. McCoy and Ambassador Spock work to find a cure for his stricken bride, Kirk begins to unravel a conspiracy within Starfleet itself—a conspiracy that may be secretly aiding Tiberius in his quest for power. This narrative takes a much darker, cerebral turn than its predecessor. There is a lot to take in and at times the intricacies of the plot get complicated. This plays into the world-building the authors are striving for. This is not the cookie-cutter Star Trek scenario.
Plots Within the Federation:
The world Shatner and his co-authors create is far from the idyllic future originally envisioned by Mr. Roddenberry. Sadly, his vision relied on humanity overcoming its pettiness—a beautiful dream, but invariably quixotic. The Federation is discreetly involved in a nefarious plot to isolate Kirk from the facts surrounding the invasion from the Mirror Universe and its implications. They may even have been complicit in poisoning Teilani, purposely directing the blame for the attack toward Tiberius himself. As Kirk works to unravel the conspiracy, he finds himself at odds with the very organization he dedicated his life to preserving.
The End of the Universe:
Aiding Kirk in his quest to unravel this multi-layered mystery, Captain Jean-Luc Picard finds himself confronted by two quirky psychohistorians—A Vulcan named T’Serl and a Ferengi named Lept. This strange duo warn Picard that James T. Kirk will inadvertently trigger a cataclysm that will destroy the universe. But which James T. Kirk—the former captain or the deposed emperor?
A Deal with The Devil:
Realizing both he and Tiberius are being manipulated by outside forces, Kirk travels through the looking glass and finds his counterpart on the devastated Mirror Earth. Indifferent at first, then intrigued at the intricacies of the plot, Tiberius offers to aid Kirk. His bride will live, but Kirk must serve as confessor and audience for his depraved counterpart.
Analysis:
Star Trek: Dark Victory is an epic narrative. It's almost too big for one novel, and there are parts that come across as too much to take in on the first reading. It depicts a universe less aligned with the peaceful future envisioned by Gene Roddenberry and more in line with the stark, harsh reality in which we live. At times, it seems as if the Prime Universe of Kirk and his compatriots is almost as dark and twisted as the Mirror Universe of Tiberius and his followers—the lines separating the Federation and the Terran Empire somewhat less blurred.
This book comes from my personal collection, but I am leaving a professional review
--Emperor Tiberius the First
On the bridge of the duplicate Voyager, Captain James T. Kirk stares at his own dark reflection. The face that stares back smiles in triumph. Tiberius the First, the most depraved dictator in human history, sits smugly in the center chair on the bridge of the Enterprise-E. Star Trek: Dark Victory kicks off with the shocking revelation that Tiberius has survived to the 24th century and has been secretly manipulating the strings all along. William Shatner and his collaborators continue the story with even more twists and turns and secret revelations.
Caesar’s Return:
Tiberius escaped Spock’s coup and helped forge the Klingon-Cardassian Alliance. Realizing that his collaborators would betray him, he slipped away in a Sleeper Ship. His ship went off course and he was lost for 78 years. Discovered by an Alliance survey ship and awaked, Tiberius took over the ship and began to plan his return to power. Here is where the expository information becomes somewhat more complex than the average Star Trek story. The background could be a novel in and of itself.
Kirk vs. Kirk:
As Voyager cuts loose with phasers in a desperate attack on the Enterprise-E, Tiberius escapes to the surface of a nearby asteroid. Chasing his counterpart, Kirk engages the deposed tyrant in a desperate battle—neither giving ground as the asteroid spins towards its own chaotic end in the plasma storms of the Goldin Discontinuity. Tumbling off the edge of the asteroid, Tiberius mysteriously vanishes just as a secret Starfleet task force arrives to take control of the situation. Just as quickly as it began, the fight is over.
Conspiracies:
Convinced that Tiberius is dead, Kirk returns to Chal to begin his life with Teilani. The happiness of their reunion is shattered when Teilani is mysteriously poisoned. As Dr. McCoy and Ambassador Spock work to find a cure for his stricken bride, Kirk begins to unravel a conspiracy within Starfleet itself—a conspiracy that may be secretly aiding Tiberius in his quest for power. This narrative takes a much darker, cerebral turn than its predecessor. There is a lot to take in and at times the intricacies of the plot get complicated. This plays into the world-building the authors are striving for. This is not the cookie-cutter Star Trek scenario.
Plots Within the Federation:
The world Shatner and his co-authors create is far from the idyllic future originally envisioned by Mr. Roddenberry. Sadly, his vision relied on humanity overcoming its pettiness—a beautiful dream, but invariably quixotic. The Federation is discreetly involved in a nefarious plot to isolate Kirk from the facts surrounding the invasion from the Mirror Universe and its implications. They may even have been complicit in poisoning Teilani, purposely directing the blame for the attack toward Tiberius himself. As Kirk works to unravel the conspiracy, he finds himself at odds with the very organization he dedicated his life to preserving.
The End of the Universe:
Aiding Kirk in his quest to unravel this multi-layered mystery, Captain Jean-Luc Picard finds himself confronted by two quirky psychohistorians—A Vulcan named T’Serl and a Ferengi named Lept. This strange duo warn Picard that James T. Kirk will inadvertently trigger a cataclysm that will destroy the universe. But which James T. Kirk—the former captain or the deposed emperor?
A Deal with The Devil:
Realizing both he and Tiberius are being manipulated by outside forces, Kirk travels through the looking glass and finds his counterpart on the devastated Mirror Earth. Indifferent at first, then intrigued at the intricacies of the plot, Tiberius offers to aid Kirk. His bride will live, but Kirk must serve as confessor and audience for his depraved counterpart.
Analysis:
Star Trek: Dark Victory is an epic narrative. It's almost too big for one novel, and there are parts that come across as too much to take in on the first reading. It depicts a universe less aligned with the peaceful future envisioned by Gene Roddenberry and more in line with the stark, harsh reality in which we live. At times, it seems as if the Prime Universe of Kirk and his compatriots is almost as dark and twisted as the Mirror Universe of Tiberius and his followers—the lines separating the Federation and the Terran Empire somewhat less blurred.
This book comes from my personal collection, but I am leaving a professional review
October 16, 2022
It is indeed a science fiction book, but the science fiction in this book is next level, as in I had no clue what was going on half the time because of all the science jargon and highly complex technological stuff being described all the time. I feel like I need to be an astrophysicist or spaceship engineer just to understand what was happening. It’s really easy to get lost and confused when you aren’t watching the scenes play out on a TV, and your very non- science fictiony mind is trying to imagine all these things which you have no clue what they even are or what they look like.
The book assumes you know all the technology in DEEP detail ranging across FIVE ST universes- TOS, TNG, Voyager, DS9 and the Mirror Universe.
Suffice it to say; it gets a bit overwhelming, especially for readers who haven’t viewed all of those series (I’ve only watched TOS and TNG).
Plot wise, the book also felt a little disjointed and abrupt in many places, lacking the smooth flow and quick paced action of its predecessors. The characters felt a bit out of touch too (that is, the ones I actually knew).
I understand the attempt to appeal to a larger fan base of all the ST series by incoroporating all of them into the book, but personally I think it was a bit much, and the later series should’ve got their own unique books, instead of trying to cram all the characters of 4 shows into a single novel which is actually centred around Kirk from TOS. Just my honest opinion.
As other reviewers have said, the book felt like nothing more than a filler between the first and third novel of the Mirror Universe series, so as to try keep them as a trilogy. It had absolutely no plot conclusions and purely just set the stage for book 3.
I am really hoping the third book improves upon this and ends off the trilogy in a more coherent conclusion. (And does the right thing for Kirk and Teilani!)
The book assumes you know all the technology in DEEP detail ranging across FIVE ST universes- TOS, TNG, Voyager, DS9 and the Mirror Universe.
Suffice it to say; it gets a bit overwhelming, especially for readers who haven’t viewed all of those series (I’ve only watched TOS and TNG).
Plot wise, the book also felt a little disjointed and abrupt in many places, lacking the smooth flow and quick paced action of its predecessors. The characters felt a bit out of touch too (that is, the ones I actually knew).
I understand the attempt to appeal to a larger fan base of all the ST series by incoroporating all of them into the book, but personally I think it was a bit much, and the later series should’ve got their own unique books, instead of trying to cram all the characters of 4 shows into a single novel which is actually centred around Kirk from TOS. Just my honest opinion.
As other reviewers have said, the book felt like nothing more than a filler between the first and third novel of the Mirror Universe series, so as to try keep them as a trilogy. It had absolutely no plot conclusions and purely just set the stage for book 3.
I am really hoping the third book improves upon this and ends off the trilogy in a more coherent conclusion. (And does the right thing for Kirk and Teilani!)
June 30, 2022
Universes mirrored but different in this 2nd of the Mirror Universe trilogy. Very good read for fans of classic Star Trek, but eh, for those who are TNG, DS9 or Voyager. But of course, with William Shatner writing this, it is primarily centered on James T. Kirk. Which is all well and good. It has been a little while since reading Spectre, so took a little time to remember what had happened, but pretty much picks up where Spectre left off.
Love the mirror universe episodes and novels where on the other side, Kirk, Picard, etc are barbaric warriors of the Terran Empire. Would have loved to seen this made into a movie or made for TV series, but alas, would have to be new actors now for the most part.
At times the story got confusing, and could not figure out which person was from what universe, especially with the Dr. M'Benga sectons of the book.
Would give it 3.5 stars show rounded up, mainly deducting for less involvement of TNG and even some of the other main cast, but just enough to keep you interested. As some other reviewers have mentioned, seems Shatner can downplay or insult Picard.
The good about this book is the guessing game as you don't know who to trust, and leads to a guessing game.
With Shatner you do get good Star Trek quotations and mannerisms of the TOS characters.
Love the mirror universe episodes and novels where on the other side, Kirk, Picard, etc are barbaric warriors of the Terran Empire. Would have loved to seen this made into a movie or made for TV series, but alas, would have to be new actors now for the most part.
At times the story got confusing, and could not figure out which person was from what universe, especially with the Dr. M'Benga sectons of the book.
Would give it 3.5 stars show rounded up, mainly deducting for less involvement of TNG and even some of the other main cast, but just enough to keep you interested. As some other reviewers have mentioned, seems Shatner can downplay or insult Picard.
The good about this book is the guessing game as you don't know who to trust, and leads to a guessing game.
With Shatner you do get good Star Trek quotations and mannerisms of the TOS characters.
February 27, 2023
These Shatnerverse books are a disaster and I'm completely obsessed with them! I will say, the writing on "Dark Victory" was a big step up over the previous volumes and shows and encyclopedic knowledge of the entire Trek universe. However, this leads me to believe that the ghost writers almost completely wrote this volume, and not Shatner. (Do you really think Shatner knows Deep Space Nine frontwards and backwards? I think not.)
I somewhat agree with the criticism that this is an interstitial book that just sets up the next story. The reader was led to believe this was going to be Kirk vs. Evil Kirk and there is definitely an aspect of that but it largely gets punted down the field.
The scientific and larger Trek ideas dealt with in this book are really interesting like memory erasing, poisonous child weapons and who began civilization among the stars. If you like Trek, and are patient with Shatner's huge ego, give this series a try.
I somewhat agree with the criticism that this is an interstitial book that just sets up the next story. The reader was led to believe this was going to be Kirk vs. Evil Kirk and there is definitely an aspect of that but it largely gets punted down the field.
The scientific and larger Trek ideas dealt with in this book are really interesting like memory erasing, poisonous child weapons and who began civilization among the stars. If you like Trek, and are patient with Shatner's huge ego, give this series a try.
May 31, 2018
While there are certainly aspects of Dark Victory that I enjoyed, I feel that it falls short of being a good Star Trek novel. Instead of feeling like a complete book in and of itself, it simply serves to connect the novels that precede and follow it. The conclusion is also fairly clunky, and I would have preferred a more compelling cliffhanger or conclusion than the note the story ends on. Unfortunately, this has been the low note in the Shatnerverse novels up to this point.
Full review: http://treklit.blogspot.com/2018/05/D...
Full review: http://treklit.blogspot.com/2018/05/D...
July 31, 2024
Read it years go, but now found the audiobook - still rather like it.
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7/20/21 - listened to it unabridged... at times figured, yeah it could use some abridging, but still good next part to the series.
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7/20/21 - listened to it unabridged... at times figured, yeah it could use some abridging, but still good next part to the series.
May 24, 2022
It’s often said about some people that they think the universe revolves around them. In earlier times, humans once thought that everything revolved around Earth. In Star Trek: Dark Victory, the universe revolves around Captain Kirk.
This is the fifth novel written by William Shatner and Judith and Garfield Reeves-Stevens. In it, they pick up immediately at the end of Star Trek: Spectre.
Kirk, Spock, and an aged Dr. McCoy are working with the crew of the Enterprise from Star Trek: The Next Generation, as well as several characters from Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and Star Trek: Voyager. As if the canvas was not thick enough already, there is a crossover between this universe and the militant alternate universe seen in the original Star Trek series as well as Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.
At times this gets very confusing, with two Spocks, characters from one universe but not the other, as well as characters related to other characters in one universe, but who don’t exist in the other.
This leads to major confusion, even for me as a very big Star Trek fan. I found it very difficult to keep track of what characters were who and involved with things in what way. The prime motivation of the author(s) seems to be showing off how much t(he)y have been keeping up with the Star Trek universe. There are many references to events in the most recent Star Trek film at the time, Star Trek: Insurrection. It’s gratuitous and doesn’t need to be there most of the time, and it just drags the story down.
To read my full review, please go to: https://thoughtsfromthemountaintop.co...
This is the fifth novel written by William Shatner and Judith and Garfield Reeves-Stevens. In it, they pick up immediately at the end of Star Trek: Spectre.
Kirk, Spock, and an aged Dr. McCoy are working with the crew of the Enterprise from Star Trek: The Next Generation, as well as several characters from Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and Star Trek: Voyager. As if the canvas was not thick enough already, there is a crossover between this universe and the militant alternate universe seen in the original Star Trek series as well as Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.
At times this gets very confusing, with two Spocks, characters from one universe but not the other, as well as characters related to other characters in one universe, but who don’t exist in the other.
This leads to major confusion, even for me as a very big Star Trek fan. I found it very difficult to keep track of what characters were who and involved with things in what way. The prime motivation of the author(s) seems to be showing off how much t(he)y have been keeping up with the Star Trek universe. There are many references to events in the most recent Star Trek film at the time, Star Trek: Insurrection. It’s gratuitous and doesn’t need to be there most of the time, and it just drags the story down.
To read my full review, please go to: https://thoughtsfromthemountaintop.co...
February 19, 2025
Well this felt like one of the shortest Shatnerverse stories so far, and very much like just filler between the first and last books of the middle trilogy. There are some great plot elements revealed which certainly give one high expectations for the next book. The final reveal is very intriguing but feels somewhat disconnected from the storytelling.
We start right where we left off, on the bridge of Mirror Voyager, as Mirror Kirk (aka Tiberius) appears and makes some classic alpha villain threats before being destroyed. Or was he? After an assasination attempt is made on Kirk's new wife suspicions rise about whether Tiberius really had died. Kirk leads a mission to try to find a way to save his wife and protect the Prime universe.
We get to hang out with Garak, who is hanging out with Dr. M'Benga (the great grand daughter of early Trek's Dr. M'Benga), who is in the middle of some weird conspiracy that Garak will help her to discover. Sisko gets a few mentions but I don't think he dropped in. We do see Bashir briefly and then the rest of the team are mostly TNG regulars.
I guess since there was no sexual tension to complain about, I might mention instead that it's getting a little annoying how antagonsitic characters behave with each other. Regularly, I would say at least twice per book, Picard and Kirk will have energetic disagreements during which Kirk considers getting into a physical tussle to teach Picard a lesson. Grow up kids, you're all on the same side and you know it!
It's not that nothing happens here, just that it doesn't feels like a story on its own.
We start right where we left off, on the bridge of Mirror Voyager, as Mirror Kirk (aka Tiberius) appears and makes some classic alpha villain threats before being destroyed. Or was he? After an assasination attempt is made on Kirk's new wife suspicions rise about whether Tiberius really had died. Kirk leads a mission to try to find a way to save his wife and protect the Prime universe.
We get to hang out with Garak, who is hanging out with Dr. M'Benga (the great grand daughter of early Trek's Dr. M'Benga), who is in the middle of some weird conspiracy that Garak will help her to discover. Sisko gets a few mentions but I don't think he dropped in. We do see Bashir briefly and then the rest of the team are mostly TNG regulars.
I guess since there was no sexual tension to complain about, I might mention instead that it's getting a little annoying how antagonsitic characters behave with each other. Regularly, I would say at least twice per book, Picard and Kirk will have energetic disagreements during which Kirk considers getting into a physical tussle to teach Picard a lesson. Grow up kids, you're all on the same side and you know it!
It's not that nothing happens here, just that it doesn't feels like a story on its own.
February 21, 2023
The Shatnerverse stories pack a lot of potential, but I always feel that the narrative falls short. Part of this issue is the overarching problem with any shared universe, especially when there was no strong narrative drive to tie all the various stories and eras together.
The Shatnerverse does a fair job of tying Star Trek history together, only to watch it get blown apart with shows like Enterprise and Discovery. Still, taken at the time of its writing, the second part of the Mirror Universe Trilogy does a terrific job of continuing the narrative of the Mirror Universe that got expounded during the DS9 era ... with the addition of Tiberius Kirk running around, somehow also surviving into the 24th century.
However, the cat-and-mouse hunting game between the two Kirks is quickly waylaid as the narrators tie in the gap between the First Contact and Insurrection films, with the original Kirk hanging around in the background waiting for the next universal crisis to propel him out of retirement yet again.
It's not a fantastic read, but I find the Shatnerverse to be a bit of a guilty pleasure to read through now and again.
The Shatnerverse does a fair job of tying Star Trek history together, only to watch it get blown apart with shows like Enterprise and Discovery. Still, taken at the time of its writing, the second part of the Mirror Universe Trilogy does a terrific job of continuing the narrative of the Mirror Universe that got expounded during the DS9 era ... with the addition of Tiberius Kirk running around, somehow also surviving into the 24th century.
However, the cat-and-mouse hunting game between the two Kirks is quickly waylaid as the narrators tie in the gap between the First Contact and Insurrection films, with the original Kirk hanging around in the background waiting for the next universal crisis to propel him out of retirement yet again.
It's not a fantastic read, but I find the Shatnerverse to be a bit of a guilty pleasure to read through now and again.
May 27, 2021
Shatner är bra i samarbete med författarna Reeves-Stevens, mycket bra. Det är som alltid mycket svängar och snabba ändringar och man kan som läsare inte vara helt säker på utgången förrän utgången faktiskt är där. Det är det som gör boken så oerhört bra. Att det sedan finns vissa inkonsekvenser gentemot annan litteratur som irriterar en flitig läsare får vi väl ha visst överseende med, men det är också det som sänker betyget. En höjdarsekvens är en med Garak där han låter konspirationsteorier flöda:
Garak: "Det finns inget som en bra konspiration för att sätta igång hjärtat och sinnet".
M'Benga: "Det är ingen konspiration".
Garak: "Men, käre doktor, det är ju precis vad de vill att du skall tänka."
Bashir: "Snälla Garak, nu går du för långt, t.o.m. för att vara du."
Garak: "Du är oerhört känslig omkring detta, doktor. Det är nästan så man tror att du är involverad i de mörka krafter som drar sig samman mot henne."
M'Benga skrattar högt, varpå Garak svarar: "Att vägra tro på att de existerar ger dem bara mer makt. Tro mig, jag vet."
Garak: "Det finns inget som en bra konspiration för att sätta igång hjärtat och sinnet".
M'Benga: "Det är ingen konspiration".
Garak: "Men, käre doktor, det är ju precis vad de vill att du skall tänka."
Bashir: "Snälla Garak, nu går du för långt, t.o.m. för att vara du."
Garak: "Du är oerhört känslig omkring detta, doktor. Det är nästan så man tror att du är involverad i de mörka krafter som drar sig samman mot henne."
M'Benga skrattar högt, varpå Garak svarar: "Att vägra tro på att de existerar ger dem bara mer makt. Tro mig, jag vet."
March 1, 2021
A unique storyline which features characters from Star Trek: The Original Series and Star Trek: The Next Generation. Spock, mirror Spock, mirror Janeway, mirror Spock's daughter T'Val, Scotty and Dr. McCoy all take part in the festivities. A sidebar has Dr. Andrea M'Benga (great-granddaughter of Dr. Jabilo M'Benga meeting the Cardassian tailor Garak on Deep Space 9). James T. Kirk is still alive despite having died on Veridian III and having his hands burnt beyond repair. The book carries on where Star Trek: Spectre left off - various characters from our universe chasing characters from the "Mirror Universe". Kirk eventually finds his mirror opposite, Tiberius the Triumphant and makes a deal with him. The TOS episode The Corbomite Maneuver (Season 1, Episode 10) features prominently in this deal. You'll have to read Star Trek: Preserver to find out more.
May 4, 2019
This is a book that starts to make you think that being lost isn't so bad. there are a lot of strange moments. William Shatner exposes some of that character that the rest of the acting crew refer too often in their memoirs, about the Great and powerful Captain Kirk trying to overshadow all others. Mr. Spock has emotional moments that would make Lenard Nimoy Cringe, Kirk even considers how if he has limits of what he could do, He has not yet found them, Barf!, There is a story, and it isn't that bad, it's just that in the background you can feel those fingernails scraping down the chalkboard. This is a Good Read.
September 28, 2022
Not to be confused with the excellent Batman story of the same name, I actually started reading Dark Victory after finishing Star Wars novel Victory’s Price. I had read the first four “Shatnerverse” novel back in 2013, and the fourth one, Spectre, ended on a cliffhanger the library at the time didn’t have the remaining books in the Mirror Universe trilogy, but the library near where I currently live did. Dark Victory was a relatively quick read. I like how Kirk thinks about Captain Pike and his impact on him for a scene. And the banter between the remaining TOS characters is on point.
July 18, 2021
Probably closer to 4.5 stars. Only because the reality of having all the characters you love in one story is unlikely to say the least but I'm a trekkie so the fan service was well appreciated. There were so many scenes that felt true to characters, even to how Kirk speaks, and were true to start trek plots and technology. Loads of fun reading this one. Found it at a second hand shop. Now I've gotta look for the rest in this series
August 22, 2018
Great story. A great way to continue this excellent story arch. The story lines here I feel are 5 Star. This book continues the excellent story but this book to me felt like a transitional story to set up for the final. Liked it a lot but not as definitive but not as independent in its own story as all the other Shatner Star Trek moves I’ve read so far.
June 29, 2019
Seriously, don’t read this book. Although the plot is fairly interesting, the writing varies. It is at its worst when describing Kurt’s behavior and thoughts. The terms “trite” and “hackneyed“ come to mind.
And when you get to the end of the book, we’ll, there isn’t one. It’s just one long lead into the next book in the series. Which I am definitely NOT reading.
And when you get to the end of the book, we’ll, there isn’t one. It’s just one long lead into the next book in the series. Which I am definitely NOT reading.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 16, 2022
Questo secondo capitolo della seconda trilogia di William Shatner mi è piaciuto tantissimo. Non è il classico secondo volume che fa da ponte e in cui non succede nulla, al contrario è adrenalinico e ricco di avvenimenti. Anche questa trilogia è stupenda ma, ehi, stiamo parlando di Shatner quindi non avevo dubbi!
December 31, 2017
I thought this book was much better than the 1st..Jim's wedding to Teilani, The tragedy,Project Sign, conspiracies, Clone children, Whose your daddy? James Kirk working with Tiberius..just great stuff!!On to the next...cause yeah it ended in a cliffhanger again..
November 12, 2019
I've liked the 6 books so far in he's set of books I've read and this was no different. Although I prefer his partner be in the books It'll take a bit to get to the last 3 outside of his Academy book
December 5, 2020
Book 2 of a trilogy Shatner wrote about the Mirror Universe. Great storyline plus involvement of so many characters (for example Garak!) from the Star Trek shows plus building new characters. Looking forward to reading the conclusion!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 7, 2022
So jumping into this trilogy in the middle was probably a bad idea. But weirdly, I still enjoyed this? It was a very confusing read, but the story swept me up, and I know I wanted to know what happened before and next.
April 24, 2023
Standard fare. Good for brain candy purposes.
I read the Kindle version, though, and it was so poorly edited that I spent as much time trying to sort through typos as I did reading. That can be distracting.
I read the Kindle version, though, and it was so poorly edited that I spent as much time trying to sort through typos as I did reading. That can be distracting.
June 17, 2024
Well done military historical fiction. With a nice juxtaposition between Union and Confederate characters perspectives.
Personally found the various love stories overdone and a little predictable but the base Civil War historical fiction was well done.
Personally found the various love stories overdone and a little predictable but the base Civil War historical fiction was well done.
March 31, 2025
Just a note, the ebook I downloaded from amazon has multiple typos (fight should have been right, down written as clown, etc.) I do note that I downloaded this prior to 2016 so changes may have been made.
September 1, 2023
An enjoyable follow-up to the first of the trilogy, the writing is somewhat improved.
March 14, 2024
Interesting book.
Did not realize it was a short series and read this book before the first one.
Enjoyable and recommend for reading to others.
Did not realize it was a short series and read this book before the first one.
Enjoyable and recommend for reading to others.
March 10, 2017
Dark Victory see's Kirk, Picard and a veritable host of characters of character storming across the galaxy following the events of the previous books with conspiracies emerging that as first seem unconnected but as the story progresses seem to have more in common and the way that the disparate groups realise this brilliantly handled! :D Project Sign and what they are williing to do is to Teilani is chilling and sets Kirk off on his vengenace/recovery mission! :D Dark Victory is full of action, human and adventure the scenes are genuinely nail biting but in the face of all this there is humour Picard's reaction to Riker's comments about how he has so much in common with Kirk is rib breaking! :D The book has a huge Cliffhanger so try and make sure you have the sequel handy! :D Dark Victory is a roller coaster ride that will keep your guessing - the most obvious isn't always the case certainly applies, edge of the seat, brilliant and action packed! :D Brilliant and highly recommended! :D
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 28, 2020
I did write a separate review for Book 1, Spectre. This review is for the series as a whole. I won’t rehash what I’ve already said, I love Spectre so much. I was so excited to continue on with the series. Unfortunately, Books 2 and 3 do not live up to the awesomeness of Book 1. I felt like we switched from Shatner to his ghost writers. Book 2, Dark Victory, felt like nothing more than a placeholder. It existed just to give details so we would get what was happening in Book 3. Teilani turned into a completely different person and Kirk went from maverick to unhinged. I was also completely out of my league with the science. Normally, I can keep up in Star Trek. I get the basics and pick up things as I go. I know that a cloaked vessel emits tachyon particles and that’s the best way to detect it ... but I can’t really tell you why it does or what tachyon particles are. Dark Victory went to a more advanced level that I knew I’d never be able to reach. It felt like a struggle just to understand what was going on half the time. Book 3, Preserver, got better, but I was still disappointed. The story line that was developing in Spectre was what I wanted to read. But by the end of Preserver, we were in a completely different quadrant and I’m still not sure how we got there. Preserver dealt more with history than with science so I felt a little better on my own turf, but I really didn’t like how it made me question literally everything I had seen and learned from Star Trek up to that point. And the ending just felt incomplete, like Kirk lost who he was along the way. Overall, I was just dissatisfied. I wanted to enjoy it, and I did enjoy parts, but Shatner let me down and I mourn what this series could have been!!
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