Scorched Earth
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| Star Trek DS9 Fanfiction | |
|---|---|
| Title: | Scorched Earth |
| Author(s): | Una McCormack |
| Date(s): | |
| Length: | 35,750 words |
| Genre: | Canon Divergence AU, Drama, Angst, Gen |
| Fandom: | Star Trek: Deep Space Nine |
| External Links: | On AO3 online here |
Click here for related articles on Fanlore. | |
Scorched Earth is a Star Trek: DS9 story by Una McCormack. The fic is novella-length, at over 35,000 words. Scorched Earth focuses on Elim Garak in a canon divergence AU where the Obsidian Order successfully destroyed the Dominion's homeworld.
Reactions and Reviews
First, this novel has an engrossing plot wherein the Obsidian Order and the Tal'Shiar succeed in their attack against the Founders. The author takes us right into the treacherous corridors of power on Cardassia where Garak has returned to Tain's side. At first, all goes well, but as events increasingly spin out of his control, Garak's decisions will change both him and the Alpha Quadrant forever.Second, Una McCormack writes characters that are vibrant and believable. Her original creations intermingle with DS9's characters with ease, creating a realistic network of family, friends and enemies surrounding Garak. Moreover, through glimpses of Garak's past and an unflinching examination of his actions in this new future, Una provides the reader with a far deeper understanding of Garak than canon ever supplied.
Finally, Scorched Earth poses the question of how an intelligent man of culture and conscience could participate in evil. It's a testament to the author's integrity that she doesn't offer easy answers to her readers nor provide an easy atonement for her characters. It's a testament to her skill that the answers she uncovers are unforgettable. [1]
[Bullethead] The author really nails the feel of the Cardassian society portrayed and alluded to in DS9, and takes the plot in an interesting direction with the AU they've created. [2]
Yet I found this novel moving and involving from the start, pulling me right into Garak's world—a character which Una makes something of a specialty and who she writes with uncommon insight.[3]
"AU – Enabran Tain's plan to eliminate the Founder homeworld is successful, and Garak joins the newly-ascended Obsidian Order as it takes over Cardassia... and has some serious doubts while doing it. It's of the "long and plotty" AU variety, and utilizes original characters very well. It's also one of the few fics where a canon character has kids that didn't make me want to kick things. If the author's name looks familiar it's because she's written professional Star Trek novels, including The Never Ending Sacrifice.). This is superb, as all McCormack's writing is."[4]
References
- ^ 2008 rec at Crack Van
- ^ Dead Link Review sourced from the now-defunct Ficdb. There is no archived version.
- ^ "Where No Fangirl Has Gone Before..." Archived from the original on 2019-04-24.
- ^ FanficRecs/StarTrekDeepSpaceNine, Archived version (Accessed August 11, 2020)