The opening of the Iconian gateways scattered throughout the galaxy is causing havoc throughout the Alpha Quadrant, and the colony world of Europa Nova is no exception to this rule. Deep in the Delta Quadrant, a Malon freighter has dumped a load of radioactive waste through a gateway...and on a collision course with the colony, threatening thousands of innocents. Meanwhile, Starfleet has uncovered something curious...no trace of a gateway anywhere near the Bajoran system. Coincidence? The Prophets? Or something else entirely? And could this be the answer to controlling the gateways, or at least shutting them down? Elsewhere, Quark is looking into what appears to be a golden opportunity: negotiating with the Iconians for control of the gateway network. But is all what it appears to be? Much like the crew of DS9, DeCandido delivers the goods, weaving complex threads together to produce a solid tapestry. The characters, old and new, are real, solid, and living...you can hear them talking as you read. Even within the context of the crossover story it is part of, this book could just as easily stand alone, although the portions that do cross over with other novels of the series are handled quite well, giving a sense of a well-oiled machine working in the background. Finally, even when the tension is at its highest, the humor comes through to lighten the load. (Side note: For an extra bit of fun, try to find the Farscape references DeCandido slipped in to the story...you'll know them when you see them.) A well-written, fun, and engrossing read!
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Title: Demons of Air & Darkness
Author: Keith R.A. DeCandido
Review by: CL4 Skull Leader
4-14-05
