Deep Space Spines – A chronicle of the non-canonical since 2017.

In today’s episode, Sisko’s done all the training he can do, and Kai Winn’s done all the talking she plans to do. With permanent brain damage and another occupation in the cards, it’s time for both to make their last stand against their respective oppressors. Is being an asshole a right that can be earned? Has the admiral from hell actually been to hell? And can a throwaway line skunk an entire premise? All this and more in The Liberated, the book that just might like video games a little bit, maybe.

#283: The Courageous (DS9 #25, Rebels 2/3)

By jess

On 19 July 2026

In DS9

In today’s episode, we get to see a little more of Bajor’s most important religious leader doing some Kai Winning in the past, but it’s clear everyone else woke up on the wrong side of the runabout. What is the motivation behind the invaders calling themselves “the liberated”? Is Worf forgetting his roots? And what is up with these super-generic covers? All this and more in The Courageous, the book that has too much head.

#282: The Conquered (DS9 #24, Rebels 1/3)

By jess

On 12 June 2026

In DS9

In today’s episode, the Bajorans get to run the station for two months, and Kai Winn has a lot of changes in mind. Meanwhile, over in the Gamma Quadrant, the effort to whip a planet getting steamrolled by the Cardassians into shape is hamstrung by their reliance on their toys. Is Kai Winn secretly an awesome boss? Why do some authors fixate so much on Odo’s shapeshifting? And did we all already forget about what just happened to Quark? All this and more in The Conquered, the first book in the trilogy that doesn’t have the titles on the cover for some reason?

The Conquered
Author: Dafydd ab Hugh1
Pages: 233
Published: February 1999
Prerequisites: General knowledge of events, characters, and lore up through roughly season 4

#281: The 34th Rule (DS9 #23)

By jess

On 12 May 2026

In DS9

”War is good for business.”

—The 34th Rule of Acquisition2

In today’s episode, when the Grand Nagus puts an Orb of the Prophets on eBay, the Bajorans’ max bid gets auto-beaten. But when they respond by booting all Ferengi from their space, Quark and Rom spend their summer at camp—and it ain’t Anawanna. How good was Odo in keyboarding class? Who, what, or where is Rokeg? And why do I have to wait six to eight weeks for my Space Etsy order to arrive? All this and more in The 34th Rule, the book that teases us with the Nechayev tea.

By jess

On 22 March 2026

In Meta

Hello Readers,

As it has been nearly three months without a review at this point, I feel I must at least justify the lack of new writing. School has been an absolute back-breaker this semester; I have not been in a very good headspace as a result of stress from all directions; and I’m having a lot of trouble writing about the particular book I’m on right now because I keep going back and forth on certain feelings about it. But you should know that I have no intention of discontinuing the site’s mission. It’s just that I’m having a very hard time devoting mental and emotional resources to it. The aforementioned review is about 50 percent done, if not more, and if I can just get one night where nothing else is going on, no demands are being made of my time and psychic energy, and I can clear my mind, I can get it done.

Thanks as always for being here and enjoying the site. Live long and prosper.

#284: The Liberated (DS9 #26, Rebels 3/3)

#283: The Courageous (DS9 #25, Rebels 2/3)

#282: The Conquered (DS9 #24, Rebels 1/3)

#281: The 34th Rule (DS9 #23)