Articles of the Federation by Keith R.A. DeCandido

reviewed for Unreality SF's predecessor between 2004 and 2007

After wars with the Dominion, the Tholians, and the Selelvians; as well as a hologram rebellion, a parasitic invasion, an interstellar gateway disaster, the Genesis crisis, and the resignation of the Federation president; thing's ain't exactly happy in the Federation. Newly-elected president Nan Bacco of Cestus III (introduced in A Time for War, a Time for Peace) has to pick up the pieces and make the UFP strong again. However, things don't start off too well: a first contact takes a disastrous turn, and there are Reman refugees on the loose. And as if it couldn't any worse, a journalist has found out the real reason for former-President Zife's resignation, and is threatening to reveal it to the public.

One of the strengths of the novel is its cast, and that shows DeCandido's immense skill, as only a small handful of the characters in Articles were shown on screen. The major players of the book -- people like Bacco, Piniero, Phiri, and MacDougan -- are of his own creation, and they carry the plot of the book well and are easy to follow.

Trek very rarely does politics. A couple of glimpses of the Federation President during DS9, a few more in The Undiscovered Country -- but nothing of enough substance to really be compelling. That's where Articles of the Federation is different: it's covering new territory and it's damned interesting, too. Rather than being bored by endless diplomatic ponderings to-and-fro, I found myself caring about the characters, excited about how situations would turn out, and sad when things didn't work the way Bacco planned. Articles draws you in, holds you there, and doesn't let go until the very last page.

At the climax of the book, a major character from the TV series falls from grace dramatically, and DeCandido's skill as a writer is highlighted. In a scene pumped to the maximum with emotion and secrecy, Bacco's character shines, and as a reader you'll be engrossed in a way that no other author can achieve. You simply can't miss out on such a powerful and irresistably dynamic novel, and it'll be a shame if there's never a sequel. Keith R.A. DeCandido has produced yet another riveting book which breathes fresh life into a neglected area of the Trek canon.