~~~

I've been looking forward to Andy Robinson's book, "A Stitch In
Time", ever since I first heard him read from his source material at
a con in 1998. As it has come closer and closer to publication and
release, I've talked to many people about it, and I've found mixed
reactions, hopes and fears. Most of those with misgivings have
confidence in Andy's writing, but none in the editing, possibly
censoring, force that is Pocket Books. Perhaps the DS9 producers,
and the Pocket Books Trek franchise, have let us down so often that
we assume they will disappoint. How can their relentlessly PG
standards hope to accommodate the tale of a torturer and assassin?
However, I still have personal hope -- after all, the character of
Garak exists in subtext, and I have personally experienced the skill
with which Andy weaves his prose.

Everyone who has heard Andy read at a con knows what a skilled and
imaginative writer he is. I've never heard a negative comment, nor
even a merely neutral one. If the book is as electrifying as the
readings it sprang from, it will be the best Star Trek novel since
Diane Duane's best stories were published. Nobody I have spoken to
has argued this -- every Garak fan seems to hope Andy's own words
are left as unedited as possible. Fans respect Andy, and like him,
and feel that he is capable of true artistry if he can be left alone
to produce it.

The fears, however, are there. My sense is that the fears are in
direct response to the hope, a protective layer against
disappointment from a franchise that has disappointed us for years.

People fear that Andy's excellent but adult (in the general sense)
story will be butchered to fit editorial requirements. They fear
that slashy subtext between Garak and Bashir will be excised and
that Andy will be pressured (or in a moment of insanity, freely
choose) to give Garak a conventional heterosexual romance. They fear
that chilling stories of the horrors of the torture chamber will be
trivialized. Some simply fear that Andy's rich, complex prose will
be lowered to an eighth grade reading level, destroying subtext,
depth and artistry.

After long experience with the Trek franchise, I can understand and
agree with the legitimacy of these fears. They separated Garak and
Bashir in the first place because they were afraid to take them to
the next level, whether that level was romantic or a more complex
platonic friendship. They have placed editorial restrictions on the
novels which have resulted in amateurish, dull, shallow adventures
without the love that produced "The Wounded Sky" or "The Entropy
Effect".

However, I cannot share most of the fears expressed here. Firstly,
most of the pro writers who write genre novels, such as Star Trek
novels, consider it hack work -- they don't love the show or the
characters they're writing about, they simply want a paycheque. For
Andy, though, writing about Garak is truly a labour of love, the
continuation of an acting job he considers among his best work. He
knows Garak, he has invested years in the character, and he loves
exploring his mind. That's why he began writing the diaries in the
first place, and why he decided to try for publication.

In addition, Andy showed that he was willing to take a stand very
early in the publishing process, threatening to pull the book from
consideration unless he was guaranteed the right to read a possible
audio book. (Can you believe they'd even consider someone else?!) He
had to take less money in order to secure that right, but he did it.
I respect him, and I trust him, and I have a feeling he can
out-argue TPTB if he needs to. I feel he can craft something both
honest enough and artistic enough to satisfy his fans, and
non-graphic enough to make sure we actually get to read it!

So you may call me a hopeless optimist, but I am looking forward to
May. I will eagerly read Andy's book as soon as I can get my hot
little hands on a copy, and I am confident that Andy will dispel
all our fears and justify all our hopes.