Star Trek: Mirror Universe
Volume 1: Glass Empires
The Sorrows of Empire
There are moments glimpsed only in shadow, where darkness rules and evil incarnate thrives. You hope against hope that in your lifetime, evil is relegated to the shadows. But what if it wasn’t?
What if you lived in a universe where your life was measured only by what you could do for the Empire? What would you do to survive? Would you sell your soul to free yourself? If you were offered the chance to rule, would you seize it? If you could free your universe from the darkness but only at the cost of your life, would you pay that price?
One man can change the future, but does he dare? Spock, intrigued by the vision of another universe’s Federation, does what no Vulcan, no emperor, has ever done: seize power in one blinding stroke of mass murder. And at the same instant he gains imperial power, Spock sows the seeds for the Empire’s downfall. Is this a form of Vulcan madness, or is it the coolly logical plan of a man who knows the price his universe must pay for its freedom?
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The Sorrows of Empire
Reviewers' Comments
"This story is all about motivations, centering directly on Spock and his efforts, in the mirror universe, to save the Empire by setting forth a plan for its destruction and resurrection. The concept is very close to the classicFoundation series, and most of the elements that made that story fascinating translate very well into the Trek mold."
"Not only does this story demonstrate how plot and character can be combined smoothly, with clear motivations driving decisions, it also sets the bar for the rest of the novels in the entire collection."
—Critical Myth-Interpretations
"Mack puts together a convincing tapestry of events only alluded to in the DS9 Mirror episodes, and his depiction of Spock as a logical — sometimes terrifyingly logical — entity makes his ascension all the more unnerving because it makes you wonder whether the 'real' Spock, confronted with the circumstances of the Mirror Universe, would've acted the same way."