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eBook – The Empire Striketh Back

eBook –  The Empire Striketh Back Full title :  William Shakespeare's The Empire Striketh Back By : Ian Doescher  Iillustrations :  Nicolas Delort Score : 9/10 Year : 2014 Publisher : Quirk Books  eISBN :  978-1-59474-716-8 Based on  978-1-59474-715-1 (hard cover) Pages : 176 *  Language : English From Goodreads : Hot on the heels of the New York Times best seller William Shakespeare’s Star Wars comes the next two installments of the original trilogy: William Shakespeare’s The Empire Striketh Back  (and not reviewed as yet,  William Shakespeare’s The Jedi Doth Return.) Return to the star-crossed galaxy far, far away as the brooding young hero, a power-mad emperor, and their jesting droids match wits, struggle for power, and soliloquize in elegant and impeccable iambic pentameter. Illustrated with beautiful black-and-white Elizabethan-style artwork, these two plays offer essential reading for all ages. Something Wookiee this way comes!  *** As he explains at the end, Ian Doescher

Episode - Star Trek Deep Space 9 - 4 - A Man Alone


Episode - Star Trek Deep Space 9 - 4 - A Man Alone 

Score 7/10 
Directed by : David Carson 
Country : USA
Language : English
Duration : 0:43:30 (French DVD) 
Writers : Gene Roddenberry (based upon Star Trek, created by) ; 
Rick Berman (created by, story) , Michael Piller (created by, story, and teleplay)

Full cast and personnel list on IMDB
 

During the course of this episode, we follow several stories. The main plot is about Odo's altercation with one of his old enemies, Ibudan, shortly before the latter is found murdered, behind closed doors. Side plots includes two odd friendships, an unhappy Keiko, and a bit about trills, and Dax. 


I felt it too early to have a law enforcer being investigated for a murder they seem the sole possible suspect. We barely know how loyal or honest Odo is, this early into the show. This feeling is mildly mitigated by the answer he gives to someone who says he doesn't believe Odo has done the murder. As Kira Nerys comes to his defense, saying that there is no one more honorable than him on the station, we can suppose that they've known one another for quite some time. With this, we see another facet of her passionate defense of others - not only a combattant against the Cardassians, she'll express her trust in people when others doubt them. 

The other stories involve Dax, some of her Trill personality/customs are discussed, first glimpse of their memories from past symbiont hosts, and even foreshadowing a dedicated episode, simply called Dax (a few episodes after this one). 

Odd friendship pairs of Quark/ Odo who are also enemies on two sides of the law, and that of Jake and Nog, a human and a Ferengi - here they meet and do mischief, and their respective parents wants to split them up so they don't have anything else to do with one another. 

There are a couple issues with this episode :
During their mischief, there are two characters who seem in medical distress, yet no one calls for aid. It is a short scene, that should have been extended to include said call, and resolve it better than it was. 
And, as mentioned, too early for investigation of the Constable. 

Cinematography continues with the cool lighting and shadow-play. Contrary to the pilot, Emissary, the pacing and story could have had a bit more work, and placed later in the season, or, even better, a season or two later. The plot of cop investigates himself isn't new, but the resolution is somewhat inventive. 

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