Star Trek: Deep Space Nine #27 – A Stitch in Time (2000) by Andrew J. Robinson stands as one of the most extraordinary novels in Star Trek publishing history—a deeply personal character study penned by the very actor who brought Elim Garak to life. Written as an epistolary memoir from the Cardassian spy-turned-tailor to Dr. Julian Bashir, Robinson’s novel transcends typical franchise tie-ins through its literary sophistication and psychological depth. The narrative stitches together Garak’s present struggles on postwar Cardassia with flashbacks to his brutal training in the Obsidian Order, all while maintaining the character’s signature blend of self-deprecating wit and unsettling ambiguity.
The 2000 Pocket Books first edition, with its striking cover featuring Cardassian voles embroidered on blood-red fabric, has become a holy grail for DS9 collectors—especially since Robinson’s convention signings were infrequent. What makes this volume unique is its meta-textual resonance: Robinson incorporates his own actorly process into Garak’s voice, particularly in passages about performance and identity that mirror the actor’s famous “plain, simple Garak” line readings. The novel’s exploration of Cardassian culture—from its architectural obsession with repetition to the traumatic legacy of the Occupation—remains unparalleled in Trek literature.
