History Literature / StarTrekDeepSpaceNineAStitchInTime

* NotSoDifferent: The novel constantly draws parallels between the Cardassians and the other planets and cultures of the galaxy. Romulus and Cardassia are both secretive worlds with active (and rival) espionage organizations and factional in-fighting. Romulus, as Cardassia once was, is a vibrant world full of life, and Cardassia ultimately ends up dark and grey as Romulus is. The drunken Klingon warrior who chases after Garak turns out to share his claustrophobia. Garak and Odo are both the sole members of their races, living in isolation on Deep Space Nine. Garak compares Doctor Parnak to Doctor Bashir as wide-eyed idealists who really should know better but are better for it.

* LoopholeAbuse: Dukat would love nothing more than to kill Garak the moment he's exiled to Terok Nor and to and avenge his father's disgrace and death. Unfortunately, thanks to Tain's political influence, Garak's execution was commuted into exile and Dukat's been forbidden from harming Garak. That ''doesn't'' mean, however, that he can't make Garak's exile on the station as demeaning and miserable as possible (though Garak wonders if the Tailor punishment was actually Tain's idea rather than Dukat's).

* HeKnowsTooMuch: After befriending Dr. Parkmak during the rebuilding of Cardassia, Garak learns that he was actually Tain's personal physician. He and Parmak both speculate Tain had him arrested because, as his doctor, he'd knew too much about Tain's physical weaknesses (though Garak also thinks it was out of petty embarrassment over Tain's [[FatBastard longstanding weight problems]].]]

* SpannerInTheWorks: The aftermath of Garak's interrogation of Procal Dukat. As Tain observes, Garak has been connected to the incident -- though, while ''a'' problem, it's not ''the'' problem (since the Order expected Procal might recall enough of the interrogation despite ). No, ''the'' problem is that Lokar Barkan's identified Garak. While he and Skrain Dukat can't prove anything, Garak's now made two very powerful and dangerous enemies -- enemies against which he has no leverage to neutralize them (as Procal incriminated himself, but not the rest of the Brotherhood). So, this all complicates Tain's plans for Garak to succeed him as the Order's Director (though the greater complication is that Garak's now made a powerful enemy at the exact same time he's carrying on an extramarital affair with the man's wife). Tain knows Lokar ''will'' eventually discover the affair and he'll devote all his energy and resources to destroying Garak, the political consequences be damned.

* LoopholeAbuse: Dukat would love nothing more than to kill Garak the moment he's exiled to Terok Nor and to and avenge his father's disgrace and death. Unfortunately, Garak's execution was commuted into exile and (thanks to Tain's political influence) Dukat's been forbidden from harming Garak. That doesn't mean, however, that he can't make Garak's exile on the station as demeaning and miserable as possible (though Garak speculates the Tailor punishment was Tain's idea rather than Dukat's).

** When he's captured by Barkan Lokar in the climax of Part Two, Garak deduces from the interrogation (let alone his capture and how Procal Dukat was able to identify him) that Lokar must have a source inside the Obsidian Order (though Garak never learns his or her identity before or after his exile).

** In general, the novel expands on several of the incidents Garak teased during ''Star Trek: Deep Space Nine''.

* ResolvedNoodleIncident: The entire novel finally dramatizes the broad strokes of Garak's backstory revealed on [=DS9=], from the circumstances of his exile to the business with Dukat's father that earned him the son's enmity.

* SpannerInTheWorks: The aftermath of Garak's interrogation of Procal Dukat. As Tain observes, the Order anticipated there was a chance the elder Dukat ''would'' remember the interrogation despite the drugging. What Tain and the Order ''didn't'' anticipate is that Procal Dukat would recall enough of the interrogation to connect Garak to Tain and identify him (aided by Lokar's own history with Elim and recognizing him from the older Dukat's recollection). So now Garak's made powerful enemies -- enemies he has no leverage to hold them at bay, as Garak was only able to get Procal to incriminate himself rather than the entire Brotherhood. So, this all complicates Tain's plans for Garak to succeed him as the Order's Director (though the greater complication is that Garak's now made a powerful enemy at the exact same time he's carrying on an extramarital affair with the man's wife).

* VillainTeamUp: In addition to Tain's rivalry with Romulan Proconsul Merrok, this is the other motive behind Tain ordering Garak to assassinate the Romulan politico. The Star Empire and the Cardassian Union were exploring a potential alliance (including the exchange of advanced cloaking technology the Cardassians wanted ''very'' badly). However, Merrok kept sabotaging the negotiations.

* LoopholeAbuse: Dukat would love nothing more than to kill Garak the moment he's exiled to Terok Nor and to and avenge his father's disgrace and death. Unfortunately, Garak's execution was commuted into exile and (thanks to Tain's political influence) Dukat's been forbidden from harming Garak. That doesn't mean, however, that he can't make Garak's exile on the station as demeaning and miserable as possible (like appointing him Terok Nok's new tailor).

** When he's captured by Barkan Lokar in the climax of Part Two, Garak deduces from the interrogation (let alone his capture and how Procal Dukat was able to identify him) that Lokar must have a source inside the Obsidian Order (though he never learns his or her identity before or after his exile).

* LoopholeAbuse: Dukat would love nothing more than to kill Garak the moment he's exiled to Terok Nor and to and avenge his father's disgrace and death. Unfortunately, Garak's execution was commuted into exile and (thanks to Tain's political influence) Dukat's been forbidden from harming Garak. That doesn't mean, however, that he can't make Garak's exile on the station as demeaning and miserable as possible.

* TheMole: If Garak is to be believed, he entered the meeting with the Directorate with the intention of infiltrating them. But as the meeting goes on, he finds himself unable to conjure up the energy necessary for the deception, and eventually decides that even in the role of a Mole, the Directorate [[ArcWords is not his place]].
* TheMole: When he's captured by Barkan Lokar, Garak deduces from the interrogation (let alone his capture and how Procal Dukat was able to identify him) that Lokar must a source inside the Obsidian Order.

* TheMole: When he's captured by Barkan Lokar, Garak deduces from the interrogation (let alone his capture and how Procal Dukat was able to identify him) that Lokar has a source inside the Obsidian Order.

* SpannerInTheWorks: The aftermath of Garak's interrogation of Procal Dukat. As Tain observes, the Order anticipated there was a chance the elder Dukat ''would'' remember the interrogation despite the drugging. What Tain and the Order ''didn't'' anticipate is that Procal Dukat would recall enough of the interrogation to connect Garak to Tain and identify him (aided by Lokar's own history with Elim and recognizing him from the older Dukat's recollection). So now Garak's made powerful enemies, which complicates Tain's plans for Garak to succeed him as the Order's Director (though the greater complication is that Garak's now made a powerful enemy at the exact same time he's carrying on an extramarital affair with the man's wife).

* SpannerInTheWorks: The aftermath of Garak's interrogation of Procal Dukat. As Tain observes, the Order expected there was a chance the elder Dukat would remember the interrogation despite the drugging. What Tain ''didn't'' expect is that Procal Dukat would recall enough to identify Garak (aided by Lokar's own history with Elim and recognizing him from the older Dukat's description). So now Garak's made powerful enemies, which complicates Tain's plans for Garak to succeed him as the Order's Director (with further complications arising from Garak's ongoing affair with Lokar's wife).

* WickedCultured: Garak's opinion of Gul Madred, which is why he always liked him despite his longtime disdain for the Cardassian military.

* ResolvedNoodleIncident: The entire novel finally dramatizes the broad strokes of Garak's backstory revealed on [=DS9=], from the circumstances of his exile to the t business with Dukat's father.

* ResolvedNoodleIncident: The entire novel finally dramatizes the broad strokes of Garak's backstory revealed on [=DS9=], from the circumstances of his exile to

* WickedCulture: Garak's opinion of Gul Madred, which is why he always liked him despite his longtime disdain for the Cardassian military.

* TheCharmer: Palandine's tutelage at Bamarren Institute is revealed to have been what shaped this aspect of Garak's personality.