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Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine intertitle
Format	Science fiction
Created by	Rick Berman Michael Piller
Starring	see below
Country of origin	United States
No. of episodes	176 (List of episodes)
Production
Executive producer(s)	Ira Steven Behr Rick Berman Michael Piller
Running time	approx. 46 min.
Broadcast
Original channel	Syndication
Picture format	NTSC 480i
Audio format	Dolby SR
Original run	January 3, 1993 – June 2, 1999
Chronology
Preceded by	Star Trek: The Next Generation
Followed by	Star Trek: Voyager
External links
IMDb profile
TV.com summary

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (sometimes abbreviated to ST:DS9 or DS9) is a science fiction television program that premiered in 1993 and ran for seven seasons, ending in 1999. Rooted in Gene Roddenberry’s Star Trek universe, it was created by Rick Berman and Michael Piller, at the request of Brandon Tartikoff, and produced by Paramount Pictures. The main writers, in addition to Berman and Piller, included show runner Ira Steven Behr, Robert Hewitt Wolfe, Ronald D. Moore, Peter Allan Fields, Bradley Thompson, David Weddle, and René Echevarria.

A spin-off of Star Trek: The Next Generation, DS9 began while its parent series was still on the air, and there were several crossover episodes between the two shows. In addition, two Next Generation characters, Miles O'Brien and Worf, became regular members of DS9.

However, unlike its predecessor, DS9 often broke the rules laid down by Roddenberry, such as the prohibition against interpersonal conflicts between the main characters,^[1] but he was well aware of the concept before his death, making this the last Star Trek series connected to him.^[2] Also, unlike the other Star Trek programs, DS9 took place on a space station instead of a starship, so as not to have two series with starships at the same time. This made continuing story arcs and the appearance of recurring characters much more feasible. The show is noted for its well-developed characters and its original, complex plots. The series also depended on darker themes, less physical exploration of space, and an emphasis (in later seasons) on many aspects of war.

Although DS9's ratings were solid, it was never as successful as Star Trek: The Next Generation, with ratings declining in later seasons. A number of reasons were given for this decline, including an increasingly crowded television marketplace (Babylon 5, Hercules, Xena were other popular shows competing for timeslots), division of viewership with Star Trek: Voyager, and the growth of new networks UPN and The WB that filled once-independent stations with network programming (forcing DS9 and other syndicated shows into weekend or late-night slots). All of these factors combined until original programming for syndication virtually disappeared by the year 2000. Nonetheless, DS9 remained the top-rated first-run syndicated drama series throughout its run.

Spike TV in the United States, Virgin 1 in the United Kingdom, and now the Sci Fi Channel in Australia (introduced in Dec. 1996.) currently air the program.

Contents 1 Premise 2 Cast 2.1 Main characters 2.2 Recurring characters 3 Plots 4 Production 5 Reception 5.1 Praise 5.2 Criticism 5.2.1 Not compatible with Roddenberry's vision 5.2.2 Taboos 6 Multimedia 6.1 Music 6.2 VHS and DVD releases 7 Books 8 Games 9 Other merchandising 10 References 11 External links

Conceived in 1991, shortly before Gene Roddenberry’s death, DS9 centers on the space station Deep Space Nine, which is under the joint control of the United Federation of Planets and Bajor, a planet recently liberated from a long, brutal Cardassian occupation. According to co-creator Berman, he and Piller had considered setting the new series on a colony planet, but they felt a space station would both appeal more to viewers and save money that would be required for on-location shooting for a "land-based" show. However, they were certain they did not want the show to be set aboard a starship because Star Trek: The Next Generation was still in production at the time and, in Berman’s words, it "just seemed ridiculous to have two shows—two casts of characters—that were off going where no man has gone before."^[1]

In the pilot, the station is moved near the just discovered Bajoran wormhole, allowing access to the distant, unexplored Gamma Quadrant. It quickly becomes a center for exploration, interstellar trade, political maneuvering, and eventually open conflict.

DS9 contains more story arcs that span several episodes and even seasons than preceding Star Trek series. Its predecessors tend to restore the status quo ante at the end of an episode, so that many episodes could be seen out-of-order without compromising their plots. On DS9 however, not only are events in one episode often referenced and built upon in later ones, but sometimes several episodes in a row are cliffhangers. Michael Piller, who spoke very highly of Behr's contributions, believed this to be one of the series' best qualities, that the repercussions of past episodes remained with the show and characters were forced to "learn that actions have consequences".^[1] This trend was especially strong near the end of the series’ run, by which point the show was intentionally very much a serial.^[1][3] This permitted greater character and plot development.

Interpersonal conflicts between regular characters had been previously forbidden by Roddenberry^{[citation needed]} in Star Trek: The Original Series and Star Trek: The Next Generation, but were featured prominently in DS9. This was at the suggestion of Star Trek: The Next Generation’s writers (many of whom also wrote for DS9) because they felt that the prohibition limited their ability to develop interesting stories. In Piller's words, "people who come from different places—honorable, noble people—will naturally have conflicts".^[1]

• Benjamin Sisko (Avery Brooks), the Human Starfleet officer placed in charge of Deep Space Nine. At the start of the series, he is a grieving widower and father of a teenage son. He and Jadzia Dax discover the Bajoran wormhole, which the Bajorans believe is the home of the Prophets, their gods and protectors. The Bajorans hail Sisko as the Emissary of the Prophets, an exalted religious status that initially makes him very uncomfortable.
• Kira Nerys (Nana Visitor), a Bajoran militia officer, former guerrilla fighter during the Cardassian Occupation, and Sisko's second in command. She is initially suspicious of the Federation's intentions toward her planet, but grows to trust and befriend the rest of the crew. Like most Bajorans, she is deeply religious, which makes it awkward having the Emissary as her commander. Ro Laren, a character from Star Trek: The Next Generation, was the first choice of the producers for first officer, but Michelle Forbes did not want to commit to a television show.^[3]
• Odo (Rene Auberjonois), the station's incorruptible chief of security. He is a Changeling, capable of assuming any shape he wishes. He was found and raised by the Bajorans. Odo yearns to find his own people, but when he finally does, he is less than pleased to discover that they rule the Gamma Quadrant with an iron fist.
• Julian Bashir (Alexander Siddig), the chief medical officer. Although Human, his parents had him illegally genetically enhanced when he was a child because he could not keep up with his peers. Somewhat tactless, he nevertheless develops friendships with several of the station's residents, particularly Miles O'Brien and, more ambiguously, a mysterious Cardassian named Garak. Siddig appears in the opening credits by a shortened form of his birth name, Siddig el Fadil, for the first three seasons. He appeared as Alexander Siddig after he married co-star Nana Visitor, which placed their names together in the alphabetical cast credits, although his stated reason for the name change was that he discovered that viewers did not know how to pronounce "el Fadil".^{[citation needed]} Siddig continued to be credited as Siddig el Fadil when he directed.
• Jadzia Dax (Terry Farrell, seasons 1-6), the Trill science officer. She shares her life and thoughts with a long-lived symbiont named Dax, which has already experienced seven prior lives "Joined" with other Trills. The previous host, Curzon Dax, had been a larger-than-life rogue and mentor to Sisko.
• Quark (Armin Shimerman), a Ferengi bar owner. Like most of his species (with the notable exception of his brother Rom), he is extremely capitalistic and willing to do whatever it takes to acquire more latinum. This almost invariably brings him into conflict with Odo.
• Miles O'Brien (Colm Meaney), the Human chief of operations. He keeps the station in working order. He is married to botanist Keiko, and has a daughter, Molly, and later a son, Kirayoshi. O'Brien is the first non-commissioned main Starfleet character, reprising a supporting role from many episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation.
• Jake Sisko (Cirroc Lofton), Benjamin's son. He decides not to follow in his father's footsteps, desiring to be a writer and reporter instead.

During its seven-year run, DS9 made two major cast changes. The fourth season added Michael Dorn as the Klingon Worf, who had recently finished seven years on Star Trek: The Next Generation, in order to boost ratings.^[4] The second change was the abrupt departure of Terry Farrell. Feeling that the large cast limited her screen time, she did not renew her contract at the end of the sixth season. The writers introduced Ezri Dax (Nicole de Boer) to provide a new host for the symbiont.^[5]

Main article: List of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine characters

The setting of the show—a space station rather than a starship—fostered a rich assortment of recurring characters. It was not unheard of for "secondary" characters to play as much, or more, of a role in an episode as the regular cast. For example, "The Wire" focused almost entirely on Garak, while "Treachery, Faith, and the Great River" featured Weyoun, with a secondary plot centered on Nog. "It's Only a Paper Moon" featured Nog and holographic crooner Vic Fontaine carrying the story.

Several Cardassian characters figure prominently in DS9, particularly Gul Dukat, played by Marc Alaimo. A complex character, he undergoes several transitions before ultimately becoming purely evil and Sisko's archenemy by the show's conclusion. A StarTrek.com article about Star Trek's greatest villains described Gul Dukat as "possibly the most complex and fully-developed bad guy in Star Trek history".^[6] The previous commander of the station, Dukat eventually leads a coup to take over his home world and allies with the Dominion against the Federation.

Elim Garak, portrayed by Andrew Robinson, is the only Cardassian who remains on the space station when the Federation and the Bajorans take over. Widely suspected of being a disgraced former agent of the Obsidian Order, the feared secret police, he maintains that he is merely a simple tailor. Garak's skills and contacts on Cardassia prove invaluable on several occasions, and he becomes a pivotal figure in the war with the Dominion.

Damar (Casey Biggs) is initially Dukat's loyal henchman, but he later becomes more sympathetic and plays a vital role in the defeat of the Dominion.

Jeffrey Combs (of Re-Animator fame) has stated that he had auditioned for the role of William T. Riker on Star Trek: The Next Generation, but when Jonathan Frakes (who won the part) later directed the DS9 episode "Meridian", he recommended Combs for a part.^[7] Combs made his Star Trek and DS9 debut as a one-episode alien named Tiron, before being cast as the Ferengi Brunt and the Vorta Weyoun. He would go on to appear in thirty-one episodes of DS9, playing four distinct characters—five, if one counts the "mirror universe" version of Brunt. In "The Dogs of War", he also became one of the few Star Trek actors to play two distinct roles (Brunt and Weyoun) in the same episode.

In addition to Quark and his brother Rom (Max Grodénchik), several other Ferengi had recurring roles, among them their shrewd mother Ishka (Cecily Adams), engineer of a social revolution on Ferenginar, Rom's son Nog (Aron Eisenberg), the first Ferengi to join Starfleet, and the Ferengi leader, Grand Nagus Zek (Wallace Shawn).

The Klingon Empire plays a more significant role in DS9 than in any other Star Trek series. Aside from Worf, recurring Klingon characters include Chancellor Gowron (Robert O'Reilly), leader of the Empire until he is supplanted by General Martok (J.G. Hertzler) during the Dominion War. Kor, a Klingon character from Star Trek: The Original Series resurfaces in three DS9 episodes. One of them, "Blood Oath", included two other Klingons from the original series: Koloth and Kang. They were played by their respective actors: John Colicos, William Campbell, and Michael Ansara.

Morn is a minor character who, like his inspiration (Norm from Cheers), is a fixture in a bar (in this case, Quark's), spending seven years there. It became a running joke that, despite the other characters' remarks on how talkative and funny he is, he never speaks a word on camera. Morn did have a line in the script for pilot episode "Emissary", but it was edited for episode run time, after which the creators conceived the joke that he never talks.

Other prominent recurring characters include Academy Award-winner Louise Fletcher as the Bajoran spiritual leader Kai Winn, Chase Masterson as the Bajoran Dabo girl Leeta, Salome Jens as the Female Changeling, and James Darren as the hologram Vic Fontaine.

Main article: List of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine episodes

In the first episode, Starfleet Commander Benjamin Sisko takes charge of Deep Space Nine. He and Jadzia Dax stumble upon the first stable wormhole ever found and discover that it is inhabited by beings who are not bound by normal space and time. To the strongly religious people of Bajor, the wormhole aliens are their gods (the Prophets) and the wormhole itself is the long-prophesied Celestial Temple, where they reside. Sisko himself is hailed as the Emissary of the Prophets, through whom the Prophets primarily act.

This provides the basis for a long-lasting story arc. Sisko initially considers his role as a religious icon with open discomfort and skepticism, referring to the Prophets simply as "wormhole aliens" and striving to keep his role as commander of the station distinct from any obligations that the Bajorans try to place on him. Later, he becomes more accepting of his role and, by the end of the series, he openly embraces it.

The station crew early on has to contend with a human resistance group known as the Maquis. Rooted in the events of The Next Generation episode, "Journey's End", in which Native American settlers refuse to leave when their colony world is given to Cardassia as part of a treaty, the Maquis is an example for the show’s exploration of darker themes: its members are Federation citizens who take up arms against Cardassia in defense of their homes, and some—such as Calvin Hudson, a long-time friend of Sisko's, and Michael Eddington, who defects while serving aboard the station—are Starfleet officers. The show’s sharp departure from traditional Star Trek themes can be seen in episodes such as "For the Cause", in which Eddington tells Sisko, "Everybody should want to be in the Federation. Nobody leaves paradise. In some ways you’re even worse than the Borg. At least they tell you about their plans for assimilation. You assimilate people and they don’t even know it."

The second-season episode, "Rules of Acquisition" marks the first mention of the Dominion, a ruthless empire in the Gamma Quadrant. They are not fully introduced until the second-season finale, "The Jem'Hadar". It is led by "the Founders", a race of shape-shifting Changelings, the same race as station security chief Odo. They were once persecuted by non-shape-shifters (whom they call "Solids") and they seek to impose "order" upon any who could potentially harm them, which includes nearly all Solids. The Founders have created or genetically modified two races to serve them: the Vorta, sly and subversive diplomats, and the Jem’Hadar, their fearless shock troops. These races worship the Founders as gods.

At the start of DS9’s third season ("The Search"), with the threat of a Dominion attack looming from the other side of the wormhole, Commander Sisko returns from a trip to Starfleet Headquarters on Earth with the USS Defiant, a prototype starship that was originally built to fight the Borg. It remains stationed at Deep Space Nine until its destruction in season seven, providing an avenue for plot lines away from the station.

The Dominion forms an uneasy alliance with the Cardassians in the fifth-season episodes "In Purgatory's Shadow" and "By Inferno's Light" and goes to war with the other major powers of the Alpha Quadrant. Throughout the series, loyalties and alliances change repeatedly: pacts with the Cardassians are made, broken, and remade; a short war with the Klingons flares up and is settled, and (through Sisko's secret machinations) the formerly neutral Romulans ally with the Federation.

An example of DS9’s darker nature is Section 31, a secret organization dedicated to preserving the Federation way of life at any cost. This shadow group, introduced in "Inquisition", justifies its unlawful, unilateral tactics by claiming that it is essential to the continued existence of the Federation. Section 31 features prominently in several episodes of the Dominion War arc; such plot elements, as well as DS9’s relative lack of exposure compared to its predecessor, garnered the show a reputation as the "black sheep" of the Trek family.^[8]

In DS9, the Ferengi are no longer an enemy of the Federation, but rather an economic power whose political neutrality is, for the most part, respected. A number of episodes explore their capitalistic nature, while others delved into the race’s sexist social norms.

DS9 was the second Star Trek TV show to use Computer Generated Imagery (CGI) for exterior space shots exclusively (no models), the first being Star Trek Voyager from season 3 onward. Although other television shows such as seaQuest, Space Above and Beyond, and Babylon 5 had used CGI exclusively (to avoid the high expense of models), the Star Trek franchise continued primarily using models for exterior space shots, because it was felt models provided more realism. DS9 retired the models and started using Foundation Imaging in 1997 (seasons 6 and 7) as part of the ongoing storyline of the Dominion occupation of the station.

The USS Defiant was the first full-fledged starship in the Star Trek franchise to have a CGI model used in regular production. It was first built and animated by VisionArt, which was responsible for the morphing of Odo. The CGI Defiant was featured heavily in the season 4 episode "Starship Down", where it battled a CGI Jem'Hadar ship in a CGI nebula.^[9]

DS9 was well received by critics with TV Guide describing it as "the best acted, written, produced and altogether finest" Star Trek series.^[10] Despite debuting in the shadow of The Next Generation, DS9 achieved a considerable level of success in its own right. According to a press release through Newswire on April 7, 1999, it was the #1 syndicated show in the United States for adults 18-49 and 25-54 throughout its run in the National Television Index. The characters of DS9 were featured on the cover of TV Guide ten times during its run, including several "special issue" editions in which a set of four different-covered versions were printed.

The series won a number of awards.^[11] It was nominated for Emmy Awards every year of its run, including makeup, cinematography, art direction, special effects, hairstyling, music (direction and composition), and costumes. Of these, it won two for Makeup (for "Captive Pursuit" and "Distant Voices") and one for the Main Title Theme Music (Dennis McCarthy). It was also nominated for two Hugo Awards in Best Dramatic Presentation for "The Visitor" and "Trials and Tribble-ations", however the competing series Babylon 5 won the Hugo Award instead.

The episode "Take Me Out to the Holosuite," where the crew played a holographic baseball game against a Vulcan team, called the Logicians, created the term "Niners" (named after the team) to describe a fan of DS9, in comparison with the term "Trekkie."

As well as being a critical success, Deep Space Nine drew praise from African-American, Latino and other minority viewers for its handling of the minority characters, particularly the Sisko family members (Benjamin, Jake, Joseph, Jennifer and Kasidy Yates-Sisko)^{[citation needed]}.

The show first aired just weeks before the debut of Babylon 5. Controversy arose between the similarities of the two shows. Babylon 5 creator, J. Michael Straczynski, indicated that Paramount was aware of his concept as early as 1989 ^[12] when he attempted to sell the show to the studio, and provided them with the series bible, pilot script, artwork, lengthy character background histories, and plot synopses for the first 22 episodes. ^{[13] [14]} Paramount rejected Babylon 5, but it was later picked-up by WB subsidiary PTEN in 1991, and Mr. Stracznyski has stated on numerous occasions (in his newsgroup rec.arts.sf.tv.babylon5.moderated), he thinks Paramount used his bible and scripts as the basis for DS9's first season. ^{[15] [16]}

On the subject of suing Paramount for infringement, Straczynski indicated he had no intentions to do so, and added: "That we have decided -- for the best interests of all -- to take a mature, 'let's move forward' approach does not mean that I have to pretend nothing happened. ... It's on the level of 'Okay, YOU (Paramount) know what happened, and *I* know what happened, but let's try to be grownup about it for now,' though I must say that the shape-changing thing nearly tipped me back over the edge again."

The WB PTEN vs. Paramount UPN network rivalry also may have been a factor in this "bad blood" between the two shows. ^[17] Ultimately though, the two series diverged and took different paths in subsequent seasons.

In a recent interview with iF Magazine, George Takei had criticized DS9 for being the polar opposite of Gene Roddenberry's philosophy and vision of the future.^[18] Many fans, however, believe the opposite, stating that Deep Space Nine is the only series - aside from the original - to feature realistic, three-dimensional, flawed characters. Furthermore, D. C. Fontana stated in an interview that Roddenberry would have liked it and its dark themes, since he was a WWII soldier.^[19] As for Gene Roddenberry himself, he is quoted in "The Making of Star Trek DS9" that he had doubts a non-exploration show could work, and was displeased with early concepts presented to him in 1991.

DS9 is also notable for breaking several cultural taboos during its run. Most prominent among these is the issue of homosexuality. Gay and gay-friendly fans of the franchise had been waiting for a Star Trek television spin-off to address how a utopian society would deal with sexual orientation, since Gene Roddenberry had promised in 1987 to tackle the issue.^[20] While Star Trek: The Next Generation gingerly addressed the issue through gender identity on occasion, two DS9 episodes showcased a kiss between a same-sex duo.

The first same-sex kiss on a Star Trek television series was shown in the episode "Rejoined". In the story, Jadzia Dax and another Trill named Lenara Kahn at one point embrace in a passionate kiss. The two were neither lesbians nor was the kiss a "lesbian" kiss; rather the controversy was primarily over two actresses kissing. The two characters in the story had been married in previous lives when the Dax symbiont in a male host was in love with the Kahn symbiont in a female host. None of the other characters are shocked by this. Writer Rene Echevarria made a conscious effort not to glamorize the kiss and make it a ratings booster. The point was to emphasize the romance, not to sensationalize.^[4] This episode aired a year and a half before the controversial "out of the closet" shift in the sitcom Ellen, and proved troublesome for some local affiliates.^[20]

In the seventh season episode, "The Emperor’s New Cloak", versions of Kira Nerys and Ezri Dax in a parallel Mirror Universe share a same-sex kiss. The Mirror Universe Leeta and Ezri are also attracted to each other. Although no homosexual character was dealt with directly, the pre-Ellen same-sex kisses were often compared to the Star Trek: The Original Series episode "Plato’s Stepchildren", which featured a famous interracial kiss between Kirk and Uhura.

In the sixth season of DS9, transvestism is used for humorous effect in "Profit and Lace". Quark's mother suffers a heart attack prior to a critical meeting with an influential businessman she had hoped to recruit to the cause of women's rights on the Ferengi home world. As there are no other Ferengi females on the station, Quark undergoes a temporary sex change, becoming a female named Lumba. She attempts to impress the man, who flirts and falls in love with her, chasing Lumba around a room. The episode was intended to be lighthearted. However promotional spots depicted Quark's predicament as "a real drag", and the episode was poorly received by fans; it has been heavily criticized. Actor Andrew Robinson has stated that he portrayed Garak as an omnisexual in an early episode, but stopped because it "gave people fits."^[21]

In addition to sexuality, there were several instances of potentially offensive language during the series' run, unprecedented for the Star Trek franchise (although Star Trek: Enterprise went much further, even using the phrase "son of a bitch" several times). The DS9 episode "Far Beyond the Stars", much of which takes place in 1950s Earth, features a scene in which Cirroc Lofton claims that blacks will never get into space except to "shine the shoes" of whites, to whom his character feels blacks "would always be niggers." Although not the first time the word nigger had been used on American television (it was commonly used in dramas in the 1970s), by the late 1990s, the word had all but vanished from mainstream media. Another occurrence likely went unnoticed among American audiences; in the episode "Time’s Orphan", Irish Chief O’Brien utters the British and Irish swear word "bollocks". Furthermore, the series used several racial epithets for alien races in the series, namely "spoonhead" and "Cardies" for Cardassians.

On June 30, 1993, between seasons one and two, DS9 followed other Star Trek series in releasing the original score from its pilot episode on CD. The title theme was also made available as a CD single. Music from several other episodes is included on the The Best of Star Trek releases.

The character of Vic Fontaine (played by 60s heart throb James Darren), a self-aware holographic Las Vegas lounge lizard from the 1960s, was introduced in the sixth-season episode "His Way". Vic was popular with the station's crew and performed many period songs by, among others, Frank Sinatra and Nat "King" Cole. Darren's role allowed him to release This One's From the Heart on August 24, 1999, featuring songs that Vic sings in the show and other period pieces.

See also: Star Trek: Deep Space Nine DVDs

Episodes of DS9 were made available on VHS cassettes. The first release came on November 19, 1996 in the United States, but the line was discontinued once all of DS9 had been released on DVD. The series was released on VHS in the UK starting August 2, 1993. Each video box contained unique artwork and character/plot information.

Following the DVD release of Star Trek: The Next Generation in 2002, DS9 was released on DVD beginning in February 2003. DS9 was released in boxed sets of one season each and released approximately a month apart. Each season contains several "special features", including a biographical look at a main character, information from make-up designer Michael Westmore on how various aliens were created, and interviews with cast members and crew members. The sets also include "Section 31" easter eggs that give a brief look at other aspects of the show. The Region 2 DVDs also come with bonus CD-ROM discs that allow users to build a "virtual" DS9 on their computer with each release. On October 26, 2004, a compilation of all seven season sets was also released.

See also: Star Trek: Deep Space Nine relaunch

Pocket Books has published several dozen books based on DS9. Some of these were novelizations of memorable episodes, such as "Emissary", "The Search" and "What You Leave Behind", which were usually published a few days after the episode aired in the United States. Several novels were part of "crossover" series between the Star Trek franchises, while others were part of other franchises but dealt with events laid out in DS9. For example, The Battle of Betazed tells of how Deanna Troi attempted to resist the Dominion occupation of her world (mentioned in the episode "In the Pale Moonlight"). Most focus on the station and its crew, with a notable exception being Ira Steven Behr and Robert Hewitt Wolfe’s Legends of the Ferengi.

Avatar, a two-part novel published on May 1, 2001, picked up where the series left off. It began season 8 of DS9, into which A Stitch in Time (a biographical look at the life of Garak, written by Andrew Robinson) was incorporated retroactively. The events of "What You Leave Behind", DS9’s series finale, caused some radical changes to occur in season 8. As Benjamin Sisko had entered the Celestial Temple, Colonel Kira was given command of the station while a new commander named Elias Vaughn took over her position, Garak became the leader of post-war Cardassia, Odo helped the Changelings rebuild, and Rom presided over the Ferengi Alliance.

Outside its line of novels, DS9 has been the subject of several comic books and other publications. One comic is a spin-off, detailing Nog’s experiences at the Starfleet Academy. Another DS9 comic series became an exceptional example of licensed Star Trek works influencing each other, a major character from WildStorm Comics’ N-Vector, Tiris Jast, appeared in the Avatar, Part I novel.

Other publications, such as the Deep Space Nine Technical Manual and Deep Space Nine Companion, are common to most of the Trek series. The DS9 Companion contains detailed episode guides and interviews with actors, writers, directors and other staff members.

DS9 series influences were included in role-playing game reference books from Last Unicorn Games and Decipher. Additionally, several novels have also been released in audio form, narrated by Rene Auberjonois and Armin Shimerman among others.

Several video games focusing on DS9 have been released. The first was Crossroads of Time, a 1995 side-scrolling game released for the Super Nintendo and Sega Genesis. The game takes place around the time of the series premiere, borrowing some stories from early episodes such as "Past Prologue" and creating others. A number of problems reportedly impeded the game's development process,^[22] and it met with mixed reactions.

Three DS9-themed games were released for the PC: Harbinger in 1996, The Fallen in 2000, and Dominion Wars in 2001. A board game was released as part of the now-defunct "component board game" series, which included an intercompatible board game for Star Trek: The Next Generation.^[23] DS9's role-playing book was one of several that failed to be released into wide circulation when Decipher, then publisher of the Star Trek role-playing game, discontinued its line.^{[citation needed]}

The series features prominently in the Star Trek Customizable Card Game, particularly its second edition. In the game's first edition, Deep Space Nine is the titular fifth set, followed by one entitled "The Dominion" and several other DS9-themed sets. In the second edition, there are two types of cards for the United Federation of Planets, which may be placed at Earth or Deep Space Nine. The Ferengi, Dominion, Cardassian, Bajoran, and Maquis affiliations are comprised primarily of DS9-derived material, while the Klingon affiliation also borrows strongly from it.^[24]

Along with the rest of the Star Trek franchise, DS9 has been the subject of much merchandizing. Action figures, keychains, models, and other items have been released. The station itself, which is highly recognizable and iconic of the series, is the subject of many of these items. Paramount also sells Starfleet uniforms; among the styles is the so-called "DS9-style" uniform, which is primarily black with a division colour (red for command, yellow for engineering or security, blue for medical and the sciences) on the shoulders.

Also, DS9 is well represented at Star Trek: The Experience, an attraction at the Las Vegas Hilton which faithfully recreates both Quark’s Bar & Restaurant and the Promenade. The former serves Star Trek-style food and drinks, and hosts gatherings such as conventions. The latter (called the Shopping Promenade) sells various souvenirs and rarities; among the items for sale are "official" Starfleet uniforms and action figures.

• Star Trek: Deep Space Nine at StarTrek.com
• Star Trek: Deep Space Nine article at Memory Alpha, a Star Trek wiki
• Star Trek: Deep Space Nine at Memory Beta

v • d • e Star Trek
Television series	The Original Series (Eps) · The Animated Series (Eps) · The Next Generation (Eps) · Deep Space Nine (Eps) · Voyager (Eps) · Enterprise (Eps)
TOS-era feature films	The Motion Picture · The Wrath of Khan · The Search for Spock · The Voyage Home · The Final Frontier · The Undiscovered Country
TNG-era feature films	Generations · First Contact · Insurrection · Nemesis
Upcoming films	Star Trek (2008)
Other	Star Trek: Phase II · Books · Comics · Games · Memory Alpha, the Star Trek Wiki

v • d • e Regular characters on Star Trek
The Original Series	Chapel | Chekov | Kirk | McCoy | Rand | Scott | Spock | Sulu | Uhura
The Animated Series	Arex | Chapel | Kirk | M'Ress | McCoy | Scott | Spock | Sulu | Uhura
The Next Generation	B. Crusher | W. Crusher | Data | La Forge | Picard | Pulaski | Riker | Troi | Worf | Yar
Deep Space Nine	Bashir | E. Dax | J. Dax | Kira | M. O'Brien | Odo | Quark | B. Sisko | J. Sisko | Worf
Voyager	Chakotay | Doctor | Janeway | Kes | Kim | Neelix | Paris | Seven | Torres | Tuvok
Enterprise	Archer | Mayweather | Phlox | Reed | Sato | T'Pol | Tucker