After having this book lying around on my kindle for years, I finally finished it a few months ago. I think it is the only Trek novel I’ve ever read. Although I enjoy the franchise - in some ways more than I enjoy many of the actual shows - I tend to avoid franchise-driven novels in general due to a perception of poor writing.
Stitch is actually pretty well written - at least as well as one of the better episodes. Garak - he of ambiguous loyalties and sexuality - becomes a fully fleshed out character with a backstory and a complicated professional and personal life. Garak was and remains one of my favorite characters in the franchise, and this book lived up to the character and cemented his status. The author, Andrew Robinson, is the actor who played Garak, and I’ve always enjoyed interviews with him where he gives insights into his character. Originally, Garak was going to be more transparently bisexual, but the studio decided not to follow that line because it was considered too controversial for the time. Robinson, however, made sure to play the role in a way that let the viewers in on. that aspect of his character without getting a protest from the studio.
I will be picking up the audiobook so I can do a re-read. The fact that Robinson is the narrator means I’m going to be actively listening and not just playing it in the background.