The 34th Rule
| Company type | Novel |
|---|---|
| Industry | Publishing |
| Founded | January 1, 1999 |
| Founder | Armin Shimerman, David R. George III |
| Products | Star Trek: Deep Space Nine novel |
The 34th Rule (), released on January 1, 1999, is a Star Trek: Deep Space Nine novel co-authored by Armin Shimerman and David R. George III. The narrative serves as an allegorical reflection of the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II, drawing inspiration from the personal history of George Takei. Initially conceived as an episode for Deep Space Nine, the concept was eventually expanded into a full-length book.
Plot
Quark is on the verge of closing an important transaction when a diplomatic conflict arises. Grand Nagus Zek declines to return one of the missing Orbs of the Prophets to Bajor, which leads Bajor to cut diplomatic relations and impose restrictions on Ferengi commerce. As a result, Quark loses ownership of his bar and faces imprisonment. Nevertheless, he becomes instrumental in averting armed conflict between the Ferengi and Bajoran factions.
Development history
After successfully pitching the Star Trek: Voyager episode "Prime Factors," Eric A. Stillwell and David R. George III teamed up with actor Armin Shimerman to propose ideas for Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. Their initial attempts were unsuccessful, but they later revisited a concept inspired by George Takei's internment experiences while working on Star Trek comic storylines. Shimerman suggested adapting this idea into a novel, which they then pitched to Pocket Books.
The majority of the writing was completed by David R. George III, with Shimerman contributing feedback and final approval. The storyline was intentionally designed as an allegory reflecting Japanese American internment. The book’s title alludes to the Ferengi Rules of Acquisition, specifically Rule 34: "War is good for business." Upon finishing The 34th Rule, George initiated discussions about another project with fellow DS9 cast member Andrew Robinson, resulting in the novel A Stitch in Time.