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For the real-world DS9 novel see, The Never-Ending Sacrifice.

The Never-Ending Sacrifice was a famed piece of Cardassian literature, of the repetitive epic genre. Written by Ulan Corac (DS9 novel: The Never-Ending Sacrifice), it featured seven generations of a Cardassian family whose members whose stories involve serving the Cardassian Union until they age and die. The characters face a choice between serving their own needs and those of future generations, and the choice of comfort in their own lives or the life of the state and its mission. (DS9 episode: "The Wire", DS9 novel: A Stitch in Time)

Elim Garak first read The Never-Ending Sacrifice at some point prior to his return from the Bamarren Institute for State Intelligence. He thought it was the finest Cardassian novel ever written and the greatest example of the repetitive epic. Upon his return home, he insisted Mila and Tolan Garak read it, and told Mila that her devotion to Enabran Tain was her own "never-ending sacrifice". (DS9 episode: "The Wire", DS9 novel: A Stitch in Time)

Iliana Ghemor thought The Never-Ending Sacrifice was a "painfully wretched" novel, though she a change of heart after joining the Obsidian Order. A copy of the novel was in her quarters at Obsidian Order Headquarters, and Ghemor had planned to reread her favorite portions of it before her surgery for her mission on Bajor. (DS9 novel: Fearful Symmetry)

Sometime prior to 2371, Natima Lang wrote a critical analysis of The Never-Ending Sacrifice, called The Ending of "The Never-Ending Sacrifice". In it, she called the novel "our greatest lie," claiming it glorified Cardassia's history of murder and destruction. (DS9 novel: The Never-Ending Sacrifice)

Rugal Pa'Dar first attempted to read The Never-Ending Sacrifice when he was first brought to Cardassia in 2370. He found the prose leaden, and despite several attempts over the years, was never able to get further than the first chapter. (DS9 novel: The Never-Ending Sacrifice)

Garak introduced Julian Bashir to the novel in 2370, although Bashir found it somewhat dull, citing the similar stories of all the members of the family. Garak brushed off Bashir's criticisms of the novel, calling him "a prisoner of Federation dogma and human prejudice". (DS9 episode: "The Wire")

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