The 34th Rule (ISBN 0-671-00793-9), published January 1, 1999, is a Star Trek: Deep Space Nine novel written by Armin Shimerman and David R. George III.

The story in the novel was an allegory for the internment of Japanese Americans during the Second World War, and was inspired by George Takei's experiences during that period.

Grand Nagus Zek is refusing to sell one of the lost Orbs of the Prophets back to Bajor.

Although they were unsuccessful,[1] when Stillwell and George were asked for stories for Star Trek comic books they went through a series of pitches they had previous proposed for Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and found a premise that Stillwell had based on George Takei's experiences of Japanese American internment during the Second World War.

[1] After work was completed on The 34th Rule, George talked with another DS9 actor, Andrew Robinson, about a potential book project.