They are also Canadian, so that might be harder than one would think.

Beagle's writing is truly wonderful. When the Red Bull first appears, that line "His horns were as pale as scars" always gets me - it's a very simple simile, but it's very evocative of the ugly violence and brutality of the Bull. So, yes, read the book. It's very good.

The story probably would have worked better if it was set during the period when DS9 was occupied, with O'Brien being sent to an Dominion-occupied planet for some reason or another (maybe to do sabotage or something). But that's in my perfect hindsight version of DS9 that is even better than the show that I love.