Quark is about to make an extraordinary deal, when he finds himself in the middle of a diplomatic crisis. Grand Nagus Zek is refusing to sell one of the lost Orbs of the Prophets back to Bajor. In response, the Bajoran government cuts off all diplomatic ties with the Ferengi and outlaws all Ferengi businesses within its borders. Quark first loses his bar, and then is subsequently imprisoned. But he finds himself to be the only one who can prevent a war between his people and Bajor.
The majority of the book was written by George, who said that Shimerman simply agreed with most of what he wrote. The two worked together on plotting out the story, which was intended to be a deliberate allegory for the Japanese Americans internment.[1] The title was a reference to the FerengiRules of Acquisition, with the 34th rule stating "War is good for business".[1] After work was completed on The 34th Rule, George talked with another DS9 actor, Andrew Robinson, about a potential book project. This went on to become A Stitch in Time.[3]