ISBN: 0-812-53893-5 Order from: Amazon.com
An old-fashioned and predictable adventure on a far planet, this explicit homage to Heinlein has many of the elements that were attractive in his juveniles.
Reviewed by David on September 27, 2001
Genre: Science Fiction (Juvenile, Intrigue, Coming of Age)
Synopsis: Kip is a teenager on a scientific station on a mining colony. Controlled by a greedy but a relatively benign corporation, the planet features several intriguing alien species. Just as the research begins to show some puzzling results, hints of corporate intrigue and years-old crimes complicate everybody lives, and put Kip and his friends in danger.
Full Review: Very much in the Heinlein tradition of Citizen of the Galaxy and The Moon is a Harsh Mistress, this book features a capable but immature adolescent hero, wise and occasionally secretive older guardians, and greedy, corporate raiders. Along with exploration of the fairly plausible near future, we get glimses of wonderful (although rather anthromorphic) alien life, and tense, life-and-death adventure. And being a juvenile, fairly simplistic lessons lessons in life and human nature.
It's an lively and simple juvenile, suffering a bit from predictability and resemblance to the Heinlein classics, and entertaining without much emotional or intellectual challenge.
Overall: 5.5; Plot: 5; Characters: 6; Style: 5.5; World-building: 6.5; Originality: 5.5;
Copyright date 1998, Tor, August 1999, Cloth
ISBN: 0-812-53893-5 Order from: Amazon.com