ISBN: 0-446-60963-3 Order from: Amazon.com
An interesting, tense science fiction adventure, featuring a harried heroine and the complex and often puzzling politics of multi-species civilization.
Reviewed by David on August 31, 2002
Genre: Science Fiction (War, Aliens, Interstellar Civilizations)
Synopsis: Jocasta, a remote space station, is somewhat of an experiment. It's a firt Earth outpost in a Confederation where the humans are a junior and not particularly respected race.
Dominated by the powerful and ancient alien races, the Confederation leaves Jocasta unprotected when a hostile armada beseiges it. An senior engineer, Maria Halley becomes the commander of the station crammed with scared civilians and the survivors of a small military staff. It's up to her to insure the survival despite the multi-species politics which seem as deadly as the incomprehensible ships outside.
Full Review: The author joins a popular group of recent science fiction authors like Cherryh, Czerneda. The protagonist is a capable woman thrust into a nearly untenable position.
The first-person narrative is added additional stress by Halley's near-constant headache and lack of sleep. From deadly technology to arrogant or mysterious aliens Halley struggles, sometimes making mistakes, and always on the edge of disaster to repserve her new home—the fragile space station.
The likable, competent but fallible protagonist, complex web of inter-species politics, old connections with radical, if sympathetic revolutionaries, all bring this struggle to colorful life.
It is an enjoyable and fast book, and while coming to a satisfying conclusion, the novel leaves the reader wanting to hear more of Halley—which is available in a recent sequel, Time Past.
Overall: 6; Plot: 6; Characters: 6; Style: 5.5; World-building: 6; Originality: 6;
Copyright date 1999, Warner Books (Aspect), June 2001, Mass market paperback, 445 pages
ISBN: 0-446-60963-3 Order from: Amazon.com