ISBN: 0-446-60964-1 Order from: Amazon.com
An enjoyable, tense, and moderately complex novel describing a woman's struggle for equality and dignity for her fellows, in a complex, multi-species universe.
Reviewed by David on August 31, 2002
Genre: Science Fiction (War, Aliens, Interstellar Civilizations, Time Travel)
Synopsis: A sequel to Time Future, this novel continues the adventure of Halley, the unwilling commander of space station Jocasta. Avoiding politics, Maria Halley experiments with Invidi space drive technology trying to break the powerful monopoly of the ancient races. Her illicit experiment plunge her into a dangerous place, where Halley continues to learn heartbreak and courage in her struggle to improve the fate of humans and the entire Confederacy.
Full Review: This novel, as its predecessor, resembles some Cherryh's works. The heroine has to struggle not only against injustice due to historical and economic forces, but also against aliens whose thought barely intersects those of humans.
With clear, intensely real imagery, tense, first-person narrative, and well-described characters, the novel easily engages the reader's sympathy. The struggles are well-justified, even if the antagonists are often unclear—there are few villains in the book, except for some scarily realistic ones.
The novel unusually combines the theme of struggle against social injustice and poverty with an interesting, exciting plot and a realistic lack of intentional evil.
On the whole, the novel continues in the enjoyable track of its prequel, and, while coming to a well-anticipated conslusion, leaves one wanting to find more about the main characters.
Overall: 6; Plot: 6; Characters: 6; Style: 5.5; World-building: 6; Originality: 6;
Copyright date 2002, Warner Books (Aspect), May 2002, Mass market paperback, 479 pages
ISBN: 0-446-60964-1 Order from: Amazon.com