From the author of the recent Star Wars yarn The Courtship of Princess Leia (p.254), a hybrid sword/science-fiction space opera set in a far future where humans, having spread through the galaxy, are now threatened by invading insectoid dronons who have killed Semaritte, the human ruler, and taken over her planet-size computer. So Semaritte's wise and ancient Lord Escort, Veriasse, has cloned Semaritte and plans to challenge the dronon Golden Queen's Lord Escort in battle according to the dronons' own code. If Veriasse wins, Everynne, the charismatic clone, will recover Semaritte's powers. On Tihrglas, an Irish-flavored planet deliberately shielded from the superscience prevalent elsewhere, Everynne acquires some helpers: warrior Gallen O'Day, his girlfriend Maggie, and Orick the talking bear. Pursued by ``vanquishers'' and other fearsome creatures, they leap from planet to planet via Gates opened with Keys, enduring perils at every turn, until a final showdown decides the fate of the galaxy. Sound familiar? Well, despite Wolverton's contorted superscience, feeble plotting, and jerry-built prose, fans of his Star Wars outing will probably wish to investigate.
