In Lallier’s SF novel, one in a series, raids from ferocious reptilian space pirates test the mettle of space-faring 23rd-century humans.

The author continues his Solar Commonwealth series in this installment, set in the early 23rd century. Humanity is spreading across space with its membership in a widespread “Concorde” alliance of alien worlds, not unlike the Federation in Star Trek. Earth is part of a vast, pan-galactic Commonwealth of advanced civilized worlds, but humans tend to be poorly regarded as junior members—newcomers compared to the more ancient species. Even human-appearing races, such as the blue-skinned Tyndal, are considered to be lesser than the rest. Still, it’s a surprise to human leadership (and their sponsoring aliens, the elephantine, tentacled Ssenn) when the customarily aloof Tyndal propose their own special alliance to share trade, intelligence, and defense. Just as the various players are digesting this offer, attacks hit some remote human outposts and outlying Tyndal routes. The Ssenn reveal the existence of the Krayd, a reptilian race with savage warrior instincts, unpredictable high-risk tactics, and a piratical culture; practically all they have has been plundered from others in and out of the Commonwealth. Defending against Krayd predation tests the barely formalized Earth–Tyndal accord, with many eyes (or eye-stalks) watching. The SF military action (which resembles naval engagements) is excitingly conveyed from the vantage points of the humans, the aggressive Krayd, and the rest of the ensemble cast. Some asides feature series regular “the Regent,” an uncommonly sensible Earth man endowed by the Ssenn with an extraordinarily long life and mythic presence, wisely guiding the Terrans to become responsible citizens of the stars while striving to preserve democracy and oppose despotic intervention. Readers can practically visualize Patrick Stewart in the role, and there’s even talk of building a ship called Enterprise. Ultimately, the novel delivers a diverting yarn of interstellar diplomacy and warp-speed combat strategy: “Now the gunboats scattered as the swarm defender let loose with its own guns, each shot bathing the gunship in sapphire death and causing it to spin in a different direction.”

A sturdy entry in an ongoing space saga.

In Lallier’s SF prequel, a human is appointed by aliens to unite a fractious Earth.

By 2182, the people of Earth are exploring the cosmos under the aegis of the Solar Commonwealth, a governmental body led by a sharp, charismatic, and somewhat mysterious man known as the Regent. In this novel, the Regent relates his origin—and that of the Solar Commonwealth—to an aged admiral of his fleet. Initially, the Regent was an anonymous human, plucked from Earth in 2017 by powerful, benevolent aliens who erased much of his memory but granted him enhanced intelligence, longevity, and other advantages. He was then put in charge of a formidable fleet of advanced ships (including one called Enterprise) and some 12 million human troops abducted by aliens over centuries. The Regent must use these to make contact with Earth and unite the peoples of the turbulent planet under a single, progressive authority; otherwise, mankind will be classed as a hopeless case and quarantined. Unlike many humans under his command (including latter-day imperial Roman troops), the Regent wants to find a peaceful way to get Earth to submit. However, his methods not only make him an enemy of China and the United States, but also spawn treachery in his own ranks. Followers of Lallier’s Solar Commonwealth series hopefully consider it one of contemporary SF’s better Star Trek–inspired space operas, and this book will do nothing to dissuade them. It doesn’t follow the Roddenberry blueprint excessively closely, but it’s clearly fueled by that franchise’s optimistic view of an imperfect but diverse, human-led military/scientific federation that uses intelligence, good judgment, and diplomacy. Some readers will be delighted by this prequel’s characterization of the unnamed U.S. president as a Donald Trump–like caricature; he’s an egotistical blowhard surrounded by sycophants and bolstered by right-wing media. It sets up a dynamic that brings to mind James T. Kirk versus Richard Nixon, or Spock against Gen. William Westmoreland. Clever maneuvers and statesmanship keep this prequel cruising at full impulse power, and it will leave readers ready to boldly go back to Lallier’s previous installments.

An entertaining, very-special-episode entry of a fine series.

A battle-damaged spaceship belonging to much-feared alien warriors accidentally trespasses near a human outpost in this continuation of Lallier’s Solar Commonwealth SF series.

This military space adventure is set 20 years after the previous series installment, The Eridani Incident(2019). Jason Ngene is a high-ranking officer in Earth’s spacefaring forces, returning with his imposing Regent for a ceremonial visit to an inhabited planet where humans fought and won a skirmish with aggressive, catlike aliens called the Feorae. It was a rare alien interaction for Homo sapiens, who are merely junior members of a loose Solar Commonwealth of inhabited worlds, most of which are far more advanced than Earth. Still, many in the commonwealth still grieve the hundreds of lives lost in the battle. Meanwhile, an odd failure of life-support systems aboard patrol ships has left the distant human colony of Tellus vulnerable, and a battle-crippled Feorin ship, requiring repairs, unknowingly comes too close to the outpost. Alerts go off throughout the fleet, with some Feorae-hating officers spoiling for a revenge fight and others fighting to avert what could touch off a cataclysmic war. Lallier appears to acknowledge his clear debt to the Star Trek franchise with his dedication (“For James T.”) and a minor medical character with the surname Chapel. One can easily hear the voice of actor Patrick Stewart whenever the Jean-Luc Picard–like Regent speaks. However, this is no carbon copy of other people’s works. Unlike Gene Roddenberry’s smoothly functioning Federation and its ideal of enlightened starship troopers cooperating in military and scientific harmony, Lallier depicts a restive, divided mankind, with commanders and bureaucrats jostling for rank and power while harboring personal grudges. The author also generates some sympathy for the Feorae, whose captain is wise enough to run his ship of clawed minions with Klingon-like honor rather than arbitrary cruelty. Ultimately, this is a solid follow-up that bodes well for future installments in the series.

A well-told tale of galactic problem-solving and command-chair decision-making.

In Lallier’s first flight in a new military SF series, humans in deep space go from joint Earth-alien war games to the real thing when they answer a distress signal.

This story is set in 2144, when humankind is a discounted, junior member of a vast space “Commonwealth” of spacefaring civilizations. They’re somewhat friendly with the Tyndal, blue-skinned humanoids who superficially resemble earthlings and play a mentoring role; however, they often come across as curt, aloof, and suspicious due to their mystical and highly logical nature. Their war games are strained when the humans realize that their Tyndal opponents have been cheating by using long-embedded surveillance devices. Then the humans’ instruments detect a weak distress signal, indicating an attack in territory that’s under the control of the Ssenn—a race of headless quadrupeds whose wisdom and technology even the Tyndals respect. At the insistence of the Earth’s Regent, the war games’ ships divert to Ssenn space on a rescue mission—one that not only strains treaties, but also becomes a violent conflict with alien raiders, and self-doubting Rear Adm. Jason Ngene is in the thick of it. The author specifically credits the original 1960s Star TrekTV series as a major influence, and the human-Tyndal relationship here certainly recalls the one between humans and Vulcans on that classic show. However, the material also calls to mind a number of other favorite SF franchises with its mix of interplanetary diplomacy, derring-do, and troopship maneuvers, including David Weber’s Honor Harrington novels, Larry Niven’s tales of the Man-Kzin wars, and Ian Douglas’ Star Carrier series. The essential thrust of the narrative is also familiar for the subgenre—a crisis test in which Earth soldiers must exhibit proper courage, brains, and judgment to prove they can take their place among more advanced alien cultures. But despite its familiarity, Lallier executes the mission successfully, and indeed, once things get underway the pace doesn’t let up. The plotline, which emphasizes duty, ethical choice, and sacrifice, avoids any romance or unexpected twists, but the author manages to wrap up this installment with a satisfying conclusion.

A somewhat standard-issue premise effectively commanded by a fan of the genre.