Science fiction, environmentalism and political activism converge in the continuing adventures of interplanetary heroine Elise t’Hoot.

In this latest series installment, Wall (The Distant Trees, 2013, etc.) adds unexpected layers to her rebels-vs.-totalitarianism saga. The story’s launching point remains Tenembras, a brutally inhospitable prison planet for dissidents and other Earth criminals, which is speeding toward its ecological death. Several resilient, if battered, exiles again team up to improve the planet’s politics, food supply and climate—the last two with the help of treelike beings called Amigos, who have the power to pull water out of the ground and render soil fit for crops. At the center of the action is t’Hoot, a tech-savvy force of nature with a command of science and an uncanny instinct for alien relations that doesn’t always carry over to her dealings with humans. A freak event links her to previously unknown alien beings who demonstrate that humans have no monopoly on class distinctions. In a futuristic deus ex machina, the aliens offer assistance that forever changes the lives of t’Hoot, the rebels and, ultimately, humanity. Wall’s latest novel reveals more complexity in t’Hoot, whose persistence and grit belie a wounded self-image that cripples her more than the bullets she’s survived. Over the course of the story, she learns that dreams can come true but not always in the ways she wants. Dialogue fit for a Howard Hawks film drives—and dominates—the narrative, which unfortunately lacks the nonstop action and excitement of its predecessor, Tenembras (2012). The inventive plot, however, provides sufficient background information to stand on its own, although it has greater appeal and merit in the context of the series as a whole. As in previous installments, Wall includes introductory profiles of her major characters, which helps readers keep track of the series’ sizable cast.

An imaginative sci-fi series installment with thought-provoking parallels to present-day Earth. 

This ambitious sci-fi novel follows pioneers on a frontier planet.

Elise t’Hoot, a brilliant female maverick, is the driving force behind integrating human culture with a newly discovered alien race called the Amigos. She and her friends collaborate with the Amigos to tame the hostile planet Tenembras, a penal colony of sorts, with a dangerously thin atmosphere that adds to the risky existence for both its human and alien colonists. Tough, tenacious Elise faces serious challenges when she tries to set down roots on Tenembras. After discovering a surprising connection to a blood relative from her past, she must decide if she’s ready for marriage—then she’s charged with murder. Despite the gloss of future history and high technology, this novel deals with settlers in a harsh wilderness facing recognizable threats and pressures. The well-drawn characters and authentic, straightforward dialogue reflect this believability, even as the story veers into sci-fi territory. The fast-paced adventure develops into a satisfying, energetic yarn about smart, capable people overcoming both natural and man-made challenges. However, the book could benefit from a final, careful proofreading and copy edit, as some flaws—particularly a sprinkling of grammatical errors and punctuation mistakes—stick out and distract from the admirable worldbuilding. Characterizations also have a few rough patches, including Elise herself, who’s something of a distaff Heinlein hero: ultracompetent and nearly always the voice of reason in difficult situations, without the types of flaws and limitations that appear in other characters. There’s also the unappealing tendency of her supporting cast to act as a Greek chorus in support of her actions and beliefs, while her opponents usually remain less developed and thus not quite as formidable as they could be. Despite its flaws, though, this enjoyable volume is a welcome addition to the t’Hoot series.

A well-crafted, colorful tale of bringing life to a future frontier.

A rollicking interplanetary tale of cunning, gumption and the human spirit.

In the not-too-distant future, Earth is environmentally wracked, with much of its population corralled in refugee (i.e. prisoner) camps or dispatched to colonies on far-flung planets. Wireless-network monitoring and mind-reading scans are the norm, tactics for totalitarian “Patriots” to both rein in rebels who revere the Constitution and to keep earthly ethnic and geopolitical loyalties alive in outer space. After one outpost goes down in flames, spacecraft arrive on the planet Tenembras with a doomed settlement’s few remaining vestiges—the exact nature of which must stay off the Patriots’ radar. The band that rallies to protect the payload is wide-ranging enough to warrant the introduction’s playbill-like character list. At the group’s core is Elise t’Hoot, a gutsy technological genius and all-round survivor with a knack for bridging language and cultural barriers between peoples, not to mention between her species and the nonanthropomorphic aliens who are infinitely better-intentioned than most humans. Not immune to the ravages of harsh politics and terrains, t’Hoot succeeds as a poster child for girl power. Wall’s (The Distant Trees: An Elise t’Hoot Novel, Pre-Elise, 2012) Kentucky roots and pride help illuminate her heroine and the folksy, fast-moving narrative, which pits greed and oppression against ingenuity and the basic goodness of humanity. Her high-spirited, irresistible storytelling extrapolates an all-too-possible future from current political and environmental conditions. She fleshes out this could-be world with pitch-perfect dialogue and characterizations, song lyrics that enhance the plot instead of stalling it, and an astute yet accessible command of technology, science and human nature. Despite its length, this unflagging novel invites a one-sitting read.

A stellar sequel that can stand on its own.