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THE CLOUDS OF MAGELLAN by David F. Nighbert

THE CLOUDS OF MAGELLAN

by David F. Nighbert

Pub Date: June 20th, 1991
ISBN: 0-312-05834-9
Publisher: St. Martin's

Sequel to Nighbert's fine science-fiction debut, Timelapse (1988), featuring reformed cyborg assassin Anton Stryker, his ally Albert the mad scientist, and their foe, the evil doctor DeKoven. While Anton fights off the attack of Nemesis, a Stryker clone controlled by DeKoven, Albert discovers that the huge, mysterious alien artifact, the Wheel, is actually an instantaneous transporter. Eventually, they all journey through the Wheel to meet the pig-centipede-like Builders, a collective intelligence in dire need of Lebensraum. The Builders turn out to be treacherous but not really evil; Anton and Albert escape their clutches using Albert's suitcase-sized time machine; Anton later returns to free his beloved Lisbeth from the unwelcome attentions of DeKoven; and what had developed into a modestly intriguing human-alien confrontation settles into a routine shootout. With little of the inventiveness, exuberance, or wit of the original: a disappointing follow-up, despite the promising aliens.