THE BERSERKER THRONE
By
The ""berserkers,"" you'll recall, are alien fighting machines whose purpose is to destroy organic life. And now Prince Harivarman--exiled to the ancient, inversegravity Radiant, base of the anti-berserker Templars--learns that the Empress has been assassinated. Though innocent, he's accused of plotting against her and threatened with brainwashing. Meanwhile, exploring some ruins, he discovers an inert but operable berserker and a method of controlling it (and the berserker's dozens of slave machines). He orders the berserkers to attack the Templars and take control of the Radiant; a standoff develops, as the Prince gradually learns who is plotting against him. But the berserkers will no longer obey him: they have a plan of their own, feigning subservience in order to learn how to control humans. And finally, via a double-double-cross, the plotters and the berserkers are defeated. . . and everyone lives happily ever after. Awfully thin and tenuous--even for berserker addicts.