For die-hard fans only.
Latest in the Giants’ Star series.
Hogan (Martian Knightlife, 2001, etc.) begins with a long, dry and almost impenetrable summary of the series’ backstory. The main narrative opens on Earth, where Dr. Victor Hunt, deputy director of physics for the UNSA (the successor to NASA) receives a call on his cell phone . . . from himself. Or, rather, from a version of himself who inhabits a parallel universe. He quickly realizes that only the Thuriens, giant inhabitants of the planet Minerva, can help him understand the exchange of information between two different universes. So an expedition from Earth is sent to Minerva, including senior UNSA scientist Christian Danchekker and his cousin Mildred, a liberal Australian political scientist Danchekker didn’t at all want to spend more time with. After a quick journey, the scientists find themselves involved in exploring the nature of the Multiverse, in which all possible variations on our world coexist. Various paradoxical events begin to occur as they set up the powerful Thurien machine meant to explore the problem. They eventually realize that alternate versions of themselves are emerging into the current reality, interacting with them, and then returning to their own world lines, unaware that anything strange has occurred. Meanwhile, back on Earth, the FBI is after Hunt for having dropped an insider trading hint to one of his friends based on information learned from his alternate self. Hogan plays interesting games with ideas from the cutting edge of physics, but his characters are predominantly mouthpieces and his plot moves at a glacial pace.
For die-hard fans only.Pub Date: May 1, 2005
ISBN: 0-7434-9902-6
Page Count: 416
Publisher: Baen
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 2005
A sequel to the alien-contact yarn Foreigner (1994). A human colony has been permitted to develop on the island Mospheira, though the native humanoid atevi suffer no humans to travel elsewhere on their planet, save only the paidhi or translator/technical liaison, the young and personable Bren Cameron. A treaty guarantees the rights of the humans while encouraging the controlled release of advanced technology to the atevi. But now the starship that originally brought the humans, and that disappeared two centuries ago, suddenly returns, precipitating crises in both human and atevi governments. Bren, injured and undergoing surgery on Mospheira, is abruptly recalled by the Western Association, the most influential atevi faction. Confused and in pain, Bren learns that Mospheira has sent in his successor, Deana Hanks, an economist with political connections but few translating skills and a poor grasp of atevi psychology. Representing a faction who loathe the atevi and will take any opportunity to return into space, Hanks further complicates matters by dickering with rebellious atevi factions and blabbing that the starship can travel faster than light — a concept anathema to the conservative atevi religion. Bren's one hope is to talk directly to the starship as the atevi's representative — a move sure to be violently opposed by most humans and some atevi. Then, having found allies aboard the starship, Bren, somehow, must guide them to a safe landing among the atevi in the teeth of atevi factional strife and a looming interspecies war. Contrived plotting, and intense, not to say claustrophobic, intrigue, with distinctive and memorable aliens. What's missing is a spark of innovation to help distinguish it from its impressive predecessor.
Pub Date: May 1, 1995
ISBN: 0-88677-638-4
Page Count: 432
Publisher: DAW/Berkley
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 1995
Weis returns to the universe of her Star of the Guardians series with this new outing for cyborg Xris and his crack team of mercenaries, Mag Force 7: flamboyant Raoul, the chemicals expert, and his sidekick, the Little One, an alien empath and telepath; pilot Harry Luck; weapons expert Jamil Khizr; Tycho, an alien with chameleon powers; and medic Bill Quong. They kill only bad guys. This time out, Xris is obsessed with tracking down computer whiz Darin Cowan, whose supposed betrayal of Xris on a previous mission resulted in Xris becoming a cyborg. But when the team finally discovers Cowan's whereabouts—a remote, heavily guarded Marine base—he, or rather she, turns out to be Darlene Mohini, the Navy's chief codemaker and codebreaker. Posing as pest-control operatives, Xris and the team gain access to the base, grab Cowan, and escape- -with Cowan a willing accomplice—only to realize that they've stumbled into a plot by the Knights of the title. These Knights, religious fanatics from Earth, are intent on assassinating Dion, King of the Galaxy, and eradicating his laid-back, new-fangled notions of worship. With Cowan's disappearance, the entire Navy takes itself offline in order to reset its codes, so Xris can't warn old friend Admiral Dixter, who's protecting King Dion. Eventually, Raoul and the Little One will confirm Cowan's innocence regarding Xris's betrayal, and Cowan's computer expertise uncovers the details of the Knights' plans. Lurid comic-book twaddle—but don't underestimate Weis's formidable, if inexplicable, selling power.
Pub Date: May 1, 1995
ISBN: 0-451-45425-1
Page Count: 416
Publisher: ROC/Penguin
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 1995
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