MINDWORLDS

Independent, fully intelligible third and, seemingly—regrettably—last entry in Canadian Gotlieb's churning, splendid far-future, multispecies saga (Flesh and Gold, 1998; Violent Stars, 1999). The powerfully telepathic, ameba-like Lyhhrt face the world from inside humanoid-robot shells; since a lone Lyhhrt—they have no names—eventually becomes psychotic, they travel in bonded pairs, referring to themselves as “I/we.” On planet Fthel IV, a renegade Lyhhrt plots to attack planet Khagodis, home to dinosaur-like sentients, in revenge for Khagodi refusal to help the Lyhhrt in their hour of need and consequent racial humiliation. And soon the renegade kills one half of an investigating Lyhhrt team. The survivor enlists former GalFed agent, human Ned Gattes, the philanthropic robot Spartakos (he was built by the Lyhhrt) and other warriors, only to stumble into a trap. Meanwhile, on Khagodis (the two developments eventually converge) the arrogant landowner Gorodek schemes to gain control of a region’s valuable mining rights. Gorodek also claims the lovely Ekket as his bride, despite her wishes to the contrary. Another Lyhhrt contacts archivist Hasso for help investigating Gorodek’s schemes. Hasso, unfortunately, falls instantly in love with Ekket, knowing that he can never have her (the reason is rooted in Khagodi culture). As Hasso toils faithfully, loving the ethereal Ekket, despising the boorish Gorodek, he’s dumbfounded when a disembodied entity contacts him—perhaps the mysterious being that brought the Khagodis to their planet, along with an ark full of other creatures, for reasons unfathomable.

Gotlieb succeeds, resoundingly, in showing us how not one but several vibrantly detailed alien societies, whose individuals possess personalities and motives of real depth and conviction, clash, struggle, and attempt to prosper.