MANIPULUS

Earthling cybernetic soldiers face off against terrorists on another planet in Weaver’s debut SF novel, the first in a series.

Captain Kedron Trent’s counterterrorism team accompanies an ambassador to exoplanet Sarsina; it’s a six-week flight to a space station followed by travel via wormhole. The soldiers’ presence is mostly precautionary, as there’s a “small degree of anti-human sentiment” on Sarsina. Before they even land, there’s a bombing. Once on the planet, the team members investigate and soon come to suspect a religious group, the Altean Enclave, of orchestrating the ongoing terrorist strikes. Kedron and his team members, each of whom is biomechanically enhanced and equipped with a Neural Integration and Management System (NMIS), can handle violent, armed men. Uncovering evidence, however, isn’t so easy. Will Cogaise, an intelligence officer, can help, though his insolence persistently irks Kedron. If these two can work together, they may be able to identify the terrorists and determine their ultimate objective to make certain that the unrest in Sarsina doesn’t spin entirely out of control. Weaver introduces a fascinating batch of flawed characters. Kedron’s anger sometimes threatens to take him over—he wages an internal battle that the author conveys with refreshing subtlety. The initial narrative perspective is that of the human soldiers—the Sarsinans are “aliens,” even when they’re on their home planet. The story becomes more absorbing once the races mingle and a mystery gradually unravels. The book has a pleasingly even mix of action and espionage: “Alarm bells—human ones, not NIMS—began ringing. Consorting with a [governor] was a political land mine he didn’t want to step on.” The action rarely lets up, beginning with the team’s prolonged journey to Sarsina, which highlights Kedron and Will’s strained relationship as well as trouble on the space station. A compelling plot turn in the latter half paves the way for the exhilarating final act.

A fast-paced tale of intergalactic military tactics, unwavering intrigue, and explosive combat.