ISBN: 0-380-80783-1 Order from: Amazon.com Barnes & Noble.com
This blend of personal struggle for survival and dignity amidst two-race politics is ultimately revealed to be an enjoyable and tense mystery.
Reviewed by David on May 07, 2000
Genre: Science Fiction (Mystery, Intrigue, Aliens)
Synopsis: A fugitive from official and private enemies, Jani Kilian still suffers from the consequences of the near-fatal explosion during the civil war between Idomeni factions. As one of the best Human experts in the Idomeni culture and their unique art of Document Examination, Jani makes a valuable, if vulnerable ally for her former friend Evan. But Evan is involved in Commonwealth politics at its highest, and deadliest levels, and Jani is liable to lose all protection that her many years of camouflage gave. But her old enemies may have to stand in line: because as she investigates suspecious deaths for her former lover, all too many parties would prefer to silence the investigator.
Full Review: In an interesting amalgam of Human and Idomeni races, the political struggle for power in the Commonwealth is subtly underscored by the alien ideas of their own destiny.
In an interesting reversal of technology slightly reminiscent of Scott's Roads of Heaven trilogy, the computer has been supplanted as the ultimate information device. In this instance, the paper—augmented by embedded information, and surrounded by alien bio-technology—is the premier information medium. The people who know how to create, and more importantly, examine documents, wield incredible power. This power of beaurecrats codified even in the human government (in retrospect, not that far from reality, considering, say, the tax returns), people like Jani, a sort of mixture of accountants and inspectors, can probe the past and detect crimes abandoned by enforcement agencies.
A likable if overly vulnerable protagonist, Jani makes a good support for an interleaved plot of alien philisophies, human politics, and even old-fashioned lust. While suffering from too many flahbacks, anthomorphism, and view-hopping, this novel is still a pretty exciting, taut adventure.
Somewhere in between Cherryh's overly tense alien politics, Bunch's Wind After Time's pseudo-mystical alien teachings, this novel has a good realization of a pretty standard, "human enlightened by alien culture" SF-nal motif.
Overall: 6; Plot: 6; Characters: 6.5; Style: 6; World-building: 6; Originality: 5.5;
Copyright date 1999, Avon Books (Avon Eos), November 1999, Mass market paperback, 348 pages
ISBN: 0-380-80783-1 Order from: Amazon.com Barnes & Noble.com