Afterburn [Mass Market Paperback]

s. l. Viehl (Author)

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback
• Publisher: Roc (2005)
• ASIN: B000VZEYQA
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sequel to Bio Rescue has more fuel than you think, September 28, 2005

By 

Schtinky "Schtinky" (California) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Afterburn (Hardcover)

Anyone familiar with S.L. Viehl's works will be happy to be returning to the planet K-2, and reacquainting themselves with the 'Zangians, the aquatic natives of K-2. While 'StarDoc' introduced us to K-2, 'Bio Rescue' was Viehl's first book to focus on the 'Zangians. 'Afterburn' is much more than a continuation of 'Bio Rescue', it's a stand alone story that brings back old friends and introduces us to some new ones.

Byorn mu Znora, 'Burn' to his friends, is the best gunner in the Bio Rescue fleet, training to become a pilot. Burn is young, big, and often reckless, a perfect candidate to guard the Ylydii Ambassador and her daughter, Liana. The Ylydii are also aquatics, arriving at K-2 along for a Peace Summit with the 'Zangians, the Skartesh, and the people of Ninra.

As Peace Summits go, this one has more than its share of problems, each race with their own ideas of what type of deal to strike. While the main plot revolves around the Summit, there are many intriguing subplots woven into the storyline, which Viehl will expertly tie together in the end.

Returning are old friends Jadaira, Burn's cousin, and her mate Onkar, Administrator Ana Hansen and Dr. William Mayer, Major Shon Valtas from the Skartesh incident, Jadaira's 'Zangian father Dairatha and his human mate Dr. Teresa Selmar.

I found myself particularly drawn to new character Emily Kim from Earth, who forms an unlikely alliance with Omorr pathologist Dr. Hkyrim.

S.L. Viehl's ability to breathe life into this alien world and its alien life forms are what separates her work from the rest of the bunch and elevates it far above any genre restrictions. She is able to tell a humanitarian story using characters who are fully fleshed out and genuine, and paints the world of K-2 with such vivid colors that I wish I could purchase a one-way ticket there.

I highly recommend this book, along with all of Viehl's other works. Enjoy!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sequel to Bio Rescue, August 26, 2005

By 

Detra Fitch (USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Afterburn (Hardcover)

Jadaira "Dair" now looks different from her species. She is melded with DNA of 'Zangian and Terran. Her pilot mate, Onkar, still considers her to be his entire world though. Dair was one of the main characters in the previous book, "Bio Rescue". She has large secondary parts in this novel, but the multiple layered plot has several other main characters this time.

Sublieutenant Byorn "Burn" mu Znora may be Jadaira's cousin, but she is his superior in rank and cuts him no slack. He wants to pilot Rescue Three of the 'Zangian SEALS, but his wishes must wait. Their planet, Kevarzangia Two "K-2", is hosting a Peace Summit between the races of Ninrana, Ylydii, and Skartesh. K-2 is home to multiple races of water breathers, as well as, air breathers. A few aquatics have been altered so they can breath air for several hours before needing to submerge back into water.

The Peace Summit is causing Administrator Ana Hansen to guzzle down coffee as if it was water. By luck, her brand new assistant, Emily Kim, is a miracle and helps keep Ana sane and the work flowing smoothly. Emily's best friend is a male Omorr (insect-like race) named Hkyrim. Terran's have a bad reputation (due to the Terrans who spit on people they did not like). Therefore, Emily is shunned by most of the life forms living on K-2. A Terran and Omorr being friends has never happened before. Hkyrim works with the medical examiner, in the morgue. Unknown to Ana, this friendship makes Emily even more valuable to her department, as well as, to K-2. Some recent bodies from Ambassador Carada's ship seem to have died from poison. Hkyrim wishes to study the ship for traces, but the ME refused to approve it. Emily, as the Administer Assistant CAN give the warrant. Good thing too. The "virus" is special and attacks only certain types of beings. Not only is the Peace Summit in jeopardy, but all aquatic life on K-2.

Meanwhile, the Mogshrikes in the water (they make our sharks look like kittens) are acting oddly. So is a hive of Barax on the land. All Hades is about to break loose. <P(...)

1.0 out of 5 stars disappointing, October 21, 2010

By 

Feles31 (Honolulu, HI United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Afterburn (Hardcover)

Looks like I am the odd man out here so far.

Burn was such a great guy in the first novel --- it made me wish I had a cousin like that. Which is why it was such a disappointment that 1) this story was so dull and 2) he ended up with someone so unworthy of him!