Ash Ock: Book Two of the Paratwa Saga (Mass Market Paperback)

by Christopher Hinz (Author) "To Susan Quint, there was nothing at all remarkable about the four-mile-wide, eighteen-mile-long space community of Honshu..." (more)
Key Phrases: Ash Ock, Susan Quint, Venus Cluster (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
This second book of the Paratwa Saga (a trilogy is planned) maintains the stylish writing and plotting of Hinz's Leige-Killer , which first introduced the Paratwa--genetically enhanced, telepathically connected pairs of trained killers--and Gillian and Nick, hunters who stalk the Paratwa in the satellite colonies orbiting a demolished Earth. The scattered hints of a future conflict present in the first book are developed here, with the addition of several new threads, most of which await resolution in the third volume. Here the colonists learn that the generation starships which fled the devastated Earth have been commandeered by the Ash Ock, five pairs of Paratwa leaders who are attempting to dominate humanity. Evidence of fresh Paratwa massacres prompts the waking of Nick and Gillian from 56 years of scientifically controlled slumber. Deadly seductresses, unstable ingenues and scheming scientists populate the fanciful adventures that ensue.
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal
Outbreaks of terrorist violence, dissension among the members of the Council of Irrya, and destruction of vital computerized data herald the imminent invasion of the deadly Paratwa--telepathically linked pairs of killers bent on the conquest of the galaxy. Although this sequel to Liege-Killer (LJ 3/15/87) exhibits the same compelling quality of its predecessor, its place in mid-trilogy necessitates an unresolved conclusion. Recommended for most libraries.
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 368 pages
• Publisher: Tor Books (October 15, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0812530780
• ISBN-13: 978-0812530780
• Product Dimensions: 7 x 4 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #518,467 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in this category: (What's this?)

  #2 in

  Books > Science Fiction & Fantasy > Authors, A-Z > ( H ) > Hinz, Christopher

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars More of What You Liked in Liege-Killer, February 8, 2005

By	Eiji Hirai (San Mateo, CA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Most of the reviews have explained some of the plot, so I won't rehash that. What I will try to do is explain why you should or shouldn't buy this, whether you'll like this or not.

First, you probably shouldn't buy or read this until you have read the first book in the series, Liege-Killer. The series is definitely in the genre of science fiction thrillers, where the action flows through quick and strong, the events really have major consequences, and major conspiracies are revealed. It's a great read.

If you like Liege-Killer, then will you like Ash Ock. It gives you more of what makes Liege-Killer a great read. If you thought the Paratwa and the Irryan Council had conspiracies up their sleave, there are more hidden agendas and conspiracies that are revealed and more struggles to fight, with even bigger stakes for the characters involved. If you didn't like Liege-Killer, then you'll probably not like Ash Ock either, since it's more of what's in Liege-Killer.

One word of warning. If you're going to buy and read Ash Ock, you'd better buy the third book in the series, Paratwa. Even though Liege-Killer was a book that can stand on its own, and the story has a satisfying ending, the Ash Ock book is the 1st part of a 2 part story that ends in Paratwa. Ash Ock ends abruptly in the middle of a story and Paratwa continues right where Ash Ock ends and ends the 2 part story in a nice conclusion. So get both, or you'll be kicking yourself after you finish Ash Ock and you'll be wondering what happens in the next hour in the story.

I haven't had this much fun reading a science fiction thriller in a long time. Enjoy the ride.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars He completely changes the backstory . . . , July 1, 2007

By	C. Nelson - See all my reviews

It seems that I'm the only one on the planet who hated Ash Ock and Paratwa. Liege Killer is definately a groundbreaking novel. The problem occurs in that he completely changes the backstory (which was excellent) to a half-arsed alien novel, instead of a scientific breakthrough. This discontinuity is similar to the storyline changes between the movies Highlander and Highlander II.

I cannot recommend either Paratwa or Ash Ock, as they are very poor sequels to a fantastic novel, solely due to the drastic change in the storyline.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Pretty good book, ending needs closure., August 8, 1997

By A Customer

I gave the first book a "9," but this book does not get that high a rating. I have to admit the book continues on with the same level of character and intensity of the first book; however, I felt that the ending did not have a proper closure to it. It was obviously written in a way that requires a sequel. Otherwise a solid cyberpunk book