Customer Reviews

Astrologer 2, The: Wayward Moon

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

OK honestly I gave it five stars instead of 3.5 (the actual number I'd give it) because of that last review. Obviously someone did not read the first book in the series...and has little science fiction reading under her belt--BUT this is about the book!

Wayward Moon is a good, fun, light read. So is the first in the series Heart of Stone. The slang can grate at times & the Astrology can overwhelm the story in places BUT the mystery is good and the imagined future is interesting. The aliens are believable if a little Star Trek at times. The best part about the books is that the mysteries the center around belong in the world where the author created them. Neither the SF or the mystery (or the romance for that matter) feels tacked on.

That said, the author's OTHER series written under her real name Denise Vitola is far superior. There are five books in that series & I would suggest spending time reading them before these. While waiting for more Vitola books, these will fill the time.

In the future, with the discovery of zero gravity, death no longer remains a mystery, as it is only a portal from one life into another. Astrology regained credibility as a science with people like Philipa Cyrion assisting the police in solving crimes through horoscopes, reading palms and cards.

Disgusted with earthly politics and its ruler Emperor Theo, Philipa joins Hadrien as independent operators, which is why they landed on Badares Space Station. The Idealian, Durikeeen Sunteel, was about to integrate her essence with the station's network of computers when someone murdered her. Hadrien and Philipa were hired to solve the homicide, but early in the investigation the former and a strange alien vanish. A heartbroken Philipa searches for her partner on Argos, home of the alien who abducted him while also trying to solve a seemingly impossible murder case.

In WAYWARD MOON, the heroine's character is much more developed than in her previous appearance (see HEART OF STONE). Her British roots appear, especially when excited, as she uses a future form of Cockney. She also realizes she loves her partner. Different species inhabit the space station with all of them feeling very realistic. The who-done-it is fun on two fronts, a murder investigation and Hadrien's vanishing act. Denny DeMartino illuminates the science fiction galaxy.

Harriet Klausner

Here is a book that overtly attempts to legitimize metaphysical astrological/tarot-like card divination as a valid science for character reading and murder solving in future time. Who knows, it might work.

However, scepticism prevailed and for this reader disconnection started with the book cover which shows a sexy blonde in a tight blue skin suit yet the author has her dressed in cammies, (camoflage suits) throughout the story. Hmmm. Then, a lot of time is wasted with the heroine talking East London trash/slang that the author infers as "Sloane Ranger" by her reference to Sloane. She repeatedly introduces this slang at inappropriate times and shrugs it off glibly as "nervous" reaction to stress in the trying situations she faces. It is very distracting, especially when the aliens in the story are seemingly more intelligent and literate than the heroine is in fact. Yes, it is a given that one must suspend any judgement and expectations when reading Sci Fi, but it is helpful to make the heroine "sound" somewhat knowledgeable and intelligent if the reader is to fully engage and stay involved in the story. The Emperor Theo is greedy, totally selfish, manipulative, etc. OK. Well, what I want to know is what did Theo do to these two that so popped their corks and sent them into orbit that they want to kill the Emperor or sabotage their mission for no really concrete reason? In future time there are different risks and falling into the hands of aliens who place implants in their bodies, as happened in this story, could be a risk and part of the territory that star warriors might experience aren't they?

Another fascinating theme that was ignored were the dark holes in space around the fascinating planet that was destroyed when its moon moved out of orbit.

I did like the idea of morphing into "atoms" and transiting space as the coral colored aliens were capable of doing. I also liked the science/quasi spiritual notions that the author posited and offered a veritable literary feast in this story line yet were also glossed over.

The real source of my disconnection in this tale was the heroine's attitude toward the aliens whom she continually called "metal heads" and other negative terms because of their half carbon, half artificial genetic physiology and morphology. This is really really xenophobic and I personally don't like thinking in that way because it fosters bigotry which is another issue in this book that was quite overt.

In fairness, maybe it seemed "cute" to sling slang and drag the baggage of bigotry into future time. But, for me, that doesn't work at any level. Authors such as David Weber, etc can spin a good tale without such heavy handed negativity . Who knows, maybe humans appear moronic and hideous to other species in the galaxy and that is massively uncool to think that we might be viewed that way.

For me one of the most powerful tools of this genre is to open one's mind to all possibilities and potentialities as we evolve into a new era in which our future generations will experience realities that are now only science fiction rather than iris the portals shut with narrow, antiquated biases.