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4.0 out of 5 stars
The Fate of the Galaxy turns on a Friendship, September 30, 2001
This review is from: Of Duty and Death (Paperback)
Of Duty and Death is the sequel to Honor and Treason, and I can't wait for another installment in this saga.
I've reviewed this novel in my online review column "ReReadable Books" because I know it's going to be one I'll read again.
Here we have two men, one human and one not. The human is caught in a political trap by his Emperor -- because the Emperor is trying to force him to commit treason. The Emperor wants this Noble's Estates, so to kick him into rebellion, the Emperor orders this very Honorable man to murder innocent civilians then accuses him of treason when he gives them quick easy deaths.
The alien is a kind of high nobility in his own area of the galaxy, but is here in human dominated territory, serving as First Officer on the human's ship where the human is Captain and rules an entire sector of space in the name of the Emperor. The alien is waiting for the ripening of a revolution in his own territory and can't move until the rest of the strategy is in place back home. So he waits.
The alien has an innate sense of Honor -- follows a code so strict he refuses to issue orders in his Captain's name, because it's not his own name. If defeated in ritual combat, he will allow himself to be killed rather than making a last ditch stand as a human would. His people consider it dishonorable not to surrender completely when defeated. He's one of the few who understands humans don't think it dishonorable to keep fighting no matter what.
The alien's species has no mechanism for engaging in friendship -- this is not just cultural, but a trait of their nature. But this particular individual is an empath, and can read human emotions -- even those he doesn't yet understand.
Each of the two has secrets to keep from the other -- one of which is revealed in this novel, and nearly gets them both killed.
Through the course of this novel, the alien gains a solid notion of what friendship means, and the human begins to understand the nature of "alliance" -- which is the alien's concept of their relationship.
They share a common goal -- avoiding war between their species -- but neither is really certain the other cherishes that goal.
The fate of the galaxy depends on them becoming sure. But in this novel, things begin to get very complicated as two new characters enter the mix.
Both new characters are human women chosen by these two men for their attractiveness (not physical beauty -- traits of personality). They're also interested in sex (well, they are men!).
This novel could have failed abysmally because both main characters are at a point in their lives when they can not and must not do anything to change their intolerable situations. They are waiting. Strategically, that's the right thing to do.
Ordinarily a novel about heros who just stand around waiting, in anguish over a situation but completely unable to act to change that situation becomes very boring.
This novel is a thrilling, "can't put it down" read -- because although they can't do anything now about the real problems, their current actions are forging new options for the future.
The novel leaves off with a definite feeling there will be a future, and that there will be many options for them to choose from -- options we can't now foresee -- options provided by these two remarkable women who have entered the scene. They will topple the Evil Emperor and save the Galaxy from war that could only end with humanity enslaved.
Or maybe not - maybe humanity will lose the war, and become enslaved, and then their task will become to save the aliens from the human's natural response to slavery -- breaking free and destroying the enslavers. The honorable aliens would never expect that! After all, the defeated must surrender honorably.
The novel is not flawless, but it's so good I didn't care, and I don't remember the nits I found that needed picking.
Live Long and Prosper,
Jacqueline Lichtenberg
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3.0 out of 5 stars
Wake Me When the Revolution Begins, January 8, 2003
This review is from: Of Duty and Death (Paperback)
I was quite enthusiastic about the first book in this series. In the prologue of that book the read is told that Revolution is fomenting among the humans. The nonhuman Norda are also planning their own revolution. In anticipation of this, Zar't'lac, the genetic messiah-- the ultimate warrior, flees to the human side to try to protect his people from human aggression during their time of political turbulence.
Now, it is four years later and nothing much has happened in the political arena. In the prologue of this book the reader is told that an assassin is being sent from the Norda Homeworld to human space to dispose of Zar't'lac. It doesn't improve the suspense that it is also stated in the prologue that the assassin sent against the ultimate warrior is a "Beta breeding cull" and not too bright.
Zar't'lac is second in command on a human starship captained by Eivaunee Dorlan, the Provincial Commissioner and the richest man in the galactic empire. They are sent by the emperor to track down a serial killer on a pleasure and mining planet. There's no suspense at all here, the reader is shown who the killer is. Zar't'lac and Eivaunee go down to the planet and start picking up women in bars. Eventually they stumble on the serial killer. The end.
Two things:
1. The Ancient Greeks and comic book authors both know that if you create a hero without any vulnerabilities it is boring. See Achilles heel and kyptonite. Even a second string Norda can defeat a human so why should I feel any concern for Zar't'lac?
2. In fiction suspense is good. Sometimes it's better to show the reader things as they happen rather than reveal everything in the beginning.
Even if, like me, you really liked the first in this series, I would suggest giving this one a pass.
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