Enigma [Hardcover]

C. F. Bentley (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 4, 2009

The follow-up to Harmony, from "a bright star in the outer space galaxy of science fiction."(Midwest Book Review)

The world of Harmony, along with its close-knit colony planets, has been isolated from the rest of the universe for many generations. Now, Harmony's High Priestess Sissy and Confederated Star System Agent Jake have traveled to space station Labyrinthe VII, otherwise known as The First Contact Café, where they hope to establish diplomatic relations between the Harmonic Empire and the wider universe. But when an alien ship crashes into the Harmony Diplomatic Wing of Labyrinthe VII, the precarious balance Sissy and Jake have established begins to dissolve.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Political backstabbing and interplanetary intrigue continue to thwart star-crossed lovers Sissy and Jake in this unwieldy sequel to 2008's space fantasy Harmony. On ramshackle space station Labyrinthe VII, ambassadors from the Confederated Star Systems are trying to get their hands on former colony planet Harmony's stash of Badger Metal, necessary for starship hulls and ship-to-ship communication. With civil war looming, Harmony has no intention of handing it over cheaply. Traumatized by an assassination attempt, fragile high priestess Sissy is trying to restore the covenant of the goddess also called Harmony, while special liaison and military chief of staff Jake must protect his love, push the diplomatic agenda along and deal with a possible serial killer, a deranged CSS spymaster and some mysterious aliens. Somewhat surprisingly, Bentley manages to tie up the soap opera's biggest loose ends by the book's close. (Aug.)
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About the Author

C. F. Bentley is a museum-trained historian who was raised in a military family, spending her childhood all over the United States. Her interests and reading range from ancient history to spiritual meditations to space stations, and a whole lot in between.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 400 pages
• Publisher: DAW Hardcover; First Edition edition (August 4, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0756405645
• ISBN-13: 978-0756405649
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.4 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,579,647 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Big letdown after Harmony, January 28, 2011

By 

JC Reaves - See all my reviews

This review is from: Enigma (Hardcover)

This book was a big disappointment after its thoroughly enjoyable predecessor, Harmony. This book had none of the character development and description that made me care about its main characters in Harmony. I really didn't care about Sissy or Jake in this book. Its hard to describe, but there is no sense of discovery in Enigma. There is nothing really new or thought-provoking and no sense of wonder at the music of the crystals, or how Sissy manipulates them to awe those around her. This was a very weak follow-up on the nicely written Harmony. I might read the next book (and there will obviously be a next one, Mr. Bentley is clearly setting up a series), but only because I get them at the library and do not buy them. If I had to pay for the next installment Mr. Bentley would be gone from my reading list after having read Enigma.

I suggest that you just read Harmony and stop.

5.0 out of 5 stars strong space opera, August 8, 2009

By 

Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews
(#1 Hall OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Enigma (Hardcover)

The Harmony Empire of planets has been secluded from the greater universe for a long time due to its remoteness. Lovers High Priestess of Harmony Laudae Sissy and Confederated Star System Agent "Military" Jake know the remote inaccessibility is coming to an end. With that in mind they travel to Labyrinthe VII space station; better known in this sector as The First Contact Cafe hoping to negotiate diplomatic and economic relations for their confederation with the outside governments as they know the outsiders are coming anyway to obtain precious Badger Medal.

The Confederated Star Systems want the Badger Medal to build starships so will do anything to regain control of their former colony and the other planets that make up the Harmonic Empire. With war in the sector seemingly imminent, Harmony wants a fair price for its most precious asset. When someone tries to assassinate Sissy, she becomes fearful that her efforts to restore the covenant to the goddess Harmony will fail; Jake risks his life to keep her safe, but also knows as the planet's liaison to the outside he must continue the negotiations to save the empire from a hostile takeover from without and within especially when an alien vessel apparently deliberately crashed into the Harmony wing of the space station.

Besides dealing with a mass murdering serial killer and an insane spy chief, all Jake has to do is negotiate, investigate and protect fragile Sissy. The story line is fast-paced due to his ability to juggle all the balls though some do fall making his tasks more complex. Fans will enjoy the sequel to HARMONY as C.F. Bentley provides a strong space opera starring a brave hero and the fragile woman he cherishes, who surprises even him with her courage to enter the hellish fray though completely frightened as she is a "Depends" female; you can depend on her to do the right thing though she wears rubber underwear.

Harriet Klausner

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars huge disappointment, April 20, 2010

By 

Alex G. Chronis (Athens ,Greece) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Enigma (Hardcover)

After a delightful first novel, this sequel to "Harmony" was a huge disappointment.I can only assume that the author was either not certain what direction this was going or wanted to create a trilogy or more.I did not even finish the book. At about the halfway point I threw it in the recycle trash.Obviously any sequels,if attempted, are a no no for me.My main criticism? At the point that I stopped reading, any new theme to bind and enrich the fisrt novel ,if that was the effort, either did not emerge or could have been accomplished ,if such was done in the remaining pages that I did not read, in a significantly shorter number of pages so that the reader would not die of boredom.