Customer Reviews

Planet of the Voles (Berkley Medallion SF, S2248)

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

 

 

Genetically engineered soldiers, born in a bio-womb, are bred to fight an interstellar war against the Voles. As the novel opens, a warship is on its way to liberate a planet that the Voles occupy. Tomas, the ship's artist, and Jon, a smallish engineer whose job is to clean the ship's drive tube, are the only two survivors when Voles attack the ship while it's in hyperspace. The reason for their survival is something of a mystery until the story nears its end.

After the ship enters normal space, it automatically goes into orbit around the Vole-occupied planet. Tomas and Jon take a lander to the planet's surface to find a water supply so they can refuel the ship. There they encounter Voles and some humans from a previous expedition who now live a zombie-like existence. The story moves on from there, all too predictably.

Tomas' battle against the Voles depends upon an unlikely technological device that's conveniently available to Tomas -- one of a few silly plot devices that detract from the novel's credibility. The reason for Tomas' ability to survive the Vole's attack wasn't hard to guess, leading to a predictable resolution that was probably meant to be surprising. The story moves quickly and the writing is competent but it's easy to understand why this novel hasn't stayed in print. It's okay for what it is, but barely okay. I would give it 2 1/2 stars if that option were available.