|
|
10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Fishy Attack, April 10, 2003
Hidden in Sight is the third novel in the Web Shifters series, following Changing Vision. In the previous volume, Janet Chase has exposed her predatory intentions and has fled Minas XII. Her co-conspirator, Inspector Logan, is unwise enough to come to Minas XII and learns not to betray a Herd of Ganthor. Rudy Lefebvre has left the Russell III and is contemplating a new future. Project Leader Kearn has been slipped a tip by the Esen Monster and is horrified, confused and gratified. The Kraal have not learned the secret of Web-being flight. Esen has met a new Group of friends and she resumes her life with Paul on Minas XII.In this novel, Picco's Moon has been invaded by someone who is mining Ersh's mountain and killing Tumblers. The disappearance of a Tumbler is reported and this information is forwarded to data collection equipment at Cameron & Ki Exports. Paul and Esen book passage to Picco's Moon on the Largas ship, Vegas Lass, but another passenger, Hom Wolla, has disappeared in the Dump, delaying the departure. Paul goes to the Dump to fetch the passenger, but doesn't return or communicate in two hours, so Esen goes after both of them. When she enters the bar, a Herd of Ganthor enters behind her and another Herd is before her with a drugged youngster who has been stolen from the other herd; the negotiations between the Herds escalates into a firefight. Then heavily armed and armored troopers enter the bar searching for something and both Herds turn against the newcomers. Esen loses sight of Paul and Wolla, but manages to escape through the lava tunnels to relative safety just before the firefight blows off the roof. Esen flees to the safety of her home and finds a crater instead; someone has blown up her house. She then flees to the greenhouse over their warehouse and finds Joel Largas there. Paul also appears, but is followed by heavily armed and armored troops. When they fire at Paul, Esen shifts to her Web-form, dumping energy in an explosion. The troopers are gone and Paul is dazed, but otherwise fine. Joel, however, has just met his worst nightmare, a Web-being like Death, and has gone into shock. Paul and Esen sedate him and take him home, then book passage on the first starship leaving Minas XII. Esen has shifted to her Oieta form, something like a giant shrimp, and Paul is also disguised as an Oieta, but has a reaction to the fluid within the suit and removes it. Esen, however, has another problem with her suit: an excess of aldehydes has caused her Oieta-self to become intoxicated, literally poisoned, but still a blissful experience; in other words, Esen is spaced out. This novel is as fast paced as the previous two, but is still mostly about the evolving relationship between Paul and Esen. It has some of the same minor themes, including the Tumbler tendancy to compose, by committee, 500 page messages that no one understands. I am almost certain that the Rand species, a communal intelligence, is a joke and maybe the Cin communal intelligence is another. There is also more about the architectural philosophy of Mixs. Recommended for Czerneda fans and anyone who enjoys zany adventures with likable persons within a SF setting.
|
by Julie E. Czerneda
by Julie E. Czerneda
by Julie E. Czerneda
by Julie E. Czerneda
by Julie E. Czerneda
