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%T Polar City Blues
%A Katherine Kerr
%I Bantam Spectra
%D September 1990
%O paperback, US$4.50
%P 262
%G 0-553-28504-1
This first SF novel by the author of Darkspell,
Daggerspell, and The Bristling Wood (see RR#74) is a treat. The viewpoint characters are
a cop and his smuggler friend investigating a murder on the streets of
Polar City, capitol of a human republic sandwiched precariously
between two rather nasty alien-dominated empires. The victim, it
begins to seem, was out spying for one, and quite possibly killed by a
psionic assassin from the other; the incident could start a shooting
war that could grind the republic into dust. But there are other,
wierder things going on, too; someone's found the body of one of an
unknown species of alien buried with a mysterious artifact in a
shantytown, and is spreading a weird plague in the city. Somehow, this
ties in with the murder -- and, perhaps, the only hope of avoiding
utter destruction. There's a fine knotty puzzle here, set up in
classic thriller/mystery style and lent extra flavor by the SF
setting. Also, feminists will enjoy the neat reversal of expected
roles in the book's romantic subplot. Recommended.
%T Shadowspeer
%A Jo Clayton
%I DAW
%D September 1990
%O paperback, US$4.95
%P 342
%G 0-88677-441-1
This sequel to Shadowplay (RR#48) shares
its virtues (evocative worldbuilding, sensuous and energetic prose)
and its faults (a fairly predictable plot). Shadith and her friends,
tracking Ginbiryol Seyirshi, land on the world of Chissoku Bogmak with
a plan to kidnap one of the clients for his genocidal "Special
Editions" and use their depraved victim to backtrack to the master
himself. Needless to say, not all goes according to plan -- because
their victim has been warned. Fun stuff, lots of derring-do and twisty
plotting. Recommended, but with the caveat that it ends on a
cliffhanger for book 3.
RECEIVED BUT NOT REVIEWED:
Once again, a glut of fantasy followups -- this time including Dare To Go A Hunting, the sequel to Flight In Yiktor by Andre Norton, and Mossflower, the prequel to Redwall by Brian Jacques. The latter looks on a casual flip-through as though it might have some redeeming social value, especially for kids; but so much stuff came in that I don't have time to read it and do a review.
Up to Eric's Home Page | To Index | Mon Sep 24 12:45:31 EDT 1990 |
Eric S. Raymond <esr@snark.thyrsus.com>