This is Book Two of the sparkling SF adventure series The Sentience Trilogy in which a race of lion-like beings comes up against a tough enemy moving into the space lanes. In the first book, Storm Clouds Gathering, we saw an interstellar war between human-settled planets getting under way, partly prompted by a sentient computer. DEFYING THE PROPHET takes up the story.

Since some planets in the United Stellar Alliance have been fondly named Tensee, Missip, Arka and so on, the sundered worlds refer to themselves as Yankees or Confederates. Full scale space fleet war is now under way. The object is to take over strategic or well-resourced planetary systems, so the loss of life is staggering. Admiral Grove, in charge of a Confederate fleet, leaps to defend her people and planet, but reinforcements arrive to support the Yankee ships attacking the planet Tensee. American readers will have an enjoyable time picking their way through all the good- humoured names and sidelong references. British envoys arrive but their efforts at diplomacy are laughed off by combatants.

Dietrich and his sentient computer friend Hal are working behind the scenes, anchoring the tale for us at the personal scale. Diet is antiheroic by this time, in my opinion, starting wars that are killing millions, believing his computer's assurances that this is necessary. Hal is in sneaky contact with secured computer systems on various planets which eases access for Diet's machinations. Away from his lair however, Diet starts to look rather more human.

I couldn't wait for the Raknii to reappear, and sure enough a large catlike being called Xlan is sitting on a throne on another world, grooming his white fur and almost as an afterthought, thwarting an assassination attempt. A prophecy regarding this race suggests that he may have a noble destiny... but at great cost. As the Raknii are entirely male-dominated, I was delighted when a human prisoner provides them with a demonstration of why you shouldn't mess with a lady who's a Kung Fu instructor. Commander Kathy Edison leads the first defence against the Raknii fleet. The humans have developed technology in ways the Raknii are unprepared for, but can humans fight two enemies at once - especially when one enemy is themselves?

Tremendous fun and well described, DEFYING THE PROPHET will keep space opera fans on the edge of their seats. We find plenty to make a reader think; the advantage of developing various kinds of technology, the disadvantage of corruption and just what stress it takes to cause the entire human race to co-operate. There's also plenty of dry wit and energy from author Gibson Michaels, just as we'd expect. With some strong language this is not really a YA read but adult SF fans can certainly enjoy DEFYING THE PROPHET. I can't wait for the third in the trilogy.