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.
Interstellar civil war rages. An incredibly powerful
sentient computer chafes at the limitations of being
confined inside hardware and plots to rectify that
situation. Predatory feline aliens launch humanity's
greatest nightmare: alien invasion.
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