Third in the Sentience Trilogy, this space war will grip
science fiction lovers, but I recommend reading the other
two parts first. Gibson Michaels has been building up to a
powerful drama, through First Contact, invasion of human-
controlled space by the Raknii and full-scale battles.
Complicating matters is the fact that humanity has been
engaged in an internal interplanetary war, on economic
grounds. Dividing themselves along North-South lines,
retaliating against the greater numbers of the lion-like
enemy, the humans are about to face the WRATH OF AN ANGRY
GOD.
A sentient computer called Halbert, aided by the son of his
creator, Dieter, has been experimenting with ways to make
himself mobile, including a cyborg form and illegally
cloning Dieter's body. The ability to manipulate wealth
with Hal has made Diet rich but he prefers a modest life
with his new love Noreen, and he knows that his computer
companion may prove the saving of humankind. Tangled up in
matters of politics and court-martials, the burdened War
Cabinet meanwhile decides to approve a Fleet wedding
between heroes of the battles as a morale-boosting
exercise.
For the Raknii, change has come for the first time in
generations. These predators, ruled by dominant males, kept
their ships to the same standards so as not to have
hierarchy battles. Now they have to build bigger and better
to defeat the human spacecraft. They've humbled themselves
to make peace with a docile race - prey, in their minds -
on the path to enlightenment. There's a vicious reptilian
race out there at the edge of their systems. Drix, an
upcoming albino leader with the unusual mental capacity for
change, has been assigned a new home world right on the
edge of human space. He'll be in the forefront of the next
wave of war.
One character I immediately cheered for was the new female
Raknii, N'raal, the most strong and spirited female of the
species who refuses to be treated as a marriageable piece
of goods. Her fiery attitude has driven off all traditional-
minded suitors, but Drix sees potential in the beauty. Of
course, her high-ranking connections are an advantage.
I also enjoyed reading about nickel-iron asteroids being
hollowed out for use as battle platforms. War can come
when people least expect it. Honeymooning on the German
planet Bavara, Diet and Noreen somehow fail to ensure that
their space cruiser is parked in a hanger capable of
withstanding alien invasion. Now, that was a mistake. Other
folks are having a better time. A Raknii male in the role
of hostage and ambassador, gets to taste wine, beer and
Tensee sour mash for the first time. The unexpected
chuckles sprinkled through the story make it so pleasant
and readable.
Without spoiling the action, I'll say that the giant
asteroids being used in combat as weapons cruisers is a
fantastic read. However there are fewer space combat scenes
than in the earlier books. This portion contains more
character development, adult scenes, negotiation, planning
for the future. And what an exciting future Gibson Michaels
has given us in WRATH OF AN ANGRY GOD. Read it if you dare.
WRATH OF AN ANGRY GOD, is a page-turning epic conclusion of Gibson Michael's
excellent Sentience Trilogy. Humanity is desperate to find a way to quickly
end this catastrophic war before the aliens can overwhelm them with sheer numbers.
As two species - all too proficient at waging war - clash in bloody battles, behind the
lines forces are at play on both sides seeking a path to peaceful co-existence of both
species before one is literally blasted into extinction. While those two species sort out
their futures, a new life form struggles to fulfill a destiny its' creator never dreamed
possible.