"Sultry and Intriguing Space Adventure"
When we first meet Dora in THE CHALLENGE we learn that she
is more than a just a computer, she is a sentient being
with emotions and a curiosity about human relationships,
particularly love making. One human in particular, Zical
who is rather liberated for a Rystani male, she finds
extremely attractive.
Zical enjoys verbal sparring with Dora and considers the
computer a friend, but lately he finds her more
exasperating than anything else. Four years after fleeing
his home planet to settle on the new world, Mystique, the
job of recolonizing his people has been completed and Zical
must now decide what to do with his future. Being a
physical being Zical decides on a mountain climb rather
than meditation to relax him, and help him to make the
decision. Not an easy task when a sexy voiced computer
keeps upsetting his balance with her personal questions
about his love life.
Dora has been dying to know what it's like to be human, and
when her friend Tessa challenges her to do something about
it, she takes the challenge seriously. Borrowing stock DNA,
Dora decides to grow a body for herself. All she needs to
know now is what a man like Zical finds attractive in a
woman.
This whole line of questioning is off putting to the man
who had been subjected to an arranged marriage with a child
bride. His wife had been afraid of her own shadow and
unable to cope to cope with her new role, or to make the
smallest decision for herself. That inability had resulted
in her death at the hands of the Endekians while Zical was
off hunting for food. Zical suffered great guilt over her
loss and the loss of their unborn child. The last thing he
wanted was to get involved with another woman.
During the climb, Zical discovers a hidden cavern complete
with machinery left behind by the "Perceptive Ones" the
same technologically advanced race that had created the
body regulating, life extending suits all citizens of the
Federation wore from birth. The discovery trips a recall of
a Sentinel, which had been placed at the far reaches of the
Milky Way galaxy to alert its inhabitants of attacks by the
hostile Zin of the Andromeda galaxy.
Zical realizes that his life decision has been made for
him. He must find a way to send the Sentinel back to its
post, even if it takes a lifetime. To add to the chaos,
Dora had found another way to discern exactly what Zical's
dream lover would look like and had incorporated these
features into her new body. Dora is eager to experience new
sensations, but is not prepared for the limitations of her
new body. The adjustment was somewhat overwhelming, but
Dora had devised a way to link up to the new sentience in
the computer enabling her to experience more than her new
human eyes and brain would normally allow. It is through
this link up that she discovers the Sentinel's recall.
Zical is stunned by Dora's appearance. Her intelligence is
still far above that of most humans, and her body is the
stuff of dreams, but she is new to being human and her lack
of control has made her afraid. Another immature female in
his life is not something Zical needs. Dora, however is not
about to be left behind, never to know what it would be
like to mate with the man of her dreams. Imagine Zical's
consternation when Tessa insists that Dora is essential to
the success of his mission! He accepts this as logical
although his feelings regarding the new Dora have
absolutely nothing to do with logic.
As they journey into the unknown with the prospect of
danger all around them, events occur which force the pair
into a meeting of the minds.... and then some! With two
strong willed and sensual protagonists steamy love scenes
are given, however the overall plot is so intriguing at
times it's almost tempting to rush through them to find out
what happens next...Almost. Susan Kearney is a consummate
story teller. I can't wait to get started on THE ULTIMATUM
which is the next book in this enthralling series. Posted March 30, 2006
Copyright © 2006
Reviewed by Leslie Tramposch
Posted November 2, 2006
|
