"A fabulous world-builder"
On the planet K-2, the dominant life form is the Zangians
who live mostly in the air but can exist for brief periods
of time on the land. K-2 is part of the Allied League of
Worlds, who is at war with the Hskstkt, slavers who
objected to the league coming into their territories to
establish colonies. The Hsktskt were driven out of K-2 and
the SEALs, surgically enhanced altered life species who can
live for longer period out of the water than their
brethren, patrol the skies to make sure their enemy doesn't
return. The species who live in the same sector of space as K-2 are
holding a peace summit to iron out problems between their
peoples. The Skaresh, who are living on K-2, demand their
own place preferably a moon of K-2 while the Ninrana need
water, which is running out on the planet. The aquatic
Yldii want to expand their empire while the 'Zangians
desire all the worlds form a peace pact. However not
everyone wants the peace summit to succeed and one of the
delegates will do whatever is necessary to see it fail. S.L. Viehl is a fabulous world-builder who invented a
planet where the dominant species isn't humanoid and most
of the sentient people that live there are not terrans;
most species hold terrans in little regard as xenophobic
idiots with the exception of a few who work for the
betterment of the planet. It is fascinating to watch the
different species survive in their environs while also
interacting with one another. This is one of the best books
the author has written with several characters deserving
their own story in future novels. Reviewed by Harriet Klausner
Posted July 24, 2005
Reviewed by PNR Group Member
Posted January 24, 2007
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