"Action Packed Space Opera Sequel"
OF DUTY AND DEATH is the sequel to OF HONOR
AND TREASON. It has been four years since the
meeting of
Eivaunee Dorlan, human, head of the Dorlan Estates and the
most powerful Consenti Family of the Klimar Empire, a
starship Captain, and Zsar't'lac, a humanoid alien Hsassan,
a race of fierce warriors from the Norda Homelands, now his
second in command. Over the years the pair had formed an
unusual friendship based on honor and trust. Still
Zsar't'lac has yet to confide in Eivaunee that he is the
Hassan Qtesark, the Genetic Messiah of his people, from
whom all future generations were to have been bred. That was before Zsar't'lac had refused to wage war on the
humans, before he committed the ultimate act of treason by
defecting to the Klimar empire. In the homelands, Zsar't'lac's bearer is planning
rebellion. Zsar't'lac for his part is learning everything
he can about the humans in order to be able to convince his
kind of the futility of war between the two species. He
knows that this would be disastrous for them both. Though
his people would undoubtedly prevail in battle, the humans
are tenacious. They would not accept slave status, would
not accept defeat with the Hsassan concept of honor. The
Hsassan have no concept of guerilla warfare. Once defeated
it they have been raised to welcome death. They would not
be able to control their captives for long. And yet a small few are preparing to go against their
breeding, to overthrow their Yseret creators. If they are
successful Z'sart'lac will be able to return to his beloved
Sing'm'li. Will the Yseret's ultimate breeding experiment
become their worst nightmare? Eivaunee had become expendable when he refused to marry the
daughter of Emperor Hazdel. Hazdel covets Eivaunee's
estates and is determined to have them one way or another.
For that reason Eivaunnee had been sent to retrieve the
alien under fire, and for that reason four years later,
Eivaunee is still being given the most undesirable
assignments. He's just performed the distasteful act of
executing the leaders of a just rebellion and destroying an
entire town, when he is called upon to investigate a string
of messy murders on NeoCorda. Little do they know that the murders of twelve humans there
are only a decoy, that the real target is Zsar't'lac, and
although the M.O. of the assassin suggests that the killer
is a Hsassan, even Zsar't'lac knows that this is doubtful.
Still his empathic talents should have easily turned up a
human with murder on its mind. Eivaunee has yet to make a move against the Emperor. Though
Z'sar't'lac has offered his support, Eivaunee sees no way
of achieving success. He feels frustrated and helpless. The
struggle between the two Hsassan's is quite eye opening
however, and by story's end Eivaunee is seeing his friend
in a new light. Together, can the two end Hazdel's unholy
reign? The story continues to intrigue. Once Z'sart'lac's secret
is in the open, a decision must be made whether to stay the
course, or take a new direction. It will take the
relationship between the two males to an entirely new
level. Z'sart'lac must decide whether Eivaunee can be
trusted with the information, for he will never allow his
genetic material to fall into the hands of the Yseret.
Their will be no new Qtesark. What direction will they take
next? The next installment is sure to be quite interesting. Copyright © 2002
Reviewed by Leslie Tramposch
Posted May 27, 2002
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