ISBN: 0-451-15613-7 Order from: Amazon.com
A space opera with an intriguing heroine a bit too much angst.
Reviewed by David on February 14, 1999
Genre: Science Fiction (Mystery, Intrigue)
Full Review: Jade Darcy, a superb martial artist, mercenary and a military-grade cyborg, has lived a life of alternating boredom and fear since she deserted from her army position. To supplement her income, she occasionally undertakes risky assignments for clients in need of her destructive abilities. She would normally never accept the nearly suicidal role for the pittance offered by the dispossed alien Fastal, if it weren't for the Commancors. That ruthless and aggressive race have killed Fastal's family and subjugated his planet. Fighting her own memories of the Commancors' killing of Jade's family years ahead, and rattled by the appearance of another human on the remote world that Jade has chosen as her home, the mercenary agrees to assist Fastal in his quest for vengeance.
In the course of the novel, Jade will face both physical and moral threats, and try to determine how much a threatened, nightmare-haunted fugitive like herself owes to others.
The book is a quite enjoyable space opera, mostly because of the main character herself. The slightly too colorful aliens, and the overdone attack of guilt induced by an improbably parental and intrusive magnate, detract from the otherwise excellent and tense adventure.
This novel is followed by Jade Darcy and the Zen Pirates. This book is currently out of print, check the used book places or the local library.
Overall: 6; Plot: 5.5; Characters: 6.5; Style: 6; World-building: 5; Originality: 5.5;
Copyright date 1988, Penguin Group (Signet), October 1988, Mass-market, 254 pages
ISBN: 0-451-15613-7 Order from: Amazon.com