ISBN: 0-451-45021-3 Order from: Amazon.com Barnes & Noble.com
A space opera-like adventure with too-colorful aliens but well-drawn and likable heroes.
Reviewed by David on August 23, 1998
Genre: Science Fiction (Mystery, Intrigue)
Synopsis: This is a sequel to Jade Darcy and the Affair of Honor.
In what is hopefully a growing series, this book documents the adventures of Jade Darcy, a renegade human cyborg, as she plays a bodyguard for an older businesswoman on a trip to an isolationist alien planet. The political intrigues involved in the alien power struggles, along with the fierce competition among the galaxy's more aggressive races trying to get access to the previously closed world, make for a deadly dangerous vacation. Jade is forced to play a part-time sleuth, while sorting out confusing matters of friendship and love.
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. Feeling restless in her job as a bouncer in a cross-species eatery, she agrees to accompany her occasional employer, the businesswoman Megan Cafferty, to the nearly closed world of Restappa. Megan is fascinated by the exotic traditions of the isolationist world, as well as excited about the potential market opportunities. However, representatives of several other races, including the militaristic Commancors, are no less eager to get their claws on Restappa. As if this rivalry was not enough, Restappa is in a middle of imperial succession, and the isolationist factions are terrified of the damage the interstellar civilization can do to their culture—with good reason. They will stop at nothing—not even murder, to avoid further contact with the galactic races.
Darcy's superb fighting skills will be hard pressed to keep her and her employer alive during their "vacation" on Restappa. But perhaps the biggest threat to Darcy is the conflict between her need for friendship and affection (human and otherwise) and the overriding need to keep herself safe from betrayals. The emotionally scarred Jade Darcy knows that the safest way to survive is to rely on nothing but her skills and weapons, while wondering if such a safe but lonely life is worth living.
The colorful alien cultures used as a backdrop are somewhat two-dimensional, somewhat resembling Laumer's Retief adventures. However, the aliens on Restappa are shown in more detail, which allow them to emerge into life, worthy of affection and occasional exasperation. Their culture, including the political struggles, interesting views of private possessions, quest for beauty and honor, and desire for power, are well described, if a touch anthropomorphic. Even the guard-snake provides an interesting and welcome detail.
The best parts of the novel, however, are the human characters. The tough yet vulnerable Jade, the intelligent and lonely Megan Cafferty circle one another warily as their growing affection for each other is frustrated by Jade's paranoia and Megan's fear of rejection. Their unstated relationship is put into greater jeopardy when Megan runs into an old friend. Jade's fears of her past and habitual suspicions of potential threats make her jealousy even more intense. My only complaint was that Jade was acting a bit too juvenile at times, given that her apparent age is at least late twenties.
The gamble of love against safety gives an air of tension and appealing uncertainty to the already pretty entertaining plot of political intrigue, murder mystery, and occasional sprinkling of humor.
This book is currently out of print, check the used book places or the local library.
Overall: 6.5; Plot: 5.5; Characters: 6.5; Style: 6; World-building: 5; Originality: 5;
Copyright date 1990, Penguin Group (Roc), July 1990, Mass-market, 293 pages
ISBN: 0-451-45021-3 Order from: Amazon.com Barnes & Noble.com