ISBN: 0-743-48839-3 Order from: Amazon.com Barnes & Noble.com
A very good sequel to the late Schmitz's gem of a space opera, this adventure has a new peril, old risks, appealing characters, fast pace and a generous and well-integrated dose of humor.
Reviewed by David on September 19, 2004
Genre: Science Fiction (Space Opera)
Synopsis: Captain Pausert of the rather stodgy Republic of Nikkeldepain has forsaken space trade when he rescued three young girls from slavery. The three girls turned out to be young witches from the near-legendary planet of Karres, and Pausert, with some magic powers of his own, took up travel and adventure on behalf of Karres.
Now, Pausert, his old but sturdy ship Venture, and two young witches try to deliver an important messenger to the Imperial capital. Alas, both Imperial intrigue and pirate greed stand in the way of the ship. What's more, the messenger's mission is critical to prevent a devastating plague, and there are powerful enemies determined to protect this plague. The Venture's existance is in grave peril—but her small crew is courageous, intelligent, and have some of Karres's magic on their side.
Full Review: For many years, The Witches of Karres by the late James Schmitz has been a favorite of many who bitterly regretted the loss of the sequel's manuscript.
This sequel by three authors does its best to fill that gap, and somewhat surpringly does a very good job of it.
The old characters seem to act true to form, the humor is still strong but not overpowering, and the adventures are still continuing at a non-stop pace. There is little scientific rigor or psychological exploration going on, but the characters are appealing.
The streamlined plot will attract young audiences, but the charming characters; superficial but not patronizing adventure and consistency with the classic original will make this popular with SF fans of all ages. I can't wait for the next book in the series.
Overall: 7; Plot: 6; Characters: 6.5; Style: 6.5; World-building: 6; Originality: 6;
Copyright date 2004, Baen, August 2004, Cloth
ISBN: 0-743-48839-3 Order from: Amazon.com Barnes & Noble.com