J.J. Lore

Two men from very different cultures, sworn enemies at that, are thrown together in this story of genetically modified soldiers and a war among the stars that sounds not too different from many a war on Earth. This story may be set in space and involve sentient beings who have developed their own cultures, different from those on Earth, but the fundamental issues are hauntingly familiar.

The focus is less on interstellar politics, though there is sufficient information to set the scene. The real point of the story is around what happens when most of the trappings of culture and belonging are removed from Sagiv, a captive who now faces only disgust from the Atavaq masters he used to serve, and ultimately death. The second man in the equation is Daran, a Domidian scientist and member of a culture that believes they are superior in every way. Yet when Daran learns to listen to Sagiv and begins to trust the “wild warrior”, he also starts to rethink the way he used to look at his enemies – as well as his own people.

Their physical attraction is the catalyst that sets in motion a fundamental change in how Sagiv and Daran relate to each other. Their gradually increased knowledge about how they each see relationships is interesting, and the way they get there quite hot. By the time they get to the settlement where Daran is supposed to hand over Sagiv and receive either a bounty or some other type of payment, Daran is worried enough about Sagiv’s future to reconsider everything he used to believe in and work for. But in a cruel twist of fate, things turn out to be far more difficult than Daran expected. It made for a suspenseful turn of events that had me on the edge of my seat.

If you like cross-cultural exchanges of the futuristic kind, if you want to find out more about two men confronting the validity of their individual belief systems, and if you’re looking for an unexpected love story set among the stars, then you might like this novella.


NOTE: This book was provided by Dreamspinner Press for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews.… (altro)

I do love a good quest story, and to find one set in the far future, involving exotic aliens and strange planets and all kinds of surprises, is a treat. Add in two men from species who are not quite at war but who have no love lost between them, men who are seemingly mismatched - a spoiled playboy and a hardened ex-soldier with secrets – but who need to work together for various reasons that only come to light as the story unfolds, and I was rubbing my hands in glee when I started this story. The story begins with action and a small mystery, soon followed by more inexplicable events, and didn’t let up. I am happy to recommend ‘The Essent Quest’ to anyone who likes a good adventure set in outer space. The developing romance is just the icing on the cake, but it is great icing! And in case you are interested in more adventures involving Atavaq and Domid, ‘Raider Captured’ (reviewed here), by the same author, is equally enthralling.

Tellan is a Domidian and may be an event promoter and experienced playboy who knows his way around luxury and rich, powerful people, but he is more than a little naïve where the “real world” of space exploration and surviving on somewhat hostile planets are concerned. His question “How are we supposed to navigate with no geosynchronous input? Who ever heard of planets without satellite webs?” says it all. It made me laugh, but it perfectly characterizes Tellan and his view of the universe. Despite his seeming reliance on super-civilized technology, he turns out to be far less useless than I suspected. His learning curve is steep, but there is a capable adventurer hidden inside all that sophistication.

Jorant is part of the Atavaq species, but he is a Creig – genetically manipulated to be the perfect soldier and in perpetual servitude to his Atavaq masters. His statement “He’d existed on muddy water and insect larvae before; anything actually made for consumption was a luxury.” gets right down to the truth about his expectations. He is quiet about his past, and having lost a group of men is a good reason for him to be in hiding. Losing a “master” is punishable by death for Creigs, but Jorant no longer follows the directives without question. As he spends more time in Tellan’s presence and learns that not everything he has been taught about the Domidians is true, Jorant begins to think for himself – and that includes considering a life different from what he used to have.

If you enjoy stories about aliens who start out with preconceptions, not to say as almost-enemies, only to learn there is a person behind the prejudice, if you like the idea of two men who are extremely unlikely companions thrown together and having to fight for survival, and if you’re looking for a read set in an interesting world and bursting with adventure, then you will probably like this novel. I certainly hope for more stories in this world!


NOTE: This book was provided by Loose Id for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews.… (altro)