Judgment at Proteus-Timothy Zahn

Judgment at Proteus

Timothy Zahn

Tor, June 5 2012, $24.99

ISBN: 9780765322135



Recently Quadrail investigator Frank Compton and Bayta have found startling evidence of a nefarious genocide plot to wipe out the twelve civilizations tied to the interstellar train system. Frank and Bayta believes the bellicose Shonkla-raa race, a genetic offspring of the Filiaelians, thought extinct a million ago has set in motion a plan to destroy the Quadrail and the races who thrive from this interstellar rail.



They head to Proteus Station where Frank is accused of murder at a time he needs to focus on the clandestine war. However, on the bright side his enemy the Modhri joins the resistance to the Shonkla-raa. Failure means racial obliteration with billions dying.



The latest action-packed Quadrail space adventure (see The Domino Pattern) is an exciting science fiction thriller filled with twists. The storyline is fast-paced though there is a sense of déjà vu while the villains spend too much time talking like Blue Dog from the Laredo TV show (“I'm gonna kill that Ranger”). Still fans will enjoy riding the rails across Timothy Zahn’s galaxy as increasingly extinction seems probable.



Harriet Klausner

Wicked Nights-Gena Showalter

Wicked Nights


Gena Showalter

Harlequin HQN, Jun 26 2012, $7.99

ISBN 9780373776986



The cops arrested Annabelle Miller for mutilating her parents though she knows it was not her, but the winged monster who marked her as his. She was sent to the Moffat County Institution for the Criminally Insane especially since she sees and hears monsters that doctors over the next four years insist are her delusional imagination. Currently Dr. Fitzpervert humiliates her with plans to rape her.



The Deity is cold towards his angelic commander Zacharel and his troops whose desire to kill demons has led to unacceptable collateral damage to the species they are charged to protect. He warns Zacharel to change or be decommissioned by the loss of his wings; as military excellence without compassion is how the enemy fights. Though he understands logically what the Deity says including the threat, Zacharel feels nothing towards the humans until he meets insane Annabelle Miller as Fitzpervert prepares to assault her. However, Annabelle makes it clear she trusts no one human or otherwise; even this warrior who claims to protect her.



The first Angels of the Dark romantic urban fantasy lives up to the series title as this is a grim exciting thriller. Zacharel’s tundra heart has left him and his unit on the brink of wingless banishment, but the human melts his internal polar cap. Annabelle is fabulous as an angry distrusting soul who has met the vilest demons and the ugliest humans; so she is not shocked that her first angel is a nasty uncaring paranormal. Fans of the Lords of the Underworld will appreciate this ultra-dark tale as Zacharel finds a heart that seemed nonexistence from his first appearance in the Darkest Secret.



Harriet Klausner

Dragon’s Curse-Denise Lynn

Dragon’s Curse


Denise Lynn

Harlequin Nocturne, June 19 2012, $5.50

ISBN: 9780373885503



While her nineteen year old brother Carl lies in a hospital bed, the sorcerer who threatens him forces his older sister and guardian Ariel Johnson to do his bidding. Reluctantly Ariel, who would do anything for Carl ever since their parents died five years ago, goes undercover as a landscape architect to gain access to changeling Cameron Drake’s Appalachian resort after being terrorized by a dragon at one of his other properties on the Isle of Mirabilus.



Cam’s beast recognizes his mate, but his human side distrusts Ariel who works for his family’s deadliest adversary. Ariel feels caught between a rock and a hard place as she is attracted to the man she must betray if she is to save Carl.



This is a terrific romantic urban fantasy as the danger and dilemmas make for taut suspense. Cam is a strong hero who feels schizoid as his beast instinctively wants his mate and will risk their lives to keep her safe; while his brain knows she is a minion of his evil enemy. Readers will enjoy this tense thriller as love is a handicap for Ariel and Cam.



Harriet Klausner

Vacation With A Vampire-Michele Hauf, Lisa Childs, Kendra Leigh Castle

Vacation With A Vampire


Michele Hauf, Lisa Childs, Kendra Leigh Castle

Harlequin Nocturne, June 19 2012, $5.50

ISBN: 9780373885497



“Stay” by Michele Hauf. In Paris, after helping a friend by donating vampire blood Lucian Bellisario needs a human to replenish his drained supply. He chooses an American tourist possessed by his dead lover’s ghost.



“Vivi and the Vampire” by Leigh Castle. Underground city Terra Noctem vampire King Justin goes on vacation so his staff can have a respite. There he meets and falls in love with vampire slayer Vivi Martin.



“Island Vacation,” by Lisa Childs. For four years CPA Patricia Reynolds has had no time off from E. Graves Financial Planning, but recently she won her office vacation lottery so is off to an unknown island for two weeks of regaining her tan. Roarke Monterusso has waited four years to avenge the death of his cousin Rick at the hands of Piper aka Patricia, but now she is coming to his island where he will confront her with his brand of justice; he just never expected it to be desire.



These are three fun vampiric romances starring engaging protagonists.



Harriet Klausner

KOP Killer-Warren Hammond

KOP Killer


Warren Hammond

Tor, June 5 2012, $25.99

ISBN: 9780765328274



In 2789 on planet Lagarto, Juno Mozambe was once a dirty Koba Office of Police cop who was an enforcer for the chief. He loved his wife who finally killed her abusive drug kingpin father before turning to drugs to numb her guilt. When she died, Juno’s life fell apart.



Mozambe decides to destroy Emil Mota, who is using KOP as his personal profit maker. To defeat the influential Mota, Mozambe decides to fight fire with fire. With other dirties, he opens up a hire a thug firm waiting for the moment to end Mota’s stranglehold only to find mangled murders haunting him as his deadly foe sends his dirties to kill Mozambe and his partners.



This futuristic science fiction crime thriller (see KOP and Ex-KOP) is darker than the Big Sleep that places the planet in several weeks of no daylight. Action-packed, fans will enjoy Mozambe’s Dirty Harry twenty-eighth century beat; as he takes the war to the enemy with each side using any means possible as neither man has any concern over collateral damage.



Harriet Klausner

Redshirts-John Scalzi

Redshirts


John Scalzi

Tor Books, June 5 2012, $24.99

ISBN: 9780765316998



In 2456, Ensign Andrew Dahl is euphoric to learn he has been assigned to the Universal Union starship Intrepid to work in the xenobiology laboratory on the journey on Away Missions. Dahl notices that veterans hide whenever the bridge chooses staff to work a mission and that ship Captain Abernathy, science officer Q'eeng and astrogator Kerensky always join these deadly assignments. Additionally, usually at least one of the junior officers drafted for these tasks die while Abernathy and Q'eeng return without a scratch ready for the next assignment and Kerensky though battered joins them.



Dahl and others investigate what is going on when they meet a crew member hiding. He explains that the Intrepid’s enterprises adhere to old scripts based on the principal "to boldly go where no man has gone before"; which means death for support cast who fail to boldly go into hiding.



This is an engaging lighthearted metafiction that obviously satirizes Star Trek. The storyline is lighthearted fun but never quite gels. Still fans who enjoy something different will appreciate the crew’s avoidance mantra as they know on all Away Missions, one of them must die.



Harriet Klausner

Voracious-V.K. Forrest

Voracious


V.K. Forrest

Kensington, Jul 31 2012, $15.00

ISBN: 9780758255709



Clare Point, Delaware has been home to the Kahill vampire clan for centuries. They differ from ordinary vampires as they die as elders and are reborn as teens with the cycle eternal. Their mission is to save God's humans from the undesirables.



Executioner Aedan Brigid returns to Clare Point for needed R&R after too many battles against evil. At the same time, Jay the monster who returns every half century to disfigure and murder females is back having mutilated a victim that reminds Aedan of what this beast did to his beloved Madeleine centuries ago. He vows this time to end his hunt of three centuries in death; Jay’s or his.



Jay stalks his prey in Rehoboth Beach where barmaid Dallas York and her daughter Kenzie reside. Aedan enters the establishment where Dallas works; and to each is amazement sparks fly when they touch. Dallas has the gift of seeing a person’s past and present life when she touches that individual. She knows Aedan is damned and regardless of how each feels vampires and humans cannot form a relationship. Aedan fears Dallas is Jay’s next selection.



The latest Clare Point Vampires romantic urban fantasy (see Undying, Eternal and Immortal) is an action-packed enthralling thriller focusing on the exploits of a good vampire protecting humanity from evil. Like his clan Aedan has been damned for choosing to remain blood Voracious pagans while rejecting the message of Christianity given to them by St. Patrick in the old country over a millennium and half ago. The Kahill has hopes for redemption by protecting god’s humans. His ability to love grips readers when he connects with autistic Kenzie. Then there is the anticipated High Midnight confrontation with Jay.



Harriet Klausner