I don't usually complain, but this has not been a good month. The tragedies
have ranged from personal to national.
I was scheduled for surgery on September 12 and was in pain for most of the
first part of the month. Since then, I have been recovering. I am in pain only
part of the time. The events following the September 11 attack have absorbed much
of my attention, as well. I would have been hard-pressed just to work my 9 to 5
job even without that.
So, this month I am reviewing a book I read a few months ago. It wasn't new
then. I had a new book to review that month, so I put this one on the back burner
(even though it was quite good). I trust you'll enjoy it, too, if you haven't
already read it!
ISA Lieutenant Karl Stanton's space shuttle has a massive systems failure as
he is heading back to Tokyan Station. It collides with the station where Lieutenant
Commander Alis Mary Nussem is trapped in a corridor. During an attempted repair she
is severely injured. A large percentage of her body has to be replaced with
artificial parts: eyes, legs, heart, kidney.
Even though the accident was not Stanton's fault, he is shunned. Even his friends
begin to wonder if it might not have been something he did. He finally ships out for
the outer system to get away from the presure.
Alis Mary Nussem is also traumatized by what was done to her. Eventually, she
decides that she also needs a little more isolation. She later ships out on a different
mission. When Stanton's new boss dies, Nussem is asked to replace him. She agrees, not
knowing that Stanton will be working for her. When they meet, neither one wants to
be near the other.
While they are trying to work things out, a strange object, large as a small moon,
is discovered entering the Solar system. Their ship vectors to intercept the new object.
When the interstellar object begins to decellerate, they are thrown together with a
small band of explorers to inspect the object and find out what it is.
John E. Stith has a deft touch for human interaction and a firm grasp of science.
How I managed to overlook this book as long as I did is a complete mystery. If you
missed this one the first time, you should read it.
