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LAST CHANCE
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First
in the Sunscapes Trilogy
DLSIJ Press,
January 2005
Reviewed by Joy
Calderwood
Science Fiction
Adventure Romance
Del has done a lot
of bad things under the orders of Quasicore, a corporation dominant in
the Federated Planetary Alliance, but murder is too much. Still bearing
the scars of Quasicore torturers, he escapes. Del knows he will have to
run forever, so he plans to make a living in slicer races. He is an
expert in the tiny, ultra-maneuverable spaceships called slicers, which
connect directly to the pilot’s brain and run off his brain impulses.
Del doesn’t know that someone he has never met has plans for him.
On an
out-of-the-way asteroid on the Fringe of civilized space, Del’s
assessment of his fellow racers is telling him that he can count on
winning this race. He is dismayed to see a couple of Shadow slicers
touching down to join the lineup. Shadows are the top-of-the-line
slicers, too expensive for anyone on the illegal slicing circuit, and
these pilots are the sinister Shadow Twins, gorgeous Sin Shay and
handsome Kai Shay, who always win their races. They move with the
arrogance of successful predators, outclassing everyone around them.
In a bit of
complicated dealing, Del finds himself bound by contract to Last Chance,
a company owned by Shay Enterprises, Quasicore’s competitors. Sin Shay
is so seductive that Del can’t make himself object. His brother’s
warnings go unheeded. A Shadow slicer of his own, a team to bond with,
pirates to out-fly, and the irresistible presence of Sin Shay – Del will
even risk being caught between Shay and Quasicore when the gargantuans
clash, to keep all this.
LAST CHANCE is a
thrill ride and a half. Back and forth we leap from the instant ignition
of Del and Sin, to the deadly stalking of corporate CEOs, to the roaring
exultation of space flight. As Del falls deeper in love, there are
things he needs to know. What is it about the Shays’ elite pilots, that
made the Shays choose them? What is Sin doing in secret meetings where
Del is not allowed to go along and protect her? What does she feel so
guilty about?
Author Michelle
O’Leary continues to hone her talent as a writer. Her novels are light
stories to read for fun and excitement, but written with the skills of
classic adventure. The subtleties of a sculpted glass gift raise the
warning hackles on your neck; the sizzle of a love scene lights up the
room; the twists and dodges of a desperate space run give the sensations
of experiencing the rush along with the pilot. I’m not claiming
perfection: there are still the bizarre romantic misunderstandings that
seem to be obligatory in romance novels. But this high paced adventure
is the kind of science fiction romance that readers pass around among
themselves with anticipation.
O’Leary’s THE HUNTRESS was my Favorite Adventure Read of 2002, and LAST
CHANCE has a good chance at this year’s title. I didn’t care how late I
had to read, I was caught in the spacewind and I was not going to put
the book down until I had it finished. I came off the ride lit up with
exhilaration. It’s good to know that the second in the Sunscapes
Trilogy, HERE THERE BE DRAGONS, is
being written now.
February 2005
Review
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