"A fabulous world-builder"

On the planet K-2, the dominant life form is the Zangians who live mostly in the air but can exist for brief periods of time on the land. K-2 is part of the Allied League of Worlds, who is at war with the Hskstkt, slavers who objected to the league coming into their territories to establish colonies. The Hsktskt were driven out of K-2 and the SEALs, surgically enhanced altered life species who can live for longer period out of the water than their brethren, patrol the skies to make sure their enemy doesn't return.

The species who live in the same sector of space as K-2 are holding a peace summit to iron out problems between their peoples. The Skaresh, who are living on K-2, demand their own place preferably a moon of K-2 while the Ninrana need water, which is running out on the planet. The aquatic Yldii want to expand their empire while the 'Zangians desire all the worlds form a peace pact. However not everyone wants the peace summit to succeed and one of the delegates will do whatever is necessary to see it fail.

S.L. Viehl is a fabulous world-builder who invented a planet where the dominant species isn't humanoid and most of the sentient people that live there are not terrans; most species hold terrans in little regard as xenophobic idiots with the exception of a few who work for the betterment of the planet. It is fascinating to watch the different species survive in their environs while also interacting with one another. This is one of the best books the author has written with several characters deserving their own story in future novels.

Harriet Klausner

Reviewed by Harriet Klausner
Posted July 24, 2005

Summary

After driving their mutual enemy out of the Pmoc quadrant, the Allied League of Worlds gather for a peace summit on K- 2, the homeworld of the underwater-dwelling 'Zangians. With the Bio Rescue team assigned to protect the delegates, Sub-Lieutenant Burn mu Znora's attention is placed on the daughter of one of the ambassadors, who is hiding a deadly secret-a secret that may alter the fate of four worlds.