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Book Review By Harriet Klausner
The Z Radiant by Jessica Reisman



Five Star, June 2004, 25.95, 207 pp.
ISBN 1594141452

The planet Nentesh is located in an isolated part of space that is only accessible to outworlders once every twenty years when the wormhole appears. When it opens, people from all over the universe travel to see this almost mythological orb whose residents welcome visitors with the festival of Ingress. The people of Nentesh trade for new technology, visit family and make arrangements to see the rest of the galaxy.

During the last Ingress an abandoned baby was adopted by the locals, and Swan, an outworlder, came to make a home for herself on this world since her old life was destroyed.   Swan has found a mate Ula, who left the outlander tribes to come to the city.   Aren, who is friend to both of them, is afraid he is going insane as he sees things that aren't there. Swan is positive that the outworlder who destroyed her world is coming to Nentesh and she has planned for years to make him pay. What she does not know is that her revenge puts not only her own life but Aren's in danger.

Readers will feel that the planet Nentesh feels as real to them as Earth does because Jessica Reisman does such a good job of describing the culture and landscape. The characters also seem genuine because they behave in a manner similar to our own. Much of the story revolves around Swan's mysterious plan to get revenge on her enemy but there are many light hearted scenes as the people get ready to greet the outworlders. THE Z RADIANT will be enjoyed by the futuristic crime thriller audience and fans of Brigadoon though in outer space.

Harriet Klausner


Plot & Themes
Tone of book - suspenseful (sophisticated fear)
FANTASY or SCIENCE FICTION? - science fiction story
Is this an adult or child's book? - Adult or Young Adult Book
Cultural problems, alien culture Yes
Descript. of chases or violence - 10 %
planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 20 %
Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 30 %
Descript. of society, phenomena (tech), places - 40 %
Intense exploration of society's culture? Yes

Main Character
Identity: - Female
Profession/status:
Age: - 20's-30's

Main Adversary
Identity: - Male
Age: - 40's-50's
Profession/status:
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in: - a moderate amount
How sensitive is this character?
Sense of humor - Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence - Very much smarter than other characters

Setting
A substantial portion of this book takes place on a non-Earth planetary body: - humans in a futuristic society
Planet outside solar system? Yes

Writing Style
Accounts of torture and death? - generic/vague references to death/punishment
scientific jargon? (SF only) - none/very little science jargon needed
How much dialogue? - significantly more dialog than descript
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