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Book Review By Althea Morin
The Rape of the Sun by Ian Wallace

A small group of scientists are working on a commercial venture to set up satellites around the sun to collect solar power for Earth. Coincidentally, as they investigate solar phenomena, they discover that an alien race is engaged in a venture to shrink our solar system and tow it to their galaxy to be a religious/museum display.

On Earth, a powerful psychic (Collins) is in tune with the going-ons on the other planet. He "sees" the story of the alien Dhurk, a brave soldier who will go to any lengths to acquire this bauble (our solar system) for the powerful priestess/princess he loves, as a betrothal gift. Soon, the solar scientists have a second agenda for their mission - to stop the theft of the sun! Teaming up with the psychic, they embark on their mission, fortified with lots of alcohol tablets and encumbered by a difficult love triangle between the female scientist/narrator and the two scientists she loves, Sven and Wel.

In accordance with the original agenda, the mission goes into close orbit around the sun and begins to deploy solar-power-collecting satellites. Transmissions from NASA let them know that the situation is becoming serious: the aliens already have the sun "netted" and are beginning to move it, causing catastrophic earthquakes.

When they see the huge alien craft, poised near our sun, they fire off nuclear missiles at it - to no avail. Soon they are caught in a massive tractor beam which nearly destroys their ship. Captured, they come face to face with the alien Dhurk, who, although not overtly hostile, confines the human team aboard his ship. Although injured, our human team is armed with Collins' psychic powers, Sven's aggression, and a ploy Wel's borrowed from Shakespeare. Dhurk, like any male in love, has a vulnerable spot in his mind which may allow him to be convinced to leave our solar system in place.


Plot & Themes
Tone of book - very upbeat
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
Culture clash- - one culture tries to impose its culture on another group
Descript. of chases or violence - 20 %
planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 30 %
Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 20 %
Descript. of society, phenomena (tech), places - 30 %

Main Character
Identity: - Female
Profession/status:
Age: - 40's-50's

Main Adversary
Identity: - Male Alien
Age: - 20's-30'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 - Average intelligence

Setting
Terrain
Spaceship setting: - primative (present, near future) human spaceship - alien spaceship
A substantial portion of this book takes place on a non-Earth planetary body: - neutral aliens
Planet outside solar system? Yes
Takes place in spaceship? Yes

Writing Style
Accounts of torture and death? - generic/vague references to death/punishment
scientific jargon? (SF only) - a significant amount of technical jargon
Sex in book? Yes
What kind of sex: - vague references only
How much dialogue? - roughly even amounts of descript and dialog
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