Tor, May 2002, 24.95, 253 pp.
ISBN: 0312878761
The collapse of the octopus-like Zamos Corporation has left several voids in the interstellar system as well as leaving individuals in various state of isolation. The big bang impact of the disintegration of Zamos, actually a crime family, is quite shocking.
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Pugilist Ned Gattes has no gambling halls to ply his trade and no one needs an ex-boxer. Telepath Lorrice also finds no one in need of her mental abilities. Alien legal scholar Hasso only wants to ply his profession, but every Tom, Dick and Khagodian wants to fill the Zamos emptiness. Then there are the Lyhhrt, splintered by Zamos from the oneness of their race, losing their touch with reality. When they complete their downward spiral into insanity, these renegades will cause havoc as never seen before because with a thought they can stop a heart or eradicate a thought. The players line up for a confrontation on Khagodis where events are already spinning towards a bloody clash of several alien life forms.
MINDWORLDS completes Phyllis Gotlieb's strong multi-alien science fiction trilogy. The story line is loaded with plenty of action on several fronts that converge on Khagodis, but never fully consolidate into the prime plot. Still the tale is fast-paced and very imaginative, as each alien species seems real as if Ms. Gotlieb had a drink at the Star Wars cantina. As the book asks, “How can you stop a conspiracy of telepaths?” Easy read the novel and its delightful predecessors because science fiction fans will fully enjoy this book that ties up loose ends from FLESH AND GOLD and VIOLENT STARS yet can stand alone.
Harriet Klausner
The review of this Book prepared by Harriet Klausner
