Roc, July 2002, 6.50, 384 pp.
ISBN 0451458885
In the far distant future, Earth exists with other sentient species by obeying galactic law, though this may not be the best in some individual human cases. If Terra or its colonies want to trade with other species, the law must be obeyed. Miles Flint doesn't think of these ramifications when he becomes a moon detective. He accepts the job because he sees it as a way of helping people.
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Then the Wygin come. This alien species want the children of two humans who have committed crimes on their home world, crimes that they never even knew they were committing and were nothing similar to Earth law. Miles must also deal with the case of Ekaterina Maakestad, a woman who did her duty as a defense attorney and is wanted by the Rev because her client then went on to commit other crimes after she got him acquitted on the first charge. Miles, in good conscience, can't turn the children and the woman over to the aliens but if he doesn't, he is breaking the very laws he has sworn to uphold.
In THE DISAPPEARED, there are disappearance agencies that help people wanted by aliens establish new identifies reminiscent of today's witness protection program. The results of an unscrupulous agency is what this story line is all about and how one man within the system, tries to do what is right even if it is not legal. Kristine Kathryn Rusch is a talented storyteller who creates a make believe future galaxy that seems very real.
Harriet Klausner
The review of this Book prepared by Harriet Klausner
