Roc Nov, 2003, 6.99, 368 pp.
ISBN 0451459415
Slavery is common and legal on certain planets in the universe. The most valuable of all is the Silent because they can enter dreams and send communications as well as conduct commerce over several light years. When the Despair came and over ninety percent of the Silent could no longer enter the Dream, they become ever more valuable. The children of Irfar, a silent nomadic order, is trying to rescue as many of the lost silent as possible.
Father Kendi Weaver, temporary captain of the spaceship Poltergeist, intends to rescue two of his family located on the planet Drin. Before he makes that attempt, he snatches his crewmate's son out of slavery. When they arrive on Drin, they discover his brother and sister have been kidnapped by a mega conglomeration Silent Acquisitions. Kendi and his crew have to figure out a way to rescue them, an almost impossible task but one that can be accomplished by those ready to risk everything on one roll of the dice.
This is the third book in the Silent Empire series and it continues the stories of characters of the previous two books. Kendi and Ben are now a couple; Kareen has her son restored to her after her spouse sold him into slavery; and Kendi has a chance of reuniting with part of his family. All is not roses because Ben discovers his true biological heritage and unless someone can figure out a way of bringing the Silent back into the Dream, a future civilization will cease to exist. Steven Harper is a genius when it comes to believable world building.
Harriet Klausner
This report prepared by Harriet Klausner
