Ten years after breaking the Russian Federation's monopoly on space travel, 21st-century swashbuckler Dan Randolph returns in this third-rate sequel to Privateers . Now an industrialist, Randolph is suddenly arrested and his billion-dollar lunar mining corporation confiscated by the corrupt and bureaucratic Global Economic Council--which happens to be headed by his archnemesis, Vasily Malik. Randolph escapes, and learns that his misfortune is linked to an impending global environmental disaster which the G.E.C. is using as an excuse to seize control of the world's economy--starting with his company. He also learns that organized crime has infiltrated the G.E.C. and is looking forward to a handsome profit from the seizure. With enemies chasing him between Earth and the moon, Randolph works to stop these schemes and save the earth without compromising its people's freedom. In a hackneyed, predictable plot and bad B-movie dialogue, Bova combines familiar environmental doomsaying with dewy-eyed capitalist optimism. Presumably a lovable rake, the totally unsympathetic Randolph acts more like an insensitive lecher; although Bova makes many careful gestures toward gender egalitarianism in his casting, the major female characters are inevitably sexually harassed, manipulated and victimized. Bova can do better than this childishly macho, feeble and unoriginal attempt at space adventure. Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From Library Journal
Imagine that the economics of the world is determined by seven major companies, and scientists have recently discovered that the greenhouse effect is not just a theory but a "cliff" ready to overwhelm the coastal cities with a tidal wave of undreamed proportions. A global economic cartel is desperate to keep this information from the public, since it could hurt their attempts to gain control of the seven influential industrial powers. In addition, the Mafia wants a piece of the action. Enter Dan Randolph, whose job it is to keep Earth from destroying itself. Unfortunately, nearly everyone is out to keep Dan quiet. Herein lies the plot and all the action. Robert Lawrence reads this sf tale with a clear voice and a moderate amount of characterization. His fine narration brings the characters to life and keeps the frantic action flowing to the very end. For sf collections. - Miriam Kahn, Columbus, Ohio Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Description:
From Publishers Weekly
Ten years after breaking the Russian Federation's monopoly on space travel, 21st-century swashbuckler Dan Randolph returns in this third-rate sequel to Privateers . Now an industrialist, Randolph is suddenly arrested and his billion-dollar lunar mining corporation confiscated by the corrupt and bureaucratic Global Economic Council--which happens to be headed by his archnemesis, Vasily Malik. Randolph escapes, and learns that his misfortune is linked to an impending global environmental disaster which the G.E.C. is using as an excuse to seize control of the world's economy--starting with his company. He also learns that organized crime has infiltrated the G.E.C. and is looking forward to a handsome profit from the seizure. With enemies chasing him between Earth and the moon, Randolph works to stop these schemes and save the earth without compromising its people's freedom. In a hackneyed, predictable plot and bad B-movie dialogue, Bova combines familiar environmental doomsaying with dewy-eyed capitalist optimism. Presumably a lovable rake, the totally unsympathetic Randolph acts more like an insensitive lecher; although Bova makes many careful gestures toward gender egalitarianism in his casting, the major female characters are inevitably sexually harassed, manipulated and victimized. Bova can do better than this childishly macho, feeble and unoriginal attempt at space adventure.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From Library Journal
Imagine that the economics of the world is determined by seven major companies, and scientists have recently discovered that the greenhouse effect is not just a theory but a "cliff" ready to overwhelm the coastal cities with a tidal wave of undreamed proportions. A global economic cartel is desperate to keep this information from the public, since it could hurt their attempts to gain control of the seven influential industrial powers. In addition, the Mafia wants a piece of the action. Enter Dan Randolph, whose job it is to keep Earth from destroying itself. Unfortunately, nearly everyone is out to keep Dan quiet. Herein lies the plot and all the action. Robert Lawrence reads this sf tale with a clear voice and a moderate amount of characterization. His fine narration brings the characters to life and keeps the frantic action flowing to the very end. For sf collections.
- Miriam Kahn, Columbus, Ohio
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.