Having the most important discovery in the galaxy on your new colony, may not be good news.
359706
An exciting read. New insight is revealed about key players in the Duchess of Terra series. The story builds to a gigantic battle between the most powerful forces in the galaxy. The big problem..it happens on and above the new Terran colony.
4477167
A small group of explorers have just returned to Earth after a several year trip to an earthlike planet of Alpha Centauri. They find, to their dismay, that they, literally, can't live on Earth at all. Anyone who has been away for at least 3 full years contracts a murderous disease called Earth Allergy Syndrome, or EAS. Also, relativity has reared its head; the toddler daughter of one of the explorers is now a middle-aged grandmother. The explorers are forced to return to Alpha Centauri, to what is now called Genser's World (after one of their group who succumbed to EAS).

Back on Genser's World, the colonists find the de-evolved descendants of another spacefaring race, and their empathic symbionts. Think of the symbionts as flying creatures the size of a hawk, with the face of a cat, and they love to be petted and scratched. They form bonds with humans almost instantly, a bond that becomes impossible to break. The colonists also come into contact with two cyborg intelligences, and a computer intelligence which is about to evolve into something that could easily wipe out the humans.

Suddenly, all contact with Earth is lost. By this time, the intelligences have modified the colonist's ship so that a trip of several years duration back to Earth has been reduced to several weeks. A group of colonists returns to Earth, and finds a scene of total devastation. Just before "The End," an asteroid was hollowed out and turned into a colony ship. It was launched toward Genser's World, with over 500 people on board. Their intention is to turn Genser's World into a fascist utopia.

This is a first-rate planetary colonization story with lots of science. Engineers and scientists will enjoy this book; so will everyone else who likes good, interesting writing.
288558
What would you do if you knew that within a decade or so, a rogue planet would likely crash into Earth? This first book chronicles the desperate attempt to create a spaceship and find a location to send a small group of humans who may end up being the last humans alive. There is a robust undercurrent of political intrigue. How will that play out in the new world? That is left for the next book... Multiple interesting characters. This feels like it could be the prologue to a large set of novels of a new world.
347085
While every body is speculating about what Skippy is Ill through my two cents in.  I think an alien force came to the galaxy and wiped the Elders out. The sentinels May be them and Skippy is somehow a key to stopping the sentinels and allowing the Elders to come out of hiding.
328247
This expansion should not be played unless it is by an experienced crew. It adds new gameplay options like double moves, specializations, and dreaded red threats that turn a normal Space Alert game into mayhem.

The shortfalls of Space Alert are cleared up and brought to be one of the strengths in the expansion. The interceptors can now move to all levels of space, the stupid computer can be taken care of anywhere (with the specialization), and a lot of new strategy is needed to conquer all the levels of enemies.

One of the best co-op board games out there.
3511218
This globe will tell you where to look into the sky to see constellations. It isn't good at finding where you are.
1956912
Killer nanobots are a new one for me.  At first I thought thought the commander's order was probably wrong, but I changed my mind.  I hope something more hopeful happens.
4202303
The science is becoming reachable. At least the nano technology appears so. I refuse to believe in a future that does not contain some form of interstellar travel.  It will probably be very different from any thing we imagine. The life style differences on Earth are marked.  Moving away from this planet can only exacerbate change. I wish I could see it.
4485463
Interesting view on legal / political manuverings to take advantage of the first exo planet found.  I had some resistance to the claim that having built one star ship, they would not build another for 30 years.  Other than that, it was a complex puzzle with interesting twists.
4680971
Years ago, psionic research got message from space. The researchers felt that the information was too damaging to give to the government. Then conspiracy begins.
393994
How to live with the consequences of your choices.

This is the dilemma Traviss' characters circle in this latest installment of Wess'har series, begun in 2004 with City of Pearl and followed in 2005 with Crossing the Line.

Journalist Eddie Michallat worries that by helping the Wess'har he has lost his objectivity. The Wess'ej on F'nar fear their way of life will be ruined by the arrival of their brethren from Eqbas Vhor, the titular World Before, from whom they have been separated for over ten millennia.  The Isenj prime minister commits an act of political betrayal in hopes of convincing his countrymen to seek the help of the Wess'ej in rebalancing the ecology of their overpopulated world.  Shan Frankland weighs the risk of an imminent restructuring of Earth's ecosystem by the Wess'ej from Eqbas Vhor.

This is not the future of Star Trek's Federation, where humans act benevolently in their exploration of the cosmos.  In Traviss' universe, humans are as we know them today - greedy, grasping, intolerant, and ready to kill for advantage.  No longer the preeminent power in the universe, humans must now learn to accept limits to their expansion imposed from afar by a more powerful species.

Besides a refreshingly candid portrait of homo sapiens, what distinguishes this series of novels is Traviss' development of character.  The players grow and learn as a result of their experience and Traviss is not afraid to explore faults in her heroes, or redeeming qualities in her villains.  Naval commander Lindsay, for example, once in charge of the Thetis mission and now responsible for setting off a nuclear device that results in the near extinction of the aquatic Bezer'ej, learns to deny her selfish desires for revenge and for her own death by choosing to spend the rest of her life helping the Bezer'ej to rebuild their society.

Aside from a few contemporary references that don't seem to fit in the world of the 24th century (such as white boards at managerial meetings), there is little with which to find fault in Traviss' writing.  This series is well conceived and expertly drawn.  I don't read many books a second time, especially fiction, but these novels were worth it.  I look forward to the story's conclusion and hope that Traviss has the ability to finish with as much skill and aplomb as she began.
1595174
In this Star Wars adventure, the Rebel Alliance asks Han Solo to extract a rebel spy from deep within enemy territory. Solo expects trouble from the Empire, but what he doesn't expect is a former colleague waiting in ambush. More importantly, he doesn't know that the spy he's been sent to find -- the beautiful and clever Scarlet Hark -- plans to enlist him in an attempt to prevent the Empire from obtaining a super-weapon left behind by an extinct civilization.

The novel begins on an unusual note, pointing out that the Rebellion depends on the support of shady characters like Han Solo. Not only do they need wily scoundrels who can survive difficult missions, they need the supplies and financing that they can only get from people and organizations who, like the rebels, have less than cordial relations with the Empire. This book isn't a "revisioning" of&nbsp;<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/The-Lies-of-Locke-Lamora/dp/055358894X/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">The Lies of Locke Lamora</a>&nbsp;with Han Solo in the title role, however, and the authors really don't want us to think through what it means for the rebels to be in bed with a bunch of criminals. Honorable scoundrels give spice to life; real-life murderers and thugs, not so much.

As with most novels of this sort, the story is both end-of-the-world dramatic and yet entirely routine. Because this novel takes place after "Star Wars: A New Hope" and before "The Empire Strikes Back," we know that Han Solo isn't going to die or wind up in Jabba the Hutt's clutches, we know that the Empire isn't going to acquire a heretofore-unknown doomsday device, and we know that Han and Leia are fated to become a couple, but not just yet. Big things can happen in the novel, but only if they don't have any obvious lasting effects on familiar characters and the broader universe. This limits the authors' freedom, but they can still work their will on smuggler Baasen Ray, spy Scarlet Hark, and mad scientist Essio Galassian -- characters that are central to this book, but don't exist elsewhere.

Fans, of course, are not reading this book for novelty; they want to see their favorite characters doing what their favorite characters do. And they do. Han cracks wise, Chewie moans and waves his arms, Han and Leia clash and flirt at the same time, etc. The writing is competent, the story moves along quickly, and there are the usual plot complications. This book is not a must-read, and it's not going to rock your world, but it's perfectly serviceable entertainment for a rainy day or a wait in the airport. Mildly recommended.
2636889
The series progresses in Season Two. In this season we see the Voyager crew go through a number of adventures. They stem from just being in a strange, unknown part of the galaxy as well as fighting a new adversary they made along the way-the Kazon. Also the Voyager crew are dealing with a race called the Vidiian's-a race that steals body organs from other and all life forms.

At this point the Federation and Maquis crews have intergrated and are working together. But all is not well. It will be determined that there is a spy on Voyager that's sending information to the Kazon. The spy will be found out and revealed by rather unorthodox methods.

One big event on this season is a baby is born on Voyager. Ensign Samantha Wildman will give birth to a baby girl who will be named Naomi Wildman. The infant is a mixed species: Human/Ktarian. This will cause her to grow and mature rapidly, more so than an all human child. Throughout the series Naomi Wildman will have visible roles and I will add that she is a sweetheart.

The season will end with a cliffhanger. On the final episode of Season Two Voyager will be taken over by the Kazon. The crew will be forced off Voyager and left stranded on a planet. Voyager flies off and the crew encounters humanoid lifeforms. At this point it is not known if they are friendly or hostile. The episode ends with the words "to be continued". The second part will be seen on Season Three.

It would take me a while to watch all the discs. There were no problems with the discs. Also Amazon did its usual good job in getting the items to me in a timely manner. Again I used the free Super Saver shipping and had that item along with some other items I ordered in a manner of days. Once again, Good job.
3880033
When you're not alone in the Universe, you have to accept that human ethics probably won't apply. But when humans get on the wrong side of alien ethics, then what do you do? Who do you protect? Who do you turn to?

Without giving too much away, let's just say that diplomacy requires the authorities to do things they don't like, thereby putting human lives in harm's way. But for every well-intentioned person who does something they're not happy about, there are also others who are happy to take advantage of human misery - for a big fat fee.

To see how all this plays out, you really should read The Disappeared. It will make you question much of what you take for granted. And isn't that exactly what sci-fi is all about? Very highly recommended.
3550750
I find this to be believable and people who feel we are the only beings who can survive in this galaxy and universe are very short sighted.  It has been proven that there are other planets like our earth are everywhere out there !  Do do do do eek ! We are being studied and dissected for some reasons that soon enough may come to pass.  I've never seen a grey in person, but have experienced seeing objects from afar and close,  so I believe.  Thanks for the truths presented by others.  Doubters beware of the new cuz it could happen to you.
2697501
The new Doctor took a little while to get into the swing of things, but when he did, boy, did he!  The biggest bit of stuff in this new season was a new doctor and the loss of a character.  I'll let you figure this one out yourself.  Don't want to spoil the surprise.  However, I will tell you that you have to wait till the very end.
3329626
Only if you have time to kill.  It was slow in parts, not enough info in others.  What should be shocking discoveries not given enough clues