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The Danger Dance (Merculians #1)

3.8 of 5 stars 3.80 · rating details · 5 ratings · 2 reviews

Life and death action and intrigue aboard a military space vessel A startling command from the dreaded Praetan brings chaos into the tranquil lives of hermaphrodites Eulio and his lover Orosin. Using the tour of the Merculian National Dance Company where Eulio is a star as cover, they board the Wellington, a militaristic starship that values nothing they believe in. Someon...more

ebook, 179 pages

Published May 9th 2012 by Untreed Reads (first published January 1st 2007)

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Oct 20, 2010 Tim rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

"Life and death action and intrigue aboard a military space vessel!"

"THE DANGER DANCE"

"In this SPARKLING FUTURIST ROMP, Caro Soles has taken some classic science fiction devices from (circa) the 1930s -- distant worlds of myth, hierarchy, the wicked and good arts, space travel with swashbuckling action and intrigue, all in a setting chic enough to make any art deco queen swoon, and imbued them with a tingling subversity of gender, sexuality, and goose-bumping excitement. Even better, SOLES CAN R...more

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Jul 04, 2008 Chris rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

While I'm not an ardent fan or follower of science fiction or fantasy literature, I hold the authors from this genre in the highest regard, simply because they are responsible for creating worlds and characters that exist in their imaginations only, yet they have to somehow make their worlds familiar (or at least interesting) to the reader. In her sci-fi espionage thriller The Danger Dance, author Caro Soles introduces us to the futuristic world of a pair of Merculian hermaphrodites, Beny and Eu...more While I'm not an ardent fan or follower of science fiction or fantasy literature, I hold the authors from this genre in the highest regard, simply because they are responsible for creating worlds and characters that exist in their imaginations only, yet they have to somehow make their worlds familiar (or at least interesting) to the reader. In her sci-fi espionage thriller The Danger Dance, author Caro Soles introduces us to the futuristic world of a pair of Merculian hermaphrodites, Beny and Eulio, whose lives, pleasures, and passions are far from "otherworldly" and similar to our civilization of today.

Soles first introduced Merculians in a previous work, The Abulon Dance. Eulio is a renowned member of the National Dance Company; his lover, Beny, is a composer with politically influential family ties. Shortly before Eulio is scheduled to depart on the starship Wellington for a dance company tour, the high priest of Merculian, Praetan, recruits Beny to join Eulio on board as an undercover spy. A member of the Wellington's crew has been sharing military secrets with enemy territory, Troia, so the Praetan believes Beny's presence as both a composer and Eulio's partner will not arouse suspicion. When he tries to refuse, the high priest reminds Beny he never completed his mandatory tour of duty (waived courtesy of his family status) after graduating from the Academy of the Inter Planetary Alliance. Beny reluctantly complies and is advised to trust no one while gathering clues and information.

Upon arrival, Beny is thrilled to be reunited with his former academy and cabin mate, Von (a Serpian), yet disappointed to learn that Misha, another cadet from his days at the academy whom he had reported to authorities for wrongdoing, is also on board the Wellington. Beny also becomes acquainted with Tyler, the starship's second-in-command; Jermaine, a drag queen and Tyler's secret lover; Zanda, a security officer; Triani, fellow Merculian and Eulio's dancing partner; and Arriad, Triani's assistant. Beny immediately begins to investigate the backgrounds and former whereabouts of each person on board.

Initially, the vast array of identities aboard the starship is a bit challenging to follow, but like any worthwhile espionage thriller, each serves a specific purpose, and every character's motives are called into question. Zanda, for instance, invites Eulio to attend a secret, illegal card game (known as "reklo"), which calls attention to her level of trustworthiness. Misha encourages an injured and medicated Eulio to take dangerous and unnecessary risks during the reklo game--to convey authority, or simply to spite Beny? Tyler religiously follows the captain's orders, often against the advice of his fellow officers, who strongly believe the captain is acting absentmindedly or unprofessionally, which raises the possibility that he or the captain may have ulterior motives. Triani, meanwhile, is the resident harlot who treats Arriad like a slave while lusting after a mysterious suitor, Lucius, a master at violent role play. When Beny finally learns the identity of the informant, he inadvertently puts himself and Eulio in great danger. Subsequent efforts to rescue the two Merculian lovers serve as a litmus test for the honesty (and dishonesty), as well as loyalty, of those remaining on board.

The world of the starship Wellington and its inhabitants provide seemingly endless examples of clever metaphors cutting across politics, the military, class and social status, community, racism, justice, and acceptance--all pervading forces and themes from both our current civilization and past centuries. Soles also manages to brilliantly illustrate the parallels of desire, particularly among different sexes and origins, and the external forces that complicate those desires and communal efforts, such as drugs, greed, and jealousy. Allegory aside, the author has comprised a story that is compelling and fun to read.(less)

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Feb 03, 2013 Jennifer rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Dec 01, 2012 Karin Wollina marked it as to-read · review of another edition

Jul 01, 2012 Shanna marked it as to-read · review of another edition

Jun 25, 2012 Untreed Reads rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy-and-sci-fi, lgbt

Nov 15, 2011 Morgaine is currently reading it · review of another edition

Sep 27, 2011 Wim marked it as to-read · review of another edition

Shelves: books-owned, m-m-romance

Jul 13, 2011 Susan added it · review of another edition

Jul 19, 2010 Shea Pierce rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fiction, lgbtq-characters-or-themes, sci-fi

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SciFi and Fantasy...: Caro Soles’ Epic SF Series Now In Ebook: THE DANGER DANCE (MERCULIANS, #1)	1	9	01. August, 13:24 Uhr
SciFi and Fantasy...: Caro Soles’ Epic SF Series Now In Ebook: THE DANGER DANCE (MERCULIANS, #1)	1	4	01. August, 13:23 Uhr
Untreed Reads: Caro Soles’ Epic SF Series Now In Ebook: THE DANGER DANCE (MERCULIANS, #1)	1	2	01. August, 13:23 Uhr

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The Danger Dance (Merculians #1)

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