Mission: Tori

by Johanna M. Bolton

Mier Sliver was one of the Federation's top agents, trained, honed, and genetically enhanced. Her uncanny empathy & enhanced vision had carried her through 17 years of Security's deadliest missions. When two diplomatic missions to a newly discovered planet failed, Mier was suddenly on her way to the most dangerous sector of space with an android partner. All the clues led straight to Tori, but on that wild planet, the very assets that had made Mier the best would now be her greatest liability. It also turned out that the problem was not in deep space, but much closer to home. Evidence pointed to a traitor within Security itself! Could Mier and her android partner find the answers and save themselves before the terrifying nightmare spawned on Tori destroyed them both? And what would happen when Mier discovered the terrible secret that her mechanical partner was keeping from her?

Genres: Science Fiction

232 pages, Mass Market Paperback

Published June 1, 1990

Reviews

[K H · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not too objectionable from a feminist stand point for a sci-fi from the 90s (we are treated to a heart of gold misogynist boss who calls the protag ‘babe’ in every scene we get with him, but we also get a character who’s a prostitute and the protag didn’t have a problem with this which I thought was progressive). I enjoyed the characters most up until about two thirds in and then I felt things got a bit jumbled. And I liked how the protagonist was 38, thought that was nice.

Spoiler romance reveal
There was no romantic tension between the two leads besides one paltry scene, which made the implication of them coming together in the end seem a bit forced. This is especially because of the protagonist’s frequently referenced past relationship, which compared to Hac is like comparing a lifetime romance to a fling in terms of how it came across. This past relationship just seemed so much more fleshed out than the building of the one we see in the novel. Even Hac seemed confused at the end for why he had feelings for Mier (also would have been cooler if he had stayed a robot instead of turning into a billionaire bio man. I was here for the robot romance!)

I didn’t like how the aliens were introduced with names when they eventually arrived on the planet. I thought that was unnecessary and made the twist feel more like whiplash than a surprise. Also an annoying person in charge that only appears in by last 10 pages in given a name and I also felt that was confusing as she was pretty irrelevant to the plot and naming her made me think she would have a bigger role.

I wish there had been more commentary about the people who first went to Tori. Like one character says - where are their bodies?

Also is it alien singular on Tori or are there aliens plural? How do they survive on a lifeless planet when they seem to need an animal host to live??

I wish the empath thing was used more earlier in the novel. I know it was mentioned, but I think it was underused for how important it was to the plot later. (and what happened to the alien in Mier? I think it died but it was a pretty anti climactic death)

I didn’t like the implication that the double spy ‘went mad’ and was now suicidal if they didn’t get their way??? Very odd and also felt like whiplash as neither this or them being the villain was set up at all in earlier plot points even though it definitely could have been.

Was also confused about how relevant London was to any of the plot? The first scene with her was just unnecessary and the second/last scenes could have just used a rando character and had the same impact. I think a persistent problem I have with this book is that when a character is given a name I assume they will be important, but for the characters I've pointed out in this review, that is not true.

And what of the rock that’s supposedly on Tori that people want to mine? What is it used for? I feel like there were no stakes in the novel in that respect and there could have been - such as it being needed for to make satellites/spaceships/et cetera and so more conflict. Also, does it not being on Tori make rich boy Hac not rich since his mines are empty??

And what’s this with Ttar killing in self defence?? I did not feel like that was fleshed out enough! And what info was Began even going to share? That wasn’t clarified either in a meaningful way.

But overall it was a really fun read and it’s easier to complain than compliment. The writing was great, the characters enjoyable (until everything muddled a little at the two thirds mark), and the world building absolutely delightful!

[Gail Carriger · Rating 4 out of 5]

Chick kicking ass in space. Nice tidy little book, stand alone.

[Elaine · Rating 3 out of 5]

well-written YA science fiction.

[Arlene Allen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another convention guest.