Bitter Waters

Ukiah Oregon #3

by Wen Spencer

Ukiah and his senior partner, Max Bennett, are just returning to Pittsburgh after the events of Tainted Trail. Before they even land, they have a new tracking job — to find a boy missing from his backyard. Driving straight from the airport, Ukiah and Max start another adventure, one that will involve kidnapped children, a drug-dealing biker gang, a UFO cult, a hostile federal agent, the Pack, Max’s new love Samuel Anne Killington, Ukiah’s FBI lover Indigo Zheng, his two adoptive mothers, and his infant son, Kittanning.

Genres: Science Fiction, Urban Fantasy, Fantasy, Fiction, Aliens, Mystery, Science Fiction Fantasy

320 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published April 22, 2003

About the author

John W. Campbell Award Winner Wen Spencer resides in paradise in Hilo, Hawaii with two volcanoes overlooking her home. Spencer says that she often wakes up and exclaims "Oh my god, I live on an island in the middle of the Pacific!" This, says Spencer, is a far cry from her twenty years of living in land-locked Pittsburgh.

The Elfhome series opener, Tinker, won the 2003 Sapphire Award for Best Science Fiction Romance and was a finalist for the Romantic Times Reviewers' Choice Award for Fantasy Novel. Wolf Who Rules, the sequel to Tinker, was chosen as a Top Pick by Romantic Times and given their top rating of four and a half stars. Other Baen books include space opera thriller Endless Blue and Eight Million Gods.

Reviews

[Olga Godim]

This book is #3 in the series, and I liked it much less than the first two books. The plot is one non-stop action sequence, with no respite for the heroes. There are kidnappings and murders, kooky religious cults and suspicious federal agents, explosions and car chases, but it all seems to come at the expense of characterization. The characters are almost non-existent in this novel. They could be cardboard cutouts, and nobody would notice behind the constant bang & slam.
It still reads easy and fast, but after I was done, it left me with a faint bitter aftertaste. I don’t like being disappointed in my favorite writers.

[Chris · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another solid installment in the series.

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the third book in the Ukiah Oregon series by Wen Spencer. This book is a mix of Urban Fantasy and Science Fiction. Ukiah Oregon was found as a child running with a pack of wolves. He was raised by his two mothers and soon grows into young manhood. Ukiah is soon discovered to be by far the best tracker in the business. Ukiah is unequaled in following the missing and the lost. Max Bennet, a private detective, hires Ukiah to be part of the Bennet Detective agency.
In this one, babies are being kidnapped, including Ukiah's son Kittanning. Ukiah and Max immediately suspect it is the alien Ontongard. Clues soon point to another, unsuspected group. It seems a religious cult, called the Temple of New Reason, has been watching Ukiah and they have decided that his son can save the planet from invading demons. The demons, unknown to the cult are in reality the alien Ontongard. Ukiah, Max and their new partner Sam will need the help of Rennie and the Dog Warriors and Ukiah's FBI agent girlfriend Indigo to save Ukaih's son. Much action and many plot twists and turns in this one. A good read indeed.

[Anita · Rating 1 out of 5]

I LOVE some of the books by this author (Wen Spencer), but I don't like this series at all. This is the third book in a sci-fi series about an alien who lives among us. His original mission was to enslave earth, and every cell in his body is a biological weapon. He almost can't be killed because every one of those cells can create a new creature. It's a good thing for Earth that he went against orders and just wants to live his life in peace. His adoptive name is Ukiah Oregon, and he's had a hard time of things in novels 1 and 2; novel 3 promises to be even worse for him.

I read a lot of violent books, so I can't say that it's the cruel violence alone that turns me off to this series. I think it's a lot of little things added up. I'm not a huge sci-fi fan; I prefer fantasy. I also don't like apocolyptic fiction - there's a hint of it in this series. And I really don't like when the characters aren't given the slightest break in the action to regroup and live life, probably because the most enjoyable part of reading to me is getting to know the characters well. I think the number one problem with this series for me is that I don't connect with the characters, so now, I'm giving up. So long Ukiah. I gave you a huge chance, but you never grew on me.

[Text Addict · Rating 5 out of 5]

The third volume adds a new element - a group of fanatics whose leader has interpreted the Ontongard as demons, and who've been startlingly effective at fighting them due to combining that belief with empirical study and modern technology. That combo is why I give this one five stars; that and the fact that the Temple of New Reason are more interesting opponents, character-wise, than the Ontongard. They've captured some alien technology and, due to flaws in their translation of Ontongard communications and their leader's insanity, think they're going to wipe out the aliens. They are wrong, wrong, wrong, which is why Ukiah and the Pack have to stop them rather than ally with them.

Also features a genetically-engineered drug and an excellent climactic battle scene.

[Joy · Rating 3 out of 5]

In this book the persecution comes not from a big brother, government agency but a religious cult who see the human/alien infected players as demons. Unfortunately they kill the PACK along with the soulless GETS, not being able to tell that one is a hive mind organism bent on absorbing all life on earth and the PACK who are individuals who are more human inspite of the wolf DNA that makes them PACK. Worse is their discovery of the aliens technology that may lead to the same earth destroying consequences in their ignorance.

This reads like a good mystery novel with babies being kidnapped and fundamentalist christian crazy gone too far (always a fertile source for villains.)

[Margaret Fisk · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this series. Read it too long ago to have specific comments, but remember it fondly.

[May Mostly Romance · Rating 4 out of 5]

มีคนถามแม็กซ์มา (อีกแล้ว) ว่าตอนนี้ชอบนักเขียนแนวแฟนตาซี/ไซไฟคนไหนบ้าง คงต้องเริ่มด้วยการบอกว่านักเขียนที่จะพูดถึงนี่เขียนแนวแฟนตาซี/ไซไฟเป็น หลักค่ะ อาจมีโรแมนซ์บ้าง แต่ไม่ใช่จุดเด่นของเรื่อง (แม้ว่าแม็กซ์อาจจะชอบเรื่องนั้นเพราะประเด็นโรแมนซ์เป็นหลักบ้างก็มี)

ถ้าถามกลับไปสักเมื่อหกปีก่อน (ทำไมต้องเป็นหกปี ก็ไม่แน่ใจค่ะ แต่คงจะประมาณนั้นนะ) แม็กซ์คงตอบเสียงดังฟังชัดว่าลอเรล เค. แฮมิลตันเพราะเธอเป็นนักเขียนแนวนี้คนแรกที่แม็กซ์อ่านอย่างจริงจัง และชุดเมอริดิธ เจนทรี้ก็เปิดหูเปิดตาแม็กซ์ชนิดที่อีโรติกเล่มไหนทำไม่ได้เลย (ซึ่งนั่นก็เป็นอีกเรื่องนึงที่ต้องคุยกันทีหลังนะคะ)

แต่กาลเวลาที่เปลี่ยนไป พร้อมกับรสนิยมขึ้นลงของแม็กซ์ทำให้ตอนนี้ลอเรล เค. และแม่หนูเจนทรี้ก็ตกอันดับไป ไม่ใช่ว่าไม่ชอบ แต่โดนเรื่องอื่นแซง

เวลานี้หลังจากอ่าน No Human Involved จบไปหมาด อันดับหนึ่งก็คงเป็นใครอื่นไม่ได้นอกจากเคลลี่ย์ อาร์มสตรองค์ แต่เพราะแม็กซ์สัญญากับคนอ่านบลอกไปแล้วว่าจะไม่รบกวนความสุขด้วยการพล่าม เรื่องชุดนี้อีก ก็เลยขอใช้เวลาพูดถึงอันดับสองในเวลานี้แล้วกัน

เวน สเปนเซอร์

ดูชื่อแล้วอาจนึกว่าคนแต่งเป็นผู้ชาย แต่เวนมาจากเวนดี้นะคะ ปัจจุบันเธอเขียนหนังสือสามชุด ซึ่งแม็กซ์ชอบทุกชุด แต่แน่นอนว่าย่อมมีลูกที่รักมากที่สุดนะคะ

ชุดที่แม็กซ์ชอบมากที่สุดเป็นหนังสือชุดแรกที่เธอเขียน และแม้จะไม่ได้จบชุดอย่างเป็นทางการ แต่ก็เป็นเวลาหลายปีแล้วที่ไม่มีเล่มใหม่ในชุดออกมาให้อ่านกันเลย นั่นก็คือชุด Ukiah Oregon เชื่อหรือไม่ว่า เล่มแรกในชุดมีการแปลออกมาเป็นภาษาไทยแล้ว ตอนที่แม็กซ์เห็นหนังสือเล่มนั้นที่จตุจักร ก็ยังคงมิคลาย ถ้าจำไม่ผิดชื่อไทยคือ "เอเลี่ยนพิทักษ์โลก"

เช่นเดิมคงต้องมีคำเตือนไว้ก่อน แม็กซ์กำลังจะสปอยล์หนังสือชุดนี้อีกแล้ว แต่สำหรับเพื่อนของแม็กซ์ที่มีโอกาสอ่านหรือไม่ได้อ่าน ก็คงจะพอรู้เรื่องสปอยล์ไปแล้วบ้างล่ะนะ เพราะแม็กซ์ก็กรี๊ดสลบไม่น้อยกับชุดนี้

Ukiah Oregon (อ่านว่า yoo-KAI-ah หรือสรุปว่าเขียนเป็นไทยยาก ขอให้ทับศัพท์แล้วกัน) เป็นเด็กกำพร้าที่ถูกพบในป่าซึ่งถูกเลี้ยงโดยหมาป่า โดยนักมานุษยวิทยาสาวคนหนึ่งและถูกเธอเก็บกลับมาเลี้ยงเป็นลูก ตลอดเวลาเขารู้ว่าตัวเองแตกต่างจากเด็กคนอื่นทั่วไป เพียงแต่ไม่รู้ว่าความแตกต่างนั้นมันมากเพียงไรจนกระทั่งเขาได้พบและร่วมทำ งานกับแม็กซ์ (ที่ไม่ใช่แม็กซ์คนเขียนบลอกหรอกนะ) ซึ่งเป็นนักสืบเอกชน Ukiah มีความสามารถในการแกะรอย ในคดีหนึ่งที่เขาแกะรอยคนร้าย เขาถูกยิง น่าแปลกที่เขาไม่เป็นอะไรเลยด้วยซ้ำ ทั้งที่ตอนแรกทุกคนเข้าใจว่าเขาตายแล้ว และคดีนั้นเองก็นำเขาไปสู่การพบกับชาติกำเนิดที่แท้จริงของตัวเอง

อะไรที่ทำให้แม็กซ์รักหนังสือชุดนี้ ก็เหมือนกับหนังสือ romance นั่นแหละ คือความสัมพันธ์และปฏิกริยาที่ตัวละครในเรื่องมีต่อกัน แม็กซ์รักแม็กซ์ (ที่ไม่ใช่แม็กซ์คนเขียนบลอก) ที่เขารัก Ukiah เหมือนลูก แต่ไม่เคยปฏิบัติต่อเขาเหมือนเขาเป็นเด็กเล็ก ทั้งที่ Ukiah ก็อายุเพียงยี่สิบปี แม็กซ์รัก Ukiah ด้วยความไร้เดียงสาชนิดที่เด็กผู้ชายส่วนใหญ่สูญเสียมันไปตั้งแต่อายุไม่ถึง สิบห้า แม็กซ์ชอบฉากที่อินดิโก้ (นางเอกของชุดที่อายุมากกว่า และเป็นเอฟบีไอ) ปฏิบัติการหลอกเด็ก ฉากเซ็กส์ที่ไม่ได้โจ่งแจ้งหรือบรรยายอะไรมาก แต่อ่านแล้วน่ารักมาก แม็กซ์รักที่ Ukiah ถูกเลี้ยงมาโดยแม่สองคนที่เป็นคู่เลสเบี้ยน แม็กซ์รักที่เขารับคิดเทนนิ่งลูกชายของเขามาเล��้ยงโดยไม่มีข้อแม้ (ส่วนคิดเทนนิ่งมาได้ยังไงเนี่ย มันสปอยล์มากไปหน่อยค่ะ แต่เด็กคนนี้ไม่ได้เกิดมาตามปกติที่เราคิดกันหรอกนะ)

สำหรับแม็กซ์แล้ว หนังสือทุกเล่มที่แม็กซ์ชอบจะมีพื้นฐานมาจากการเขียนตัวละครที่น่าสนใจ ความสัมพันธ์ของตัวละครที่มีต่อกันซึ้ง ๆ (ฉากที่อินดิโก้ไม่ยอมมองหน้าพี่ชายฝาแฝดของ Ukiah เพราะทำใจไม่ได้ที่ต้องเห็นหน้า Ukiah แต่กลับไม่ใช่เขา และมันตอกย้ำเธอถึงความจริงที่ว่าเขาหายตัวไป ---- ซึ้งอย่างที่ไม่ต้องบรรยายความรู้สึก) โบนัสที่ได้นอกเหนือจากสิ่งเหล่านี้สำหรับเรื่องชุดนี้ก็คือ หนังสือแนวแฟนตาซี/ไซไฟที่พล็อตเรื่องน่าติดตาม ขนาดที่วางไม่ลงเลยทีเดียว

สำหรับคนที่ทรนงตัวว่าไม่อ่านโรแมนซ์ ก็ลองอ่านชุดนี้ดูนะคะ เพราะไม่แมนซ์หรอกนะ สำหรับแฟนโรแมนซ์ แม็กซ์ก็อยากให้ลองอ่านค่ะ เพราะสนุก (ไม่รู้จะเขียนอะไรแล้วน่ะ) สนุกจริงนะคะ

[D.F. Haley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like the characters and the breakneck pace of these books, but find it nearly impossible to be so completely immersed in this story that I can suspend my disbelief. It's bad enough that we've got an invasion of aliens who can assume human shape and take over any person. On top of that we've got a cult who brainwash and absorb intelligent people, including those sent to retrieve them, but no one seems to notice this. Someone is stealing babies and torturing them. And then we've got bio-weapons manufacturing drugs that may kill off the entire human population of the world. And a hero who keeps getting killed and coming back to life?

I'm amazed that somehow Wen Spencer assembles a story to almost make sense of all this. Hard to believe (literally), but fun to read. I really enjoyed it.

[Amberwitch · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book three about Ukiah Oregon suffers the sameweakness as the previous novel; the need to introduce new readers to the backstory - forcing "old" readers to read clumsily introduced summaries of earlier events.
Still an engaging read, with interesting characters. The spped with which the story unfolds leave little time for interpersonal interaction, and the characters are less developed.

Ukiahs son is kidnapped, as has 4 other children been, and the kidnappers are in posession of alien bio weapons. Ukiah discovers that the kidnappers are members of a cult centered around killing "demons" - which is how they perceive the hostile aliens - and having drug enhanced sex using poison produced by one of the bio weapons. The kidnappers aim is to use the kidnapped children to activate another one of the bio weapons.

[Adena Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this volume particularly disturbing, dealing as it does with a wacked-out doomsday cult and kidnapping and child sacrifice. The careening action, together with the massive emotional blows, made this novel both thrilling and nauseating for very different reasons. The author did a great job of bringing home Ukiah's plight, balancing a committed relationship, single fatherhood, family (only 2 of them this time), work and saving the world. That is a lot to put on one young man's shoulders. Fortunately, Ukiah manages - with a lot of help.

[Simon Mcleish · Rating 3 out of 5]

This series has always been at the top of the level of brutality I am comfortable with, and it seems to be more so in this third instalment. So I'm giving up on it, regardless of how well written it is.

[Cynthia Slaughter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantasy thriller

Before they can even go home from their trip out west, Ukiah and Max are called to help locate a missing boy. They find out several babies have gone missing and things escalate quickly as a cult and the Ontonguard become involved.

[Tracy Smyth · Rating 3 out of 5]

I did enjoy this book even though I got a bit confused as I was reading it. As it is no 3 in the series, I think I should have read no’s 1 and 2 first

[Jenny Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Better than the first two

I liked this book. It’s a quick read, easy to sink into if you need a little vacation. There is a description of rape that you should be prepared for.

[fabby · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm loving this series .

[Grace]

Re-read 07-26-2022

[Angela · Rating 3 out of 5]

still reading. These books definately need to be read in order even though the author does a pretty good job of recapping any important infor from the previous ones.

[Trace Jefferson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reread
Kittanining is kidnapped, the hunt is on to find him, the cult and alien devices.

[Jai · Rating 4 out of 5]

Third book in the Ukiah Oregon Novels. This one starts right after the last one ended. Ukiah returns to his hometown and immediately gets called to help find a missing boy. There is urgency to finding the boy as he may be the latest in a string of kidnapped children. Then Ukiah discovers the existence of a cult which have photos of Ukiah and his son, but he has no idea why, and Homeland security is asking a lot of questions. Things become even more complicated and worrying when Ukiah's son Kittanning gets abducted. Now Ukiah and his family are completely distraught and follow every lead they can to find him. This book felt rather stressful to read - I think because much of it was paced fast, with little or no breaks in action (I remember only one), but there is little chance for a break when the protagonist's son is kidnapped. Ukiah is more mature without the reliance on Max he had before, and there is no search for his past and who he is here, though of course he cannot escape it. Also unlike the 1st and 2nd books of this series, this book ends with a feeling of "to be continued".. there are a few big loose ends which will probably be addressed in the fourth installment. A little bit of a transition book.

['Nathan Burgoine · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the third in a series of books featuring 'Ukiah Oregon,' a 'wolf-boy' who was found running feral with wolves by a pair of lesbians, who, after hiring a private eye to try and locate his family - and failing to do so - raised him as their own. This wolf-boy, Ukiah, is an interesting character in and of himself, but things get complicated fast in his world.

In the first book, 'Alien Taste,' and the second, 'Tainted Trail,' we learn that Ukiah is in fact an alien hybrid of strange DNA, and for all intents and purposes, cannot die (though parts of him that are cut, bled, or broken off tend to change into animal shapes and try to re-merge with him later when he wakes up. Ew.

Now a full partner with the PI who first tried to find him, Ukiah is asked to help on a missing children case, and hasn't made much headway when his own 'child' (actually a portion of himself that managed to form a human baby on its own) is stolen. The stakes rise, cultists appear - but could the hive-mind-mentality Ontonguard be involved as well?

Well crafted, fun stuff, and light enough reading to be enjoyable on the bus. Thumbs up, in a mind-candy way.

[TINNGG · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 actually.

I'm good with non-stop action *as long as it's forward action*. Entirely too much of this felt like everyone chasing their tail. Even better, we're in book 3 and while Ukiah is finally feeling the need for independence (his acting like a helpless child at times is weird to say the least), he's still acting TSTL. Really? You go charging off after your kid without actually putting gas in your bike and, you know, calling for backup? Or even arming yourself?

Of course, there's the whole religious nut burger thing, and the nicknames. Heh; last I checked, a dongle was something despised in computer land - why would someone choose that as a username in the first place, let alone as a nickname.

Of course, everything works out in the end in spite of everything.

[Viccy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ukiah Oregon is called upon to track his own son. Kittanning is kidnapped by a fanatical religious cult who have discovered pieces of the alien technology brough to Earth by the same aliens who created him. This book was not quite as good as the previous books because there was little explanation as to how the nut jobs could have figured out the technology. It threw me out of the story, trying to figure that out. I still enjoyed the story and I like the characters and there was a happy ending, so everything worked out. Lots of action in this one, including an exciting water race on the rivers surrounding Pittsburgh.

[Emily G · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this book Ukiah's son, Kittaning, is kidnapped by a cult who have come across Hex's Gets but view them as demons. They believe that they are on a holy mission to eradicate them and that Kitt, whom they believe to be the son of an angel will help them.

In the way of these novels, things get very messy and complicated before they get better! I still love Rennie the most, even though he doesn't get much airtime in this plot.

This is my least favourite book of the series, but it is still gripping.

[Brian Turner · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book three in the Ukiah Orgeon series.
This didn't grab me as much as the first two. His opponents seem to have been placed in his way just to give him something to do, and the alien weapons that he suddenly remembers and starts thinking about seemed a bit too pat.

Ukiah gets a bit more page time to himself in this book and its good to see him develop away from all the other people who influence him.

[T. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This paperback was loaned to me. I am really enjoying this series. A great blend of sci-fi (my least favorite genre) and emerging urban fantasy (my favorite genre). This series has a classic feel to it, but smart, well-planned worldbuilding, wonderfully drawn characters, and perfect pacing. This had a cliffhanger-type ending, as the main thread wasn't completely resolved but it was a good suspenseful read-- I started book four immediately after.

[Julia · Rating 5 out of 5]

On the way home from the airport from Oregon, Ukiah and Max stop to find a lost toddler. They’re in a hurry, because they think this boy may be linked to a series of kidnappings of babies. Then Ukiah is asked questions by a Homeland Security agent.

These are a terrific series of urban fantasy/ science fiction/ thriller/ mysteries, plus Ukiah is a detective.

[Lindig · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's interesting watching the hero develop, although it's a very complicated history he has. The author did a good job of giving a precis of his backstory without slowing this novel down very much. I didn't like his moms much this time; they seemed be to much more querelous (sp?) and petty this time around. I have #4 and #5 TBR so we'll see how it goes.

[Helen Fleischer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I do love this series. Maybe it's because I spent so much time hiding out in the woods with my dogs as a kid? Reading this one out of order didn't spoil it a bit for me. I was glad to have found it at all. Now I want more! Until then, I'll need to settle for starting her other series as soon as I can find it.

[Sophie Gale · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not the strongest book in the series, and there are some unfortunate word choices that cried out for editing. For example, how many times can you use the word "puppy" before the reader starts to squirm? Pup, Pooch, fur ball, fur baby, little dog... And 2/3 of the villains have code names which I found hard to keep straight.