Odd Girl Out

Quadrail #3

by Timothy Zahn

In this noir thriller set on the interstellar Quadrail, former government agent Frank Compton can't catch a break. After a successful mission against the Modhri, the coral polyp-based group mind that is attempting to take over the galaxy, Frank arrives at his New York apartment. A young woman is waiting for him, pointing a gun at his face. She tells him that someone on New Tigris is holding her ten-year-old sister. Compton takes her gun and orders her out, only to be rousted out of bed and accused of her brutal murder.

After Frank's ally Bruce McMicking posts his bail, Frank travels to New Tigris with his assistant, Bayta, and locates the sister, who is part of a key resistance group that is fighting the Modhri throughout the galaxy. Compton must get the girl to a hidden refuge planet via the Quadrail to ensure the continued efforts of the resistance. But can he do it before the Modhri gets to her first?

Compelling characters, hard-boiled sleuthing, and non-stop action make this a hard SF thriller that will grab the reader and not let go until the last page.

At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.

Genres: Science Fiction, Fiction, Mystery, Space Opera, Adventure, Thriller, Aliens

385 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 11, 2008

About the author

Timothy Zahn attended Michigan State University, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in physics in 1973. He then moved to the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and achieved an M.S. degree in physics in 1975. While he was pursuing a doctorate in physics, his adviser became ill and died. Zahn never completed the doctorate. In 1975 he had begun writing science fiction as a hobby, and he became a professional writer. He and his wife Anna live in Bandon, Oregon. They have a son, Corwin Zahn.

Reviews

[H (trying to keep up with GR friends) Balikov · Rating 4 out of 5]

Frank Compton, the best trouble-shooter/private eye in the known universe, is at it again. Again, that is, for those of you who are already on the Quadrail train. As for me, I’m a trouble-creator since I acted by impulse in pulling Odd Girl Out off the shelf at the local library and couldn’t put it down. And, consequently, I had no idea what transpired in books #1 and #2.

Zahn is moving up fast on my favorite authors list. Here, he doesn’t disappoint. In the opening few pages: someone introduces herself to him at the point of a gun (in Frank’s direction); two people are killed in a ritual-type murder; and, Compton is arrested for the crime, then quickly bailed out by one of the richest men in the galaxy (and that is in the first 5% of the book). The plot continues at this pace for all 350+ pages. It has the energy of a Bourne chase and the complexity of an Anthony Horowitz mystery. Zahn doesn’t omit some humorous dialogue and situations. But he may have gone too far (p.355) when he has Compton say to his team: “Let’s blow this pop stand.” I am not sure that even in the 21st century that phrase has much currency.

This is the third book in Zahn’s Quadrail series which features Compton and his telepath alien associate, Bayta. There are plenty of alien species in this series (and I have only read this book) including the Spiders who run the Quadrail (that can take anyone at faster than light speeds around the galaxy) and the Modhri (a coral-based hive species) that has aspirations of galactic domination. The Modhri was uncovered by Compton in a previous adventure.

There is a loose federation of some species and their solar systems all connected by Quadrail. Compton and Bayta move quickly from one star system to another in an attempt to “rescue” the “odd girl” of the title. In doing so they have to negotiate with local officials, and crime bosses, and go undercover in several disguises. Zahn carries this along at breakneck speed through some interesting and very complex plot twists. Compton and Bayta make a good team and Zahn hits some perfect notes as his characters try to unpack several mysteries that could have a major impact on clients past, present and/or future. Another taste of Quadrail and I might be addicted so I will try to stay away until 2018.

[Иван Величков · Rating 4 out of 5]

Интересно защо гудрийдса ми препоръчва само детски книги, след като отбелязах, че чета тази. Не смятам, че Тимъти Зан е влязъл в категорията на Робърт Луис Стивънсън и Жул Верн, но може би аз остарявам.
Първото, което прави впечатление в третата книга от поредицата за квадрелсовата железница и Франк Комптън, че е почти невъзможно да се чете самостоятелно. Всичко, което сме научили от предишните книги за света и взаимоотношенията между героите е директно интегрирано тук.
Другото е, че определено жанра е фантастичен криминално-шпионски трилър.
Но за романа. Ох, да видя как ще го нагласим, така че да не разкривам много от предходните книги...
Веднага след приключването на случая с третия рис Комптън иска леко да си почине вкъщи на Земята. Това не му се отдава, защото у тях го чака въоръжена с един от собствените му пистолети мистериозна дама, искаща да го наеме да спаси сестра ѝ. Франк я отпраща доста безцеремонно и след има-няма два часа разбира, че е заподозрян в убийството ѝ. Бързо става ясно, че отново е замесен изконният враг на работодателите му с всичките усложнения, които идват от това (бля, бля, бля... прочетете предишните две книги). Това ще доведе отново до огромни надцаквания между вездесъщи извънземни и нашият директен и импулсивен агент, доста трупове, арести и няколко нови приятелства.
За разлика от предишната книга, тук псевдошпионските завръзки бяха много силни и надиграването между противниците ми донесе голямо удоволствие от четенето. Трябва да се отбележи, че Франк започва леко да се съмнява и в паяците и техните създатели, което е плюс, защото аман от дуализъм в класическото фантастично сюжетостроене.

[William Bentrim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Odd Girl Out by Timothy Zahn

Frank Compton, a government whistle blower is back with faithful side kick and engineered schizophrenic Bayta. The Modhri, group mind omnipotent evil opponent, is willing to compromise to destroy an abomination. Much of the action once again takes place on the Quadrail.

The concept of the Quadrail and it’s interconnection of galactic empires is the thread that ties the plots of the books in this series, Night Train To Rigel and The Third Lynx being the first two.

Bayta discovers a kindred soul in a young, vulnerable girl that she and Frank end up befriending. McMicking, the chameleon like fixer, pops up with his own agenda but continues to surprise Compton with his very able and deadly support.
There is a similarity to the books of the series but each tale has it’s own, often lethal twist.

The series continues to grow on me and I enjoyed this book more than the last.

I recommend it.

[Meggie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I thought that The Third Lynx was slow, but Odd Girl Out was even more of a slog for me. An awful lot of time is spent waiting in Quadrail stations or riding (uneventfully) on the trains, and the pace didn't pick up for me until close to the end.

I like Frank, but he really does alternate between horrible missteps and concealing everything from the reader--there is no in-between. Bayta continues to receive the absolute minimum amount of character development. Taking a break for a bit, before I tackle books 4 and 5.

[Courtney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yet another reason why Timothy Zahn is a truly amazing writer! 3rd book in the series and is one of the most amazing one!

[Eddie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm finding that I really like Timothy Zahn books. He has a great sense of humor as well as a good imagination. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It is a bit complex as the twist and turns are plentiful and quick. I think I'll look into others in the series (I didn't realize it was a series when I started it).

[Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is actually the third in a series, which I didn't realize when I picked it up. Fortunately, Zahn does a pretty good job of dropping enough hints that you can tell what's going on (without the dreaded, "So, Bob, as you well know [info dump]").

He's trying to do something between Sam Spade and James Bond, which I think mostly works. Frank Compton, the narrator, is appropriately cynical but chivalrous. He's quite competent but still manages to misjudge things on a regular basis. Given that the entire narrative is a maze of double and triple crosses against an opponent who takes over people's minds and could literally be lurking anywhere, getting the timing wrong here and there is fairly excuseable.

The pace moves along briskly, never giving Frank (or you) quite enough time to think things through. Eventually, he figures out what you can't (and conceals this until the big showdown with the mastermind, with the somewhat more typical and dreaded "How long have you known/how did you discover this/the one thing I don't understand is" exchange). Everything, including several side jaunts and red herrings, is explained, although the explanation is not always particularly satisfying. Frank manages to get arrested by three different police forces on three different worlds for at least six different murders he didn't commit--but the several he does commit seem to go unnoticed.

His associates, the face-changing McMickering and the telepathic alien/human hybrid Bayta, get very little development, but that's most likely because they received better introductions in earlier books.

It's a fun ride, even if it's a little anticlimatic and not everything hangs together at the end. But that's really more of a retrospect problem--you'll enjoy it as you read. Just don't think too hard.

[SciFiOne · Rating 4 out of 5]

2013 grade B+.
2022 grade B

Series book Q3.

2013 = Mostly an action book moving from incident to incident with slow periods between much like a modern action movie. Not a lot of long or short story arc development but fun anyway.

2022 = This is basically just a long running battle. The individual firefights are brief in the fictional reality but long in the book. They are separated by quiet segments that are brief in the book but often include days long travel to other places and planets. I "lost count" of how many times this sequence was repeated and started jumping to the next paragraph to speed things up when it got tedious. It did not help that the protagonist was always a few steps behind the antagonist as he reacted to the enemy attacks over and over again. Even the end was presented as reaction instead of proaction.

This story does have an end though. It is not serialized. Nothing is resolved with the long running enemy of the series but this incident is over.

Still, it is a smoothly written and reasonably interesting story with good characters. I would suggest first reading Night Train To Rigel though (book one in the series). Book 1 is where all the world and character building take place. Book 2 is probably not necessary. I forgot to read it this time and there were no problems. If you like this kind of storytelling, which is common in modern books and movies, you might like this one. For me it was problematic.

[John Loyd · Rating 5 out of 5]

Odd Girl Out (2008) 379 pages by Timothy Zahn.

Excellent.

This is the third book in the Quadrail series. Telling you any of the plot is a spoiler for the first book, Night Train to Rigel, so I'll keep that to a minimum. Frank Compton is sort of the 1950s witty private eye, thrown into an SF universe. I think all three books start off with a murder that and he becomes the prime suspect.

Compton is quick to recognize a change in tactic and infer what is happening. He uses that skill along with the having the spiders and Bayta on his side to thwart the enemy.

It's a quick read, the pace is fast, there is easy to follow action, and then the mystery angle. I'm not saying this is great literature, but it is great fun, I really liked it. I suggest reading the books in order. Reading either this one or Third Lynx would be a big spoiler for Night Train to Rigel.

[Nolan · Rating 4 out of 5]

You could read this exclusively for the space-opera elements, but you would miss some of the finest world-building science fiction can offer. Zahn has created a strange and compelling universe populated by spiderlike aliens and by “walkers”—Terrans whose brains have fused with alien coral, allowing the hive mind known as the Modhri to communicate through them across multiple worlds. I remain impressed by Zahn’s ability to explain such an outlandish premise clearly enough that it feels coherent rather than merely bizarre.

After a prolonged absence, former detective Frank Compton returns home to find a woman pointing a gun at him. Lorelei Beach wants him to rescue her ten-year-old sister, Rebekah, who is hiding from the Modhri. Rebekah possesses telepathic abilities acquired from a source the Modhri did not authorize, so both she and that source represent an abomination that must be eliminated.

Compton refuses to help. My first reaction was that he was acting as though he had a corn cob forcefully inserted into his colorectal region. What was that about? Then I considered what it must feel like to return from a long journey and find a stranger in your house pointing your own gun at you. Under those conditions, forgiveness came more easily.

Someone murders Lorelei almost before his refusal has stopped sounding in her ears, and the police naturally suspect him. They arrest him briefly, but the murder changes everything.

Now it’s personal.

Having refused Lorelei’s request, Compton becomes determined to save Rebekah. With help from Bayta, his telepathic alien almost-girlfriend, he travels to the planet where the child lives as an unwilling refugee.

I could catalogue the complications he encounters, but doing so would steadily diminish your reasons for reading the book. Zahn has constructed a plot that operates on too many levels to summarize without damaging it. The suspense comes from wondering how Compton can get Rebekah safely off a planet that has become her prison and how he will survive the adversaries trying to stop him. He does not enjoy ending lives, but he accepts it as part of the job, especially when the choice comes down to his life or his opponent’s.

Rebekah often seems far older than ten, perhaps because of the alien influence on her mind and certainly because of all she has endured. That maturity sometimes made her harder for me to relate to. Only once did I glimpse the child beneath everything that had happened to her. When escape seemed possible, tears slipped down her face and panic broke through her composure. She recoiled from Compton’s attempt to help, terrified that moving would reveal her location. For one brief moment, a frightened ten-year-old emerged from behind all that unnatural maturity.

She never became unsympathetic, but she often felt more like a battle-worn survivor than a child.

Her relationship with Bayta supplies some of the book’s most welcome warmth. Zahn portrays them almost as sisters, as though Bayta has finally found the little sister she has only dreamed of having. Rebekah has lost Lorelei and needs someone who can steady her and fill at least part of that terrible absence. Bayta seems eager to do exactly that. Their bond gladdened my heart, and I found myself hoping it might continue beyond this book.

The Modhri itself inspires no such warmth. Whether it is best understood as many aliens or one alien manifesting through the minds it controls, it remains thoroughly creepy. Zahn makes no attempt to render it sympathetic. It is bent on destruction and takeover, and that is about all we need to know.

The relationship between Compton and Bayta continues to fascinate and frustrate me. Compton is somewhat hard-bitten and badly needs someone who can refine him and round off his roughest edges. Bayta would be good for him. She can communicate with the Spiders who maintain intergalactic transit, but nothing about her personality feels cold or inhuman. She is loyal, supportive, and capable of loving others besides Compton, as her bond with Rebekah makes clear.

His reluctance to commit therefore puzzles me. Perhaps he fears the complications of loving someone who is not entirely human. But Bayta has already demonstrated the qualities that matter most, and I cannot imagine he is lying awake worrying about half-human, half-alien babies. Whatever his reasoning, their relationship remains suspended in a romantic waiting room, and I increasingly wonder whether they will ever leave it.

I read the first two books in this series years ago and have largely forgotten them. I probably should have reread them before plunging into this one, but I never felt particularly lost or confused. This volume seemed more straightforward than the earlier books I remember, both in its central objective and in its explanation of alien concepts. Previous installments spent more time on the Spiders and their hierarchy. Here, Zahn made the underlying ideas easier to follow without making them feel less imaginative.

The earlier books would undoubtedly provide useful context, but I won’t insist that you must read them first. You can enter the series here and still find your footing.

This earned four stars from me, but that designation does not make it a lesser book. It is imaginative, suspenseful, emotionally warmer than its premise might suggest, and unusually adept at making alien coral, hive minds, intergalactic transit, and telepathic relationships feel like parts of one coherent world.

What it lacked was the mental body slam that would make it live in my memory for years. A five-star book leaves behind feelings so vivid that even after the plot and characters fade, the title can summon those emotions again. This one did not quite reach that level, but I will absolutely read the final two books in the series to discover what happens next.

[Craig · Rating 4 out of 5]

This third noir mystery/railroad/interstellar adventure in Zahn's series is another good one. The plot and pacing are very well executed, the characters are well drawn, and it's simply a very good old-fashioned science fiction story.

[Benjamin Espen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked this book up in the library earlier this year, read the first chapter, and realized that a lot of things were being discussed instead of revealed. Then I looked at the inside cover and realized I had selected book three of a series. Weirdly, lots of reviews of Odd Girl Out have the same story as mine. I don't know what you did Tim, but this one stands out on a shelf for some reason.

As is now the pattern, Frank starts out the book being associated with a murder. Unfortunately for him, this time the cops arrest him and throw him in jail to await arraignment. Fortunately, Frank has friends in high places who can bail him out.

What his friends can't do is explain why the woman who broke into his apartment, and then asked for help before he sent her packing, now lies dead next to a man with a suspiciously similar head wound. This is a classic noir setup, and Frank probably should have seen it coming, given his love of classic cinema. Even Homer nods.

While this escalation is par for the course, what is not is the way we get hints that friend may be foe, and foe friend. The Modhri, Frank's nemesis in the great game for control of the Quadrail and the galaxy, asks him for help. While understandably suspicious, Frank, the keen student of behavior, is intrigued enough to look into it. And the Modhri isn't the only one acting strange. Bayta, his partner, is still cool towards him after Frank kissed a cute girl in the last book, no matter that mind viruses were involved. His employers are keeping a closer than usual eye on him. And of course, he is out on bail for a double homicide.

Which is all just another day in the office for the galaxy's wiliest railroad detective. Fortunately, Frank is far too stubborn to let trivialities like the coldness and distrust of his only friends stand in his way. If things like that mattered to him, he wouldn't have blown the whistle on the United Nations' hopeless scheme to colonize the worthless planet of Yandro. And he won't let it stop him from finding the little girl the dead woman asked him to protect.

[Mike Farrell · Rating 4 out of 5]

In Odd Girl Out, the third book in Zahn’s Quadrail series the action starts immediately and does not stop until the story ends.

The story begins with Frank Compton, the chief special agent employed by the Chahwyn in their war against the Modhri, returning to his apartment in New York from his last adventure, to find a woman pointing a Glock pistol at his head - his own gun!

After proving he is actually Compton the woman identifies herself as Lorelei. She wants Compton to help find Rebekah, her 10-year-old sister, who is trapped on the Earth colony of New Tigris.

Compton wants nothing to do with this and dismisses Lorelei. Later that night Compton is woken by the police pounding on his door; Lorelei has been found murdered by Compton’s gun.

Teaming up with Bayta and McMicking, an agent from Hardin Industries, the search for Rebekah begins.

The story is full of the usual problems with the walkers under the control of the Modhri trying to eliminate Compton and Bayta while they try to locate and help Rebekah.

Compton and Bayta also find that Lorelei and Rebekah are art of a different group, the Melding, the creation of an experiment by the Modhri 30 years ago that went wrong – in the view of the Modhri. In attempting to create more independent subjects the Modhri started planting polyp colonies in infants. About 10 years ago the Modhri lost control of the Melding and has been trying to locate and eliminate them since.

In the end Compton and his group are able to get Rebekah of New Tigris and reunited with the rest of the Melding.

This story moves quickly and there is a lot of action. Compton and Bayta seem to be constantly outnumbered and under attack by agents of the Modhri; however, with the Melding now in the game, they may have enlisted a valuable ally against the Modhri.

[Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this third book of the Quadrail series, Frank Compton goes across the galaxy again with Bayta in search of a 10-year-old girl named Rebecca, whose sister asked Frank to save her. Frank initially ignored the request, but when the sister was killed and it was clear that the Modhri were involved, he took the case. Along the way, the Modhri made their appearance again, appearing also to have a compelling interest in the same location where Rebecca is. When they finally find her, she refuses to go anywhere without her mysterious crates. The Modhri have told Frank that they want the “Abomination,” which Frank initially thinks is in reference to Rebecca somehow, but instead it turns out to be what Rebecca has in her crates: a rogue colony of Modhri coral. Frank and Bayta manage to get Rebecca and her crates to the Quadrail, but the Modhri are on the chase and the battle is fierce. There are a few surprises along the way and, as usual, a stunning plot twist.

This is probably my third time through the series over the years and it’s one I enjoy quite a bit. Having said that, I do think that Frank growls a bit too much and you can always count on Bayta’s throat tightening, so I decided this time to keep a tally of these writing “tics” of Zahn’s:

Frank growled 14 times
Others growled 4 times
Bayta’s throat tightened 2 times
Frank’s throat tightened 2 times
Other throats tightened 2 times

Ha ha!

[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

I feel like these books are getting better as I go along. Frank seems to channel a bit more of his inner "Harry Dresden" and I'm enjoying it. This book is the half way point in the Quadrail series. Unfortunately I do not have books 4 and 5. If the right deal comes along I will pick them up but my list of books is so long right now that I should be reading what I already own.

Unlike the previous book, this one does end with a mild cliffhanger. A Chahwyn secret that leaves me extremely curious. In fact, while I didn't rush off and buy book 4 immediately, I will be monitoring the price.

As I said in my review of Book 2 (The Third Lynx), I'm feeling more compelled to read these books again; after I finish the series of course.

[Jeremy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun read. As always, Zahn is constantly trying to show how clever his protagonist is with convoluted plots and convenient plot twists bordering on deus ex machina, but it all just works here. Frank Compton does lots of being Frank Compton, while we see a bit of development with Bayta as she develops a kinship with the latest MacGuffin (a relationship which doesn't really get explored much despite some ominous hints early on.) While the reader's eyes may faze over and brain tune out all the non-stop "shell game" antics of who or what got loaded onto which vehicle, in the end they can ignore the specifics and trust that everyone will end up where they belong in the end.

[Joanne Pascoe · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had read 'Night Train to Rigel' and enjoyed it. Found this volume at a thrift shop, so I've missed #2. I'd describe it as detective noire, set in a universe of multiple species with a struggle for domination. A major feature is the train-like Quadrail, which connects worlds -- kinda like a wormhole system with trains. Our hero is up against an insidious foe; he needs to rescue a 'damsel in distress', and he has a sidekick. He's good at improvising, and he needs to be. I enjoyed the story and the genre mash-up.

[Barbara Sheppard · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the third book I have from this author. As with the previous ones I thoroughly enjoyed this story. The characters are very likeable and Frank Compton is smart and savvy. He can get himself out of just about any situation you could think of. The stories are somewhat involved but the author presents it in a way that is completely understandable. I plan to read another by this author soon.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Inventive

Once again, Zahn has tweaked his antagonist and overarching series plot to keep the interest of his readers. There is a reveal at the end that I did not see coming...well, I knew something was coming and had already gone back to try to pick up clues to put together. What was revealed was a surprise to me.

My only dislike is the price since I am now reading a book a day, pretty much, and it is a five book series.

[John R. Goyer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Totally enjoyable - the writing is witty but not overly so, and the characters have depth and a certain charm to them. Frank continues to revisit what has happened and let us know what it really means - in a good way, and the overall arch of the story continues to be interesting. The action is almost a little too much non-stop and i find the book tires me out with the breakneck pace it sets. Happy reading this series so far, and ready for volume 4.

[Jeffrey · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars. Another fun entry in the Quadrail series of novels.

This time Bayta features more prominently as Frank’s partner, although a familiar face from previous novels (McMicking) has a surprisingly large role. He was not nearly as abrasive as Morse in the previous book, which I think worked better overall.

The main twist in this book wasn’t as satisfying to me as in the other books though, hence the 4 stars instead of 4.5.

[Reus · Rating 5 out of 5]

I made the mistake of reading a spoiler and the big reveal at the end was spoiled for me. Despite this foreknowledge, I was convinced that the review I read was wrong. A masterpiece in deception, phrasing/word play, and subtle plot and sub-plots, the quadrail series has almost become my favorite of Zahn’s series. I only wish I had read this series when it was published in 2008 and didn’t wait 17 years to discover it.

[Julia · Rating 1 out of 5]

One of an endless parade of science fiction books by men where everything is plot plot plot and none of the characters have any depth or development. I'm willing to tolerate all of that if the world is interesting enough, but the Modhri is such a bog-standard Borg that none of it could hold my interest. Did not finish.

[Anthony Faber · Rating 3 out of 5]

I haven't read much Zahn since the first 2 Cobra books. This one is the third in a series and, while okay as a political/espionage thriller, didn't really make sense in some ways. Maybe if I'd read the first two, it would have made more sense. I'd say read the first 2 first, although I'm still deciding whether I want to.

[David Leppo · Rating 2 out of 5]

Predictable.

Love the author but this isn't his finest work, the exposition is cliche and the climax was predictable. Lacks the character development of the earlier books, both main characters feel stagnant. It reads like a Bond movie.. there's a place for that, but Zahn has much better books.

[Tom · Rating 5 out of 5]

Suitable Sequel

Zahn continues the story of the galaxy-wide undercover war against the Modrhi, who are trying to take over through mind control. I love the old-fashioned noir feel of the series. The main character is like a 1950s private eye. It is a pleasure to follow him as he unravels clues and saves the day. Smart writing and a pleasurable read. I highly recommend it!

[Steve · Rating 4 out of 5]

The only problem with these delightful science fiction novels is that they are too short, and someday I'll run out! Part suspense thriller, part human (and alien) interest story, they are fast-paced and funny. Recommended for a light read.

[Margaret Boling · Rating 2 out of 5]

4/28/2018 ~~ The plot seemed to drag in the middle, though there was one intense battle scene near the end. I've read books 1-3, but I'm not feeling the need to read the remaining two books in the series at this point. I really wish there was more of an internal story with strong characterization.

[Elizabeth S · Rating 4 out of 5]

This series gets better with each book. The first one introduced such an interesting universe, yet it was slow reading for me. The second hooked me in faster. And this one was hard to put down after the first five pages.

[Kassinen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Series has gone down with each part. I liked the first part, light reading, like a James Bond in galactic setup. Second was a slight disappointment and this is slightly worse than the previous. I hope that the fight against Modhri turns again better in the next book.