Book reviews

Radiant
James Alan Gardner Book Review

Read a book review online (click here to search reviews)
Books Movies  
Sci-Fi/Fantasy Mystery/Thriller Literature Romance Biography History
James Alan Gardner Books
New book search
James Alan Gardner Message Board
Get more information about this book
Plot Summary of Radiant
"

Eos, Aug 2004, 23.95, 374 pp.
ISBN: 0060595264

EXPENDABLE Explorer Third Class Youn Sue is trained to handle the most difficult, dangerous and deadly assignments as expected of a member of the Explorer Corps. She and her Explorer peers are disposables enabling a detached mankind to rationalize their deaths without any emotional attachment, remorse or guilt for who cares that an “Ugly Screaming Stink Girl” like Youn dies.

The Pistachio space ship Captain Cohen sends Third Class Youn and her partner Second Class Tut to Zoonau on Cashling to save innocent lives from the highly intelligent Balrog. The duo are assigned to work with legendary Admiral Festina Ramos as the Balrog has just begun a chess game in which this sentient knows the opponents' plans while other beings have started their own cat and mouse deadly diversions with genocide as a possibility unless the disposable trio finds away to stop two devastating threats..

The latest expendable Explorer Corps tale is an exhilarating outer space thriller that takes off the moment Youn receives the assignment and never lets up until the final altercation. The action is faster than the speed of light, but the key characters make the story line more than just another adventure tale. Youn is a wonderful star as she is filled with psychological woes from her youth (this time you can blame the mom); Tut is a likable nut; finally the renowned admiral is real and different from the mythical legend. Even the Balrog comes across as alien. SF readers will appreciate this tale that shows one must honorably take responsibility (not just lip service) for one's actions.

Harriet Klausner
"

Harriet Klausner, Resident Scholar



Click here for more information about this book




Note: the views expressed here are only those of the reviewer(s).
Three ways to search for Science Fiction books!

1) One-click plot searches! Simply click on a plot or subplot below!

Animal Story

Clones

Coming of age

Cultural problems, alien culture

Explore/1st contact/ enviro story

Family relations

GIANT monster(s)

Horror story?

Inner Struggle

Lifeform altered?

Mental/magical powers focus

Parody

Political power play

Religious overtones?

Repressive society story

Robots, Computers, VR

Romance

Spying & Investigations

Tech./$$$/Info hunt

Time Travel story?

Training/Apprent.

War or Invasion



or 2) Simple lookup
(title or author)

or
3) Even more search options available with a Detailed Booksearch (click here)

Use our site!
Feedback
About us
Bribe your congressman!
Rudy Giuliani



Most recent discussions:

General Book Talk
Book writing discussion
Off-topic message board
.
Teri Woods 7:50:31 PM
Suzanne Weyn 6:04:59 PM
George W. Bush 5:52:39 PM
Tamora Pierce 5:07:56 PM
David Pelzer 3:51:59 PM
Sue Grafton 1:25:52 PM
S. Morgenstern 6:55:01 AM
Caroline B. Cooney 12:18:20 AM
Suzanne Collins 11:33:40 PM
Jeff Shaara 9:10:50 PM
Sister Souljah 8:34:52 PM
Wendelin Van Draanen 8:16:28 PM
Angie Sage 7:26:30 PM
James Clavell 5:30:19 PM
Patricia McCormick 4:17:19 PM
Edward Albee 4:14:20 PM
V.C. Andrews 4:14:12 PM
Thomas Kinkade and Katherine Spencer 2:10:25 PM
Christina Crawford 9:31:53 AM
Martina Cole 6:40:33 AM

More message boards