Code of Conduct

Code of Conduct is the first novel of the Jani Kilian series. Captain Jani Kilian is Two of Six, the Eyes and Ears, one of the six humans who have graduated from the ideomeni Academy, and then she was assigned as a United Services documents control officer in the embassy at Rauta Sheraa, the idomeni godly capital. She was severely injured in the explosion of a transport on the launching pad and, during the night of the long knives when the Vynsh clan became the Vynshrau, the ruling clan, her body was secretly rebuilt by three wild-eyed, genius doctors in the embassy basement. The Service has issued a warrant for her arrest for her alleged misdeeds prior to the explosion and she has been avoiding official notice since recovering from her injuries.In this novel, Jani has been working as an unregistered documents tech on Whalen's Planet under an assumed name. There she hears the announcement that the ideomeni have re-established diplomatic relations with the Commonwealth and then discovers that a "jammin" blonde has been asking about her. She immediately takes steps to abandon the planet, but is caught at home by Evan van Reuter, the Commonwealth Interior Minister and her former lover in Rauta Sheraa. He wants her to return to Earth with him to investigate the death of his wife. On the voyage back, Jani meets two members of his staff, Durian Ridgeway, his Documents chief, and Angevin Wyle, his deputy and Hansen Wyle's daughter. Hansen was One of Six, the Tongue of Gold, another of the six humans at the ideomeni academy, but he had ben killed during the Vynsh assault on Rauta Sheraa. Jani also meets Lucien Pascal posing as her stewart. When they reach Earth, Jani is given an official position -- and office -- and access to the document files. However, she spends more time discussing the case with her fellow workers and others who had known Lyssa. She also forges a relationship with Lucien despite his "official" status as the Exterior Minister's lover.This novel is a futuristic murder mystery in a society which has been transformed by contact with the ideomeni. One of the side plots is her relationship with Egri niRau Tsecha, the spiritual leader of the Vynshrau and the ideomeni ambassador to Earth. Tsecha has proclaimed that the humans and ideomeni will become one hybrid people and predicts that Jani will become the catalyst for this change. Jani wants nothing to do with this prophecy of hybridization, especially since she herself is a hybrid of sorts, with ideomeni flesh merged with her own body to heal her wounds.Although many of the concepts have been used before, this novel is highly original in its ambiance and character. The details do make a difference and, in this case, the details are fascinating. Like most mystery novels, this story starts in the middle, with the earlier events gradually being exposed as the story progresses. However, it is seldom that the investigator is the one with the most secrets, but it does occur th

Nice to find a true SF plot, with an author who takes time to build it, good characterisation and intriguing. A+

Finally! CODE gives SF fans who demand strong characterization something wonderful to read when there's no new Bujold or Moon novel. In Jani Kilian, we have been given a heroine both ruthless and curiously compassionate, a woman who has survived tragedy and may yet redeem humankind. And there's a bonus--the most fascinating alien culture since Cherryh's FOREIGNER series. More Jani! More Tsecha! More Kristine Smith!

I had great difficulty putting this book down to take care of the (in comparison) mundane details of my work day. A fascinating novel that slowly reveals the truths about its characters, its events, and its universe. More!

Code of Conduct tells a fast-paced story that weaves intrigue, politics, and personal honor into a sophisticated tapestry. With well-realized characters, both human and alien, and a plot full of gratifying twists and turns, this book showcases a fine new voice in science fiction.About twenty years prior to the book's opening scene, Captain Jani Kilian almost died in a civil war among the idomeni, an alien race just enough like humans to make their vast differences disturbing. Framed for treason and then presumed dead in an explosion, she has spent the years since in hiding. After the blast, her doctors put her together with illegal experiments that combined human and idomeni genes. Now it is catching up with her. Is she dying--or changing into a new species that could threaten the existence of both humans and idomeni?Jani thinks she is safe--until Evan van Reuter, the powerful Interior Minister of the Commonwealth, finds her. He wants her to solve a mystery that could destroy him: why did his wife die? Author Smith sets-up a wonderfully Byzantine scenario, with the dangerous, augmented Jani as an ideal choice of investigator from Evan's point of view, but a terrible choice as far as Jani is concerned.One pleasure of this novel is the rich cast, both human and idomeni, that tangles the investigation. To snarl matters more, Evan is Jani's former lover. She finds herself in a political maze that could shake the foundations of the Commonwealth. Smith ties this all together in a well-written story that leaves the reader wanting more.Smith does a good job with the idomeni, in particular Tsecha, a political and religious leader among his people and an ambassador to Earth. Watching him exasperate his human hosts with his wry personality and audacious nature is fun. The book creates a strong portrayal of an alien, with the nifty twist that eating is a form of prayer for his people. Another strength of this book is the subtle sensuality in the various relationships of the people, especially Jani's interactions with Evan and another character, Lucien. In fact, in general Smith does character well. The motivations and personalities of these people both surprise and make sense, a blend that isn't easy to achieve.Code of Conduct is good science fiction, good hard-edged suspense, and an all around good read.