Dark Ararat

In the fifth volume of his Emortality series, Stableford awakens his protagonist, evangelical ecologist Matthew Fleury, from coldsleep 700 years into interstellar space and three years into the establishment of a fledgling colony on an alien planet, Ararat, which may or may not be already inhabited by a humanoid race. Matthew's awakening - to take the place of a murdered ecologist - drops him in the midst of a roiling conflict between colonists and ship's crew. In the course of the journey, the crew's view of their mission has evolved and separated from that of their human cargo. They no longer wish to nurture a single colony but see themselves as explorers of the galaxy. The crew is insisting on the colony's success, despite misgivings from the colonists. Matthew, and a policeman awakened along with him, are expected to solve the murder and get the colony back on track.The world itself is a strange place, it's flora and fauna based not on DNA but on a dual coding genome, which, as Stableford depicts it, changes evolutionary strategies and affects everything from feeding to reproduction. Animals with the ability to photosynthesize, for instance. Widespread chimeras.Fleury, reserving judgment as he reviews all factions, explores the ruins of an alien city, beginning to piece together an overview of the ecology even before he and three other colonists set out on a river voyage of exploration, which introduces them to some of the planet's larger and more fearsome inhabitants. Along the way, Fleury also discovers the murderer's identity but it seems almost beside the point, as it is to the other colonists.Fleury is a likable protagonist and the book easily stands alone, while the dual-coding biology is an entertaining brain teaser.

By 2817 humanity bravely goes where no one has gone before as slower than the speed of light colony ships traverse the stars. Most of the space travelers lie in suspended animation awaiting the moment of awakening. One of those ships Hope has landed on a planet Ararat that appears favorable for human habitation though the eerie ruins of a great civilization scar the surface. After a murder occurs in the fledgling colony, Matthew Fleury is awakened to replace the victim. Being an ecologist he begins to search for clues as to the identity of the killer fearing he could be next as his position might be the motive for the homicide. He wonders if the killer is a human who wants to leave, one who want to stay, or perhaps a sentient native. Matt begins a journey amidst the strange planet seeking the truth. The fifth in Brian Stableford's futuristic Emortality science fiction series, DARK ARARAT is a cerebral tale with plenty of action and adventure starring a wonderful though egocentric hero. The story line employs a scientific grounded ecosystem based on dual coded genome rather than the earthly DNA. That makes for quite an alien trip as everything appears different to the senses yet seems so real. The mystery adds a twisting depth yet cleverly ties back to the prime plot of exploring Ararat. This novel may be the best story in one of the great series of the last decade, as Mr. Stableford returns to the roots of science fiction by encouraging his audience to philosophize about what is life within a powerhouse of an adventure.Harriet Klausner