Devil in the Moon

Kane and his fellow outcasts have found a secret base on the moon(again). I really liked this book, it is a breath of fresh air compared to the rather lack-luster performances of the recent deathlands books. The whole concept while it has been done before is still orginal in many respects. If you like good plup and a good story, go ahead and read this.

What can I say--I loved this novel! It was indeed a real epic. I've been hoping Outlanders would get back out into space ever since 'Parallax Red' and 'Devil In The Moon' more than meets my expectations. Its full of action and colorful characters and real nail biting suspense, particularly during the scenes where the heroes are crossing the face of the Moon and get out on the "Sea of Ice" and are blinded by the reflected sunlight. And those carnobots--yeesh! A really nasty bunch of droids you won't see in a Star Wars movie!The writer really knows how to balance characterization, action and plot development--this book and the all the others in the series compare favorably to the best sci-fi novels, movies and TV shows. The book is not without a sense of humor, particularly in the some the dialogue between the heroes. I particularly liked the scene where Brigid, Kane and Grant are cornered by carnobots and Brigid gets afraid that Grant will lose his temper and jump down to fight them. She warns him, "Don't get any crazy ideas" and Kane says, "Yeah--that's MY department." The opening scenes set in the old mental clinic are pretty funny too with all the psychological jargon thrown around.And I really liked the surprising development about Lakesh and Domi! The new cover was great too as well as the new technology in use. And the ending!!! Whoa!! When and if Kane, Brigid and Grant get back to Cerberus from this moon mission, they'll be in for a heck of a surprise!! I realized after finishing this book that even though I liked Prodigal Chalice by Mel Odom, Devil In The Moon proves that only Mark Ellis knows really how to write this series. Every chapter gives us shocks, surprises, spills, thrills and laughs. I eagerly look forward to the next book in the Dragon Kings storyline. Two enthusastic thumbs WAY up!!

The back cover of "Devil In the Moon" uses the word "epic" to describe the plot of the book and this entry in the Outlanders series certainly is that, in a series already marked by a number of epic adventures.I looked forward eagerly to Book One of the "Dragon Kings" and I wasn't disappointed. A lot of major events are on the horizon with this novel, from the beautiful new cover art to the new technology and cutting edge weapons introduced in the book itself. Actually, the interphaser isn't exactly new, but it's a new way to use the device. It's a lot more efficient way to get around than the old mat-trans units. There are also new and even shocking slants on established characters not to mention old mysteries finally revealed.Like most of the Outlanders books written by Mark Ellis, the pace is at the speed of light, the writing snappy, the background thorough and believable. The dialogue is snappy, witty and as other reviewers pointed out, the characters are back to being themselves instead of the cardboard cut-outs as they were protrayed by the fill-in writer in the previous book. There is action, adventure and old-fashioned heroics aplenty with genuine cliff-hangers scattered throughout. The scenes on and in the Moon are very ominous and even spooky...and you can't get any more epic than your heroes crossing the face of the Moon and finding the ruins of a long-lost civilization in a crater! A threat hanging above the Moon that menaces all of humanity is a much more epic and frightening menace than a machine that might make food out of the air as in the the last book. "Devil In the Moon" earns extra points from me for finally explaining the faceless Furies from "Tomb of Time" and introducing the inventive concept of meat-eating robots. The way the carnobots are explained seems technlogically sound even if they seem like something out of a horror movie.Once I started reading "Devil In The Moon" I did not want to be interrupted by anything. I couldn't put it down. The ending of the novel was a new kind of cliff-hanger and left me frantic to read the next book! "Devil In The Moon' is as satisfying as a wide-screen Hollywood summer blocksbuster. This is a wonderful book to celebrate Outlanders fifth year and I just hope I can wait for "Dragoneye"!

I must admit that Devil in the Moon is a radical change for the Outlanders series. Not only has the cover art changed, but many other factors as well.First and foremost is that the Cerberus Exiles now have a new means of getting around the Outlands. Instead of relying almost exclusively on the Mat-trans unit, using technology developed in Savage Sun. It is an Interphaser, using the earth's natural jump points to get around. Secondly, for the most part the old Magistrate armour has been given up and instead they're using the Shadowsuits that were introduced in Tomb of Time. Thirdly, something happens between Lakesh and Domi, but I won't go into details because it would give too much away. Now, the novel has what most people would consider being a great deal of filler. It had to be included though, as essentially the series has, in some aspects, started over again. So, many of the long-term readers might find it repetitive, but in reality, it is NEEDED for all the new readers that are joining with each and every novel. There is also the fact that the continuity had been broken between Purgatory Road with Sargasso Plunder, then between Tomb of Time and Prodical Chalice. Both Sargasso and Chalice were written by a different author, and there was very little in background information provided in either. Thus, the need to not only explain things to new readers, but to 'refresh' the memories of long term fans. The story begins with the Cerberus Exiles arriving on the outskirts of a isolated community, one that started out as an insane asylum. They're promptly forced to return to the colony, where, in only a matter of a few minutes, change it forever. It isn't long after they return to Cerberus that they discover something un-usual happening on the Moon, and it's something that they have to investigate, after they accidentally bring Megaera (introduced in Tomb of Time) during their tests of the Interphaser. After viewing the video of the base, they see something that chills their blood. Another Annunaki. Using the Interphaser, they arrive on the moon, meet up with a group of four survivors who were stationed at the base during the Skydark, and learn more about Megaera and her Furies, and one item that could quite easily destroy the earth that has been stationed in Earth's orbit since the time of the Skyark. The exiles have to travel over the surface of the moon to an ancient moonbase, and there they meet a new menace to humanity.Meanwhile, back at Cerberus redoubt, a VERY unexpected visitor arrives with shocking news. The next novel in the series can't arrive soon enough for my taste.

This is the 21st Outlanders book in the series I'm almost compulsive about. Outlanders appeals to me the way the sci-fi adventure books like Commodore Grimes, Tarl Cabot of Gor and the early Star Trek novels appealed to me when I was growing up in the late1960s and early 70s.. The Outlanders tales are filled with derring-do, wild action and adventure and with people battling not only an implacable foe but also their own personal demons - and doing it all so wonderfully well.I have read all the Outlanders books, and they all grace my bookshelves. "Devil In The Moon" is a welcome addition to the continuing saga after the somewhat unsatisfactory previous entry into the series (apparently not written by the regular author). "Devil In The Moon" sports new cover art and I'm very impressed by the work...it's not as pulpish as all the previous covers. It has a mood and dignity that this series definitely deserves.The plot itself is somewhat different than the last few offerings as well, with a new technology in use and new relationships between a couple of the established characters--this is almost shocking but fascinating all the same. I'm looking forward to see how it develops over the next few books.As the title suggests, most of the book is set on the moon, in an abandoned base first mentioned way back in "Parallax Red". But there is apparently more than one devil--one IN the moon and one above it.The historical background provided by the writer is fascinating.He very skillfully weaves myth and scientific reality into a whole while never losing sight of telling a compelling story. This particular book combines heroic adventure, interplanetary peril and the in-depth depiction of an alien culture. And of course, like most of the Outlanders novels, it has plenty of sharp characterization and nice bits of humor sprinkled throughout. This book also seems to be a conscious effort to move as far beyond its companion series Deathlands as it can, with its new cover, new logo and new technology. This is a wise move, to avoid further confusion and contamination.For anyone who has yet to read an Outlanders novel, Devil In the Moon would be a good place to start. But be warned--they are addictive!