In the Shadow of the Moon

Fantastic series. Definitely movie material. Anyone interested in interspecies dynamics should check this out! The majestic Kones and Noble Cliff Dwellers are fantastically written and life like in not only in biology, but in culture as well. Don't miss this series.

The book covers don't do justice to the content. This is the 2nd book in a series of 4. This is a great read, you'll want to start the next one immediately after putting this one down. It has everything. It develops into lots of great characters, Politics, seemingly genocidal ET's and successful first contacts and alliances against a common threat. Fans of David Weber, Heinlein, Sharon Lee & Steve Miller, John Ringo, Lois McMaster Bujold and Anne MacCafrey--to name a very few favorite authors-- will like these books. The themes are well thought out, and the characters all deal with the choices, sacrifice and agony of war, loss and hope in a realistic manner and sometimes with a little humor and romance thrown in. It has some great turns on themes others ahve used for books with much more depth, turn of phrase, and compassion.

Author Scott Geir's varied cast of characters contend with a variety of problematic aliens as mankind attempts to secure its place in the galaxy. There are the dangerous lifeforms of the planet Genellan, where an overcrowed Earth is attempting to establish its first colony. There are the kones, natives of another planet in the the same system, who are ambivalent about the arrival of the human race. There is the mysterious race of alien marauders who have victimized the kones in the past and prove to be a definite obstacle to the expansion of the human race. And, finally, there are the hideous inhabitants of an alternate colony site on a nightmarish world that becomes the site of a harrowing rescue mission. Geir writes a crackling tale on a wide canvas, successfully keeping many narrative balls in the air. Sadly, this series is out of print (I've found it only in used book stores). There is only one more published book in the series, but it is my impression that it does not provide closure because of the early cancellation of the series, probably due to poor sales. Volume III, "First Victory," sits on my shelf, and one day I shall read it and no doubt be disappointed that the saga will never be concluded.

In addition to being a great friend with a sharp mind, Scott writes one mean book. It is not too technical so that it loses the audience, but flows at a natural pace with surprises that keep the audience interested. The reader should read both Genellan books, and I am sure they will then demand book three in the series, due out this year. I would be surprised if you don't see this series made into a movie in the near future. m. clark willis iii [email protected]