Orion Arm: The Rampart Worlds: Book 2

Orion Arm is the second book in the Rampart Worlds Trilogy, a fun, witty, colorful space opera detective adventure set 200 years in the future. It continues the story of a disenfranchised former cop framed by big business to keep him from uncovering their corruption.Orion Arm continues the Julian May tradition of creating worlds described with vibrant adjectives that make her worlds a feast for all five senses. Her prose is perhaps unmatched in science fiction, and it is a joy just to read her works to see how she puts together her sentences.Orion Arm continues in the vein of sort of goofy, tongue-in-cheek action adventure and humorous cynicism from rough-around-the-edges protagonist Asa Frost. The plot thickens, becomes at once more serious and complex than in the first book. The first one was definitely more fun than adventure-- this book adds just a bit of suspense, making it more enjoyable. Much of the new tension comes from the shifting of emphasis from evil megacorprorations to a xenophobic alien race with ulterior designs on our galaxies-- it sets up the action for book 3.All in all, I enjoyed this book a tad bit more than the first, but still rate this series slightly behind May's earlier works. Unlike Pliocene Exile Series, where I found myself admiring May for her ability to let us come to know even secondary and tertiary characters, this series' supporting characters were somewhat superficial. Oh, compared to most sci-fi, Ms. May's characters are all vivid and deep, but compared to her own unusually high standards-- this falls just a bit short. Still, entertaining, imaginative a good read.

This sequl to Perseus Spur still rolls along non-stop. The characters and action are great! I don't have much to add to the other descriptions or reviews except the "mystery" of who the arch-villain/traitor actually was (despite being solved in the book) wasn't very well fleshed out (minimal clues). Presumably Ms. May was going for the twist/shock ending when the enemy was revealed.Can't wait for #3!

This series is a little less idea dense that May's 'Intervention' and 'Many-colored Land' series', but it is quite enjoyable. Like "Perseus Spur" "Orion Arm" a roller coster ride of one impossible escape after another. It does get just a little but much that Asa Frost is able to always pull his bacon out of the fire at the very last moment, but it is in keeping with the pulp adventure flavor of the book.I like May's more serious work much better, and I would like to see more of it, but this book is not a bad for light summer escape reading.

The last review read like it was written by a PR agent, eh? Anyhow, I honestly did like the book. The depth of the personal interaction is far greater, and the twists, turns, betrayals and triumphs of the book are more real than the last one. The author still maintains the sense of the nostalgic, bitter, yet strong willed beach bum, Helmut Icicle/Ashael Frost. another positive note is that the villains are far more interesting in this book than they were in the last one. The only downside is that with all the twists and turns the book takes, it might be a bit hard to figure out who's done what to whom. Like most of my books, I've read it more than once, and I suggest other readers do so as well, otherwise you might miss some of the more subtle elements.

May brings back unforgettable hero,Helmut Icicle aka... Asahel Frost riverboat skipper and corporate supercop.Helmut is thrust once again in a life or death struggle of against sinister alien menace and lethal corporate conspiracy threatening mankind.Helmut is enjoyable hero who is a reluctant James Bond who always find himself in deadly danger from his enemies when he only wants to be left alone!May's Rampant world series has all the trademarks her works: vivid world-building,memorable characters, lyrical prose and gripping action.I also love the witty toughguy dialogue and aliens species and worlds which she describes in detail.I look forward to Helmut's next adventure because this one like it's first one:Perseus Spur is a real corker!