Recovery Man

I am absolutely thrilled to discover the Retrieval Artist books. Women exist in these books and they are not just sexual playthings that are so popular in those pubescent boy science fiction books. Rusch seems to realize that there is a large female readership for science fiction and we aren't all 13. I'm 61, and my interest in adolescent sex disappeared sometime during menopause though I'm very interested in the DeRicci/Nyquist affair. Keep these books coming. Old ladies who like hard science fiction and mysteries need you, Ms. Rusch. So far, I've read all six twice. We need some new books.

This book is the 2007 addition to the Recovery Man series. This book is not the place to start the series. It does not stand alone. It assumes familiarity with Myles, Paloma and their back story. It is well written, tense, and solves the question I never thought to ask: Why did Myles's wife leave him after the death of their infant daughter?

On the Jovan moon Callisto, Recovery Man Hadad Yu abducts Rhonda Shindo for his client the alien Gyonnese; apparently she failed to make remittance on an agreement they had; handing over her daughter to them as payment. However, this Recovery Man demands the true daughter not the clone Talia living with Rhonda. She refuses, but he insists she broke Earth Alliance law so he will take her instead. After learning from House that her mom was out of range Talia who assumes she is thirteen earth years, now knows of cloned "false children" and that she is one of at least five. Soon afterward, the Aleyd Corporation claims possession of Talia the clone as if she is an object while the cops search for her disappeared biochemist mom. At the same time, Retrieval Artist Miles Flint follows a clue found in a secret file of his late mentor Paloma that implies his daughter Emmeline is not dead as he thought, but lives on Callisto where he will soon find himself in the middle of the search for Rhonda Shindo. Fascinatingly, Flint plays a relatively minor role considering he has been the hero of the previous retrieval artist tales. No one will care because from the opening scene when Hadad confronts Rhonda, readers will be hooked with strong characterization starring in a powerful science fiction thriller. The prime cast is fully developed; Talia has doubts about life now that she knows she is false child; Rhonda is Machiavelli playing poker; and Hadad actually has major pangs or regret and doubt that he is doing the right thing. Fans of the series will relish this fresh entry while newcomers will learn quickly how superb a writer Kristine Katherine Rusch is. Harriet Klausner