Young Rissa

This is an excellent classic sci-fi book and the first book in the trilogy! You must read this book to truly appreciate the genre! Action and adventure! Be sure to read this book and the other two books in this trilogy! The books in this trilogy are as follows in order: 1.) Young Rissa, 2.) Rissa And Tregare, and 3.) The Long View! Excellent classic sci-fi at its best!

No, Rissa is not perfect. But she's a damn sight better than most. This is one of those books that I keep on the shelf and pull down when I want to go back to an old friend. Yes, I know every page and every storyline. And yes, the more I read it, the more it seems familiar. And yet, I keep reading it. Rissa, herself, presages Heinlein's Friday quite amazingly (with the exception of the genetic modification bit) - intelligent, resourceful, deadly as needed. Another book, Rebels' Seed, is echoed again in David Weber's Heirs of Empire. Star Rebel and Rebel's Quest... you get the idea. It's as was said - by Heinlein - writing consists of taking someone else's work, changing the lines, and filing off the serial number. That being said, you will be entertained by this book. And, if you find yourself wondering what happened next, or how Tregare got that way, or just HOW Zelde lost the earlobe - Busby created enough books in this universe to satisfy you.

Originally published as two volumes-Rissa Kerguelen and The Long View-this first paperback edition combines both works.  The paperback version hit the racks in 1977 right after Star Wars hit the theaters. While Star Wars kept audiences spellbound, Rissa Kerguelen captured this reader's imagination far more profoundly. La Femme Nikita meets Han Solo! No ordinary science fiction novel, Rissa Kerguelen is an epic tale of feminine charm, guile, and revenge unleashed on a galactic scale.  In response to global financial crisis, North America adopts an election-based corporate-run government. When United Energy and Transport is elected, its Presiding Committee seizes total control, canceling further elections. To secure its financial interests on foreign soil, UET quickly overruns those governments. The brutal Committee Police force maintains global order through fear and assassination. Using stolen alien technology UET begins exploring deep space. On Earth, it implements a prison-model totalitarian welfare system to control the growing number of poor-and political dissidents. After the Committee Police murder her journalist parents, a five-year old Rissa Kerguelen becomes a ward of the state, to live out her life in total welfare. When-as a teenager-Rissa escapes, she becomes a poster child of the underground, and is hunted relentlessly by the chagrined Committee Police. Under the guardianship of the Hulzein Establishment-a matriarchal autocracy of great wealth and power outside the reach of UET-she learns sophisticated armed and unarmed combat techniques, control of air and land vehicles, political and financial manipulation, psychology, mastery of several languages, the art of disguise, sexual prowess, self-discipline and other invaluable skills. Her training complete, and her parents' deaths vindicated, Rissa begins her incredible journey across space and time with the Committee Police one step behind. Through a series of chance events, she finds herself allied with Bran Tregare, secretly a Hulzein by blood, and captain of the only armed ship to escape. Together, they implement an armed fleet, and embark on a mission to free Earth from UET control. But unknown perils await them on every front: space faring aliens, UET, and the Hulzein Establishment itself!  Beyond the adventure and suspense, Busby weaves an impressively complex tapestry of elaborate characters and events over space and time on an unimaginable scale. By embracing the theory of relativity-a subject most science fiction writers eschew-Busby not only flatters the intelligent, science-minded reader, he achieves a more dynamic and believable story-one that remains as thrilling today as when it was published.

FM Busby created Rissa... at times, I let myself believe that he created her specifically for me. She has been my role model for many years: strong, confident, yet compassionate. Breaking free of her past tramas and stretching out on wings powered by her own determination, Rissa is everything I want to be when I grow up. At 36, I STILL go back and read this series when I need to renew my sense of worth and confidence. Thank you, Mr. Busby!

This, the first book in the Rissa Kerguelen series, is a brilliant story that was years ahead of its time. The prologue takes place right about now, in which total government control, alien coverups, and cloning add up to a bleak future for one Rissa Kerguelen. Her parents slain, separated from her brother, the five year old girl is put into a "Total Welfare Center", which is little more than slave barracks. Neglected, abused, and raped, the lonely girl grows up to win her way out of the Center via a lottery. Once out, she decides to go into hiding and get training to survive the Government which has almost total control over the planet earth. Making a valuble friend in Erika Hulzein, the heir to the survival training center, she leaves earth for a better future...and finds more adventure. Rissa is an inspirational feminist; smart, strong, quick, and able to fight for her self and beliefs. I found her to be a classic heroine, on par with Scarlett O'Hara. All in all a wonderful read, and make sure to check out the next 2 books in the series.

This book is like many firsts. It could have been thicker with details but the plot is solid and the books to follow are fantastic. The plot is solid SF fare with a political twist. Basically "what would happen if corporations really DID take over most of the world" is the backdrop for a seriously good read - even the 5th time around.