The Devil and Deep Space

If you haven't read previous books in this series, you may miss the emotional build up that this entry will surely give those who have been with the pleasantly strange and heroic torturer, Andrej. He's on leave at last, going home to see his wife and meet a son for the first time, who is now eight years old. But bad things happen just before his holiday begins. He has to switch security teams in order to protect his bonds (slave like prisoners assigned to serve him) from an investigation following an explosion. And then there's that nasty woman who wants him dead. AND the papers that a government agent brings telling him he can walk out of the military and stay home. Of course nothing is EVER quite so simple in Judicary. New readers may find the intricate political, and military intrigue afoot confusing and to enter here without the history of Andrej and other characters softens the impact of what happens here. My advice is buy this book and hold onto it. Read "An exchange of hostages,' 'Prisoner of Conscience' and 'Hour of Judgment.' Koscuisko will be a man you will not soon forget. Ms. Matthews has invented a dynamic universe with love and violence, pleasure and pain vivid enough to touch your heart or trouble your mind. I truly loved it and can't wait to see what's next.

"The Devil in Deep Space" is the fifth in in Susan R. Matthews' "judiciary" series ("Prisoner of Conscience," "An Exchange of Hostages," "Hour of Judgment," "Angel of Destruction"), and maybe it's the strongest, most complicated yet. Those who've read the previous books will probably be delighted by this one. As always Matthews' descriptive prose pulls you right in. You can almost taste the bad rations and the cramped quarters aboard a spaceship in need of supplies.You'll reencounter characters from before and meet a few new ones as well (among them Andrej's wife), but newcomers to the series would be advised to read them in the order they're written. Matthews doesn't bother to back up much, which helps keep the book to reasonable length.This time out Inquisitor Andrej Koscuisko gets a chance to go home to his family, and hopes to leave his position as Inquisitor. In his assignment as ship's surgeon aboard the space ship Ragnarok, he's also required to torture suspects, but now at last he's offered a way out.Things of course go wrong almost immediately and we see in a series of cynical (and psychological) portraits how nearly every facet of Matthews' universe involves corruption. (It's so widespread the corrupt are described as "reasonable people.")Things proceed eerily but stately, impressionistically. Nothing is quite what it seems; nothing is fully revealed. There are ancient hostilities between cultures not fully explained, or perhaps not yet. Clearly there are more novels to come in the series, and if the existing five are a guide, in each one another layer of Matthews' onion-verse will be pulled back.Great concept, great execution.

The Devil and Deep Space is a complicated, emotionally charged science fiction novel, which instead of using overwrought morality tales, gets down to the heart of whether or not any of us is a good person deep down inside. This is a story of redemption and making up for past sins, in addition to continuing the evolution of the Jurisdiction political situation. Those looking for bugs to zap will be disappointed, but those who appreciate complex character development and classic adventure will enjoy Matthews' many plot twists and romantic (or Romantic!) spirit.The homeworld of the prodigal Andrej Koscuisko is a realm with which people in our frequently self-indulgent times are hard-pressed to understand - a world where the wealthy are benevolent overseers who are responsible for those under their protection. Koscuisko has always been conflicted over his duties at home and his duties in Fleet, finding them completely at odds with each other and driving him further and further over the edge of sanity. Is it any surprise that eventually, something's got to give? Responsibility and love are what drive Koscuisko to take surprising, radical actions in this book, to the point where nothing under Jurisdiction - or in the life of the Ragnarok crew - will ever be the same again.That said, the primary reason that I enjoyed this novel so much is how much fun I had reading it! Matthews' eye for detail is impeccable, from yes, the materials of clothing (critical information in a society whose livelihood and religion are based on textiles) to the digestive issues of sentient bat-like creatures, to the warm rekindling of dormant relationships. Characters that we've never before encountered are brought brilliantly to life, and we feel as though we're beside them as they struggle through difficult decisions that will alter the fabric of their reality forever. The author also has an appealingly dark sense of humor that meshes with the profound challenges her characters face. The plot twists and turns enough to keep you reading into the wee hours of the morning, right down to the last few pages. When it's over, you realize that Matthews has subtly led you to the edge of a revolution.If you're a fan of the series, the book brings you a fuller understanding of Koscuisko's struggle and what he has had to sacrifice for his duty thus far - and what he will be giving up in the future, as the further destabilization of life under Jurisdiction continues. If you've never read any of the other books, then this might be a good opportunity to get to know Koscuisko the man before getting to know his demons, although some of the story's more shocking plot twists will not have quite the same impact for you. Even so, this book is complex, and thought-provoking, and I was eagerly awaiting the next installment from the moment I read the final sentence.

After nine long years Fleet Ship Inquisitor Andrej Koscuisko of the Ragnarok is going home but he is not the same man that left years ago. He is very good at his job torturing people into confessions and inflicting pain. He enjoys it, but being an honorable man he also feels stained and corrupt. The only reason he has come home is to legitimize his son and make his son's mother his first wife.After he accomplishes his objectives he intends to find out who has falsified a bench warrant with his name on it that orders his execution. Mergau Noycannir is obsessed with destroying Andrej using any means at her disposal and she thinks his loyalty to the crew of the Ragnarok is his Achilles' Heal. When a corrupt admiral, egged on by Mergau tries to blame the Ragnarok for crimes against the state, Andrej finds himself torn between loyalty to his family and to the men on his ship.Susan R. Matthews sets her space opera far into the future and shows the corruption that permeates the space command and the politicians who use it to advance their own purposes. The hero is a man at war with himself, a decent person who cannot understand why he enjoys afflicting pain on others. This flaw, terrible as it is, humanizes him and allows the reader to empathize with his problem without condoning it. Fans of space opera and military science fiction will enjoy THE DEVIL & DEEP SPACE.Harriet Klausner

More fun than any three spy novels. Vivid prose. Detailed characters. Plot twists that will leave you dizzy. This story has everything: political intrigue, technical thrills, love, duty, honor, sacrifice, mystic steel, paternal pride and the civics lesson all too relevant to our post 9-11 world, Does the Rule of Law justify torture?How can a man who has benefited by his participation in a corrupt society hope to redeem himself?I had a blast discovering the answer for myself. I've enjoyed Ms. Matthews other works for their superb literary qualities and sober emotion, so I did not expect that my adrenal glands rather than my lachrymal glands would be stimulated. I haven't had this much fun a long time. At last, ... kicked and names taken. Well worth the wait for any Koscuisko fan.