Dancing Vac

Cyberstealth #2

by S.N. Lewitt

Once partners in intergalactic space flight, Cargo and the alien Ghoster have parted as enemies, and the former, having stolen a spacecraft, is determined to destroy his treasonous partner

Genres: Science Fiction, Fantasy, Fiction

236 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published February 1, 1990

About the author

Alternate Known Names:

Shariann Lewitt

Shariann N. Lewitt

S.N. Lewitt

Gordon Kendall - pseudonym also for Susan Shwartz

Reviews

[Strix · Rating 4 out of 5]

Do NOT read the summary for this book! It gives away a major spoiler for the first one, and they should be read back to back!

Spoilers for Cyberstealth follow:

This book has aspects of a military sci-fi, in that it's set during wartime, is about a fighter pilot-turned-spy, and sometimes features him in a carrier flying as a fighter pilot, but it's not military sci-fi at all. It's the fallout from the first book, and is mostly about Cargo's emotional state.

Cargo turns in his wings, retires from service, and goes to gamble. He's pulled back in by Stonewall, because Stonewall's looking for Ghoster and whatever Ghoster may have done, Cargo still considers them friends and wants to rescue him.

This leads into a deeper exploration of Cardia - the differences and similarities - and into Mirabeau's past involving Cardia's leader. Who knew that a book would pull off a 90+ year old protagonist? Mirabeau shares the spot with Cargo and Stonewall, and they're all drawn well. You feel for them, and I found myself like Stonewall even as Cargo refuses to ever like the man.

This book delivers on the hinted sci-fi premises from the first - it finally delves into what the Akhaid are, what a Walk is, and more. The mindmelding with the maze is fully explored and developed.

In essence, this book is a great sequel to the first one - more character development, more development into the aliens - but it lacks the Top Gun aspects as there's like, three exciting flying sequences in the entire thing, which is a bummer.

That all said - I really liked it. If you read Cyberstealth, read this! If you haven't read Cyberstealth, why are you reading this? These two comprise a fantastic duology with a cool setting, cooler aliens and real solid characters.

[Jack Deighton · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the continuing story of Cargo from Cyberstealth, here drawn by an old comrade, Stonewall, into seeking out Cargo’s former flying mate Ghoster, one of the Akhaid assistants without whom flying in the maze would be impossible. Ghoster had disappeared into rebel Cardian territory at the end of Cyberstealth. This will be delicate as Cargo’s adopted father Bishop Mirabeau is having secret peace talks with Cardia.
Cargo is of gypsy heritage and goes by various names. As a result of previous exploits the name he uses in Cardian territory, Kore Verdun, has become something of a hero there. As such he is brought to a meeting with Cardia’s leader, Ki Shodar, an enigmatic and dangerous individual who is the last survivor of a experiment in genetics in which the Bishop was involved.
Unlike in Cyberstealth there is little flying done here, the book being concerned more with Crago’s mindset. However it does explore the nature of Akhaid existence and their ritual of The Walk and also reveals to us what the maze actually is and so ties up loose ends from the previous book.
Again, as in Cyberstealth, there was a lot of information dumping and telling rather than showing. Reading both that book and this are really necessary to get the most out of either.

[Rhode PVD · Rating 4 out of 5]

Solid SF adventure from a pilot's perspective