Saddle and the Sleuth, The

Commonwealth Universe #10

by Michelle L. Levigne

Before the Commonwealth existed, there was an expanding, multi-galaxy civilization referred to by its descendants/survivors simply as "First Civ". Due to the combined effects of a too-aggressive policy of expansion, civil unrest, the inequality and abuse of the classes, and the categorizing of augmented humans as a slave class, First Civ disintegrated. The period of darkness and barbarism that followed is referred to as the Downfall. Various groups of people fled First Civ as they became endangered or more powerful people tried to have them classified as mutants or non-humans, and either sterilized or made them into slaves. Among them were the Khybors, the ancestors of the Leapers. Some groups of people managed to get hold of ships and flee to distant galaxies. Using sleeper ships, they could spend centuries in travel and no one would age. This caused problems later, when different waves of refugees landed on the same planet, and the newcomers came into conflict with those who'd been there for centuries.

On the colony world Rensler, the daughter of the Talon, defender of the people, takes over her father's mask and identity. At the same time, an investigator comes to the colony in search of the Set'ri, to stop them from hastening the disintegration of the galactic civilization. Can the two work together for the sake of the future, or will their necessary deceptions push them apart forever?

125 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 1, 2008

About the author

Michelle has been a book addict since picking up 'The Cat in the Hat'.

She started writing her own stories in junior high, when TV shows didn't turn out like she thought they should. Her first rejection letter came the summer after high school graduation, her first published story was in connection with fan fiction, and her first sale was in the Writers of the Future anthology.

With a BA in theater/English and an MA in Communications, focused on film and writing, she has worked for a local newspaper, then in advertising, and now works as a freelance editor. She is published in multiple sub-genres of romance, as well as SF and fantasy. Awards include multiple finals in the EPIC Awards competition and winning in 2006 and 2010, and finalist in the Realm Awards.

"Universes" include the Commonwealth (SF), The Hunt (Fantasy), The Zygradon Chronicles (Arthurian fantasy), The Faxinor Chronicles (Fantasy/romance), Guardians of the Time Stream (Steam punk), Neighborlee, Ohio (Fantasy), AFV Defender (SF adventure), Tabor Heights (Inspirational romance) and Quarry Hall (Women's fiction/adventure).

Reviews

[Sandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it, as I do all Michelle's books

As well as an appreciative reader, I also published this book (only accepted because I liked it:)