Illegal Alien

by James Luceno

A sensory-enhanced spymaster is tasked with ferreting out the weak point in an alien civilization that will allow it to be exploited for Earth’s benefit. That weak point will turn out to be sex.

Genres: Science Fiction, Fiction

256 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1990

About the author

James Luceno is a New York Times bestselling author, best known for his novels and reference books connected with the Star Wars franchise and the Star Wars Expanded Universe, and novelisations of the Robotech animated television series. He lives in Annapolis, Maryland with his wife and youngest child.

He has co-written many books with Brian Daley as Jack McKinney.

Reviews

[Ursula Johnson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good Space Spy Novel

I'm a big fan of the author's superb Star Wars novels and wanted to read one of his earlier works. This early effort was not bad, it took a while to get going, but was somewhat interesting. It is a spy novel in outer space with the fate of a planet tied to a drug that enhances sex for the planet's main species. This book deals more with the main protragonist's evolution from loyal spy to doing what is right. It's not bad, an interesting feature is the fact that the enhancements aren't technology, but olfactory. The Kwandri do speak, but use scents and smells to communicate, an interesting change. Despite the fact that sex is a plot point, this is not a "sexy" book, ie, no love scenes. Still a good story with some twists and turns.

[Viggo · Rating 2 out of 5]

A wildly uncomfortable story about a species that’s functionally asexual outside of breeding season being influenced by hollywood sexuality. It hit a little too close to home, I think, as an asexual reader, and really skeeved me out.

I guess this could be viewed as a scathing indictment of capitalism and colonialism and the dangers of mass media, and it does eventually get around to making that point in a kind of vague way. If you enjoy spy novels and espionage and smuggling, you might enjoy this book.

[Don Kyo · Rating 4 out of 5]

My second dive into Luceno's original works, following my immense appreciation for his Star Wars novels. And I have to say, this outing is better than Fearful Symmetry.

One of the things I criticized about Fearful Symmetry was it's seeming lack of plot and protagonist. Things just kept happening, and whenever you thought you had a bead on a plot, something new was introduced. This time around, things are way more focused. Remy Santoul is our protagonist, and we follow him as he goes undercover for the corporation-government of Earth to see what Xella, Earth's old foe from the last war, is doing on the planet of Kwandri. It's Cold War-era spy shenanigans in space!

Luceno's trademark world building is used expertly in this entry. But because it is an original work, there is a bit of a steep learning curve for the first few chapters. I'll admit, I was having a hard time getting through the first fourth of the book, but once things begin to click, the book sails quite smoothly. And while I do enjoy this intricate lore crafting, I understand why some people will not want to slog through that learning curve.

So minor things to mention. This book focuses heavily on sex, as the alien race that lives on Kwandri only mates once a year. To this end, Earth and Xella race to develop a drug that induces arousal to win that species to thier side (and thats a simplification, there's all sorts of politics involved). Because I am an asexual guy, I wasn't too enthusiastic about this plot. However, there are no sex scenes thankfully, and the whole thing is played for the political intrigue, not the actual sexiness of the matter.

Overall, it was a decent read! I would love to have this universe revisited at some point, but seeing how old this book is and how poorly it did sales wise, I will be left wishing.

[Violet · Rating 1 out of 5]

I did not like this book. I started reading it and thought it would make some sense and get better, but by the time I got half way thru it I knew it wouldn't. Santoul may have been a sensory-enhanced spymaster but the plot was very thin. Reading the back cover of the book made it sound okay. So grab your Vanna, pez dispenser, and cin-dins the DisneyCorp spy does nothing for and enjoyable or understandable read.

[Bradley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fairly okay for sci-fi. Listia for this book. =)