The Nowhere Hunt

Diadem #6

by Jo Clayton

The Nowhere Hunt was a quest every Hunter refused. Only Aleytys, wearer-slave of the mysterious and powerful Diadem would dare try to slip unseen past starship battalions and land on a world encased in a cosmic shield which rendered all electronic equipment functionless. Avoiding poisonous flora, hostile natives, vicious predators and murderous ransomers, her job was to rescue and transport a massive, semi-intelligent insect queen off planet and save the queen's besieged race from extinction.

A seemingly impossible task, but one Aleytys could not refuse, for she had been offered in payment something she desperately needed to continue her own personal quest.

Genres: Science Fiction, Fantasy, Science Fiction Fantasy, Space Opera, Fiction

208 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published November 1, 1981

About the author

Jo Clayton, whose parents named her after Jo in Little Women, was born and raised in Modesto, California. She and her three sisters shared a room and took turns telling each other bedtime stories. One of her sisters noted that Jo's stories were the best, and often contained science fiction and fantasy elements.

Clayton graduated from the University of California in 1963, Summa Cum Laude, and started teaching near Los Angeles.

In 1969, after a religious experience, she moved to New Orleans, Louisiana, joining the teaching order Sisters of Mount Carmel as a novice. She left three years later, before taking final orders.

During her time in New Orleans, Clayton sold sketches and paintings in Pioneer Square to supplement her income.

After being robbed several times, Clayton moved to Portland, Oregon in 1983. She remained there for the rest of her life.

Clayton was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in 1996. Jo continued to write during her year and a half in the hospital. She finished Drum Calls, the second book of the Drums of Chaos series, and was halfway through the third and final book when she lost her struggle with multiple myeloma in February, 1998.

Literary executor Katherine Kerr made arrangements with established author Kevin Andrew Murphy to finish the third book of the Drums of Chaos series. It is now completed.

Reviews

[Samantha · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very Special Girl Aleytys Has Another Bug Adventure. Love too see an author go from "completely incoherent" to "a perfectly competent adventure novel" in the span of six or so books

[Scott · Rating 2 out of 5]

Lee's mission in this novel is to rescue an insect queen whose ship has crashed on a planet that resides in a zone of inhibited tech. Standing in her way is a shipful of hostile scavengers, and the world's superstitious reptilian natives. I'm pretty torn on this series. Lee is likable and has the potential to be an interesting character, but never quite gets there. She also doesn't have a whole lot to do in this one. At least half the narrative is from the primitive point of view of one of the natives. There are a few more books in the series, and I'm curious to see if Lee ever achieves her long-term goal of finding her mother and child again, but unless I happen to come across a copy somewhere, I'm not sure I'll continue.

[StarMan · Rating 3 out of 5]

or, The Bug Hunt