Dreamspy

Tales of the Luren #2

by Jacqueline Lichtenberg

This companion to Those of My Blood continues the story of the luren, a race of peaceful vampires who share the galaxy with the humans on Earth, as well as many other races. Two new players in the galaxy are introduced—the Teleod and the Metaji—who are in the middle of a horrific galactic war. As the war threatens to demolish the fragile space-time continuum, the future of space travel for all races is endangered. Kyllikki, a Teleod telepath working for the Metaji, is the only one capable of reconciling the different philosophies of the two groups. Few are willing to help her, but she finds allies in Zuchmul, a luren, and Elias, an earthling. Elias possesses a quality that makes him an ideal spy—his ability to dream. To save the governments and space travel Kyllikki must unleash certain powers within Elias. If she succeeds, she will face the fury of both the Teleod and the Metaji. Complicating her task further, Kyllikki struggles with her intense feelings for Elias, a rock star of a different race, with whom she never expected to fall in love.

Genres: Science Fiction, Science Fiction Fantasy, Fiction

336 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 1989

About the author

Jacqueline Lichtenberg is creator of the Sime~Gen Universe, primary author of Star Trek Lives!, founder of the Star Trek Welcommittee, creator of the term Intimate Adventure, winner of the Galaxy Award for Spirituality in Science Fiction and one of the first Romantic Times Awards for Best Science Fiction Novel. Her work is now in e-book form, audio-dramatization and on XM Satellite Radio. She has been sf/f reviewer for The Monthly Aspectarian since 1993.

Reprints and new titles coming from Wildside Press, 2011.

Co-blogs at: http://www.aliendjinnromances.blogspo...

Find currently available titles and free chapters at
http://www.jacquelinelichtenberg.com
With Professor Jean Lorrah, she teaches sf/f writing online via Tarot and Astrology.

Reviews

[Cheryl]

she wrote a good Quora piece (about archetype vs cliche...) and to make a special effort to appreciate her writing (of star trek novels & others)

[Chez Nash · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book and I thought it needed something to follow in its wake.

[Jaleta Clegg · Rating 5 out of 5]

I "met" Jacqueline Lichtenberg through the Twitter chat, #scifichat (Fridays at 2 pm EST, they're a lot of fun, you should join us). Her comments interested me enough to track down some of her novels to read. This one is my new favorite by her.

Kyllikki, a powerful telepath, has left her family and position behind in a quest to escape from her domineering cousin and her power games. She gets caught in the politics between the Empire she's left and the government she works for when her ship is attacked. With the help of Zuchmul, a luren (think alien bat-vampire type people but not really), and Idom, human but a genius with numbers, Kyllikki rescues Elias, a bonded Dreamer. It gets complicated from here. Dreamers help telepaths keep sane and also act as spies, reporting everything they do, say, and hear through their dreams. The story becomes a desperate race to end a war, thwart Kyllikki's blood-thirsty cousin, save Zuchmul from death and worse, save the space-time continuum, and uncover the real truth behind FTL drives.

This book kept me turning pages until long after my bedtime. Isn't that enough of a recommendation? My husband picked it up as soon as I finished. He couldn't stop reading, either.

4.5 stars, PG-13 for some suggestive scenes and for using sexual desire as the propulsion for space travel, but it's handled discreetly. It's a romance, you have to expect at least some of that kind of stuff.

[Alexa · Rating 3 out of 5]

A grand rollicking adventure. Spies, sex, otherworldly powers/scientific systems. A fun read. The only thing I would fault it on is its characterization/character development. Everyone's running around up to their necks in intrigue and sexual tension, but the sense of relationship just doesn't develop.