The Alien Trace

The Alien Trace #1

by H.M. Major (Pseudonym), Sharon Jarvis, Kathleen Buckley

An exile from his home planet, Cord, a member of an empathic race capable of experiencing the emotions of others like they were his own, stalks the menacing force threatening his homeland and universe.

Genres: Science Fiction, Fiction

224 pages, Paperback

First published July 3, 1984

Reviews

[Robert Pullen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This has everything a fantasy lover could want including Hotttt sex...OMG! THIS NEEDS TO BE A MOVIE! Not a porno so the sex would have to get toned down to R rating.
I can't wait to start part 2. There are no more books by this author I have not read so I am sad but...Sharon Jarvis, I Love you! Your ghost books too. You deserve mad respect with your name! If you read your reviews know that I am a huge fan and would love to meet you!
Rpullen33@gmail.com

[Rod · Rating 2 out of 5]

An "adult science fiction adventure series" from back in the 80's. I'm certain that at the time all the explicit sex (and there is a LOT of it) raised some eyebrows. Myself, I found the "hot" sex scenes to be rather "meh", but I know that's largely a matter of personal taste. Some people might find them rather hot, but I don't think this could be accused of being simple pornography masqurading as science fiction. Being a dedicated furry fan, I WAS amused by the way the resident species, the empathic Mehirans, used their tails as part of the sex act -- they literally can't imagine how humans even HAVE sexy without them! This is one of those science fiction stories told from the point of view of the native species, where humans are the "aliens". Those are always interesting. I'm afraid that I found the elements of the "mystery" just didn't add up the way I think they were meant to. It was also frustrating how seemingly important plot points and character reactions would be forgotten or ignored at certain instances, only to be picked up again later when it was more convenient. And there was at least a bit of that old "sensitive, empathic, peace-loving = weak and bad; cold and blood-thirsty and violence-loving = strong and good" machismo that I despise. Somewhat of a SPOILER WARNING: Being the first of a new series, absolutely nothing is resolved at the end of this book.

[Storm Bookwyrm · Rating 4 out of 5]

I passed over this book three or four times at the store, giving it a good long look but never quite feeling inspired to grab it. What luck that it stuck around long enough for me to warm to it, because it proved entertaining enough that I am now on book two!

Alien Trace has a bit of an awkward start, a lead-in that is not actually followed up on until the book's final pages- the entire story taking place 'before'. This aside, it's a fun, and naughty, time. The hook of the story - a race of beings with empathic abilities being visited by aliens called 'humans' - was enough to supply a number of interesting situations and sci-fi concepts. Sex pervades the story, and adds fun and flavor rather than cringe and discomfort (though i suppose that depends on your feelings towards such things; personally I like to be titillated by fantasy sex, but am put off by excesses of rape and thinly-veiled sexism).

Though not entirely what I'd call a classic work of hard sci fi, it came through in providing a neat experience that impressed it's world rules and concepts on to me while exploring a few speculative ideas one would have while reading about a race of emotion-telepaths.