The Disappeared is the first novel in the Retrieval Artist series. It is the story of people who have been helped to disappear in order to escape alien justice. As humans go to the stars, they find alien sentients with their own body of law. The humans agree to abide by local laws, but later find that these laws are sometimes illogical, inhumane, and bloody. Thus, disappearance services are created to provide a new identity, a new job, and a new home for humans who are hunted by the aliens.

Miles Flint is a newly promoted detective in the Moon Police. One morning, he and his partner, Noelle DeRicci, are sent to the Port to deal with a multiple killing in a space yacht. While there, they are asked to check a ship picked up by the Border Patrol with aliens and two kidnapped children onboard. Later, a very terrified woman lands an unmarked ship at the Port. Flint discovers that all three cases have a common element: they all involve the Disappeared.

This novel is a good read, with believable characters. Flint is getting more antsy as things progress and DeRicci is maybe even more disturbed by the events. Everybody else hates the situation, but sees no way to change it; they figure its a dirty job, but someone has to do it.

Recommended for anyone who likes stories with decent people trying to deal fairly with an inherently unfair situation.

Save this book for weekend comfort food. "The Disappeared" is a futuristic cop thriller with a small, believable cast, a simple, credible story and a topic you can invest as much -- or as little - thought in as you please.

The mismatched detective pair find themselves in the unenviable position of having to enforce laws they find (literally) inhumane. Rusch's vision of a humanity that utterly flunks its first interactions with alien species rings completely true. The aliens in "The Disappeared" don't just look and sound different from us, they make fundamentally different assumptions about right and wrong, fair and unfair.

This is the prequel to Rusch's 2000 story, "The Retrieval Artist." As that was and is one of my favorite novellas of all time, I was eagerly anticipating this book. I was not disappointed in the least.

Miles Flint is a first-year detective on the Moon Sector Police, with his tough experienced partner, Noelle DeRicci. Both are smart and somewhat on the fringe of the agency, and thus tend to pick up the cases others don't really want. As the book opens they are given a case in the Port, a mysterious vessel with three victims of a gruesome Disty vengeance killing inside. Almost immediately, a call comes in that Wygnin have been brought in with children but without the proper warrants. They have to be brought into custody until the warrants can be confirmed, though really, Flint and DeRicci just want to stall them with the slight hope they can get them out of it.

Because in this future, humanity has made trading contracts with other species that allow them to use their own justice on humans who violate their laws. Once an appeal has been denied by the multicultural courts, the aggrieved party is allowed to take matters into their own hands however their laws see fit. Those humans can be pressed into slavery, messily executed along with everyone involved, have their children taken, or any other punishment, with impunity. Though few like it, for the most part the politicians and corporations have convinced people that it's necessary for progress. However, in the wake of this, various quasi-legal Disappearance services have sprung up to shield and give new lives to people who are willing to pay.

Soon yet another case is plopped right into the duo's lap, this time of a cunning woman claiming to be on the run from the Rev, another alien species. The keep watch on her, but she surprises DeRicci with a laser pistol on the way to the station and escapes. The whole patrol is on the lookout for her, the base is locked down, Flint is with the chief doing damage control in his blunt way. Meanwhile the Rev show up and he has to run to placate them, while DeRicci tries to deal with the Wygnin and their targets. Both groups are angry and short-tempered, the two officers toeing the line to a diplomatic disaster. It slowly becomes obvious that all of this is related to a disappearance service selling out its clients (though it's revealed to the reader much earlier).

Both work hard to keep such a stressful situation from spiraling out of control, even though they'd be within the law to do nothing. In the end Flint proves his humanity, and generally tries to help as many as he can; he doesn't entirely succeed, and he doesn't as well as he'd like, but it's the best he could and by far more than anyone hoped for.

I can't say enough for this story. All of the characters are very real, the stress and worry etched into every page, hope rare but held onto tightly. Everyone has their own dark pasts, everyone their own mistakes that haunt them though they push it down. Seeing people with many different interests competing or working together or both. The story unfolds masterfully, weaving in and out of cultural and interpersonal relations, rules and regulations, philosphocal conundrums, histories, desperate attempts to keep order, and it's always apparent that everyone wants to do the right thing, though only Flint is so willing to fight hard for what he believes in, and DeRicci, inspired by him and past caring about her future.

The reader is given a lot extra that the cops don't have, and in many ways this brings us to sympathize with the guilty and less likable protagonists. Even the woman in the first chapter, horrified to find her vessel abandoned to the Disty, and next seen brutally eviscerated... and later we find out it was all for teaching a Disty English. The prose is kept tight, clipping forward from the first page, taking only the short breathers that the heroes and the fugitives get. It's an effort just to set it down, no matter where you are. Even the exposition is fluidly intermixed with the story, so nothing feels rushed. The technology is neither overexplained nor silly, light enough to keep a non-technical reader comfortable.

I recommend this to all. I cannot wait for the next installment, be it in short form or novel.

While I found the basic themes of this book interesting, I felt that the characters, the plot and the realization of the alien race of "Dancers" were lacking in depth or power. They were described but not brought to life.

I therefore read through it to discover what happened, but was in no way gripped by it or compelled to become more involved in the story. I never did understand the "souls in bottles" phenomenon and found it simply a mechanical device to support the plot.

The conclusion brought with it a feeling of hmmmmmm, okay. I much prefer a resounding AHA! or at least some tugging at my feelings and understanding.

Interesting, merely interesting.

This is the best book I've ever read. Descriptions were strikingly vivid and characters were excellently written and very human. The interesting and original plot kept me reading. I could not put it down!

A book that surprised me, from an author I have never read. A story told from multiple points of view, it reminded me of the style used in the film 'Pulp Fiction', through a large period of time. The author uses different character narration to examine one pivotal event in the book. This book is really a mystery. After every chapter it had me asking what the hell is going on and what is going to happen next. I didn't find any weaknesses in this book. A well told-story from start to finish. No wonder it was nominated for so many awards. I'm surprised it didn't win any. I highly recommend this one.

"The Resistance" lives up to the others in this series in terms of Rusch's world building and characterization, which remain consistently strong. However, this book gives the impression of being more of an interlude in the action, while characters move from Point A to Point B, than a vital part of the development of the story. It seems to simply be a set-up for the next book in the series. I've read many fantasy series, and I've rarely had the sensation that the author is just marking time until the next novel, but I get it here.

this is a wonderful series with engageing charachters and a fully realized world! bring on number 5

This serie is getting better and better. What a twists and plotchangings. I'm really sorry for the Islanders in their struggle for survive. But I'm also intrigued by the Fey, despite their cruel warbehavior. One of the best series I've ever read.

Author Rusch has done a fine job of pricking "Id chords" in HITLER'S ANGEL. The book could have been written by Michael Moorcock (BEHOLD THE MAN) or Philip K. Dick (THE MAN in the HIGH CASTLE)both of whom specialized in science fiction stories dealing with alternate or parallel plane "history". The plot concerns possible murder of Adolf Hitler's neice...Angela (Geli)Raubal...by soon-to-be Fuhrer in "blood and water-sports" midst of an incestuous, sado-mascochistic...relationship.

The latter,however,is not the focus of the story. Munich Kriminalpolizei Chief Inspector Fritz Stecher is. He is...in Rusch's quick-fire paced "police procedural"...the man who could have prevented Hitler's horrific assault on humanity by arresting him for murder. The fact this never happened makes the novel's character study of an honest man and former soldier...brutalized by violence of WWI, in a "lost nation" swarming and starving as LOST GENERATION refugees...pursuing Justice an exploration of complex, damning questions rather than reassuring or edifying answers. Cinematic technique of Alfred Hitchcock...where criminal & victims are known, and viewers share terror and voyeuristic complicity(or helplessness)in sin and crime...is evoked with marvelous effectiveness. Rusch employs the reader's OWN KNOWLEGE of history to vicariously "question" him the way secondary character Annie Pohlman(American academic working on a dissertation)questions Stecher. When the Final Question is asked..."Knowing what you, Herr Stecher,knew about Hitler THEN: why didn't you arrest him?"...this truly becomes a fearful QUESTION: Knowing what YOU(the reader)know about Hitler NOW...would you have had courage to arrest him?

It's a scary story with ambience of perhaps the most monstrous man who ever lived--to massacre millions--looming over unexplained, melodramatically colored death that may have been, as Nazis contended, "tragic suicide" not murder. Author Rusch plucks "Id chords". Her thriller thrills because your own knowledge makes you a Character. You hear the tale of HITLER'S ANGEL; you KNOW The Devil who killed her...The rest is silence.

I found in this novel parellels with today. How a man with panegyric political skills can get friends to cover up crimes. How lying in high places is sometime sanctioned if you agree with his political aims. The novel will entertain you and enlighten you; why even the pope could not have stopped Hitler.

This is a very thought provoking novel about something that has been losts in the mists of time - and had the potential to change history and save millions of lives. The character Fritz is very well done. He's "real" and "flawed" - but evokes the reader's sympathy. The use of flashbacks to tell the story of his investigation of the death of Hitler's niece works very well. I couldn't put this novel down. At times it was almost lyrical. I am deeply impressed by Krish Rusch's writing. She is a very, very good writer. This novel will spur me to read more of her novels. Do yourself and read Hitler's Angel!!

This book occurred a couple of years into the series so the characters were still being fleshed out so the focus was more on finding new missions to write about. While everything was traced back to Cardassian involvement showing the same narrow focus that the first few seasons did. Also the books needed to get broader in scope and characterization. This book was a slow start and the only part that was true to the series was the Quark and Odo conflict.

Star Trek: Deep Space 9 The Long Night written by Dean Wesley Smith and Kristine Kathryn Rusch is and advenure-mystery book as Commander Benjamin Sisko and his crew try to reign in Quarks greed.

Yes, Quark the large eared Ferengi has found out about a large sum of priceless works of art from a ruler, who centuries long ago, took with him to exile from the planet Jibet after a democartic uprising. Doctor Bashir has an ardous task of keeping Supreme Ruler of Jibet alive, who has been preserved in cryogenic suspension for all of these years. Jake and Nog uncover a Cardassian plot of treachery only to involve Deep Space Nine crew.

There is unrest on the planet Jibet and it threatens the well being of Deep Space Nine as Jibet launches an armada. There is action-adventure and your reading will move quickly as the action mounts to a fever pitch and Deep Space Nine is about to be destroyed. I can't devulge the ending but you will be thoroughly be entertained through out the book as old favorites as Dax, Jake, Nog, O'Brien, Bashir, and Odo all come toghther for an action-packed adventure.

One of this finest Dean Wesley Smith and Kristine Kathryn Rusch team's novels ever published.

Although published as three separate books, the Tenth Planet trilogy should really have been released as a single compilation. None of the three books are able to stand on their own. As a set, they are a light but engaging read. These books are pure escapist fun, with stereotypical characters, some plausible pseudo science and a fast paced plot. As long as you are not expecting great literature like Gene Wolfe and are prepared for sci fi that is more in the spirit of Edgar Rice Burroughs, you will enjoy this series.

In the third and final book in this series, Earth and the Tenth Planet are locked in a battle for survival. Badly damaged and knowing that they are faced with extinction unless they can harvest most of Earth's resources, the Malmurians turn to their distant past and the spirits of their Elders to find weapons to subdue Earth. Meanwhile, the elite of Earth's scientists work frantically to develop new weapons in their fight against the alien menace.

If you enjoyed this series then you will probably like the Heritage Trilogy by Ian Douglas, which is far better written.

The third and final book in the Tenth Planet series. Somebody earlier said it was pure escapism and they were correct. I read this strictly for fun and I enjoyed it.

In the third and final book of the series, Smith describes Earth and Malmuria (our solar system's tenth planet) locked again in mortal struggle. Both worlds have gained experience from their previous encounter six months before and are now prepared to confront each other with new resources and knowledge. The war is a fierce one, for only one species can win.

This is the type of book that would make a perfect movie. Much action, many dialogues, places which are described but would much better be seen on screen, planes, spaceships which would make the special effects people happy. This is how you must think of this book: an adventure/SF movie. You should not look for philosophy or character development, monologues, any "serios literature" stuff. This book does not intend to do that.

It is easy-reading, but pleasant nevertheless, the action is fast-paced, it keeps you on your toes all the time, the suspense is mastered beautifully.

The book gets a minus (hence 4/5 stars) because of the human characters. The book pictures the entire human race as prejudiced. The aliens are more human than the humans.
The aliens explain the reasons for their actions all the time and are considerate towards the human race - before the war had started, every time they had "harvested" the Earth they had tried to do minimal damage to the population. Their violence, which shocks so much Earth's people, is never unjustified, it is dictated only by their will to survive - and we all can understand that.
On the other hand, humans always refer to the aliens as "those bastards", they only want to "blast them off", think only of killing them. Never once did they try to find a way to solve the conflict other than by completely exterminating the Malmuria. Kind of like Will Smith in "Independence Day": "Take that, you bastard". If that sums up the human attitude towards an alien species, I'm disappointed.

And another thing: I had expected the nano-stuff Portia designed to be more used. All that work... for nothing. This was quite a let-down.

Still, a pleasant reading. And I appreciated the quite unexpected ending... read it to see what I mean.

I'm not a big fan of mutant stories but these two novels were strong enough that I read through to the last page. Because I'm a great fan of Kristine Kathryn Rusch I bought the book despite the cover, which is hard to read and recognize. Of course if you are buying here that needn't bother you! The situation in the book makes it hard to talk much about it without spoiling it -- but I think it will be of special interest to West Coast folks who will recognize both the types of people and the locations. There are a few places where the characters seem to be pushed about a bit, but with the unusual subject matter I suppose that's natural. These aren't "fun" books, but a serious look at what those who are truly more than human might face. Order AfterImage AfterShock for some unusual reading.

Includes some of the best SF short stories ever written stories, like the award-winning "The 43 Antarean Dynasties", "Seven Views Of Olduvai Gorge", and "A little Knowledge". Also includes many of Mike Resnick's infamous funny short stories. My only complaint, it was too short.

The first of these I have read was ELF FANTASTIC, actually, that was the first anthology of different authors I have read, but I digress. ELF FANTASTIC was a brilliant collection and I highly recommend it, there is one particular story that still sends shivers down my spine at the thought. Then I read CASTLE FANTASTIC and a few others... Most recently however, I have read WIZARD FANTASTIC, and although not as good as some of the others, this is a book I praise to the high heavens. GET THIS BOOK, or at least another of these collections!

The second in the "Section 31" series, I probably would have given "Shadow" two stars, had it not, near the end, picked up with a very unique idea for the "villain" of the story, and taken a turn for the better, plot wise.

The plot, as I've said, starts out a little frustrating, but definately picks up mid-to-end of the book. But the characterization of a lot of the characters seems a little off on first glance. Now, certainly, there are clues that this book takes place not-too-far into the development of Seven's character (it happens at some point during the time of Tom Paris' demotion to Ensign), but Seven comes across especially harsh. This isn't so horrible a thing - I imagine writing Seven must be a much more monumental task than even writing a Vulcan - but at times I found myself disliking her, which isn't something that happened during the run of the series.

The involvement of Section 31 in Voyager is given a very plausible run - an agent was assigned, we learn at the very beginning, to help the "Maquis" situation turn out the way that Section 31 wanted it to. This is not a plot of a Section 31 Officer who is still in contact with the Federation (as I'd previously worried, prior to buying the book).

Give it a shot if you like the Section 31 idea, but it's a good read regardless, just a little weak at the beginning.

Shadow is the fourth installment in the 'Section 31' Star Trek book series. This book involves the crew of the starship Voyager. You may wonder how Section 31, the covert 'self-appointed protectors of the Federation', can possibly reach its claws to a starship on the other side of the galaxy? That, of course, is part of the mystery.
What begins as a leisurely stop to observe a unique astronomical phenomenon - the colliding of two stars - soon turns deadly. A series of freak accidents finds captain Janeway concluding that someone on her ship is trying to kill Seven of Nine.
This leads to some fine character studies of Voyager personnel. The former Borg drone, Seven, struggles for survival knowing at every turn she could fall victim to another assassination attempt. Tuvok, the Vulcan security officer, races with time to unmask the killer - a killer with an intellect to match his own.
And to all this add the plight of a pre-warp culture trying to escape a doomed solar system in a giant space ship carrying the last survivors of a planet that no longer exists.

This ST-Voyager book involves Section 31 a secret organization within Starfleet itself, covert and mysterious guardians of the Federation. Seven of Nine finds a series of accidents and mishaps plaguing her and Captain Janeway makes the connection that there maybe a plot afoot to kill Seven of Nine.

This book has really good character interaction between Seven and Janeway, also Seven and Torres. We see good charater fleshing out in this book. As the book starts, I found that watching paint dry could happen before the real meat of the book comes to fruition. But the pace of the book picks up and comes to full stride toward the ending.

The Voyager crew comes to the aid of a civilization fleeing their world due to a binary star system colision and won't make it clear when the disaster occurs. As this sub-plot evolves the main plot becomes more involved and lethal.

All in all, this is a good book and once you get to reading it, you'll be fascinated by the intrigue.

NO LAW, NO CONSCIENCE, NO STOPPING THEM

This is intriguing reading with a mystery and is written with a tegumentary style.