Publishers Weekly
Noted space expert Bova returns to his planetary future history (Moonrise, etc.) in a hard-charging continuation of the battle for the Asteroid Belt begun in The Precipice (2001). Positing an Earth on the brink of eco-catastrophe, a recently independent moon and a frontier filled with prospectors and claim-jumpers out among the asteroids, it is a story that at first appears to be very familiar. But mixed in with the high-tech optimism and libertarian good faith are the darker elements of an older dramatic tradition. Keeping his themes classical love, jealousy, greed Bova gives his tale energy and focus through a love triangle that evolves into a vendetta. Lars Fuchs finds that he and new wife Amanda can't escape from the attentions of Martin Humphries, his rival for both Amanda and the Belt's mineral wealth. Trying to establish a home on Ceres, Lars and Amanda, with their fellow prospectors and miners, are threatened by increasing attacks on their property and lives. Ultimately, Lars must duel Dorik Harbin, the gunslinger sent to kill all who refuse to sign contracts with Humphries Space Systems. As in Greek tragedy, from which the author openly draws, there's no happy ending, only deception, gory murder, exile and planned revenge. Archetypal rather than well-rounded, characters suffer more from their own fatal flaws, hubris chief among them, than from each other's actions. Ambitiously juggling elements of space opera, western and Sophoclean drama, Bova keeps the pages turning. (Apr. 11) FYI: A past SFWA president, Bova has won six Hugo Awards. Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information.
Library Journal
A plan to mine the Asteroid Belt for its wealth of mineral resources finds support from two rival corporations: Astro, headed by visionary Dan Randolph, and Humphries Space Systems, led by ambitious industrialist Martin Humphries. Upon the death of Randolph, his prot g Pancho Barnes assumes the burden of trying to keep Humphries from taking control of the asteroid-mining business and exploiting it for his own purposes. Combining old-fashioned action-adventure with a dose of murder, sabotage, and hard sf, the sequel to The Precipice illustrates the common human struggle between altruism and greed. For most sf collections. Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information.
School Library Journal
Adult/High School-Book two in a series that chronicles the struggle for control over the rich resources of the Asteroid Belt. In this not-too-distant future, the quality of life on Earth has taken a serious turn for the worse, but new frontiers are opening up on the Moon and beyond. Unfortunately, only the richest and most powerful individuals have been reaping the benefits so far, but perhaps those who take the most risks will win the upper hand in the Asteroid Belt-if these fierce individualists can ever agree on anything. Hard-bitten prospectors brave the dangers of space to find that lucky strike, the mineral-rich "rock" that can make them wealthy, returning for supplies and to hang out at the saloon on Ceres, the largest asteroid in the Belt. Meanwhile, a ruthless industrialist schemes from his base on the Moon, stopping at nothing, including the murder of several sympathetic characters, to own it all. Prospector Lars Fuchs and his wife Amanda fight to survive, encouraging the denizens of Ceres to form some sort of society to protect their common interests. Readers who enjoy plenty of action, do not require much in the way of characterization, and have a high tolerance for a rather vicious sort of violence should enjoy this book. It's not Bova's best, but his many fans should be entertained and intrigued.-Christine C. Menefee, Fairfax County Public Library, VA Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information.
Kirkus Reviews
A direct sequel to The Precipice (2001) and addition to Bova's near/medium-future series about humanity's expansion through the solar system. Megalomaniac industrialist Martin Humphries intends to control the entire solar system, and key to his plan is the asteroid belt with its virtually limitless resources of metals (for ailing Earth's industries) and volatiles (for the fledgling communities on the Moon and elsewhere in space). "Rock rat" (space miner) Lars Fuchs makes his home inside Ceres, one of the largest asteroids, and, like other rock rats, hopes to get rich by prospecting and mining. Unfortunately for him, Martin Humphries is obsessed by Lars's stunning and intelligent wife, Amanda, and will spare no effort to destroy Lars and win Amanda for himself. In business, Humphries has only one serious rival: Astro Corporation's Pancho Lane, heir to Astro's founder, Dan Randolph, murdered by Humphries in the previous book. Astro helps Lars set up a company to sell supplies to the rock rats, but Humphries sabotages the warehouse, then sends a ship to kill rock rats and claim whatever they've prospected—and, incidentally, to assassinate Lars Fuchs also. The belt's nominal authority, Earth-based IAA, refuses to act against Humphries, citing lack of evidence. Poor Lars, driven to the end of his tether, acknowledges that he can't protect Amanda, his only option being to divorce her (in effect leaving her to Humphries) and turn to piracy himself, preying on Humphries's ships and bases—and risk an all-out war in the asteroid belt. Another attention-grabbing entry in a series that continues to grow in stature, scope, and complexity. Once again, Bova in top form.
From the Publisher
Bova in top form.” —Kirkus Reviews
“Compelling.” —Booklist
“Hard-charging. . . . Ambitiously juggling elements of space opera, western, and Sophoclean drama, Bova keeps the pages turning.” —Publishers Weekly
