Read June 2024
Recommended for fans of hijinks in space!
★ ★ ★ ★ 1/2
The fourth installment in Palmer's Finder series is a lot of fun. After the wild events of book three, Fergus is doing what he'd always claimed he wanted: making tea and gazing at the ocean. He's become almost Zen-like in his calmness. Unfortunately, an old acquaintance locates him and before long, he's involved with space pirates, deep-space waystations, the Alliance, traveling uncharted wormholes, and having even more alien encounters.
The Finder series is an interesting one. Palmer is not a prolific author, with a year between each of the first three books, and a wait of three years before this one. Perhaps because of the evolution of Fergus as a character, changes in the publishing industry and, well, life, each book has a different feel. Book one was the Price of Altruism, book two a Lone-hero Adventure, book three Heists and McGuffins, and this one, well, this one is all-out Space Adventure. I think the reluctant hero is a tricky one, and each book had Fergus feeling more and more boxed in. This one frees him, and his mild altruism opens it up for more fun, less obligation, and less fear. I hate to say too much for the risk of spoilers, so I'll just note that I felt like Palmer did a good job walking the line of keeping the story unpredictable, yet congruent.
"'Exactly,' Belows said. 'You would have made an excellent real pirate, you know, if only you were a little more inclined toward violence.'"
The tone matches the plotting. I like that Palmer neatly avoids all the romantic stuff; there's a line in this one that made me realize the lack of entanglement might have been deliberate: "Marche glared at Fergus, as if this was all somehow his fault. "Don't look at me," Fergus said. "I'm not much of a smoocher."
I'll acknowledge to quibbles, two of my own and one others'. For myself, I felt that while Palmer talked a lot about the horrible and evilness of the Belos' space pirates, they really weren't. I was great with the positive feel, but I don't know that she achieved that dichotomy--were they really that evil, or was it their own marketing ploy? I lean towards the latter, personally. "It's quite the tale, though I don't k now how much of it is real.' 'Some, but not all, of course.' Belos said. 'Go on.'" I'll also note that the writing felt a little less polished in places than Bot 9 stories. A few fragments, a little less atmosphere, a few cultural references ('spaceship turducken'? Really?) that seemed odd. But that's more a product of very high expectations over poor quality.
Regarding the general complaint of the omnipotent plot device: yes, the Asiig make an appearance (as they do), and though they are accused of being the ultimate deux et machina (much like Q in Next Generation), more of their intentions become apparent.
Really, any complaints from me are slight. This was an engaging adventure, start to finish. I sucked it up in a day. Alas; all things come to an end. Perhaps, as Palmer hints, even the Finder series, though I sincerely I hope not (I'd also love a spin-off with either/both Belos). I'll be looking for whatever Palmer chooses to write next (insert plea for more Bot 9 here!).
~Much appreciation to Neil~
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