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    Review of TRINKTY ON TYLOS by Pamela J. Dodd

    Whiskey Creek Press, April 2006

    It seemed like a friendly gesture but Marine Major Venice Dylenski was suspicious when the alien captain suggested linking computers. The ship's captain over-rode her, however. Establishing good relations with alien species was important if they were to have a chance with their colonization mission. Already they'd found too many unsatisfactory planets. Perhaps the aliens had located somewhere that they could survive. Besides, the alien ship appears far more powerful than is the human ship. If it wanted a fight, they could hardly resist.

    The alien Archeons want something, but it isn't a fight. The Archeon captain hopes to reestablish his species. For his plan to succeed, he needs young females. And the only females available in this part of space are human. He demands that he be given two humans, Venice and Althea Duke or he'll use the knowledge he's gained through the information exchange to destroy the human ship. Reluctantly, Venice and Althea agree to go as captives--but they plan to sabotage his ship and enable a quick rescue.

    Captain Azareel may be alien, but he isn't stupid. He'd prepared for the possibility that the women might resist. Instead of a quick rescue, they find themselves captives and a part of Azareel's plan. Years of separation from other humans partially mitigate the horror of their kidnapping, and Azareel treats them fondly (as long as they don't resist his demands). When the humans discover the planet where Azareel established his new colony, though, the old relationships between humans threatens to destroy everything he's worked for.

    Author Pamela J. Dodd builds on the conventions of old-time space opera (e.g., aliens wanting human women), creating a thoughtful vision of alien contact, of the Stockholm Syndrome, and of the both heroic and horrible attempt of one being to perpetuate his species, no matter what the cost. Dodd addresses these issues mostly in terms of relationships--especially the three way conflict between Venice, her human-husband Steve Dylenski, and Captain Azareel. Although there is a brief military emergency, the focus of the conflict is the psychological rather than physical.

    Readers may be offended by the means by which Azareel persuades Venice to yeild to his needs--both in terms of re-establishing his species and his physical demands, but only such forceful efforts are likely to generate the results he required. Althoug Dodd did not explicitly address this issue, the reader is left with hope that the more peaceful influence of human females on the upcoming generation of Archeons may moderate the most sexist and violent aspects of the civilization with which they were forcefully joined.

    Three Stars

    Reviewed 2/10/06

    Buy TRINITY ON TYLOS from Fictionwise.com

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