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This edition includes six-page preview of Manta's Gift, another whirring exoskeleton. Thankfully other Zahn work has more than exoskeletons. A link to the text expired; luckily someone said "Like", so time to revise review. Google-books helps preview and find quotes or facts, easier than re-reading paper, until I learn how to highlight on my Kobo.



I cheered for Captain Lleshi, trying to save his Pax armada, crew, and ship Komitadji, pride of the fleet, from the grasping vicious rude selfish nit-picking bean-counter Adjutor Telthorst. (Quibble: The only name I can spell is "Pax".) The noble, mature, experienced, calm, unfailingly courteous, military commander became my favorite character. His fate crushes. (view spoiler)[ Actually him, literally me. "Literally" always sends me here http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/... I take the death to heart, like Star Trek 2009 first few minutes because I am the orphan of a fighter squadron Flight Lieutenant jet pilot. (hide spoiler)]

I dislike the sudden sacrificial ending immensely, despite intensity. With my preferred paper books, the proximity of the finale is measurable; only 15 pages do condense the punch admirably. But the Pax people remain victims of their too powerful Adjutors; Zahn slips in a moral lesson to voters who ignore what determines their politicians' ethics. (view spoiler)[

Telthorst orders them into the net too near the black hole. Angelmass chews them over three times. The corpse is the evidence that will save the Empyreans from the Adjutors, secret rulers of Pax, obsessed with the financial bottom line.

How does Kosta, bumbling scholar, worldly inept, know this? His 6 week brief interaction while immersed in espionage training aboard Komitadji? Another resolution quibble. (hide spoiler)]

Writing style is overall compelling, if I skip physics. Created slang is easy to decipher "puff-talk" p25. Humor is light - practical jokes, how Chandris deals with slimy Toomes' vengeful lust p314. Violence is mostly limited to character assassination. Curses are few, "Clever bast-s" p100, "Friz" p187. Lleshi minimizes physical casualties and suffering.

The surprise twist builds up. You may guess; I did not. Kosta Jereko, acaemic researcher suddenly co-opted into Pax spy, develops a theory about angel particles. The Research Institute he joins makes frightening discoveries, especially about a 3x3 angel matrix. (view spoiler)[

Angels reduce fear, reduce small niggling debilitating worries overall, and maintain calm in face of severe threats. Anti-angel particles exist and increase fear. The bigger the group, the greater their intelligence.

Angels must be returned Angelmass. Restored to a balance, the now fearful, angry, intelligent entity should never attack again. Or is there a series? (hide spoiler)]

I question the role of each main character, their inclusion in the cast. Why include Forsythe, High Senator and give him constant companion, deaf low-IQ aide Ronyon. (view spoiler)[ Forsythe's angel necklace is fake, Ronyon the real keeper. Perhaps suspense over possible discovery? (hide spoiler)] To demonstrate effects of angel particles? For a intermediate level before an enemy traitor is arrested(view spoiler)[ Kosta (hide spoiler)]?

How can we feel sympathy for the small five-planet federation? The only other Empyreans we get to know are the Daviees. The kind brother and sister knowingly allow con-artist Chandra 16 to crew aboard their Gazelle huntership.

Captain Hanan wears a body brace for a degenerative disease, suffers help only from strangers. He loves to play practical jokes. He is more than comic relief in a memorable fave sequence. (view spoiler)[ His particular selection of accumulated diversions allows them to break Kosta out of imprisonment in Forsythe's locked office. (hide spoiler)]

Ornina keeps serving cups of herbal tea. I kept wondering if she had a secret. But her role is empty, except for juxtaposition against Hanan. Or is their interaction supposed to demonstrate how angels affect potentially abrasive long-term relationships?

I dislike cover blurbs and summaries that put forth the Kosta-Chandris romance as the plot focus. Mostly they are in suspicious conflict. Trilling, the insane pimp ex-lover killer who pursues Chandris, is also usually ignored. He provides close-up confrontation - and blood. (view spoiler)[

Chandris has to knife Trilling before he kills Kosta and Ornina. In the end, Chandris and Kosta both merely express much-too-offhand concern about the other's fate, and their mutual intention to stay on the planet Seraph. (I had to look up that spelling too).

Hanan suggests a triumphant group hug.
Kosta declines "Another time, thanks."
H: "You young people .. Missing out on all the good things of life." p428. (hide spoiler)]

The core cast is much larger. Even the angel particle and Angelmass source are characters. Their abilities and motivation are hinted at, only revealed in the last few pages.

Too much is complicated explanations about net transportation, particle physics. Zahn's "Lantryllyn logic circuit" developed for artificial intelligence proves 3x3 matrix of angel particles demonstrates intelligence p257. I do not know how much is author invention. Perhaps hard-science readers would appreciate the fine detail.

Typos:
p277 "no breech" is "breach" (We breech-birth babes learned the difference early.)