The Blossom of Erda

Senior officer Maele Sorenlon is that rare woman who has reached the elite level of the traditional, chauvinistic Link Services. She immediately senses something wrong when her routine assignment to survey the life-stocking of a once barren moon is declared secret. What's more, she feels manipulated into taking as her aide an alien officer who has also risen despite prejudice. The moon confirms her fears at once with a broken beacon, poisonous spiders, a slasher tree, dart flowers, etc. The duo's survival depends on luck, cunning and the alien's mental powers. The suspense generated is not a surprise from mystery novelist Taylor, but it is greatly weakened by stereotypical characterization. Both protagonistsare selfless paragonsand geniuseswhile the villain is a liar, a bigot, a coward, a murderer and, to top it all, conceited. (January 12)