Flight of the Golden Harpy

Klaus’s debut novel has an interesting setting, but immature writing and unrealistic dialogue get in its way. Kari returns to the planet Dora and her father, John, after a 10-year absence. She still pines for the indigenous golden harpy who saved her life, after which her harpy-hating father exiled her to Earth until she turned 21. Kari’s relationship with her father never rings quite true, and when she does reacquaint herself with the harpy, Shail, he is depicted as a noble savage rather than a rounded individual. John’s servants are also walking clichés: Charlie, a placid, nature-loving “old Indian,” preaches against the practice of hunting harpies for their wings, and Maria is a hand-wringing Latina who cooks, cleans, and frets. The planet Dora is well crafted, with a variety of biomes that allow Klaus to present an ecological message more nuanced than her plot and characterizations would imply. (June)