The third installment of Van Name's space opera saga (after 2008's Slanted Jack
) follows the same basic formula as the previous novels: two-dimensional characters are caught up in a straightforward, breakneck-paced and action-packed story line. Manipulated by a beautiful woman, nano-enhanced adventurer Jon Moore reluctantly participates in a scheme masterminded by the powerful Central Coalition, which wants to locate and abduct Jorge Wei, a scientist performing highly illegal nano research on children. Wei works on the planet Heaven inside of a massive tourist attraction called Wonder Island, a near-impenetrable fortress housing all kinds of bioengineered marvels. As Moore closes in on Wei, his sentient assault vehicle, Lobo, offers up some bombshell revelations that heighten the tension. While some major characters are little more than cardboard cutouts, the pedal-to-the-metal narrative and nonstop action will satisfy most adventure SF fans. (June)
