Skip Trace

In the third Chaos Station space adventure (after Lonely Shore), series protagonist Zed returns home after being resurrected by the mysterious Guardians. His evil former military handlers think he’s spying for aliens, leading to a desperate fight to keep Zed safe. Even if he survives the latest onslaught, Zed’s tenuous relationship with his lover, Felix, may crumble. Cowriters Jensen and Burke fall into cliché when Zed reconnects with his rich, powerful family and commoner Felix decides to leave him. Once it becomes clear that Zed might die a second time, he and the other characters move into high gear, their actions pushing them past space opera stereotypes (military vet, quirky alien, superspy, etc.) and turning them into people worth rooting for. The sex scenes are smoothly written, and they mix well with the plentiful speculative elements, though the dialogue feels more 21st-century than 23rd (“I’m only kind of okay”). Readers looking for queer characters in a pulpy space adventure should find a lot to like here. [em](Oct.) [/em]