The Lost Puzzler

In this twisty novel’s high-tech dungeon crawls, teams of specialists called Salvationists assault the lost Tarkanian civilization’s buried treasures. The most valuable member of the party is the Puzzler, who can open the cyber-locked nodes in which goodies lie. Rafik, a puzzler exiled from his religious community due to the naturally appearing tattoos that proclaim him cursed, is traded from hand to hand until the powerful Keenan guild buys him at auction. Then he goes missing, lost on a dangerous expedition into the deepest labyrinth of the heavily trapped City within the Mountain. The Guild of Historians suspects that Rafik is alive, part of the plan that a rogue Salvationist (or the City itself) is pursuing to bring Tarakan back to life. Kless (Rocca’s Violin) makes a strong entry into speculative fiction, adroitly blending the scattered bits of advanced technology and hints of old Earth with the tension of creeping into monster-filled ghost towns, desperately searching for loot. A plethora of flashbacks slow but do not derail the narrative. Readers looking for a crafty puzzle that descends into the twisty depths of loyalty and betrayal will enjoy this far-future adventure. Agent: Rena Rossner, Deborah Harris Agency. (Jan.)