The Immortality Option

In this somewhat humdrum sequel to Code of the Lifemaker, Hogan traces efforts of professional psychic/con man Karl Zambendorf and crew to protect the Taloids, a civilization of robots that has developed on Saturn's moon, Titan. The robots were sent to Titan over a million years ago by the Borijans, quarrelsome avians from the nova-threatened planet of Turle, who programmed the robots to find a world and build new bodies for their creators, who had stored their personalities electronically. Because of contaminated data in their computer system, the robots evolved and, by the time they were discovered by an exploratory mission from Earth, had developed a culture resembling much of Europe during the Renaissance. Meddling by Earth's political interests, however, brings the Borijans to life, prompting Zambendorf's crew to battle both to protect the Taloid nations from exploitation by Earth forces and to fend off the Borijan attempt to take over Titan and Earth. The dynamics here suggest Robin Hood-type adventures; the most interesting material describes how the Taloids became self-aware and developed their civilization. (Feb.)