In bestseller Foster's lighthearted SF romp, the second in a trilogy that began with Lost and Found
(2004), former Chicago commodities broker Marcus Walker and his alien companions—George the talking dog, Sque the ferociously intelligent K'eremu, the poetic Tuuqualian Braouk —are ready to leave the planet of the Sessrimathe, where Marcus has been working as a gourmet chef. Their luck appears to change when the attractive Viyv-pym, a high-ranking diplomat, persuades Marcus to come and cook for her on her home planet, Niyu. On Niyu, Marcus applies his wheeling-dealing skills to Niyyuuan ritualistic warfare (archaic weapons only) and generally stirs up trouble, making an enemy of prominent general Saluu-hir-lek. By the end, there's a faint hope that some of the races with which the Niyyuu have contact may know of Earth. Readers seeking harmless fun will look forward to the further galactic travels of Marcus and friends. Agent, Vaughn Lee Hansen at Virginia Kidd. (June 28)
