Rumor Has It

The raucous third entry in Rambo’s Disco Space Opera series (after Devil’s Gun) takes Capt. Niko Larsen and the motley, multispecies crew of the bioship You Sexy Thing to Coralind, a vast and luxurious interstellar station. While there, Niko hopes to recoup the insurance money for damage incurred while trying to take down pirate king Tubal Last. Each crew member has some dicey loss to recover from, too—as do the enigmatic con woman Jezli and Niko’s ex-lover Petalia, turned against Niko by Last, who both happen to also be on Coralind. And they’re not the only old enemies laying in wait. The sprawling cast all handle their grief with unique and convincing aplomb. Luscious extraterrestrial foods highlight Coralind’s attractions, while the diverse alien species Rambo delineates so well provide stories-within-stories that spice up the main plot. A crew roster at the start will help orient new readers and forgetful returning fans. This is a feast for space opera enthusiasts. (Sept.)