Balance Point

Buettner settles into a comfortable niche with the middling third installment of his Orphan’s Legacy series (after Overkill and Undercurrents). American Army intelligence officer Capt. Jazen Parker is back, and this time his mission is personal. Just as Jazen’s romantic entanglements collide and threaten his relationship with Kit Trentin-Born—his partner in both work and romance—he gets a note that summons him back to the planet Yavet. His adoptive mother is dying, and if he doesn’t infiltrate Earth’s rival in Cold War II, he’ll have broken a promise to her. But the message is a trap, and his actions could threaten the delicate balance between the two interstellar superpowers. Fans of classic military SF will enjoy the twists and quips as Jazen dives in and Kit follows to rescue him and prevent open war. (Apr.)