In this labored sequel to The Affinity Trap
(2005), Sketchley tries to bring a cinematic sense of scale and action to his tale of twin half-humans vying for an alien throne. Alexander Delgado, the betrayed agent who raised Cascari, his son by the Seriatt royal breeder Vourniass Lycern, leads the typically ragtag, if well-equipped, rebels against the Earth dictator, Gen. William Myson. When Delgado learns that Seriatt is on the verge of creating a time machine, Delgado strives to get Cascari to Seriatt ahead of Myson's son, Michael. Numerous unfriendlies, terran and alien, stand in their way. Sketchley seeks to undermine some of the clichés of action-adventure SF, particularly the too-perfect heroes. The narrative is driven mainly by the failures of his characters, who belch, break wind and pick their teeth. Unfortunately, Delgado is saddled with a disregard for sentient life that would make a video-game figure ashamed, and the attempt at realism via foibles leads only to greater disbelief at his survival. (Apr.)
