Steele's intimate stand-alone novella of the frontier planet of Coyote chronicles the redemptive journey of two colony exiles, adding a brilliant brushstroke to the already vast and vivid canvas of the Coyote saga (Coyote
, etc.). When Marie Montero and Lars Thompson are involved in a tavern brawl in the Liberty settlement, magistrates decide upon six months of “corrective banishment” instead of sentencing them to stockade time. The two outcasts and their enigmatic cyborg guide, Manuel Castro, set out on their compulsory expedition to survey the largely uncharted planet, beginning a journey into the wilderness that will not only endanger their lives but force them to come to grips with their deepest fears and flaws. With a sophistication reminiscent of some of the genre's greatest visionaries, Steele has created a must-read for anyone who enjoys thought-provoking SF; those new to the series, however, may not fully appreciate this memorable story, which relies heavily on the context of the other books. (Nov.)
