Genre: Sci-Fi
Reviewer: Cyd
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About The Book
Idiom Lee is a man alone, millions of miles from home. A chance encounter with an alien shapeshifter sent him into a Cold Cosmos devoid of humanity. After the events of book one, he’s established himself in the lowest bar on the moving asteroid Panadaras, gambling and serving as a bouncer. Until a sloth-cat creature he calls Slowhand appears, and tells him Ginn is in trouble.
The Review
Idiom Justus Lee is back. For those who begin with this book, the author starts off with a synopsis of the story so far. This time Idiom’s adventures begin and almost end with him being betrayed. Between the bookend betrayals, however, are alien damsels in distress to rescue, insectoid queens to meet, and rhino-man friend-bond rituals to survive.
Along with the small ensemble cast of characters, one of the issues from the first book is still with us. At times, the aliens become anthropomorphic and either know things or speak or act in ways that suggest more than a passing familiarity with Earth and Earthlings.
This is a fast read that sees Idiom becoming more comfortable in his non-Earth environment while bringing a little bit of Earth to the cosmos just by being the 19th century Coloradan in space that he is.
An astute reader will find a few nods to other speculative works, one in particular to The Princess Bride. Though many things are resolved by the end of the book, the fun in this space opera romp leaves off right where the next adventure should begin.
The Reviewer
Cyd Athens is an enby queer BIPOC speculative fiction author, editor, and reviewer who resides in 45.5231° N, 122.6765° W.
