Foster improves on the scenario he created in A Call to Arms with this second tale of the nefarious Amplitur, who hope to dominate the galaxy through the use of telepathic persuasion, genetic manipulation and outright force. The races arrayed against them, the Weave, have gained the upper hand by recruiting humans, who are not only the best fighters but immune to Amplitur mind control techniques. The Amplitur, undeterred, turn to long-range plans: they breed a race of human-like warriors, the Ashregan, who can defeat even humans in battle. When Weave scientists capture and study an Ashregan named Ranji, their discoveries force Ranji to resolve just how human he himself may be, and the fate of all Ashregans comes to weigh upon him. By concentrating on Ranji instead of discussing the entire constellation of forces, Foster gives his story more depth. The exciting plot excuses the flatness of most of the other characters and some distracting loose ends. Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Description:
From Publishers Weekly
Foster improves on the scenario he created in A Call to Arms with this second tale of the nefarious Amplitur, who hope to dominate the galaxy through the use of telepathic persuasion, genetic manipulation and outright force. The races arrayed against them, the Weave, have gained the upper hand by recruiting humans, who are not only the best fighters but immune to Amplitur mind control techniques. The Amplitur, undeterred, turn to long-range plans: they breed a race of human-like warriors, the Ashregan, who can defeat even humans in battle. When Weave scientists capture and study an Ashregan named Ranji, their discoveries force Ranji to resolve just how human he himself may be, and the fate of all Ashregans comes to weigh upon him. By concentrating on Ranji instead of discussing the entire constellation of forces, Foster gives his story more depth. The exciting plot excuses the flatness of most of the other characters and some distracting loose ends.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From Kirkus Reviews
Second of Foster's mediocre interstellar war yarns (A Call to Arms), as the squid-like Amplitur (whose slaves are compelled by their implacable Purpose) battle the Weave confederation (their human allies are the best soldiers in the business, but too barbaric for full membership). Ranji and his friends of planet Cossuut, trained to become the Amplitur's elite soldiers, consider themselves Ashregan but look almost human. But when Ranji is captured, the Weave's finest scientists determine that he is actually human but warped by Amplitur biologists: his automatic psychic defense against mental compulsion has been deleted. Slowly, Ranji comes to accept the validity of what the Weave tells him. So, after the Weave remove the Amplitur inhibitions, Ranji elects to try to persuade his people of the truth. Once mentally freed by the Weave, they all volunteer to fight against the horrid Amplitur. But then Ranji discovers that, somehow, he has acquired the Amplitur to coerce nonhumans--a development that, he realizes, must be kept secret at all costs. Once again, minimal plot, little sense of purpose, battle scenes that lack visceral impact, and no attempt whatever at a suitable conclusion: Foster fans only. -- Copyright ©1992, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.