gilda_elise

A gem trader and a feline mutant unite to find the truth behind a mysterious stone rumored to be the key to all the power in the universe.

Apprentice gem trader Murdoc Jern lives on Angkor, a thriving hub of interstellar trade. One day, a furtive visitor brings him a ring discovered on an alien corpse. It’s made of age-pitted metal surrounding a dull and lifeless stone. Yet it exerts a powerful hold on Murdoc. And when his father is killed, Murdoc begins a quest, taking with him his only legacy, the mysterious ring, which he knows is the key to his dad’s death.

Accompanied by Eet, a feline mutant with paranormal powers, Murdoc hurtles through space, where he’s pursued by a religious order called the Green Robes. His journey takes him to distant planets and once-great armies marooned on vanished worlds. In a desperate battle to learn the ultimate meaning of the Zero Stone, Murdoc must bargain for his freedom—and his life—and confront the fate that befalls seekers of knowledge.

Just as the other Norton books I’ve read recently, this story started out slow, but eventually picked up the pace as I was drawn into the story. And while nominally a juvenile book, again, like other Norton books, they can be read and enjoyed by adults.

I did come to her writing as a young girl, which may make me a bit prejudiced when it comes to her books, but I don’t think so. I enjoyed the book because of the intriguing plot and the compelling characters. Because, no matter how un-hard sci-fi the story is, it’s easy to fall into the worlds she’s built.

And then there’s Eet, half cat, half, well, we really don’t know at this point what the other half is. But he’s an oddly intriguing character. He isn’t at all the cuddly alien one would think. Perhaps we’ll find out in The Uncharted Stars.