Shadow Box (Outlanders)

by James Axler

Book Overview

mass market sci fi This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0373638620
• Release Date: May 2009
• Publisher: Gold Eagle
• Length: 320 Pages
• Weight: 0.35 lbs.
• Dimensions: 6.6" x 0.8" x 4.2"

Customer Reviews

Gods, girls and guns...

The latest chapter in the Outlanders saga combines high action with an intelligent story of forgotten gods and a slave race's tragic bid for freedom. The Cerberus rebels, fighting to prevent aliens mounting a stealth invasion of a desolate future Earth, stumble across a plague that turns people into babbling, mindless automata, and a monster that can't be killed - which both turn out to be directly connected to their alien enemies. The creature is on their tail, and the plague is a threat to the whole human race - but how do you kill something that won't die, or cure a disease that isn't a disease...? Blending science and myth with a powerfully imagined future world and plenty of guns and girls, Shadow Box moves at a good pace, skillfully interweaving the pieces of the puzzle and building to a genuinely moving conclusion. Occasionally it's hard to keep track of the minor characters and their allegiances, but the central action is clear and gripping and the main characters well-drawn. If you're looking for a fast-moving action story that also has something intelligent to say about humanity, this is the book for you.

Improving

Shadow Box is the second Outlanders novel from Rik Hoskin and is a definite improvement on the last. There are some nice touches throughout which mark him as a writer to watch, in particular, a scene with 'Nicola' reminded me of something David Gemmell would have written. Without giving anything away, the outcome is surprising and not just your typical 'shoot the monster until it's dead'. Good stuff and I can't wait until the next one.