Elizabeth Moon, Engaging the Enemy

Engaging the Enemy

Elizabeth Moon

Del Rey,April 2006, $25.95, 416 pp.

ISBN: 0345447565

Vatta Transport, Ltd. is a trading family that deals with several different systems in the far distant future when communications in the vastness of space are conducted by ansibles. The Vatta Compound on the planet Slotter Key is bombed to oblivion followed by an assault on their fleet that leaves few vessels operational. One of those still flying is Fair Kaleen captained by Ky Vatta who killed her cousin Osman for crimes too horrific to mention.

Ky is not alone as her cousin Stella flies nearby even as pirates attack a planet just as Ky leaves it. At her next stop she learns that the pirates control that solar system and communication was destroyed because he devastated the ansibles. Ky finally concludes the pirates are organized and led by Gammis Turek. She also figures out that the attack on her fleet and the compound come from the same pirates. Ky hopes to gather a counter force to fight back and restore interstellar trade.

Elizabeth Moon writes military science fiction that is so good new readers will scramble to buy her back list soonest while fans will anxiously wait for the new moon to arise. There will a sequel to ENGAGING THE ENEMY because many questions still remain to be answered. This book is a totally exhilarating sci fi thriller starring a delightful if somewhat roguish, spunky female reminiscent of Princess Leia ,not afraid to plunge into the center of the hostilities.

Harriet Klausner