George R.R. Martin, Gardner Dozois and Daniel Abra Hunter's Run

Hunter's Run

George R.R. Martin, Gardner Dozois and Daniel Abraham

Eos, Jan 2008, $25.95

ISBN 9780061373299

As humanity has entered space beyond our solar system with arrogance and pride, they are quickly put back in their place when they realize there is a horde of space traveling species out there. In fact the newcomer on the block finds the quality planets, etc all occupied. Wastelands, the dangerous and out of the way orbs are left for the late humans to explore and exploit.

Prospector Ramon Espejo is on the Enye colony planet of Sao Paulo. When he gets into a drunken brawl, he kills someone with connections to the Enye authorities. He flees to the planet's jungle like outback only to find himself struggling to survive the cat-lizard chupacabras and some things even deadlier.

HUNTER'S RUN is an exciting thought provoking science fiction tale that plays out on two levels. In the big scheme, humanity is somewhat humiliated as we learn we are far from the top dog in the galaxy. On the smaller scale, Ramon knows he has leaped from the frying pan into the fire as he finds himself in danger in the wasteland with no place to go for safety. Readers will appreciate this deep tale starring a fabulous antihero trying to survive in a world in which he is low on the food chain.

Harriet Klausner