Sherwood Smith Gene Roddenberry’s Andromeda: Paradise Drift

Gene Roddenberry's Andromeda: Paradise Drift

Sherwood Smith

Tor, Nov 2005, $24.95, 288 pp.

ISBN: 0765304880

Working long and hard hours to re-link the Systems Commonwealth, the crew of the Andromeda Ascendant deserves some R&R. While Tyr is stuck watching the ship, most of the crew transfer to Paradise Drift, a place where the squad can unwind and have some harmless fun playing in a vast variety of virtual games. Adding to the pleasure is that everything is gratis, as the leaders of Paradise Drift want to be become members of the revised Systems Commonwealth.

However the bone weary crew quickly learn that there is no such thing as a free lunch as sh** happens. Harper is attacked by a woman who believes she owes him from a past transgression and a bounty hunter Steeleblade stalks Beka. However, Captain Hunt wants Director Vandat, but worries about political repercussions caused by his desires, and to make things even worse he loses a fortune in real money at the gambling tables, while unbeknownst to him the ship is under attack. R&R is proving more harrowing than any operational mission.

The sixth entry, as with the previous Andromeda tales, is a fine science fiction tale that is clearly for fans of the series. The action packed storyline focuses on several members of the ensemble cast, as each expects to unwind with a little fun, but instead ends up in some harrowing scenario. This will elate the Andromeda audience, but the multitude of subplots will drive new fans elsewhere. Still Sherwood Smith does a wonderful job with the familiar players, as readers will appreciate R&R on Paradise Drift.

Harriet Klausner