William Dietz Runner

Runner

William Dietz

Ace, Oct 2005, $24.95, 432 pp.

ISBN: 0441013260

In the distant future humans have traveled throughout the star systems using interstellar portals, but over time the technology became lost. Antiquated ships deliver cargo and passengers between planets, but are slow, and no major inter-galaxy travel exists anymore. Runner Jak Rebo delivers a package that he carried for two years to a customer's wealthy brother on planet Anafa, colonized over 10,000 years ago. Not long afterward, Brother Sua Qwa hires him to deliver a special golden child, Tra Lee, to the holy city of CaCanth on planet Thara, where the lad will be proclaimed as the Norm Maa. Qwa warns the runner that a rival black hat sect has their own candidate, and will try to assassinate the boy.

Sensitive Lanni Norr reads individual energy fields that enable her to speak with the dead. During a performance, deceased scientist Milos Lysander, using a metal man as his source, tries to take over Lanni's body. She manages to escape, but has to flee. Lanni and Jak meet when separate people try to harm them; they unite while people chase after them and his cargo Tra Lee.

Runner is an exciting thriller that sort of places Tibetan Buddhism in outer space at a time when civilization is imploding. The background comes alive as readers will believe they are at a time when earth is so distant a memory, that the planet is considered by most as the mythos home world. Jak and Lanni are an interesting duo as they escort Tra Lee, while another sect provides not only another heir contender, but attempts to kill the trio because they feel so strongly that they have the next Norma Maa. William Dietz is at his best with this strong science fiction tale.