Martin Sketchley, The Liberty Gun

The Liberty Gun

Martin Sketchley

PYR, November 2006, $15.00

ISBN: 1591024927

In 2379 earth, equivalent time Delgado and Ashala land on Seriatt, a planet at war between alien occupiers the Sinz (a triad species of humanoid, avian, and amphibian) vs. a native resistance movement. However, before they can act, the Seriattic insurgents capture Delgado and Ash. Their leader, Cowell, is a Vilume, one of the three genders that make up this race. The outsiders quickly learn that the seemingly invincible Sinz have made this orb their platform for the invasion of other worlds, with earth on the agenda. Cowell forms an alliance with the two earthlings as they prepare for battle against the powerful common enemy, as well as forming a strange romantic triangle.

However, this Sinz contingent is cut off for now from their distant homeworld, which means they have supply problems as they need basillia, a subterranean organism to survive. Structure's Commander Supreme General William Myson sends Colonel Viktor Saskov to Seriatt with a "scorched earth" strategy to eradicate the basillia and to reclaim the time gate, even if that means stranding or killing two operatives. However, as several groups move against the Sinz on Seriatt from different perspectives, the time-space continuum comes under assault.

The third Structure science fiction thriller (see THE DESTINY MASK and THE AFFINITY TRAP) is a superb novel that makes a strong case how stupid people are to go to war over cultural, religious or ethical differences, as everyone pays the price for these insane hostilities. The species seem odd yet genuine, whether they are purebred earthlings, the three Seriatt humanoid genders or the Sinz. Martin Sketchley makes the audience feel the planet Seriatt actually exists. Though the erotic scenes between two species are graphic and not for everyone, they add to an overall feel that the Sketchley universe is a dangerous, real place.