Kop
Warren Hammond
Tor, Jul 2007, $24.95
ISBN: 0765312727

By 2787 the colonists of planet Lagarto are extremely concerned as the economy is in a horrific downward spiral. Inflation is out of control, exports are non-existent, and imports critical but expensive. The economy collapsed when the external market abruptly changed to an alternate cheaper source leaving Lagarto with nothing but fears as those who relocated to this isolated backwater orb have few options.

Koba police officer Juno understands first hand life on Lagarto as he makes a decent living by working for powerful crime lords although he rationalizes his actions by insisting to himself everyone is corrupt. Still in spite some material gains for him and his family, Juno knows he sold out leaving himself despondent that he failed to live by his principles of adhering to and enforcing the law. However, Juno will soon have difficult decisions to make as he is caught between his duty and his handlers when he learns of an assassination, which he would normally ignore. However, he knows that is step one in the illegal selling of the planet, which would leave even less for those left behind as they would become economic slaves of outsiders. If he intervenes, he will fall off the dole; that is assuming he lives and avoids going to prison for his framed role in the conspiracy.

The interstellar economy will remind the audience of the global rivalries as the residents of Lagarto went from a booming growth to abject poverty when a rival came up with a cheaper alternate. Betrayal is the norm so like Juno readers will not trust anyone even this cop who keeps investigating as fans will wonder whether he will sell out at some point. Warren Hammond provides a dark gritty science fiction police procedural starring a "hero" whose mother would not trust his ethics.

Harriet Klausner