A high-action intergalactic adventure of a lifetime.
History has a tendency to repeat itself, even when history is being made in another galaxy. Colonizing a new part of the universe was deemed imperative when life on Earth became unsustainable more than a thousand years ago. During that tumultuous time, the Community was formed and transformed, resulting in a divided system composed of four conflicting political factions. For General Ed Cohen, a naive yet powerful general in the Alliance, he learns the hard way that the best of intentions can result in the worst of consequences. On a doomed mission, Cohen is rescued by Captain Elizabeth Lee, a woman of great power and mystery. Coming from different sides of the political spectrum, Cohen and Lee have little in common. But a mutual sense of justice may be more powerful than their diverging diplomatic affiliations. Revealing just a small inkling of the machinations at play among the ruling class of the planets, Captain Lee calls Cohen’s attention to the Ajna, a powerful technology meant for the unification, security, health, and betterment of humanity. This everyday device, worn as an implant by virtually every human, has a vulnerability that is being exploited by powerful forces bent on control and domination. And using drugs to manipulate users of the Ajna is only the beginning.
It has been said that the road to hell is paved with good intentions. This incisive observation approximates the abiding substructure for 17 Planets – The Captain. By no means a quick read, this robust novel is one that requires time and mental energy, but is worth every effort. A. R. Alexander has forged an entire universe in which people have successfully adapted to life on forbidding new planets, but in the process have forgotten what it is that unites us as humans. The futuristic world building has just enough techy details to stoke the imagination without becoming bogged down in too much technical detail. Each unique planet features different attributes and challenges for the inhabitants, making the planet-hopping endeavors an exciting discovery for audiences with an appetite for the fantastic. If you enjoy a strong feminine presence, Captain Lee is the ideal protagonist, stealing the scenes with her sensual allure, quiet strength, and untold secrets. Although the story features more tell than show, resulting in a lack of emotional connection to the characters, the narration gives the impression of calculated clinical detachment, a coolness that lends itself well to a futuristic story where people have become more divided than ever before. Get ready for a high-action intergalactic adventure of a lifetime in 17 Planets – The Captain.
