The Xenocide Mission by Ben Jeapes
01/10/2003 . Source: Joules Taylor 
pub: Corgi. 388 page enlarged paperback. Price: £5.99 (UK). ISBN: 0-552-54815-4. Buy from Amazon US - Buy from Amazon UK
nb: US titles may only be available from Amazon US, and UK titles from Amazon UK. check
out website: www.kidsatrandomhouse.co.uk
The year is 2153. Lt. Joel Gilmore is part
of a team based at the SkySpy asteroid in a distant star system,
covertly and closely observing an alien race known as the XCs -
XC short for Xenocides, so called because of their "nasty predilection
for mass murder on a planetary scale" (back cover).
The team consists of humans and 'rusties', the First Breed, a sentient
quadruped species with no conception of humour - which makes for occasionally
uneasy interpersonal relationships - and a profound emotional interdependency
on the pride, their social unit.
 When
the XC's launch a completely unexpected attack on the SkySpy base,
Joel and the rustie Boon Round find themselves the only survivors
and the only ones left to somehow tell their respective species
that the XCs now have the ability to leave their homeworld and venture
out into the galaxy...
It's a fascinating
story. The author has real skill in depicting aliens and alien cultures (and I
do mean alien, not just variants of humanoids): there are three quite distinct
and wholly believable species detailed in the book, not including the humans.
The characterisation is excellent, the individuals memorable and appealing. Yes,
even the nasty XCs, once you find out exactly why they are the way they are, in
a beautifully timed revelation that took me completely by surprise and there's
not much does that these days! The action is extremely well-plotted, moving from
world to world in a series of exciting cliff-hangers that kept me feverishly reading
to find out what happened next. Trust, betrayal, hidden agendas and ulterior motives,
inter-species misunderstandings and loyalties, all are dealt with deftly and intelligently,
making this a very satisfying read.
Mostly. Unfortunately two
things at the end spoil the enjoyment. The author explains away an absolutely
vital part of the story by introducing a factor that hasn't appeared anywhere
else in the book, almost as though he'd forgotten about it and had to quickly
find some way to resolve the plot-hole. Talk about deux ex machina! (Unless, of
course, it had appeared earlier in the story and I just don't remember it...)
The other, less annoying but still disappointing (to me, anyway) factor
is the last chapter, where an overused plot device is used to end the story. Fair
enough, it works in context and there's nothing actually wrong with it but after
the freshness and creativity of the rest of the book I would have hoped for something
a little more original.
Who will enjoy it? I think it has something
for just about all SF fans of any age, despite its rating as a book for teenagers:
action, adventure, a complex plot, interesting technology and wonderful characters.
The style is friendly, enthusiastic and highly enjoyable. On this showing,
this is definitely a name to look out for. Joules Taylor
http://www.wordwrights.co.uk
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