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Night Train To Rigel by Timothy Zahn
01/09/2006 . Source: Tomas L. Martin 
pub: TOR. 349 page hardback. Price: $24.95 (US), $33.95 (CAN). ISBN: 0-765-30716-2. Buy Night Train To Rigel in the USA - or Buy Night Train To Rigel in the UK  check out website: www.tor.com
Why is it that so many American editions of Science Fiction novels have such ghastly covers? Timothy Zahn's new novel has a sleeve with garish colours and overly photoshopped, oddly placed lettering and pictures that look like a cheesy Star Wars rip-off. TOR must be hoping to appeal to the fan base that read his 'Star Wars' tie-ins but it's a shame as this book is far more enjoyable than the woeful cover suggests.
'Night Train To Rigel' is a novel that takes place in a galaxy where most star systems are connecting by a faster than light railway called the Quadrail, run by the mysterious Spiders. When ex-government agent Frank Compton follows a message from a dying man, he finds himself employed by the Spiders to solve a security crisis they don't know how to deal with.
Compton travels the executive cars of the Quadrail, meeting more and more people that seem to be involved in the conspiracy, which leads him to the holiday world of Modhra. Together with Bayta, the mysterious girl that accompanied him on behalf of the Spiders, Compton begins to uncover a vast conspiracy that could imperil much of the galaxy.
The train passengers inhabiting Zahn's quadrail cars come from many different alien races and while most aren't particularly original by SF standards, the characters of each race are clearly defined and many of the people we meet are memorable and colourful. The main character himself is much like a typical film noir-style detective but this familiar role gels the rest of the characters together.
Timothy Zahn writes well and builds suspense and intrigue up to a dramatic final revelation and action-packed resolution with the craft of a good storyteller. It's not going to set the world alight but what is here is enjoyable, fun and thrilling.
'Night Train To Rigel' does a very good job of what it sets out to do. If you are looking for an entertaining SF yarn with plenty of tension and attitude, then you could do a lot worse than to pick up this latest effort from Zahn.
Tomas L. Martin
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