Burdens Of Empire by C.J. Ryan
01/09/2007 . Source: Geoff Willmetts 
pub: Bantam Spectra. 356 page paperback. Price: $ 6.99 (US), $ 9.99 (CAN). ISBN: 978-0-553-58903-0. Buy Burdens Of Empire in the USA - or Buy Burdens Of Empire in the UK  check out websites: www.bantamdell.com
Author C.J. Ryan has definitely put his/her lead character, Gloria VanDenn, in it this time. As a leading member of Dexta, she gets some of the toughest jobs. There is chaos on the planet Denastri where the Empire has barged in, destroyed the fleet and mining for a particular ore. The natives are restless and terrorism is getting out of hand. Unofficially, she is there to get the release of hostage Lord Kenarbin only, as in parallel with current day policies, she can use nothing to bargain with. Taking only her assistant, Petra Nash, with her, the Dexta agents are greeted on the planet by the human leaders who are promptly killed by a bomb. At the highest ranking Dexta, Gloria finds herself now the governor. Then she, too, is kidnapped and Petra is left in charge.
The synopsis above doesn't do that much justice to this story and I've probably given away a couple of the surprises there already. Although you might be forgiven in believing that there are parallels to our own culture's issues at the moment, the Denastri folk are anything but. There is a complicated caste system which no one is completely aware of until much later in the book. Ryan successfully lays the clues but builds up on them a little at a time while showing the possibility of solution. As the ending will testify, things are never that straight forward.
Unlike the previous books in this series, Gloria does not, indeed cannot, rely on her sexual charm to manipulate the human folk. This time its down to common-sense logic. As this is reported to also be the last book in the series, I suspect Ryan is also indicating that the fiction he writes can do more. As the series ends rather open-endedly, maybe we'll see more of Gloria one day. As it is, Ryan has created an interesting reality which is perfect for travel reading with a few problems to mull over and plenty of adventure. The characters are nicely and consistently defined and developed over the series. Although I wouldn't call this story 'great fun' as the subject matter is serious, it will have you on the edge of your seat.
GF Willmetts |
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