Marque and Reprisal
Vatta's War #2
Elizabeth Moon
Science Fiction
2004
****
A very interesting sequel to Trading in Danger, Marque and Reprisal starts off almost right where the first novel left off. Ky is continuing to try to keep her ship in condition, trade for profit and is finding out that many systems have been having trouble - communications ansibles have been sabotaged, systems are left isolated with no means of communicating with the rest of the universe, and these places are being hit by pirates. Ky is putting two and two together and is coming up with a plan. Unfortunately - most people don't believe in either the need or the plan, so she's not getting much support.
It's good reading, Ky's decisions, the mistakes she makes and her solutions. While dealing with the news of her family's many deaths and the attacks on the home planet, she also comes across two family members and a new character - a bit of a rogue that's more than he seems. In fact, her cousin Stella is also more than she seems. Things are becoming a bit more complex.
There is still lots of dialog that probably could have been pared down, and lots of information and space/trader strategy narration, but the series has continued to interest me and I read this book almost in one sitting. One of the problems Ky has been dealing with is not being taken seriously because of her age, and her sex. In fact, I had a bit of a problem with how sexist the older males were in a supposedly advanced society's, where there are many females in high positions, it's amazing how Ky's actions are blamed on being a female, being "turned by a pretty face" and her age.
However, something about this series keeps me interested, and the characters - Stella, Grace (the supposely weird frutcake making aunt), Toby (the young cousin) and Rafe all have hidden depths of character. It's mostly because of the space opera tone and the characters that I'm wanting to read more.
It's good reading, Ky's decisions, the mistakes she makes and her solutions. While dealing with the news of her family's many deaths and the attacks on the home planet, she also comes across two family members and a new character - a bit of a rogue that's more than he seems. In fact, her cousin Stella is also more than she seems. Things are becoming a bit more complex.
There is still lots of dialog that probably could have been pared down, and lots of information and space/trader strategy narration, but the series has continued to interest me and I read this book almost in one sitting. One of the problems Ky has been dealing with is not being taken seriously because of her age, and her sex. In fact, I had a bit of a problem with how sexist the older males were in a supposedly advanced society's, where there are many females in high positions, it's amazing how Ky's actions are blamed on being a female, being "turned by a pretty face" and her age.
However, something about this series keeps me interested, and the characters - Stella, Grace (the supposely weird frutcake making aunt), Toby (the young cousin) and Rafe all have hidden depths of character. It's mostly because of the space opera tone and the characters that I'm wanting to read more.
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