Consequences

Kristine Kathryn Rusch 2004 Buy from Amazon.com

Like Extremes, this Retrieval Artist novel does not involve alien criminal justice. Miles Flint has been hired by the Lahiri’s to find their daughter, Carolyn. She has been pardoned by the government of Etae and can now come home safely. At the same time representatives from Etae have arrived in Armstrong’s port for a meeting with the Alliance. They want to apply to become members, having had peace for over a decade their planet needs the resources and wealth of the Alliance to survive.

DeRicci finally has finally received the promotion that was denied for so long, but when she finds a link between Miles Flint and the Lahiri murders, she contacts him before reporting it. She feels rejected when he refuses to open his files for her and worries that their friendship might not survive the investigation. Especially after it is found he has tapped into her work station.

This story has many diverse characters with their own motivations and backgrounds. The wars on Etae were fought first by the Idonae against the native Ynnel, then the humans and the Idonae, and finally by humans against humans. The various survivors, victors and defeated, witnesses and soldiers, are all represented in this novel.

One of the things I’ve always admired about Rusch is her ability to show both sides of the fence without making either side flat and unbelievable. All the people genuinely believe in what they are doing, or have genuine self interest. No one is acting out of sheer chaotic malice. The complete background of what happened in the wars isn’t completely filled in, but enough to get a feel for why the characters are behaving the way they are.

When Carolyn and her parents are murdered, Miles must find a way to solve the case. Not only must he clear his name, but he must find out quickly if there are other potential victims related to the reason Carolyn died. Meanwhile things go from bad to worse for the Etae diplomat Anatolya Dobryn. From the moment she arrives there is trouble, with word of her identity as the Butcher of Etae, one of the most feared generals in history being broadcast ahead of her.

Rusch did a masterful job of keeping all the characters, politics and action going at a rate that was easy to follow yet constantly moving.

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