In typical Bova style, this second book in the Voyagers series is more about people than technology--it explores several things, through the mind of a man who's learning about the alien within him. There are many external forces and subthemes. These include poverty[ in Africa,] corporate greed, have/have not, evil people and nations...and, of course love between two human beings. During the reading, science fiction predictions arise and pass as do political predictions. The book is several decades aged--some predictions have come true, some not. Where's book number three? ( )

This book went a different direction than I thought it would, but I really enjoyed the human/alien symbiotic relationship that Bova described that occurred within Dr. Keith Stoner. Can't wait to see where this goes in the next volume of this saga. ( )

It’s not often I say this, but I wish there was a zero * option! This book is even worse than the first one!

Why, I hear you asking (or perhaps it’s me that’s asking!), did I go on to read the second book in the series after I had slated the first??? Well, I think “because it was there” covers it – I had invested time and effort acquiring the thing and downloading it to my ipod. Also I wanted to know more about the aliens, and hoped they would have a larger part to play inthis book that in the first one.

And I was disappointed. This is not a sci-fi book at all! There are no aliens – just a presence in Keith Stoner’s head, which gives him hallucinations to start with and, later, some special powers. Not that these powers underpin the story in any way – they’re just a lazy plot device to let Stoner do things that would otherwise be hard to arrange (like escape from the people who are holding him and travel halfway round the world without money or id).

As I say, this is not sci-fi. It’s more like a really, really weak political thriller, where corporate powers (Vanguard corporation is so powerful that it controls major players around the globe) and international terrorists compete to gain control of Keith Stoner, believing that he has alien knowledge in his head which will give them ultimate power/riches.

Be prepared to suspend reality. I mean …
- the “World Liberation Organisation” - terrorist factions from around the globe united into one coherent organisation ??? Come off it!
- and “Peace Enforcers” who can zoom in on a rogue missile attack and completely destroy the perpetrators within hours. How, exactly? Has Bova never heard of mobile missile launchers?

And I hardly dare start to comment on the male-female interactions. The nearest Bova can get to a loving approach is “Stoner knew he could have her any time he wanted to, but he held back”. And this is Bova being nice!! The man clearly has no concept of what a normal loving relationship feels like!

This book is awful. Give it a miss. ( )

Audiobook - am really enjoying this series even though I do not read a lot of sci-fi. ( )