Derelict For Trade

Interesting. Even less of the flavor of the original Solar Queen novels than Redline the Stars, but a very interesting story with some neat hooks for the next one. I'm amused, after noting in Redline all the references to P. M. Griffin's worlds and races, to see that the ones mentioned here (besides the major three) are often from Keith Laumer's Retief stories (the protocol-ridden Yip and a couple others). Again, multiple points of view - much better handled than in Redline - and a deeper insight into all the characters, both history and current motivations. And the hook, going back to the Sargol drink and the box in Postmarked the Stars... The story here is quite weird - a mystery with about a dozen streams, and a great deal of figuring out to connect them up into a very nasty scheme. Dane's duel was fascinating, though I knew what his weapon was - not how it would be used, but what it was. And Rip's consideration of it in the maglev pod had me laughing out loud - the horrific haggis! It was neat the way that, once they had the appropriate information, it was no longer the Queen's crew against the habitat but the decent people against the villains. And so on, and so on. This was my first reading, so I know I've missed things - I've read the first three SQ novels at least 4-5 times each, and Redline at least once before this last reading. It's definitely a tale that rewards rereading - the original SQ novels have sunk into my backbrain, and I think this one can do the same. Just need to let it sink in, then read it a few more times... Now I'm going on to A Mind for Trade, which I have read before but was thoroughly confused about because I hadn't read Derelict. The changes for Captain Jellico, and for the apprentices, and the Queen in general, are major in Derelict, and I didn't know what had triggered them when I encountered them in Mind. So this rereading should be better. In general, I find that the Solar Queen novels are one connected story; each one most definitely builds upon the last. So I'm very pleased to fill in this missing piece. ( )