Night Train to Rigel

by Timothy Zahn

Series: Frank Compton (book 1)

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288	8	35,525	(3.75)	16

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▾LibraryThing recommendations

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Showing 1-5 of 8 (next | show all)

Interesting world. Lots of action. (

)

gregandlarry | Aug 24, 2012 |

Interesting blend of noir and sic fi. This book begins a series by prolific author Timothy Zahn and features a futuristic private eye and his adventures on the "train" that transportsl people at faster than light speeds. A light read, but good enough to continue reading the series. (

)

barlow304 | Nov 24, 2011 |

The beginning of a nice little SF mystery series, Night Train to Rigel starts us off with a stranger dying right into ex-spy Frank Compton's arms. Pretty soon he's off on an interstellar adventure searching for a force capable -- and apparently set on -- destroying the Quadrail, an FTL train system operated by "Spiders". But who really controls the spiders? And who's that chick that keeps following him? I enjoyed this a lot. Zahn is good at inventing aliens with their own tics and languages and he follows mystery conventions faithfully too. Like any series it starts to drag a bit later on, but this first book in the series does a great job setting it all in motion. (

)

cabri | Jan 2, 2010 |

This was a cracking good story, a well-crafted sci fi novel about an investigator who's handed a ticket for the Trans-Galactic Quadrail by a mysterious messenger who dies on his doorstep, and promptly steps into a galaxy-wide conspiracy, full of alien races and planets and technology. Very entertaining read. (

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codyne | Dec 6, 2009 |

The author develops the two main characters very well and the story grabs you instantly. It's a fast paced book and keeps you guessing...up to a certain point. Once you get passed this 'whodunit' aspect in the beginning, the book just loses momentum. I did like how everything fell into place for the most part I just had higher expectations since the beginning was so tantalizing. (

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jerkhouse | Jul 2, 2009 |

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Series (with order)

Frank Compton (book 1)

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Modhra I (fictitious planet)

Modhra II (fictitious planet)

Yandro (fictitious planet)

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Epigraph

Dedication

For Pastor Rick House -- who has helped keep me on the rails.

First words

He was leaning against the side of an autocab by the curb as I walked through the door and atmosphere curtain of the New Pallas Towers into the chilly Manhattan night air.

Quotations

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(Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)

Disambiguation notice

Publisher's editors

Frenkel, James

Blurbers

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Amazon.com Product Description (ISBN 0765346443, Mass Market Paperback)

HUMANITY'S LAST HOPE

It begins when a man delivers a message for former government agent Frank Compton--only to fall dead at his feet. The message is a summons from the Spiders, the exotic and mysterious creatures who run the Quadrail, an incredible transportation system connecting civilizations across the galaxy. The Spiders believe that someone or something is preparing to attack their entire network and the worlds it serves, by smuggling battleships through the Quadrail--something that should be impossible to do. Compton, with the aid of a beautiful but enigmatic agent of the Spiders, is their last hope.

Because nobody else has been able to find the elusive enemy who seeks to enslave the entire galaxy…and Earth is its next target.

(retrieved from Amazon Thu, 14 Feb 2013 13:35:05 -0500)

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▾Library descriptions

It begins when a man comes to deliver a message to former government agent Frank Compton - then falls dead at his feet. The message is a summons from the Spiders - enigmatic aliens that are part organic and part machine - who run the Quadrail, a remarkable transportation system that connects civilizations throughout the galaxy. Their message: Someone is preparing to attack the entire network and the worlds it serves with battleships smuggled through the Quadrail - something that should be impossible to do. They need Compton, with his sharp skills of observation and military training, to find the elusive enemy whose nature is a complete mystery.As he gets closer to unraveling the unknown, Compton gets the growing feeling that he is in danger from all directions - from those preventing him from uncovering the far-flung conspiracy, from enemies suddenly appearing out of his past, and from the addictive, powerful force behind the scheme to destroy every civilization in the galaxy.… (more)

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