Bill D. Allen

It’s been a couple of years since I read “The Pirates of Outrigger Rift,” so my memory of it isn’t perfect, but I’m fairly sure that this book doesn’t measure up to its predecessor. It’s still an entertaining space opera, but it lacks the freshness and complexity of “Pirates.” Midway through I almost abandoned it, but then the story picked up — primarily due to an interesting and dynamic new character — and I finished it in several big gulps.

I also have two direct show more criticisms of the plot and writing.

First, I don’t believe that Sai, Hank, and Elsa would all be so stupid at the same time that none of them figured out the cause of one of the plot complications. One new element was introduced and something disturbing happens —and no one makes a connection? These people should be smarter than that.

Second, I didn’t like the way a supporting character’s interaction with a male sex worker was portrayed as a homophobic joke. Ditto the way the two sex workers were used as a joking way of delaying an adversary. Those cliches are not only old and tired, they’re damaging. I’m disappointed the author couldn’t have come up with more enlightened but still humorous way of handling those two scenes.

Despite my disappointments I would still check out a new installment in this series. But my expectations would be far lower. show less