Cobra Alliance: Cobra War: Book One [Hardcover]

I've read most of Mr. Zahn's books (not the Dragon series) and haven't been disappointed yet. This is another good book in his Cobra Series, and makes me look forward to the second book of this trilogy. (Now if he could only write another trilogy of the Blackcollar series). Comfortable characters and storyline with Mr. Zahn's usual plot twists that keeps one guessing and turning pages. For someone familiar with the Cobra books, there are a couple of goofs in the cover art. The Cobra firing at the Troft has his finger-laser in his index finger, when in the books the finger-lasers are located in the little-fingers of each hand. At least the artist located the anti-armor laser in the correct leg. And the Troft is portrayed as having human-like knee joints, when the Trofts actually have reversed-knee joints (like birds) in the books. Yes, I'm being fussy but the artist could have paid a little more attention to the books so his/her artwork wouldn't have so obvious flaws. But overall, another good book by Mr. Zahn.

Cobra Alliance (2009) is the fourth SF novel in the Cobra series, following Cobra Bargain. In the previous volume, Jin, Daulo and Morin exposed the Mangus conspiracy on the human settled planet of Qasama and forced the Troft off the planet. The Aventine Directorate declared the mission to be a failure, but even they knew that Jin had made the first friendly contacts with Qasamans.

In this novel, Jasmine Moreau Broom is the daughter of Justin Moreau and the wife of Paul Broom. Jin is also the only female Cobra and the scion of a Cobra family. The Moreaus have given sons -- and a daughter -- to the Cobra service for a century.

Corwin Moreau is Jin's uncle. He had been a powerful politician until the Directorate had declared the Qasama mission a failure. Now he is a materials scientist working on less reactive ways of producing Cobras.

Merrick is Jin's oldest son. He is a Cobra in the Capitalia district.

Lorne is Jin's second son. He is a Cobra in the expansion regions, fighting spine leopards.

Jody is Jin's daughter. She is working on a research team trying to invent a trap that will work for spine leopards.

Daulo Sammon is a Qasaman. He is the heir of an influential family in the village of Milika.

Miron Akim is a Qasaman. He is an administrator for the Shahni, the ruling class of Qasama.

Moffren Omnathi is a Qasaman. He is an Advisor to the Shahni. He has had extensive experience with Cobras.

In this story, thirty-two years later, Corwin calls a family council to discuss a message sent to Jin. Merrick had received it from a Tlossie Troft who had seemingly mistaken him for his mother. The note states that an urgent situation requires Jin's presence on Qasama.

Although the note is unsigned, the family suspects that it came from Daulo. The courier had also left a card with a contact number. When Jin calls the number, she is told that a ship will pick up three days after the note arrived. All required equipment will be provided.

At first Lorne volunteers to accompany her to Qasama, but Jin says that she will be going alone. Since Jody will be going to Caelen to test the new trap, Lorne decides to go with her instead. But Paul disagrees and decides that he will accompany Jody. Lorne is left on Aventine.

When Jin arrives at the Troft ship waiting to take her to Qasama, she discovers that Merrick has insinuated himself into her mission. Since his arguments make sense, Jin boards the ship with him. Eventually, they arrive on Qasama on a shuttle and fade into the jungle.

Wearing Qasaman clothing, the couple approach the entrance to Milika. As they reach the gate, they are hailed by a Qasaman in a vehicle. He invites them to ride with him to the home of Daulo.

Jin quickly learns that Daulo had not sent the note. Daulo introduces them to his son Fadil, the man who had recognized them at the gate. As they are discussing other persons who might have sent the note, a Shahni agent arrives at the house and interrogates Merrick.

Their next suspect is Morin, so Daulo decides that he and Fadil will take the Cobras to Sollas, the planetary capital. Since the Shahni already suspect some conspiracy, they will leave immediately and drive all night to the capital. On the way, another vehicle appears and begins to follow them.

Merrick drops out of their truck and ambushes the following car. When he blows out a rear tire with his laser, the car swerves violently and ends up in a ditch. Merrick then learns that the driver is the same Shahni agent that had spoken to him in Milika.

Since he seems to have some head injury, the four decide to take him to a hospital. On the way toward the city, Merrick discovers a flight of Troft warships approaching. The ships fly over the truck and land in Sollas.

This tale brings Jin and Merrick to Sollas just in time to join the Qasaman forces fighting the Troft invasion. The Shahni agent leads them to other Shahni. They soon find themselves in the thick of the action.

Miron appears and becomes their liaison with the Shahni. Then Moffren starts handling the Cobras. Naturally, the Qasamans don't really trust the demon-warriors, but they do find that the Cobras have better luck fighting the Trofts than do themselves.

Jin and Merrick have some success overcoming Qasaman prejudice toward Cobras. The next volume in the series -- Cobra Guardians -- takes the action back to the Cobra Worlds. Read and enjoy!

Highly recommended for Zahn fans and for anyone else who enjoys tales of covert operations, augmented soldiers, and alien invasions.

-Arthur W. Jordin

Timothy Zahn's COBRA ALLIANCE provides Book 1 in the Cobra War series and tells of a guerrilla force whose weapons were surgically implanted and deadly. Jasmine Jin is worried about the current attitudes of the Cobra worlds and their leaders - for dangers threaten the alliance. Swift military action evolves in a fine thriller.

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