Eternity Row [Mass Market Paperback]

For those who by now feel a vested interest in Cherijo's fate, Eternity Row is worth reading, but it's decidedly the least inspired effort in the series to date. There's little sense of focus throughout much of the book, as the plot takes far too long to develop. The story's climax and wrap-up are then overly rushed, with no really satisfying pay-off at the end. Too many plot elements are poorly rationalized, overly contrived, or simply irrelevant. Most disappointing of all, there's no delightful, demented, Viehl-crafted villain powering this piece.

The bare-bones outline is simple enough. The Sunlace will head for the planet of Oenrall so Cherijo can investigate the mysterious plague afflicting Dhreen's people. From there, it's on to Jxinok, to finally learn why Maggie involved herself in Joe's experiments to create Cherijo. Since Hawk's father is from a planet in the same quadrant as the other two, Sunlace will stop there along the way.

The story lines as they actually play out become a good deal muddier. Cherijo's ClanBrother Xonea still seems to have designs on her; they unfold in a couple of related plot elements that splutter along through the main story lines. The ongoing war between League and Hsktskt forces affects life aboard the Sunlace. Cherijo's pals Squilyp and Alunthri are both having personal problems. A belief-straining connection turns up between Hawk's people and Dhreen's, and possibly Alunthri's. The Bartermen reappear. In addition to high intelligence and rapid healing, daughter Marel shows signs of at least one ability not demonstrated by Cherijo. There are unexpected side effects to Joe's experimental surgery on Duncan's kidney. Cherijo and Duncan still haven't gotten their joint act together, for which Maggie lectures them sternly-something readers have wanted to do since Endurance.

Like earlier StarDoc books, Eternity Row has its better moments, mostly limited in this case to minor details. The book probably contains information essential to the larger story arc, though it's difficult to see how most of it could possibly matter in the long run. The back cover blurb promises that Cherijo and Duncan "intend to find Cherijo's foster mother-and the truth behind the subliminal messages she left in Cherijo's brain." Duncan does eventually spring a surprise about the nature of the messages; however, when Cherijo at last gets to hear their purpose, she rejects it out of hand as a pack of lies. After waiting through most of the book for a substantial revelation like those in past stories, this feels like a pretty cheap trick.