As Chief Medical Officer aboard the Jurisdiction Fleet Ship Ragnarok, Andrej Koscuisko's duty is to care for his shipmates; as Inquisitor, he must extract confessions and administer punishment. When a brutal attack on a Nurail slave woman by a ship's officer sets in motion a chain of events that culminates in murder, Andrej's precarious equilibrium will be strained to the breaking point--and beyond.
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Customer Reviews
Most helpful customer reviews
By A Reader
Format:Mass Market Paperback
I would have given this 5 stars if I hadn't read "Exchange..." and "Prisoner..." first. It's not that the quality of writing is any less, or that the characters have run their course (far from it!), only that there is too great a time gap between the action at the Dommitt Prison and the story in this book. Why was Andrej transferred from Scylla? What happened to Code and Chief Sammons? And, most importantly, what has been happening to Andrej himself? The last question is only obliquely answered in "...Judgment."
The tantalising glimpses that Miss Matthews gives us of the Bench Federation of Worlds might be an excellent way of filling in these frustrating gaps. It would be fascinating to know how the bonds came to be bonds (were they Free Government? What exactly is the Free Government? &c). Miss Matthews - if you read your reviews, how about the story from Robert's point of view, or Joslire's (a wonderful but sadly wasted character)?
Having made the complaint about the series, I have to say that this is a great book, and Bruce Applebaum is gibbering! Andrej Kosciusko is simply the most extraordinary character in science fiction.
By eva j harris
Format:Mass Market Paperback
One of Harold Bloom's criterion for great literature (he's talking about Dante, Shakespeare and Virgil) is "strangeness." He goes on to explain that the greatest literature in Western Civilization shares two seemingly conflicting characteristics--that the work is unique--he calls it "strange." It's like nothing else that's ever been written before. Yet on the other hand, the work is also familiar. Somehow the work resonantes with the reader--at once both familiar and yet strange. I think Susan Matthews falls into this cateogry very neatly. In terms of science fiction. I don't agree that this series has run its course. Her character, Andrej Kosciuscko-however-you-spell-his- name, is fascinating. He emboies the worst and best qualities of humanity. Sheri Tepper performs the same kind of feat in Grass. Though she has written many other novels, some good, some simple rehashes of her other novels, Grass has that familiar other world feel, but it is also one of the strangest worlds I've ever read. It's better than Ringworld, Gaiea, or any other world that sci-fi writers have come up with. If you haven't read this very talented writer's effort, do read them. Colony Fleet and Avalanche Soldiers are both [bad], especially Avalanche. Colony Fleet is readable but unremarkable, but Avalanche Soldier is really bad.
Susan Matthew's trilogy that feature the torturer, Andrej Koscuiscko(?????) is without a doubt the best series I've read since John Varley's Titan, Wizard and Demon. She's right up there with Joan Slonszewski, Sherri Tepper, Pamela Sargent and David Gerrold.
By A Customer
Format:Mass Market Paperback
This novel had much less of the sadistic torture involved and so I liked it better than its predecessors and I felt better about myself reading this one. The story however depends on the previous more violent novels for support. This novel does not stand alone without its predecessors.
It was a good novel and a good read in any case and I had difficulty putting it down. I very much look forward to Ms. Matthew's next novel I the series and how it is out soon.
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3.9 out of 5 stars
Most recent customer reviews
2.0 out of 5 stars
Time to move on
This is the third in a series featuring the same universe and main character. What started as a rather novel premise, the inquisitor medical officer using physical and chemical... Read more
Published on Dec 13 1999 by Bruce Appelbaum
5.0 out of 5 stars
I am embarrassed to admit how much I like this series...
When I read "Prisoner of Conscience" I was absolutely blown away. Why did I Find this character and this universe so compelling? Read more
Published on Jun 13 1999 by Lisa
5.0 out of 5 stars
I haven't read a book this good in years!
This is the first book by Matthews I have read and it blew my mind. At times you both hate and feel sorry for Andrej. Read more
Published on May 8 1999
4.0 out of 5 stars
Not as fulfilling as 'An Exchange of Hostages', but good.
I think of this book as a sidenote to an Exchange of Hostages. I enjoyed it, but I felt as if '...Hostages' had more depth. I can't wait to read the next one...
Published on Feb 4 1999
3.0 out of 5 stars
A look into the dark, tortured depths of "humanity"
If you are fond of military science fiction, and don't flinch at the brutality of mankind's actions and thoughts -- then this is the series of books for you. Read more
Published on Jan 29 1999 by Edward Alexander Gerster
3.0 out of 5 stars
Unexpected - a mystery wrapped in a cloud of unanswered ??'s
The toll of being a decent man & a torturer is played out in this third volume of a nicely developing series. Read more
Published on Jan 10 1999
5.0 out of 5 stars
Maintains the standards set by the first two!
I just finished the new book by Susan Matthews and I loved it. The character of Koscuisko is one of the most filled out characters I have read in a long time. Read more
Published on Dec 13 1998 by tturr@earthlink.net
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