Starting with "Mind Wizards," Carter's book titles seemed to lose touch with the books they titled. "Renegade" continues in that vein. I think I know who the 'renegade' was supposed to have been. That worthy individual, however, has been one of the series hero's most loyal deputies. And, because of some arcane technicalities, was never officially outlawed. He never turned on his people to begin with, just followed a higher law, and never even had reason to file a conflict of interest statement.
No matter. The buckles swash a mile a minute. Amazing coincidences void every warranty issued under the laws of statistics. Any lone female human-type person turns out to be a princess. (Around here, the paparazzi keep a much closer eye on our princesses.) Everyone and their dog can take down their own age in implacable bug-type foes. And, of course, glory flows like bubbles in a hot tub aorund all the majestically deserving folk who star in our show.
Harken back to the mindset that let you enjoy Doc Smith, the Buck Rogers serials, or the hurtling moons of Barsoom. Then, crack the cover and relive the days when a storyteller could tell a story in only 200 pages.
-- wiredweird
PS: Carter introduces a fascinating bit of aquatic sequel-bait toward the end of this one, an implicit promise that appears never to have been kept.
