Rogue Clone [Mass Market Paperback]

This book continues the story of Wayson Harris, which began in "The Clone Republic."

At the time of updating this review in January 2009, it is the second in a series of four books, which are:

1) The Clone Republic
2) Rogue Clone
3) The Clone Alliance
4) The Clone Elite

One of the hardest things to write well is a sequel to a book in which the central character spends most of his time trying to uncover a secret and ultimately did so. In the first book in this series, "The Clone Republic" Lieutenant Wayson Harris spent much of the story wondering whether he was a clone and why he has both enemies and friends in high places. By the end of that book Harris has found out what he is. So in this second book, author Steven Kent had to find completely new mysteries for him. This could easily have been a very limp sequel, but it isn't: indeed "Rogue Clone" is probably better than the first book.

The story is set in a Universe which contains just about every "Star Wars" cliche imaginable, but Kent manages to find new things to say about most of them. The central government of the galaxy, which evolved from the USA, uses armies of clones to keep everyone in line. All the clones who provide the grunts for the marines are raised in orphanages: each is told that he is the only natural born real orphan in the institution, and programmed to see himself with different hair and eye colour. Each standard military clone is also programmed to die if he finds out that he is really a clone.

Harris really is different from all the other marines, for example we learn in "Rogue Clone" that he is four inches taller. But to the generals and admirals, both he and the standard clones just as much an expendable assets as the ammmunition for the fleet's guns.

At the end of "The Clone Republic" Harris was forced to go AWOL, but I don't think the second book's title "Rogue Clone" is meant to refer to him. As the galaxy descends into civil war and chaos after several spiral arms try to declare independence, Harris is still working for the government as a mercenary and bounty hunter. Then suddenly he is back in uniform and on a dangerous mission for the admiral who tried several times to kill him in the first book.

Then a peaceful agricultural colony is threatened by a fighter carrier commanded by a clone who really has gone rogue - can Harris stop the carrier with an unarmed transport ship and his old mercenary partner ?

Good gripping entertainment. If you enjoy the first two books, "The Clone Republic" and "Rogue Clone" you may will probably also enjoy the subsequent books in the trilogy, "The Clone Alliance" and "The Clone Elite."

If you enjoyed "The Clone Republic" then your going to get drawn into the continuing adventures of Wayson Harris in this rarest of things, a sequel that is even better than the original.

Both the characters and the plot seem to hit their stride in this, the second of Mr. Kent's books.

With touches of subtle humor, and plenty of space battles, this excellent, action packed, adventure leads the reader to a surprise ending (or is it the end?).

Another thriller from Steven Kent. From the start of this sequel to 'The Clone Republic', you are drawn back in to the life of Wayson Harris and his constant internal battle of mixed loyalties combined with action-filled scenes that capture your imagination through to the last page. Kent does another fantastic job in this book of describing a very believable galaxy populated by very real personalities that have something in common with all of us.

› Go to Amazon.com to see all 27 reviews  3.8 out of 5 stars