Triplet [Mass Market Paperback]

Timothy Zahn is one of the most original science fiction authors writing today. He is currently perhaps best known for his contributions to the "Star Wars" universe, particularly the novels in which he brought to life Grand Admiral Thrawn and his race, the Chiss. However, Zahn has also written four excellent short story collections and a large number of other novels, which range from fair to excellent.

Zahn's first few novels were competent but pretty standard fare involving physically enhanced (the "Cobra" series) or chemically enhanced (the "Blackcollar" series) human warriors fighting stereotypical evil aliens. But about 20 years ago he started to branch out with much more imaginative and original works and "Triplet" was one of the first of these, and perhaps the best of his early work.

The story is set on an extraordinary group of linked planets: at the start of the novel there are believed to be three of them, hence the name "Triplet". When humans first arive at Triplet, they find a derelict planet, apparently once occupied by a humanoid race who blasted themselves to extinction in a nuclear war. But on that planet is a tunnel to another world, "Shamsheer" where high technology follows Clarke's law, "Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic." And from Shamsheer there is a second tunnel which leads to the world "Karyx", where there really is magic, complete with Demogorgons, Demons, and sprites etc.

The hero and heroine of the story, Danae and Ravagin are well drawn characters. Danae Panya, or to give her real name, Danae mal ce Taeger, is the talented but spoilt and headstrong daughter of one of the richest and most powerful men in the Universe. Danae is constantly trying to get out from under her father's influence and achieve things for herself: she is surreptitiously followed by undercover agents hired by her father to try to smooth her path and protect her. Ragavin is a worldly-wise and cynical guide who has been escorting tourists and scholars round Triplet for many years, and wants to retire, but he has been ordered to look after Danae as his final assignment.

Danae and Ragavin don't hit it off well, but this is the least of their problems, because other people and beings on Triplet have their own plots and plans.

Zahn continued to improve greatly after he wrote Triplet, and consequently it is not quite as good or as original as the best of his later work, but still good fun.

If you want to read one of Timothy Zahn's most imaginative or original more recent books, try "Warhorse", "Deadman Switch", or "The Green and the Gray"

I enjoyed the STAR WARS books Zahn wrote, so when I ran across this book in the airport I snapped it up. I'm so glad I did! It's got an interesting premise of a world colonized by our spacefaring race which has a "door" to another world co-existing with it, and another "door" to yet another, more arcane world within that one. The action is gripping, the fantasy is fun and the last plot twists were unexpected (at least by me!)

If you can find it. Buy it.

I read this book when it first came out some time back. It's one of the few books that I can't seem to be able to keep out of my mind. It's so unique in the plot and story line, that I put it up there with the Uplift Wars saga. An excellent book. Read it, if you can find it. Get it if you can.

› Go to Amazon.com to see all 7 reviews  4.6 out of 5 stars