Ninety Seventh Step (Mass Market Paperback)

Make no mistake, the story includes some riveting action sequences and pulse-pounding suspense, and these definitely keep it interesting. However, there really is not much of a unifying plot other than as a "biography". The author makes liberal use of the flashback technique to recount Mwili's teen years and escape from Cibule, as well as Ferret's escapades with his former partner/lover turned nemesis, Gworn.

I guess one thing that was a bit of a turn-off for me was the author's undue emphasis (in my humble opinion) on sexuality. Admittedly this is part of Mwili/Ferret/Pen's personal history and character makeup, particularly as it relates to other figures like Shar, Gworn and Moon. However, this is not an element I usually look for in this genre (in fact, it's normally absent altogether), and I personally prefer to keep it that way. Call me an old-fashioned prude, but I remember the days when plenty of great sci fi novelists wrote excellent stories without the need to inject gratuitous sex. But for this, I might give this book 4 stars.

But don't let my personal hangups turn you away from an otherwise good book, and definitely a great trilogy. The Matador series is a very enjoyable read, and The 97th Step makes it complete.

Leaving Cibule, he takes the name of Ferret and becomes a lane runner, living at the fringes of society and stealing to make ends meet. During this period, he becomes the partner of Bennet Gworn, a fellow laner, but then has to abandon him when a heist goes bad. Later, he becomes the partner of Stoll, smuggling illegal merchandise, and meets Shar, an exotic dancer who sees him as a soul mate. All falls apart, however, when Gworn gets out of prison and comes looking for him.

After Gworn kills Stoll and Shar, and he kills Gworn, Ferret tries to forget with drugs and alcohol, but the memories still fester in his mind. After a long period of continual intoxication, he meets his old martial arts teacher, Dindabe, in a bar and agrees to resume his studies. The workouts flush the poisons from his system and he begins to regain an interest in life as he regains his proficiency in the arts, but he still lives from day to day, with no long term interests.

Dindabe introduces him to Moon, a Sister of the Shroud, and encourages him to become her student. Ferret goes with Moon to the training center on Manus, near Wewak, New Guinea. Although doubting his own commitment, he takes the name Pen and gradually becomes engrossed in the program and finally graduates.

This novel is a tale of enlightenment. Pen has no real faith in himself, for everyone around him has either turned against him or died. Before Pen could accomplish anything, he must recognize himself as a person and have faith in that person.

Recommended for Perry fans and anyone who enjoys tales of martial arts in a SF setting.