Beast Master's Circus (Hardcover)

In this novel, Storm and Tani are presented with the mystery of Laris, a young orphan from the refugee camps who performs in Dedran's Circus. Logan Quade is much taken by the young woman and invites her to the main ranch. Brad Quade also becomes fond of his son's new friend and offers to investigate her past. When Laris agrees, Brad starts sending messages to the camps and other sources to determine her history.

Laris is very good with animals and has a special friend of her own, the cat-like Prauo. Laris found Prauo as a bedraggled kitten on the outskirts of a spaceport. Laris took him back to the circus, fed and sheltered him, and he grew rather large. Laris and Prauo gradually developed the ability to communicate emotions and images and lately have been able to see with each other's eyes, but they have also been able to exchange thoughts since Prauo's last growth spurt.

Jas Cregan is an animal trainer with the circus. A former beast master, he has been damaged somehow so that he can no longer link with the animals. He is not quite sane and blames the other beast masters for his problems. Dedran is using him to acquire the enhanced animals from beast master teams, but the animals always die when separated from their masters. Now Dedran is after the enhanced animals partnered with Storm and Tani.

This story depicts a young woman in a moral and legal quandary. She has signed a bond of indenture as Dedran's servant to get out of the refugee camp. Although she was underage at the time, Laris knows that Dedran can use his contacts in the Thieves Guild to counteract any legal complaints that she might pursue. Moreover, Dedran would certainly take Prauo away from her. Nonetheless, Laris risks all to try to help Storm and Tani.

The story follows the customary style of this author's science fiction, involving young persons and their symbiotic partners in a fight to gain liberty from an oppressive social situation. It slowly reveals the backstory of Laris and Cregan. In addition, the story reveals more about Bright Sky, Tani's father and a Cheyenne beast master, and his defense of Trastor against the Xiks.

Highly recommended for Norton & McConchie fans and for anyone else who enjoys tales of determined young persons linked with clever, and sometimes sapient, animals.

-Arthur W. Jordin

As the troupe heads towards Arzor, Laris learns that Dedran plans to help his fellow Thieves Guild members steal and clone special animals. At Arzor, Laris befriends several Beast Masters on the planet, but hides her skill to communicate with her big cat that she shares in common with her new pals for fear that Dedran will harm them. Still if she is to stop Dedran and the Thieves Guild from their odious scheme of harming beasts, she needs allies beyond just the few "malcontents" that journey with her as part of the circus.

The latest Beast Master tale is targeted towards a young teen audience as the story line is simplistic in its good vs. evil scenario, the mystery of who is Laris seems obvious, and the action somewhat limited. Still the support cast adds depth to the ultimate High Noon confrontation starring a delightful young lady in a non-earth setting accompanied by some comic relief that should please the Potter crowd and perhaps those even younger. Anyone a bit older will pass.

Harriet Klausner