DIRANDA: Tales From the Fifth Quadrant

Tabitha A. Bradley's, DIRANDA: Tales From the Fifth Quadrant, explores the darker side of life via a collection of tales about the corrupt and the free citizens of the Fifth Quadrant.

Nicolette Adelar and Samuel VonTesmar learn that inquisitiveness can devastate a loving friendship in The Legacy of Thrax. In Black Thirteen, Alena Varian realizes that vanity and lack of willpower costs more than they merit. Dar Nelek’s revulsion at his boss' insatiability and egocentricity alters his future in A Rock and A Hard Place.

Alexandra T'Kayn, treasure-hunter and adventurer, discovers passion and affection do not respect political realities in Domination and The Bar. In Incident at Aquila, Teren’tei ships grasp a madman’s insanity and cold-blooded disregard at an exorbitant personal cost. A former partner of Alexandra’s exposes his voracious appetite for power in Tempus Fugit.

Gaston Von Tesmar walks a fine line between insolence and truth with the Director in The Appointment and Sparring. Alexandra’s Random Encounters divulges goodness in a dictator, vile vengeance in a former friend, and blood lust from an unexpected foe. The Blood of Thrax wraps up the collection with a haunting tale of the influence of evil from beyond the grave.

Tabitha A. Bradley strikingly renders the myriad passions found in life. The author movingly captures the essences of being human. Diranda: Tales From the Fifth Quadrant is a universe where there are varying shades of gray and few black and whites. I could not put the book down. Tabitha A. Bradley cleverly challenges the readers’ notions of right and wrong, weak and strong.

Reviewed by: Dena