Interstellar Service & Discipline: Fallen Star

Isabeau Fallon – called the “Fallen Star” – is a highly skilled thief of electronic secrets. Abandoned as a child on Dyson’s Ring outpost station, she is one of an organized band of thieves preying on the smugglers using the station. Unfortunately, Fallon has a run-in with Sobehk, a Skeldhi slave-hunter who has a license to hunt her down. The consequences to the thief are serious. If captured, she will be changed into a Skeldhi rehkyt, a genetically-reconfigured slave, connected to her master by control collar and emotional and psychological impression – and the Skeldhi slave-hunters never give up ...

Morgan Hawke’s novels are an official must-buy for me. This story is the second one from the author that takes place in this universe; the first story was Victorious Star. I was impressed by Victorious Star, and I am just as impressed by Fallen Star. It is an adventurous science fiction story that takes place in a very violent and dangerous universe. As such, the story is fascinatingly intricate. The author has created a complex warrior society in the Skeldhi, and gradually reveals the layers and meanings throughout the book.

On a second level, this book is a “love” story, and depicts, in great detail, the growth of the characters’ emotional entanglements with each other. There is a happy ending -- but the author’s definition of “happily ever after” is a tad different from the traditional happy ending. On an entirely different level, this story is a very violent, intense BDSM ménage involving slavery, bondage, whips – you name it, it’s in this book. What really impresses me is that the emotions and frustrations of the characters are so powerfully written that the reader begins to experience the same feelings. In fact, I’ve rarely had an emotional reaction to a novel that is quite as intense as the reaction I have to Hawke’s writing, especially these two Stars. This graphic style may not be appreciated by every reader, but I highly recommend this book for its skillful, multi-level plotting and writing, and for the rousing good SF story too!

Reviewed by: Jean