Graham: Training the Earth-Born Lord

Graham is one of the cross-bred children of Kegin and Earth who were born to strengthen the genetic base of the Keen people. These descendants of the Keen Lords resided on Earth until it became too dangerous for them to stay – the governments of Earth were beginning to realize there were aliens in their midst. At that time, they were gathered back to Kegin, and trained in their privileges and duties as high-born Lords. Graham already has a failed marriage and divorce behind him on Earth, so there is nothing left for him there. When he comes to Kegin, Carila is asked to tutor him in the customs of Kegin.

This is a very short story (26 pages), a vignette in the Kegin series. I enjoy Lyons’ Kegin stories. I think that’s because her heroes and heroines are brave and strong, while being emotionally vulnerable. Many of the Earth-born are desperately lonely, hurt people who, because of their differences from the standard human form and physiology, believe they are damaged and without worth. The stories, therefore, are about people who are at rock bottom finding worth in themselves again. The man/woman sexual scenes in this story are quite explicit, but emotionally satisfying.

I enjoyed this story because it adds to the mythos of the world of Kegin. However, I don’t think that this story stands alone as well as some of the other Kegin stories. I recommend first reading Lyons’ other Kegin novels to provide the cultural background for full understanding of the details of the story.

Reviewed by: Jean