Invasion America: On the Run | |||||
Christie Golden | |||||
Roc Books, 266 pages | |||||
A review by Lisa DuMond
So. Why did I enjoy On the Run so much?
Maybe because it is
pure entertainment. Maybe because it is a wilder ride than any of the
roller coasters cramming the airwaves lately. Or, just maybe because it
is a tale where you can feel good rooting for the good guys and feel
wholly justified in wanting the bad guys wiped off the face of the Earth.
Then again, it could be that this is adventure in the grand tradition,
with writing that draws you in and a plot that keeps you riveted.
That's a rare enough combination these days.
For those who, like me, missed volume one, the title should be explanation
enough. America has been invaded by an alien
race. It's just that almost no one but the invaders are aware of
this. In fact, the ruler of Tyrus (the invading planet in question) was
unaware of the invasion until it began. That's because he isn't
really needed or wanted in the new power structure.
There you have the crux of the story. Cale-Oosha is the major party
On the Run. He isn't alone, though. And he isn't giving up the
fight to stop the invasion.
FBI agents, Native Americans, epidemiologists, and college students -- it's
a colourful cast, and that's not even including Tyrusians, good and bad. They
scramble from space ships to big cities to mesa country, learning how to survive
along the way.
Golden manages to fill in the flesh of her characters with a few words,
making each distinctive in a crowd that could easily have become merely
a list of credits. Yes, it is safe for young adults,
but the relationships, as well as the plot, are developed fully and realistically.
That fully developed plot is a good one, too. Biogenetics and big slavering
monsters. Mental powers and heavy arms. Trust and betrayal. What more could
you ask for? Keep it to yourself. The story lines start out impossibly
far-flung and pull together naturally, bypassing miraculous coincidence for logic.
It's not destined to be bound in oxblood leather and produced by
Masterpiece Theatre. Just enjoy it. Think of it as a
modern Lensman, here on Earth.
Lisa DuMond writes science fiction and humour. She co-authored the 45th anniversary issue cover of MAD Magazine. Previews of her latest, as yet unpublished, novel are available at Hades Online. |
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
If you find any errors, typos or anything else worth mentioning,
please send it to editor@sfsite.com.
Copyright © 1996-2014 SF Site All Rights Reserved Worldwide