Book Review: Tango Midnight

Reviewed By: Harriet Klausner

Tango Midnight     Amazon US HC Amazon Canada HC
Michael Cassutt
Class/Genre:   Mystery   Science Fiction   Medical   Space
Forge, Nov 2003, $25.95, 384 pp.

In 2006 Space Station Alpha is run as a business enticing wealthy tourists and even a film crew to visit. Billionaire biochemist Tad Mikleszewski buys research time on Alpha where he plans to develop an X-Pox antitoxin to stop the deadly bio plague. However, his to efforts to launch his own ship fails so he turns to the Russians for a ticket on one of their crafts.

However, while the X-Pox bio plague is causing increased deadly havoc, the launch that Tad has booked runs into the usual snafu from the smaller privatized government advocates (smaller for everyone else and privatized for major campaign donors that is). Bad weather and illness also delays the flight. Finally in space, Tad arrives at Alpha where he begins work to develop an X-Pox antitoxin. However, the deadly virus is accidentally released into the space station air. Mark Koskinen leaves the comfort of Russia’s Star City to begin rescue maneuvers.

TANGO MIDNIGHT is an exciting near future space adventure that places a powerful accent on the science, technology, and the action. The novel brilliantly simplifies extremely complex knowledge so that the audience comprehends the information, but also uses that to enhance the action. Though the cast is a bit underdeveloped, outer space thriller fans will enjoy the ride.

Harriet Klausner

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Harriet Klausner