Book Review: Angel Of Destruction

Reviewed By: Harriet Klausner

Angel Of Destruction     Amazon US PB Amazon Canada PB
Susan R. Matthews
Class/Genre:   Science Fiction
Series: Jurisdiction Universe # 4
Roc, Oct 2001, $6.99, 352 pp.

The Langsarik fleet was powerful, trustworthy, and cemented in their loyalty to one another, making it very difficult for the Judiciary to hunt them down. The Langsarik were pirates whose own home planet refused to recognize them so eventually their leader, Walton Agnes negotiated with Garol Vogel to seek decent terms of surrender.

The five thousands members of the Langsarik fleet were put on probation and forced to live on land in Port Charid, a space port dominated by the Dolgrukij Combine. After a certain amount of years they would be allowed into space once again as law abiding citizens of the Judiciary. However there is an element on Port Charid who hate the Langsarik and is willing to stage bloody raids on other ports to get the Langsarik's probation revoked. It is up to Vogel, who has put together a last ditch desperate plan, to see that justice is carried out.

ANGEL OF DESTRUCTION is space opera of the first caliber. The tale is fast paced, with plenty of action and adventure and the various sub-plots add depth to a very complex story line. The characters are three-dimensional so that the readers can truly understand them and their motivations even if they don't approve all their actions. Susan R. Matthews is a fine storyteller who is not afraid to meet social issues heads on.

Harriet Klausner

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