dward York is an Explorer even though he lacks both of the usual requirements: a prominent physical disfigurement and the intelligence needed to survive the hazards of first contact with alien species. After a disastrous mission to the planet Troyen leaves his twin sister dead and the entire planet wrapped in civil war, Edward is assigned to a tiny moon base for 20 years. There--close to Troyen and her warring people, the Mandasars, but unable to help them in any way--Edward is abandoned to deal with his loss and guilt.
Twenty years later, Edward's disgrace has been mysteriously lifted and he is finally going home to New Earth. All is not well aboard the ship assigned to transport him, though. The crew is strangely tense about crossing out of the Troyen star system--and for good reason. At the moment of transition, everyone aboard dies except Edward himself, leaving the bumbling Explorer alone aboard a ghost ship. Among the dead is a Mandasar Hive-Queen, another reminder of the civil war and the tragedy that still darkens Edward's life.
The navy demands explanations from Edward for his shipmates' deaths. Nanotech devices are running amok on the ship, and military higher-ups are looking for a convenient way to make Edward disappear again. He has no hope of reaching New Earth; with his limited intellectual resources, he'll be lucky to avoid capture by the Navy. He crashes on a planet where Mandasar war orphans are fighting their own battle for freedom.
Exhausted and traumatized, on the run and infected with alien venom, Edward nevertheless discovers he might be the orphans' only hope for survival.
Action, wonder and great science
In Hunted, James Alan Gardner explores themes familiar to fans of his work: love, betrayal and the ways in which human ingenuity can be applied to infinitely devious schemes. Edward is one of Gardner's most intriguing characters yet--utterly naive, with little but good looks and a sweet nature to recommend him. These tools seem hardly enough when set against the sheer power of the forces seeking to subjugate the Mandasar, but Edward rises to every challenge, making full use of the opportunities that come his way, constantly offsetting his slowness of mind with advice from his allies, his innate goodness and his unmatched courage.
The emphasis on science in SF creates a readership that values intellect and brilliant characters, and this makes Edward's lack of brainpower a strange choice for an SF novel's protagonist. He is less complicated than the typical SF hero, and this gives Hunted, in places, a pleasant Golden-Age feel.
At the same time, the novel does not suffer from Edward's apparent defects.
On the contrary, Hunted has it all--action; wonder; a well-rounded, inventively designed alien culture; and great biological science.
Convincing, witty and thoroughly enjoyable, this is one summer novel that readers will not want to miss.
