SOJALS rating:

Mediocre (2/5)

I first read this in October 1999 and most recently on the 1st December 2001

In the far future, the interstellar civilisation of man is head to head against the Faraqui Empire. The Faraqui are slave breeders and traders, trading their human property to the interstellar empire of Man.

Costa is a young women on the planet Jahar in the Faraqui Empire, Costa has an unusual talent: she has dreams that foretell the future. However since she's a human under Faraqui domination, she will soon become either a slave, or a mother whose children will be taken as slaves.

Sold to the human diplomat Mira LoDire, Costa has a chance for something greater than slavery, and her mistress has a chance to investigate her own morality.

This was rather good. It was exciting and enthralling tale and I found myself rather liking the characters (well, the human ones of course, not the evil Faraqui).

What's it got? interstellar empires, bloodthirsty aliens, slaves, girl-slaves, sex, youth drugs, matter teleportation (but sadly simply as a convenient plot device. Well you can't have everything).