Sunday, August 30, 2015

Power play by Anne McCaffrey and Elizabeth Ann Scarborough

Power play is the third book in the Petaybee trilogy so this review contains ***SPOILERS*** if you have not read the first books in the series.  This series is best enjoyed in order so I suggest you read Powers that be and Power lines before you read any more of this review.

Petaybee has faced the challenge of proving it is sentient, but for some that proof will never be enough.  One of the most resistant is anthropologist Matthew Luzon, who not only faced the embarrassment of being injured in a natural disaster that was attributed to the sentient planet, he has also set his sights on swamping the planet to prove the appointed guardians of the planet are not up to the job.  It is a cunning plan and one that should bear fruit for Intergal in the future, but his is not the only plan in place.  Another disgruntled "victim" of the planet Petaybee has plans for the kidnap and ransom of some very special people - and one way or another the price will be paid as far as he is concerned.

Far away from the safety and protection of the place she has called home for months, Yana is in the unenviable position of speaking for the whole planet in front of a hearing that has the potential to go very badly.  Marmion is trying to protect her and support her from the worst of the situation, but being far from home is always unsettling - and when you are pregnant with your first child and far from family and husband and it is even harder.  When Yana and her company are kidnapped by pirates it seems as though everything is lost - but you should never underestimate just how small the universe really is.  In a race against time the residents of Petaybee need to figure out what is happening and fast - otherwise their planet may be destroyed before their very eyes.

Power play is the final book in the Petaybee trilogy and brings together the different threads of the previous books - creating a seamless end to a series that was engaging, pushing boundaries of believability (a sentient planet, need I say more), and bringing together a cast of characters that were perfect in their imperfections.  Power play closes off some of the plots left open at the end of Powers that be and concludes the involvement of the characters introduced in Power lines, as well as bringing to an end the journey that begins in Power play.  

There are some people who seem to really dislike this series, and I can see why that might be the case - writers who step outside what their readers are used to often face confusion or dislike because it is not familiar.  There could also be a lot of dislike because of the strong messages of protecting the environment and living within your means - these messages strongly resonate today because we are already seeing the damage done to the environment over many years of taking what we want without necessarily having care for the rest of the planet.  Enjoy this series for it's messages, enjoy the series for the strong female characters who hold their own in a man's world, enjoy this series for the connection to the animals and the world - or just enjoy this series for it's own sake.

If you like this book then try:
  • The crystal singer by Anne McCaffrey
  • The ship who sang by Anne McCaffrey
  • Decision at Doona by Anne McCaffrey
  • The Rowan by Anne McCaffrey
  • Werehunter by Mercedes Lackey
  • The elvenbane by Andre Norton and Mercedes Lackey
  • Dragonsong by Anne McCaffrey
  • Arrows of the Queen by Mercedes Lackey
  • Alien taste by Wen Spencer
  • The diamond throne by David Eddings
  • Sassinak by Anne McCaffrey and Elizabeth Moon

Reviewed by Brilla

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