Reeves, Philip. Black
Light Express. Capstone Publishers
2018 336p $17.95
ISBN 978-1-63079-096-7 jr/sr Science Fiction VG-BN
The Black Light Express
begins with Zen and Nova escaping from the calamity they created in the first
book into unfamiliar territory. In Reeve’s world, sentient trains connect
universes inhabited by diverse populations of androids, insects, and a slew of
other creatures. And the human population is equally diverse in terms of race,
sexuality, and gender. But despite the nature of the living creatures,
politics, allegiances, and power all drive the action and motivations of the
large cast of intergallactic characters.
While Zen and Nova are on a quest to learn about the nature of the Black Light beckoning them, and a search to find an alternative route to home, the young Network leader Threnody Noon and her companion, Chandni Hansa, are on the run after a coup d'etat forces them into exile. Their paths (and trains) merge, and together, they seek to uncover the mysteries behind the coup, the resurgent Guardians, and the creation of the universe itself. Often funny, sometimes scary, and always thrilling, this is science fiction that manages to connect technology with emotion and rich story telling.
The Black Light Express is one heck of a ride. I hadn’t read the first book in the series, so I needed to depend very heavily on the glossary, and I reread the first few chapters a few times to catch up on the imaginative world created by Reeve. But the complex characters, non-stop action, and wildly creative future world soon had me hooked.
Recommended for all science-fiction and adventure-loving readers ages 12 and up. Though not required, readers should start the series with the first book, Railhead.
While Zen and Nova are on a quest to learn about the nature of the Black Light beckoning them, and a search to find an alternative route to home, the young Network leader Threnody Noon and her companion, Chandni Hansa, are on the run after a coup d'etat forces them into exile. Their paths (and trains) merge, and together, they seek to uncover the mysteries behind the coup, the resurgent Guardians, and the creation of the universe itself. Often funny, sometimes scary, and always thrilling, this is science fiction that manages to connect technology with emotion and rich story telling.
The Black Light Express is one heck of a ride. I hadn’t read the first book in the series, so I needed to depend very heavily on the glossary, and I reread the first few chapters a few times to catch up on the imaginative world created by Reeve. But the complex characters, non-stop action, and wildly creative future world soon had me hooked.
Recommended for all science-fiction and adventure-loving readers ages 12 and up. Though not required, readers should start the series with the first book, Railhead.
Summary: In this sequel to
Railhead, Zen Starling and his android girlfriend Nova journey into the
unknown via sentient trains that travel towards the Black Light Zone, escaping
the chaos of the Great Network in search of the secrets of the universe and the
AI Guardians who reengage with humans with the reopening of the new K
gate.
Adventure-Fiction,
Trains-Fiction --Lisa
Teixeira
