The second book in this series has been read and completed. And the second book I've read by someone named Nicholas Yermakov, though not the second by this author. I've read a ton under that Simon Hawke name.

So. hmms. Technically the books description: "The Earth's Directorate sends an expedition to the planet Boomerang in search of the secret of the race of Shades' immmortality." is more misleading than incorrect. One, it's not Earth's Directorate, it's ColCom. Colonization Command. They have a lot of power, but they are not the governing body of Earth. Two, while it is true a ship is sent to Boomerang by the Directorate, it is less an . . well, okay, maybe I'm just being difficult.

The second book in the series flows along nicely from the first. a new character pops up in the form of a psychiatrist. A Dr. Paul Telurude or something like that. I'll just call him Paul. And Jake, from the end of the last book, also plays a significant role. As does Drew Fannon and Col. Shelby Michaels. Nijs also returns, though in a side character kind of way. And, surprisingly, Wendy Chen also returns. Surprisingly since she spent 99.9% percent of the previous book asleep.

The book follows two story lines. The directorate doesn't think earth is ready for the idea of intelligent creatures with immortality, since that had been tried on earth and failed miserably. So, everyone that vaguely knows about Boomerang, is sent 'away'. Specifically to Boomerang, for an indeterminate period of time. So, a bunch of people, 45?, end up on Boomerang doing research on the Shades, the aliens, and specifically on attempting to create some method of communication.

Meanwhile, the directorate sent a second, even more secret expedition to Boomerang. Two faster than light ships sent off at the same time. Except one has something like 5,000 people on board, and is purposely sent back about 1000 years into the past. With the intention of seeing if these 'Seedlings' can get a hold of this 'immortality' thingie.

The book alternates between the two story-lines. One is mostly from the point of view of Dr. Paul. The other alternates. Oh, and a third story line pops up, eventually, among the native Shades.

An interesting well written book. Still seems to fall, occasionally, into long off-hand comments of little relevance. Well, I suppose relevant, but kinda longish, and kinda boring.

I rarely, as in I don't recall doing this before, but I'll mention my tags. Alien-encounters - well, the book does involve a first contact type of encounter between humans and aliens. Religion - religion rears up as a major issue in the book. I mean, there's this whole 'All-Father', and 'All-Mother' deal going on. Quite important. Religiously. Science-Fantasy - Science fiction with fantasy elements. The fantasy elements here involve psionic powers and telepathy . . I think. Oh, and that whole faster-than-light travel? Pure fantasy. I mean, literally. The ship flies really really fast to a specific location, ship enters, pilot thinks really really hard about where the pilot wants to go and . . . poof, there. That's the reason why the idea of time travel is technically possible. Since the pilot just pictures a time in the past. Or something. I mean, it is all waving of hands, and magic making. Science-Fiction - well, the book is science fiction, despite any elements it might have from the fantasy genre.

I'd recommend this book. You might be able to read this without first having read the first book in the trilogy, but it probably makes a whole lot more sense with the knowledge gained from having read the first book.

On the other hand, the first book could have just stood by itself without needing the second book. And the series could easily have been a duology, a two book series, based on how the second book ended. ( )