Terry A. Adams

A pretty solid first contact novel, following the two that are currently in print as [b:The D'neeran Factor|16158515|The D'neeran Factor|Terry A. Adams|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1359979813s/16158515.jpg|21998931]. This time, telepath Hanna Bassanio is sent to Battleground, so named (by us) because it exists in a state of perpetual war.

That probably should have been my first clue that this was going to be a grim story.

Humans are interested in studying the people of Battleground, particularly for their longevity (they can live for several hundred years if they don't die in battle); in turn, Battleground wants new weapons and - once they've discovered it - the secret of telepathy. But neither side is ever able to really understand the other.

One aspect of this novel I didn't care much for: there's romance, but it's not the fun kind. And there's a baby. It's just all so domestic. Tied-down characters are boring. Hannah herself isn't even particularly likeable any more; she's more of an object to which things happen than an active participant this time around, and when she does act, she makes stupid mistakes, and things just keep getting worse.

Mixed feelings in the end. It has an interesting start and middle, but the last act is filled with such hopelessness. I haven't been this depressed by a SF sequel since [b:Ancient Light|808669|Ancient Light|Mary Gentle|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1239501333s/808669.jpg|794610].… (meer)