Wolf Star

Tour of the Merrimack #2

by R. M. Meluch

DAW, 328 pages, $23.95

In the far future, Captain Farragut is the commanding officer of one of the two most powerful ships in space, the U.S.S. Merrimack. The USA is locked in a deadly war with its breakaway colonies in the Palatine Empire. A vicious protracted struggle that has been sputtering on and off for over a hundred years.

Suddenly an alien race threatens both sides with extinction. What can they do? Who can they turn to?

I found the Wolf Star to be an entertaining novel in the style of the old fashioned space opera. It is a good stand alone story that most fans of that style should like.

BUT! After I had finished reading the book I was in a book store and found book #1 of the series on the discount table. I bought it and then took it home to read. Surprise, surprise… Book one totally changes the meaning of everything that happens in book two. I will not spoil the unique plot twist that Ms. Meluch used but I would strongly recommend this series to everyone. - William B. Whitmore