The Retreival Artists by Kristine Katherine Rusch
The series began with a novella which appeared in Asimov's magazine and won the Hugo Award, Best Novella, "The Retrieval Artist," 2000. It was later reprinted in an anthology-THE RETRIEVAL ARTIST AND OTHER STORIES, Five Star Publications, August, 2002.
The series takes place in the distant future-humans have left earth and are colonizing other planets and have formed an "alliance" with other alien races. In typical western-explorer fashion, humans conquered first and asked questions later. Sadly, aliens are not like the races of humans that we subdued on earth-they have thier own laws and the power to back them up. The result being that humans who commit crimes against aliens-even in ignorance-are in danger of losing thier lives-and worse yet-the lives of thier family, co-workers and future children. You cut down trees to build the perfect house on a lovely but somewhat backwards alien world only discover that "trees" are sentient beings on that planet. The aliens of that world do not murder you for your crimes-they claim the life of your first born child-and you are just grateful they can noy blame any of your co-workers and take the lives of thier children born and unborn as well. It is scary and sick. Many humans were simply ignorant of alien cultures and meant no damage or disrespect. But, thier laws and ways are not our laws and ways and if you choose to visit thier planet you play by thier rules-period. For example-the lawyer who defended who she believed to be an innocent alien in that aliens court system on that aliens home planet-and won. Perhaps the alien was innocent of that particular crime-but after release and 5 years later returning to a life of crime-the lawyer is now being prosecuted with the death penalty for allowing a guilty client to go free-not our laws. What does a human who made a mistake do when they offend all powerful aliens? They Disappear. They hire a human agency who asks no questions and helps them to totally disppear from thier current life-for good. They are advised to form no attachments and have no kids-they can be found at any time. Trackers-work for whoever can pay them and hunt down these "dissappeared" people for the aliens who are offering bounties on them. The otherside of that are the Retrieval Artists-who look for "disappeareds" for thier family members.
The novella-"The Retrieval Artist"-which introduces us to Miles Flint as a Retrieval Artist on a an exciting case-which allows to us some inside into how and why people "disappear" and just why they would need a Retrieval Artists services.
The first novel in the series-"The Disappeared"-serves as a prequel to the novella "The Retrieval Artist". The novels gives us background on Miles Flint-why he would even be interested in becoming a retrieval artist, how he got into the business, who trained him and how his background-as a detective-made him uniquely suited to the job. I really liked this book-mush better than the novella.
In the far distant future, Earth exists with other sentient species by obeying galactic law, though this may not be the best in some individual human cases. If Terra or its colonies want to trade with other species, the law must be obeyed. Miles Flint doesn't think of these ramifications when he becomes a moon detective. He accepts the job because he sees it as a way of helping people.
Then the Wygin come. This alien species want the children of two humans who have committed crimes on their home world, crimes that they never even knew they were committing and were nothing similar to Earth law. Miles must also deal with the case of Ekaterina Maakestad, a woman who did her duty as a defense attorney and is wanted by the Rev because her client then went on to commit other crimes after she got him acquitted on the first charge. Miles, in good conscience, can't turn the children and the woman over to the aliens but if he doesn't, he is breaking the very laws he has sworn to uphold.
The second novel, "Extremes"-follows an incident at the annual "Moon Marathon". It also prominently features Miles Flints old boss-Noelle DeRicci. It is a good mystery and a good sci fi novel. No aliens in this one-just good old fashioned human horrors. I liked that she showed whith this novel how humans can be horrible too. Puts the alien issues into perspective. I also liked Noelle alot-she is sarcastic, witty, extermely intelligent and has a bad attitude-I LOVE it!!!!I liked it alot-even better than "Disappeared".
The third book in the series, " Consequences" features aliens and humans and both of thier crimes. The book follows Miles Flints search for a woman who disappeared years ago and was recently pardoned-and is now able to return to her family. Miles checks it out, hunts her down and helps her to contact her parents. Just as he is starting to feel good about the family reunio-she and her parents turn up dead. This news is brought to Miles by his old partner-Noelle DeRicci-who is now moved WAY up in the department due to the case Miles helped her solve in "Extremes" she thinks maybe they can work together again. Miles thinks not. At the same time-Etean is trying to return to the human/alien "Alliance"-a United Nations type group. Eteans have been at war for generations. The first settlers to the planet were the aliens-Ioanans. They came in and murdered the natives-Ynnals. Then humans came in and murdered the Ioanans. Following which more humans came in and murdered the original humans. Well, now the planet has made peace with all humand factions left-sadly their planet is devastated by years of war and they now want to join the Alliance for the medical, food, eductaional benefits. Most of the Alliance is not too comfortable with the planets history-but the corporations want the Eteans medical enhancements-these enhancements allow the Eteans to be fully armed without ever carrying a weapon-thier fingers turn into blades-like wolverine-and thier arms and legs are modified to be stretchable-like the rubber man. However, the Moon is hosting this conference of the Alliance and trouble starts the minute the delegates from Etean are released unto the station. Miles dead client was "disppeared" for war crimes committed during the Etean war-coincidence?
This was an excellent novel-fast paced, interesting, enjoyable characters, excellent plot. I just love these novels!!!!
The Retrieval Artist
The Disappeared
Extremes
Consequences
~~~~Where ever you go, There you are!
The series takes place in the distant future-humans have left earth and are colonizing other planets and have formed an "alliance" with other alien races. In typical western-explorer fashion, humans conquered first and asked questions later. Sadly, aliens are not like the races of humans that we subdued on earth-they have thier own laws and the power to back them up. The result being that humans who commit crimes against aliens-even in ignorance-are in danger of losing thier lives-and worse yet-the lives of thier family, co-workers and future children. You cut down trees to build the perfect house on a lovely but somewhat backwards alien world only discover that "trees" are sentient beings on that planet. The aliens of that world do not murder you for your crimes-they claim the life of your first born child-and you are just grateful they can noy blame any of your co-workers and take the lives of thier children born and unborn as well. It is scary and sick. Many humans were simply ignorant of alien cultures and meant no damage or disrespect. But, thier laws and ways are not our laws and ways and if you choose to visit thier planet you play by thier rules-period. For example-the lawyer who defended who she believed to be an innocent alien in that aliens court system on that aliens home planet-and won. Perhaps the alien was innocent of that particular crime-but after release and 5 years later returning to a life of crime-the lawyer is now being prosecuted with the death penalty for allowing a guilty client to go free-not our laws. What does a human who made a mistake do when they offend all powerful aliens? They Disappear. They hire a human agency who asks no questions and helps them to totally disppear from thier current life-for good. They are advised to form no attachments and have no kids-they can be found at any time. Trackers-work for whoever can pay them and hunt down these "dissappeared" people for the aliens who are offering bounties on them. The otherside of that are the Retrieval Artists-who look for "disappeareds" for thier family members.
The novella-"The Retrieval Artist"-which introduces us to Miles Flint as a Retrieval Artist on a an exciting case-which allows to us some inside into how and why people "disappear" and just why they would need a Retrieval Artists services.
The first novel in the series-"The Disappeared"-serves as a prequel to the novella "The Retrieval Artist". The novels gives us background on Miles Flint-why he would even be interested in becoming a retrieval artist, how he got into the business, who trained him and how his background-as a detective-made him uniquely suited to the job. I really liked this book-mush better than the novella.
In the far distant future, Earth exists with other sentient species by obeying galactic law, though this may not be the best in some individual human cases. If Terra or its colonies want to trade with other species, the law must be obeyed. Miles Flint doesn't think of these ramifications when he becomes a moon detective. He accepts the job because he sees it as a way of helping people.
Then the Wygin come. This alien species want the children of two humans who have committed crimes on their home world, crimes that they never even knew they were committing and were nothing similar to Earth law. Miles must also deal with the case of Ekaterina Maakestad, a woman who did her duty as a defense attorney and is wanted by the Rev because her client then went on to commit other crimes after she got him acquitted on the first charge. Miles, in good conscience, can't turn the children and the woman over to the aliens but if he doesn't, he is breaking the very laws he has sworn to uphold.
The second novel, "Extremes"-follows an incident at the annual "Moon Marathon". It also prominently features Miles Flints old boss-Noelle DeRicci. It is a good mystery and a good sci fi novel. No aliens in this one-just good old fashioned human horrors. I liked that she showed whith this novel how humans can be horrible too. Puts the alien issues into perspective. I also liked Noelle alot-she is sarcastic, witty, extermely intelligent and has a bad attitude-I LOVE it!!!!I liked it alot-even better than "Disappeared".
The third book in the series, " Consequences" features aliens and humans and both of thier crimes. The book follows Miles Flints search for a woman who disappeared years ago and was recently pardoned-and is now able to return to her family. Miles checks it out, hunts her down and helps her to contact her parents. Just as he is starting to feel good about the family reunio-she and her parents turn up dead. This news is brought to Miles by his old partner-Noelle DeRicci-who is now moved WAY up in the department due to the case Miles helped her solve in "Extremes" she thinks maybe they can work together again. Miles thinks not. At the same time-Etean is trying to return to the human/alien "Alliance"-a United Nations type group. Eteans have been at war for generations. The first settlers to the planet were the aliens-Ioanans. They came in and murdered the natives-Ynnals. Then humans came in and murdered the Ioanans. Following which more humans came in and murdered the original humans. Well, now the planet has made peace with all humand factions left-sadly their planet is devastated by years of war and they now want to join the Alliance for the medical, food, eductaional benefits. Most of the Alliance is not too comfortable with the planets history-but the corporations want the Eteans medical enhancements-these enhancements allow the Eteans to be fully armed without ever carrying a weapon-thier fingers turn into blades-like wolverine-and thier arms and legs are modified to be stretchable-like the rubber man. However, the Moon is hosting this conference of the Alliance and trouble starts the minute the delegates from Etean are released unto the station. Miles dead client was "disppeared" for war crimes committed during the Etean war-coincidence?
This was an excellent novel-fast paced, interesting, enjoyable characters, excellent plot. I just love these novels!!!!
The Retrieval Artist
The Disappeared
Extremes
Consequences
~~~~Where ever you go, There you are!
posted by Laileanah | 7:01 PM
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