Hidden Worlds heads for Earth

Rissa and Tregare is only the second in the sweeping space opera saga of F. M. Busby's Rissa Kerguelen series but it is a powerful book.

As Rissa grows closer to Bran Tregare, she also becomes a part of his complicated and dangerous operation to seize control of Earth from the UET or United Energy and Transport conglomerate that rules most of the world's government.

Rissa and Tregare, both survivors of the vicious Total Welfare system are heavily motivated to free both Earth, and the Hidden Worlds that have managed to flourish outside of UET's reach.

Busby leans on his own background in Intelligence in weaving together the intrigues involved in bringing diverse cultures in compliance to achieve a mutual goal.

I found it fascinating to be rereading this book in 2022 and recognizing the influences of the sexual revolution of the 60's and 70's. The character's relationships are varied and sometimes confusing.

I'm sad to get to the end of this book because I can't find any of the other ones still in print. Rissa Kerguelen will always be my favorite space opera. ( )

The first book of this series had left me with mixed emotions. I enjoyed the relatively progressive kickass heroine, the generally entertaining storytelling, and some interesting ideas on interstellar capitalism. I was put off by the sophomoric obsession with sex.

For much of this second book I felt that it was an improvement, with less action but a fair amount of character development that goes beyond our two protagonists to a diverse supporting cast which even includes strong females whose raison d'être extends beyond giving adolescent teen boys something about which to fantasize.

Having said that, a few key late plot developments again left me feeling less than fully enthusiastic about Rissa and Tregare. It was obvious that the mysterious aliens were going to show up, and that Tregare was going to need to recruit them as allies. When they did finally make an appearance, the aliens, and how they interacted with the humans, and how the humans reacted to such interaction felt both rushed and pretty ridiculous. Likewise, Busby’s handling of the reappearance of an important character from early in the first book, the secrets that character was hiding, and how our protagonists reacted once the secret was revealed, all left me quite unimpressed.

As is perhaps not unusual for a second book in a trilogy, this second book doesn’t actually advance the story very much. It is largely about character development and setting up the climactic action to come in book three. ( )

Try finding a kickass heroine in science fiction before 1980, the year before this novel's publication. Particularly try finding a kickass action heroine of that date, one written by a male writer that doesn't make you, a woman, cringe. Rare.

So, in Rissa you have a strong heroine in a space opera of the kind you find in Robert Heinlein, David Weber, Lois McMaster Bujold, Elizabeth Moon. For me, this really hit the spot. And this is one of those old-fashioned tales about someone who starts at the very bottom of life only to rise to heights on smarts and gumption--and more than a little luck. And believe me, it's not as if Bran Tregare, a space pirate that could give Han Solo a run for his money, doesn't have his own appeal.

This is only the second book in the Rissa trilogy, so you should really start with Young Rissa (aka Rissa Kerguelan)--if you can. I can't remember how I discovered this series, I think I must have been lent one by a friend, because I do remember reading The Long View which I don't own. But I do remember then hunting used book stores trying to find more--and alas I only have three on my book shelves--and Young Rissa isn't one of them. Fortunately this novel can stand alone, even if there are tantalizing references to what must have happened in other books. Thes Rissa and Tregare books are a pleasure, and I'm only sorry they're not easily available--and that there aren't more. ( )

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