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Beginning with the inquisition of Alack by the Inquisitor Themis Magistrate, readers enter a fantastical realm where friends in high places mean protection for those who oppress the masses. At the heart of a dispute are internal governmental and galactic struggles which test the characters, and particularly Alack, in moral and ethical ways. Alack’s adventures continue, and the plot follows him as he encounters strange rituals in which he is the guest of honor, breaks taboos, and comes across history and beings as ancient as the universe itself. As the book concludes, readers once again find the protagonist in a struggle for survival against an unimaginable monster with the power to potentially destroy everything.
With its subtle critiques of high government and government officials, this novel reads like a sci-fi allegory for contemporary times. Even Alack’s cultural clashes, particularly at the scene regarding Mrs. Walliskon’s cremation, wax reminiscent of modern societies navigating an ever-interconnected globe where cultural taboos and expectations may shock others. The protagonist is a memorable and often humorous character whose eccentricities, like his swift overeating, make readers laugh out loud. Alack’s adventures with other beings and their wartorn history might also remind readers of current discussions regarding efforts to understand and decolonize history. Thus, once again, the book transforms from a mere sci-fi novel to a book with a larger commentary on the way civilizations have functioned for centuries.
Both sci-fi and mystery fans will enjoy this novel because it is a fusion of both genres. Readers looking for a new, humorous hero will appreciate Alack for his all-too-human vulnerabilities and faults (like his inability to submit a properly proofread report to his superior), which easily make him the book’s most memorable character.