Starred Review. The American and Roman interstellar empires are still at war in Meluch's rousing far-future SF novel, set in a universe slightly altered from that of its predecessor, The Myriad (2005). Capt. John Farragut and the intrepid crew of the starship USS Merrimack take on the Romans with the skill, flair and foul-mouthed witticisms one would expect from space-faring sailors and marines, escaping one trap after another as they seek a hidden space station. When they find the station, they're shocked to learn it's been ravaged by the Hive, voracious bug-eyed monsters who'd be right at home on a 1930s pulp magazine cover: they eat anything alive, fly faster than light and are heading straight for human-colonized space. America and Rome must make peace to face this nearly unstoppable threat. Meluch has tightened up her prose and fleshed out her characters, and the parallel-universe twist renders this a perfectly good starting point. This is grand old-fashioned space opera, so toss your disbelief out the nearest airlock and dive in. (Jan.)
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The second adventure of the Merrimack and her right good crew focuses on the war between Earth and the Palatine Empire. The empire is a group of seceded colonies that based its culture on the Roman Empire. Although doughty fighters, the Palatines have been at a disadvantage in interstellar flight technology. Now they may be developing Earth-equivalent technology and the potential to expand their sphere of influence. When the Merrimack is sent to investigate, she falls into a trap that only Captain Farragut's ingenuity keeps from becoming fatal. Add to this the advent of the Hive--space-dwelling group beings who are the deadly enemies of all other sentient life--and the ingredients of a fast-paced, space-action novel are assembled. Meluch's zany streak and slightly barbed wit help her round out the characters. Just how many Merrimack books Meluch and DAW plan hasn't been specified. Let us hope that it is a good many. Roland Green
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