Rating: 
Summary: A Bit Too Haphazard
Review: This is the eighth in Alan Dean Foster's series about a boy and his flying mini-dragon. Of course, Flinx is no longer a boy, has some very strange mental powers, and has managed to attract the attention of a host of unsavory characters. Subject to burst of psychic energy, Flinx makes accidental contact with a being that has suddenly become interested in Commonwealth space. This life form is something of a cosmic vacuum cleaner. Where it passes, nothing is left. And Flinx's fleeting contact tells him that the creature is both vast and evil. And it has a special dislike for Flinx, who, somehow, holds the key to saving the universe.Still unsure about what to do, Flinx (Phillip Lynx) heads for the planet of New Riviera, a paradise planet where an old lover and friend, Clarity Held works as a bioengineer. At this point the plot starts moving by fits and starts, unable to make up its mind about whether it is a suspense/love story or suspense/alien menace story. What at first seems to be an interesting diversion gradually becomes the primary focus, despite having little to do directly with the initial developments of the book. This works against the book, which becomes a story stuck inside a story, both of which are primarily related by having occurred at the same time and place. The reader keeps waiting for the connections to become clearer, but all you get is a dues ex machina transition from one to the other. This is jarring, and, in my mind, badly weakens the story, which really lacks the compelling storytelling for which Alan Dean Foster is known. It is fairly clear that this is novel is intended as a bridge to develop both the impending doom plot as well as several interesting returns to Flinx's past. Eventually, we will solve the puzzle of who and what Flinx really is, but it won't happen in this volume. Instead, this is one of those books you have to read if you want to get to where the series is going. Hopefully, once things settle down, the future will bear more fruit. In the light of that, you may want to wait for the next volume to appear before committing to this one.
Rating:
Summary: A Bit Too Haphazard
Review: This is the eighth in Alan Dean Foster's series about a boy and his flying mini-dragon. Of course, Flinx is no longer a boy, has some very strange mental powers, and has managed to attract the attention of a host of unsavory characters. Subject to burst of psychic energy, Flinx makes accidental contact with a being that has suddenly become interested in Commonwealth space. This life form is something of a cosmic vacuum cleaner. Where it passes, nothing is left. And Flinx's fleeting contact tells him that the creature is both vast and evil. And it has a special dislike for Flinx, who, somehow, holds the key to saving the universe. Still unsure about what to do, Flinx (Phillip Lynx) heads for the planet of New Riviera, a paradise planet where an old lover and friend, Clarity Held works as a bioengineer. At this point the plot starts moving by fits and starts, unable to make up its mind about whether it is a suspense/love story or suspense/alien menace story. What at first seems to be an interesting diversion gradually becomes the primary focus, despite having little to do directly with the initial developments of the book. This works against the book, which becomes a story stuck inside a story, both of which are primarily related by having occurred at the same time and place. The reader keeps waiting for the connections to become clearer, but all you get is a dues ex machina transition from one to the other. This is jarring, and, in my mind, badly weakens the story, which really lacks the compelling storytelling for which Alan Dean Foster is known. It is fairly clear that this is novel is intended as a bridge to develop both the impending doom plot as well as several interesting returns to Flinx's past. Eventually, we will solve the puzzle of who and what Flinx really is, but it won't happen in this volume. Instead, this is one of those books you have to read if you want to get to where the series is going. Hopefully, once things settle down, the future will bear more fruit. In the light of that, you may want to wait for the next volume to appear before committing to this one.
Rating: 
Summary: Solid entry in the series, but readable as a stand-alone
Review: What's on New Riviera that would interest the psychically gifted young man whose one constant companion is an empathic flying snake? Although New Riviera is an incredibly welcoming world to Humans, he hasn't come to enjoy its beauty or to study its flora and fauna. This planet is "home" to Clarity Held, who six years ago was 18-year-old Flinx's first real love. Baffled and exhausted after a pair of fanatics from the Order of Null try to assassinate him, Flinx has to talk to someone he can trust. So he goes to Clarity, hoping she'll let him talk. He isn't planning to put her in danger...but when has danger failed to follow Flinx?
This ninth novel in one of my favorite SF series gives readers, and Flinx, more terrifying hints about what lurks behind the Great Emptiness approaching the Milky Way from far out in space. It's not necessary to have read the earlier books in order to enjoy this one, but if you are a long time fan you'll appreciate the author's attention to continuity.
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