About the Author

Elizabeth Moon grew up on the Texas border, served three years of active duty in the USMC (1968–71), and now lives with her husband, also a veteran, near Austin, Texas. She has published more than twenty-five novels, including Nebula Award winner The Speed of Dark, Hugo finalist Remnant Population, and the enduring epic fantasy series The Chronicles of Paksenarrion. She has published more than fifty short-fiction pieces in anthologies and magazines and in four of her own short-fiction collections, most recently Moon Flights and Deeds of Honor. When not writing, Moon enjoys photographing native plants and wildlife, knitting socks, and cooking.

Reviews

Rip-roaring action and intriguing science and tactics distinguish Nebula-winner Moon's fifth and final Vatta's War installment. Now combat-blooded and well on her way to the admiralty, young Kylara Vatta commands 40 far-future spacecraft against ferocious Gammis Turek, a criminal mastermind who has threatened Ky's home world of Slotter Key, her relatives and the far-flung Vatta economic empire. Ky has the rank she always hoped she'd achieve and now must accept the fearful responsibilities it entails. Weighed down by thoughts of the deaths she has caused-both friend and foe-and the need to protect the people in her command, Ky finds herself making some dangerous decisions. She's surrounded by a convincing supporting cast, from feisty fruitcake-baking Aunt Grace, who runs Slotter Key's defenses, to dashing Rafe Dunbarger, acting CEO of InterStellar Communications, who has lost his heart to Ky despite his best efforts at stoicism. This epic volume is a fine and fitting conclusion to Moon's grand space opera tour de force. (Feb.) Copyright 2007 Reed Business Information.

Since the death of most of her family at the hands of political assassins, Kylara Vatta has sought vengeance against the mastermind behind the plot to destroy the Vatta family and its interstellar holdings. Now the young military-trained space merchant-turned-privateer commands her own fleet of spaceships and has identified her enemy-the notorious pirate and would-be galactic ruler Gammis Turek. Despite the threat to free worlds posed by Turek, there are powers who still mistrust the Vatta name and waiver about joining forces with Ky Vatta. The fifth and concluding volume to the author's popular "Vatta's War" series (Trading in Danger; Marque and Reprisal; Engaging the Enemy; Command Decision) takes place on many fronts-military, political, social, and personal-and Moon handles everything from full-scale space battles to intimate social and political interactions with the skill of a master storyteller. Strong characterizations, subtle humor, and a feel for military sf make this dynastic space opera a strong addition for all sf collections. Copyright 2008 Reed Business Information.