Stardoc
by S.L. Viehl
(science fiction)

This is the first new Sci-Fi book I’ve read in a long time, and it’s made me wonder why I waited so long. Viehl manages to create a futuristic world with aliens that are—if not scientifically accurate—very amusing. She is also consistent within her own world, at least in this first book in the series.

The main character, Cherijo, goes through a little character development, though not as much as could be hoped for. However, this is the first in a multi-book series, and so there is still room left for development as the books progress. The different supporting characters do go through comparable development, with motives present but not always explicit.

I read this book essentially in one day. It was very amusing, and paced well enough that I didn’t realize how much time I spent reading until I hit a sad spot and went off in search of a Kleenex. It was a good read, and I do plan on continuing the series.

If you are looking for extreme depth, you will probably want to look elsewhere. But for a fun, good read that’s not exactly shallow either, I would highly recommend this one.