Probability Space

August 26, 2002
The action-filled final volume in Kress's Probability Trilogy (Probability Moon; Probability Sun) spectacularly resolves the human-Faller stalemate. The story's setting moves from Earth to Mars to the planet World, all of which lie within the nexus of wormholes that somehow link space together. Central to the security of humanity is an alien artifact that has the capacity to protect—or destroy—entire star systems. Two of these devices are known to exist: one is held by humans, the other by the alien and hostile Fallers, with whom humanity is at war. When a military coup knocks the current leader out of power and he's replaced by a fool, Pierce, three people realize that Pierce may seek to use the artifact to utterly annihilate the Fallers—and likely the fabric of space-time. Physicist Tom Capelo, who found the artifact, military man Lyle Kaufman and sensitive Marbet Grant concoct a wild plan to save the day, a plan that involves hijacking the artifact and making direct contact with the enigmatic alien race. Meanwhile, Tom's daughter, 14-year-old Amanda Capelo, finds herself on the run as she's chased by military personnel who believe she knows something about who kidnapped her father. Worse, the young Greek man who befriends her may not be trustworthy. Admirers of the author's shorter work may be put off by inconsistent characterization and some utterly improbable situations, but followers of the trilogy will find much to enjoy here. (Sept. 13)FYI:Kress, the wife of SF writer Charles Sheffield, has won Hugo and Nebula awards for her short fiction.

September 15, 2002
When 13-year-old Amanda Capelo witnesses the kidnapping of her scientist father, Tom Capelo, she attempts to seek out the help of Sensitive Marbet Grant to help find him. Amanda's flight turns into a desperate race to outwit political forces who wish to use her in their campaign against the war between humanity and the alien Fallers, responsible for the space-tunnel technology that allows for rapid space travel throughout the galaxy. In the meantime, a group of resourceful individuals attempt to travel to the Fallers's home system in a bold bid to bring the war to an end. Concluding her "Probability" trilogy (Probability Moon; Probability Sun) with a surprising and satisfying resolution, Kress offers an action-filled, thought-provoking story of space travel, political intrigue, and hard science that belongs in most sf collections.

Copyright 2002 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

September 15, 2002
Wrapping up the Probability trilogy, begun in " Probability Moon" (2000)" "and continued in " Probability Sun" (2001), Kress proves her comprehensive mastery of the hard-science tale of interstellar war and intrigue. The alien Fallers have the human race on the defensive, if not on the verge of defeat. The battle line has shifted to Mars, from which four humans depart on what appears to be a suicide mission to the Fallers' home system. They reach it and attack successfully, affecting the very fabric of space-time, so that the Fallers' interstellar invasion routes close in inexorable succession, blocking any further incursions. Kress sustains the pace and the suspense at the highest levels, and if the body count mounts largely off-stage, its emotional impact on the well-drawn characters is nevertheless crystal clear.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2002, American Library Association.)