Command Decision

December 4, 2006
Fourth in Moon's Vatta's War space-going family and military saga (after 2006's Engaging the Enemy
), this jaunty far-future romp follows the scions of two powerful but threatened families: woman space warrior Kylara Vatta and undercover operator Rafe Dunbarger. While Ky, who earlier saw much of her family murdered, builds an antipirate fleet from former privateers, Rafe works to preserve his family's giant interstellar communications corporation after a hostile takeover. Aunt Grace Lane Vatta sheds her dotty old woman cover to direct security on Slotter's Key, the Vatta home base, and Cousin Stella settles in as Vatta's CEO, assisted by young Toby, a precocious techie. Though lacking the breathless hyperdrive of Moon's earlier splendid derring-do in Marque
and Reprisal
, the frequent FTL jumps between Ky's deep-space engagements, Rafe's reluctant boardroom battles, Grace's wily machinations and Stella's expert financial calculations keep the excitement level high.

January 1, 2007
After losing most of her family to a series of murderous attacks aimed at destroying the powerful Vatta interstellar shipping empire, Kylara Vatta leaves control of the business's remnants to a trusted cousin and takes to the stars seeking revenge. She recruits allies from other families and trading companies who have suffered similar attacks, creating a private navy under her own command. The fourth installment of the life and adventures of a resourceful heroine devoted to her family and her honor opens a new chapter in the Vatta family's fight for justice and survival. Nebula Award winner Moon ("Trading in Danger") handles action and intrigue with equal skill; her characters are varied and believable. With particular appeal for fans of the "Honor Harrington" series and dynastic sf, this novel is recommended, along with series predecessors, for most sf collections.

Copyright 2007 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

February 15, 2007
The fourth Vatta's War volume is Moon at her best. Kylara Vatta is trying to keep her tiny space fleet in business despite having to save it and herself from such hazards as slavery. Meanwhile, charming rogue (or so he seemed to Kylara) Rafael Dunbarger is methodically tracking down the survivors in his family, freeing them from captivity, and putting the traitors and klutzes who sabotaged interstellar communications out of business. This encourages piracy, which Kylara is committed to fight, eventually at the head of a force of 37 ships and an amiably mad playboy captain. Kylara is surely going to avenge her murdered family.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2007, American Library Association.)