New species. Old wounds. A fight for supremacy on the galaxy's wildest planet.

When Hesperidia's satellite defense system suffers a catastrophic failure, the meteor shower it was supposed to repel rains down over the terrified tourists on safari. Three large surface impacts trigger a crisis intervention from the colonial authorities. It results in the removal of the current governor, and auditions for a successor are soon underway. Jan, Alien Safari's pre-eminent ranger-scientist, finds herself in competition with a formidable new male colleague, who'll stop at nothing to win the top job.

Their assignment leads them to the frozen north, where the discovery of a deadly new species near one of the impact craters imperils not just the safari tours, but potentially all life on the continent as well. An expedition to capture the creature tests Jan's survival resources to their limits, and provides a shocking reminder that mankind, for all its technological prowess, can't hold a candle to the savage ingenuity of alien nature.

Meanwhile, Detective Vaughn, struggling to reintegrate after his absence, must face his tragic past head on when he learns that his niece has been targeted for assassination. To keep her safe, he brings her to an island haven on Hesperidia. But the timing of his return couldn't be worse. A perfect storm of incident, treachery and planet-shaking events endangers the very future of human existence on this miraculous alien world.

Jan, along with the other scientists stationed on Hesperidia and a bunch of tourists gather to watch a spectacular meteor shower but when the planet’s satellite system is somehow disabled the show turns into a disaster as several large meteorites strike the planet. The failure means the end of the current planet governor’s term as he is unceremoniously dismissed and there is a contest among the rangers to see who will take his place.  Four teams of two scientists and an observer are sent to check the damage to the planet where each of four large meteorites hit.  Paired with her rival for the head ranger job, Jan finds herself facing an new, unknown Hesperidia creature more dangerous than any previously encountered, one that could kill all life on the planet.

Meanwhile Vaughn is finding it hard to adjust to the almost twenty-year absence that resulted from his previous adventure. Contemporary colleagues are ready for retirement while he is the same thirty-ish man he was before his last mission. When his estranged sister reaches out for help to rescue his niece from her less-than-savory associates who have sent a hit man after her to prevent her from testifying against them. When he brings Kyla to Hesperidia to hide until she can go into witness protection, that case seems to merge with Jan’s problems with the new creature and the increased smuggling of protected planets and animals off of Hesperidia.

This is a rollicking adventure with fast-paced action. Jan and Vaughn are intriguing characters that we want to see more of; and Stopper, the Geo-mod dog, is a real defined character all on his own.  While each book in the series has reached a satisfactory conclusion there is always room for more adventures on the planet Hesperidia. I look forward to their next adventure Alien Safari: Kingdom. Recommended. ~~ Stephanie L Bannon

For more titles by Robert Appleton click here