Rumor Has It

June 1, 2024

The crew of You Sexy Thing is running low on supplies, funds, and luck. They decide to head to Coralind Station, a place of exotic gardens famed for culinary and personal delights, where they may be able to acquire the items they need and get the rest they deserve. Niko is hoping to withdraw the insurance payout (from the destruction of their restaurant) from the bank, and an old friend who runs the station may be able to help. Meanwhile, Niko must deal with her former lover Petalia's continued antagonism, along with the (usually) unrequited flirtations of Jezli. Dabry finds that his dead daughter may not be as dead as he thinks, Skidoo fears that her modifications haven't changed her fate, Atlanta works on her new paladin status, and Talon and his brother's clone continue to deal with the fallout of their non-relationship. Add in that their enemy, Tubal Last, has clones running around the universe, and no one on the crew will actually get a break. VERDICT The third outing for this alien crew is filled with action, high emotions, and hijinks.--Kristi Chadwick

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July 8, 2024
The raucous third entry in Rambo’s Disco Space Opera series (after Devil’s Gun) takes Capt. Niko Larsen and the motley, multispecies crew of the bioship You Sexy Thing to Coralind, a vast and luxurious interstellar station. While there, Niko hopes to recoup the insurance money for damage incurred while trying to take down pirate king Tubal Last. Each crew member has some dicey loss to recover from, too—as do the enigmatic con woman Jezli and Niko’s ex-lover Petalia, turned against Niko by Last, who both happen to also be on Coralind. And they’re not the only old enemies laying in wait. The sprawling cast all handle their grief with unique and convincing aplomb. Luscious extraterrestrial foods highlight Coralind’s attractions, while the diverse alien species Rambo delineates so well provide stories-within-stories that spice up the main plot. A crew roster at the start will help orient new readers and forgetful returning fans. This is a feast for space opera enthusiasts.

August 1, 2024
Having discovered that there is more to pirate Tubal Last than they'd expected and that the Devil's Gun won't work against him after all, Captain Niko Larsen decides to take a massive risk. She'll take the You Sexy Thing and her crew to Coralind, a station renowned for its gardens--and consequently, its ingredients. They'll arrive at the very beginning of Festival, when the financial risks are greatest but the potential rewards, assuming they can get a permit for a pop-up restaurant, will more than offset their current woes. With any luck, Niko will also be able to get an insurance payout from the Coralind branch office. The crew of You Sexy Thing aren't the only ones who had the brilliant idea to go to Coralind, though, and events rapidly spiral out of control. The crew, still rebuilding their relationships after the events of Devil's Gun (2023), visit the gardens of Coralind, make some fascinating attempts at trade, and manage at least one truly memorable meal. The character dynamics continue to pair with perilous adventure for a thoroughly entertaining read.

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