Code of Conduct [Mass Market Paperback]

Code of Conduct tells a fast-paced story that weaves intrigue, politics, and personal honor into a sophisticated tapestry. With well-realized characters, both human and alien, and a plot full of gratifying twists and turns, this book showcases a fine new voice in science fiction.

About twenty years prior to the book's opening scene, Captain Jani Kilian almost died in a civil war among the idomeni, an alien race just enough like humans to make their vast differences disturbing. Framed for treason and then presumed dead in an explosion, she has spent the years since in hiding. After the blast, her doctors put her together with illegal experiments that combined human and idomeni genes. Now it is catching up with her. Is she dying--or changing into a new species that could threaten the existence of both humans and idomeni?

Jani thinks she is safe--until Evan van Reuter, the powerful Interior Minister of the Commonwealth, finds her. He wants her to solve a mystery that could destroy him: why did his wife die? Author Smith sets-up a wonderfully Byzantine scenario, with the dangerous, augmented Jani as an ideal choice of investigator from Evan's point of view, but a terrible choice as far as Jani is concerned.

One pleasure of this novel is the rich cast, both human and idomeni, that tangles the investigation. To snarl matters more, Evan is Jani's former lover. She finds herself in a political maze that could shake the foundations of the Commonwealth. Smith ties this all together in a well-written story that leaves the reader wanting more.

Smith does a good job with the idomeni, in particular Tsecha, a political and religious leader among his people and an ambassador to Earth. Watching him exasperate his human hosts with his wry personality and audacious nature is fun. The book creates a strong portrayal of an alien, with the nifty twist that eating is a form of prayer for his people. Another strength of this book is the subtle sensuality in the various relationships of the people, especially Jani's interactions with Evan and another character, Lucien. In fact, in general Smith does character well. The motivations and personalities of these people both surprise and make sense, a blend that isn't easy to achieve.

Code of Conduct is good science fiction, good hard-edged suspense, and an all around good read.

The writer shows great promise in this work, but also displays her inexperience in technique and style that makes this book a good, but not great piece of writing. Too little historical information is given when referring to background characters we are expected to already understand. Plus the book has a feel that the real story is still waiting to be told. There is a sense of "sequel" or "trilogy" throughout the book. Too many writers enter the science fiction field today automatically assuming readers want their stories told over three or more books. Smith falls into this trap. This story needs further development in its past reality, such as the original relationship between Kilian and her alien mentor or the story of the idomeni and the fractionalization of their society. It also needs further elaboration on its future reality with the political, social and physiological ramifications from the mutual evolution of human and idomeni societies.

Despite these shortcomings, reading Code of Conduct is worth the effort. The story keeps you interested; Smith writes action and intrigue very well. Her theme is well thought out, if not fully revealed to the reader. We will all want to know how it is finished in Smith's next work.

I would have enjoyed this book a whole lot more if I could have read the prequel. Except that there is no prequel. My main problem with the book is that it feels like a sequel; all the interesting events are told in not-quite-as-interesting memory sequences. It would have been okay if the book skipped back and forth from past to present, gradually revealing what happened, but instead the author uses the blander "Jani remembered...She had..." type sequences usually used in a sequel to inform the reader what had already happened in the previous book.

My second problem with the books is that I think the author chose the wrong viewpoint character--Jani is unconscious or not present when half the interesting things happen and ends up being told about them after the fact.

So my main reaction is that Code of Conduct is a decent book marred by some bad narrative decisions. If Kristine Smith writes a prequel to this book, I'd be interested in reading it.