Coyote Frontier: The Coyote Series: Book Three [Paperback]

The strength of this trilogy lies almost entirely in Mr. Steele's ability to recreate the spirit of discovery and exploration that we have lost as a society. In Coyote Frontier the colonists have worked out their government, have begun negotiations with earth and now must choose how they will allow their new planet to be used by humanity. Mr. Steele finally gets around to issues of how the indigenous life of Coyote will be impacted by the settlers and does a fair job of treating various social issues.

The first two installments in the trilogy involved slower than light travel, which introduced an interesting but relevant theme of how to maintain a technologically-advanced society at the end of a very, very long supply chain. These are issues that must be faced when we begin exploration and settlement of the moon and mars. You can't just order up spare parts. In Coyote Frontier, Mr. Steele introduces FTL travel--moving people to Coyote is no longer limited by the cost of starships capable of making a multi-lightyear journey. Coyote becomes the lifeboat that the huddled masses of Earth threaten to swamp; fortunately, problems are solved and opportunites presented.

To fully enjoy this third volume of the Coyote trilogy requires familiarity with the issues presented and resolved in the first two installments. I would not recommend starting with this volume--go buy Coyote. I greatly enjoyed Mr. Steele's work and hope that he continues this series.

Two decades have passed since the Coyote Federation broke away from Earth rule to form a democracy, but the planet is in crisis as the dependency on earth technology has taken its toll. Leader Carlos Montero knows that gaining their independence was a lot easier than maintaining their freedom as he has learned that fighting for liberty was dangerous but simple while ruling is very complex. He is unsure which direction to take Coyote as the infrastructure is crumbling without spare parts or replacement equipment. At the same time Earth is near ecological destruction and needs raw materials that Coyote can provide.

Carlos must decide whether to heed the offer of business mogul Morgan Goldstein, who promises to invest new capital and technology in Coyote or does he plead with his brilliant recluse former Lieutenant Governor Manuel Castro to return and negotiate with earth. Either way Carlos personally loses, but he no longer can worry about his own desires or esteem, Coyote is in trouble. Still Carlos wonders what the costs vs. the benefits of either solution are. He knows Morgan the capitalist will extract quite a price while he is unsure that Manuel can still do the job; finally the people of Coyote wonder what to do about earth's desperate ploy to escape ecological ruin by thinking of using the starbridge technology to enable escape to Coyote.

COYOTE FRONTIER is the terrific conclusion to one of the best science fiction trilogies of the last decade. The complex story line concentrates on key characters, who allow the audience to comprehend the complexities of relationships whether they are personal between a man and wife, two leaders, or inter-global, as well as decision making where someone wins and someone loses depending on what is decided. Allen Steele is at his best with this deep moral yet action-packed character driven science fiction thriller. If you have not read the previous two tales (COYOTE and COYOTE RISING) you are missing an exciting thought provoking winner.

Harriet Klausner

Coyote Frontier (2005) is the third SF novel in the Coyote Trilogy, following Coyote Rising. In the previous novel, the original colonists revolted against invaders from the Western Hemisphere Union. Once the WHU troops were defeated, they were sent back to Earth and the new colonists were incorporated into the Coyote Federation.

In this novel, Jonas Whittaker is the man who creates the starbridge, a system that generates a wormhole between linked toruses. He had been slated to flee the Solar System on the URSS Alabama, but unluckily had been captured by the police. Yet he was placed in biostasis for two centuries and outlived his government.

Anastasia Tereshkova is the Captain of the second starship commissioned by the European Alliance. The EASS Columbus is taking a starbridge to 47 Ursae Majoris-B. Actually, the ship itself will become the starbridge and the Gatehouse.

Jonathan Parson is the Second Officer of the Columbus. He is an exemplary officer. But he has no desire to return to Earth.

Carlos Montero is President of the Coyote Federation. He had been the first longrange explorer on the planet. While only seventeen, he had traveled around the world on the Great Equatorial River. Later, he became a leader in the revolt against the WHU.

Wendy Gunther is the wife of Carlos and a former member of the Federation Council. She is a better statesman than her husband, having practically cut her teeth on colonial politics. Carlos greatly depends on her political advice.

Susan Montero is the daughter of Carlos and Wendy. She is a naturalist at the university. When she is not teaching classes, Susan spends most of her time studying the natives.

Hawk Thompson is a nephew of Carlos. He is the son of Lars Thompson and Marie Montero. His loyalties are divided between his mother and his estranged father.

Manuel Castro is a savant, a downloaded mind within a robotic body. He had come to Coyote in the retinue of the WHU dictator and was even appointed Lieutenant Governor. Since the revolt, he disappeared into the mountains, where he studies the natives.

Katoom is a Chirreep, a native of Coyote. Carlos had discovered that the sandthieves on Barren Island were intelligent natives many years ago, but kept this information secret. Katoom is even more highly evolved than the sandthieves.

In this story, the EA discovers the body of Jonas on Luna and takes him back to Europe to revive him. Jonas brings with him all his notes on the dimetric drive and the starbridge. His subsequent research creates an improved version of the drive. And the discoveries of the past two centuries make feasible the construction of a working starbridge.

The prototype starbridge -- KX-1 -- is used to take the first European starship -- the EASS Galileo -- to the Kuiper Belt as the first step of a very secret mission. An improved version is built into the EASS Columbus and taken to the Ursae Majoris-B system. There the Columbus is reassembled into the starbridge and a link is established with the starbridge near the Earth.

Carlos and Wendy greet Captain Terekhova at her first landing on Coyote. Both parties are rather surprised at the changes that have occurred. Ana shares some information with the Coyote colonists, but is hesitant to tell about the EASS Galileo.

Jon Parson pilots the shuttle that takes Ana down to the surface, but he soon takes a hike. He receives assistance from a few colonists in his journey into the boondocks. He just doesn't want to go back to the dying Earth.

Eventually Jon becomes an assistant of Manny Castro. Parson soon meets Katoom and other natives. Then he encounters Susan and Hawk.

The coming of the starbridge becomes a political issue on Coyote. Some people think that it will allow the Earth to inundate Coyote with new colonists. After all, transit time within the starbridge itself is effectually zero.

This tale relates the effects of this astronautical shortcut on the Coyote Federation. After treaties are signed with various Earth governments -- and one private capitalist -- Susan notices that the environmental damage is increasing rapidly. Moreover, the habitats of the natives are also being destroyed.

The story covers a time period from shortly after the hijacking of the URSS Alabama to the confrontation between the Coyote Federation and the European Union. Almost every page is filled with action and conflict between individuals and polities. Read and enjoy!

Recommended for Steele fans and for anyone else who enjoys tales of interstellar conflict, planetary colonization, and interpersonal relations.

-Arthur W. Jordin