Orion Arm: The Rampart Worlds: Book 2 [Paperback]

Julian May's "Rampart Worlds" space-opera romps began with Perseus Spur; Orion Arm is volume two. Asahel "Helly" Frost, disgraced scion of the mighty Rampart interstellar family company, again finds himself working for them as a wisecracking, space-faring James Bond against the evil Galapharma corporation, which is selling priceless human know-how and DNA to the alien Haluk--cunning devils who've developed a "demiclone" process for turning reptilian Haluks into human form and vice-versa. The slam-bang action moves through various cinematic set-pieces: assignations in genetically enhanced brothels so lewd than even very bad men puke at the attractions offered; Frost betrayed and not killed outright but left in a deathtrap with one slim chance of escape; a high-tech strike against a secret Haluk base closely resembling the one in Perseus Spur; much blood and mayhem thanks to deep-penetration Galapharma traitors planted within Rampart and indeed Frost's own family; murderous last-minute reversals at the crucial board meeting, followed by a final shoot-out and offing of the arch villain in a way that might just allow his return for book three. Orion Arm offers colourful, tongue- in-cheek violence and drama that pulls you along but refuses to be taken seriously. --David Langford

‘You have to admire the scope of her work’
SFX

‘A certain crowd pleaser’
Kirkus Reviews

‘Julian May has irrevocably placed herself among the greats’
Asimov’s SF Magazine

‘A writer of exceptional perception and power’
Jean Auel, author of The Clan of the Cave Bear

A gripping sf adventure from the acclaimed author of The Pliocene Exile series.

Two hundred years into the future, the great corporations of Earth dominate all life in our Galaxy. But their endless pursuit of wealth and power is about to open the door to a malevolent alien race, intent on engulfing the commonwealth of Human Worlds.

Helly and his companions attempt to capture a crucial witness to the Galapharma conspiracy, who has taken refuge on a hostile planet. Its insanely ambitious boss, Alistair Drummond, will stop at nothing in his quest for power, and Helly is marked for death as the two corporations continue to do battle.

Meanwhile, the Haluk follow their own appalling agenda, using human science to mutate their bodies, allowing them to infiltrate human society. Helly must find a way to alert the Human Commonwealth to the Haluk peril, while also saving his family from Drummond’s increasingly desperate efforts to annhilate the Rampart worlds.

As the deadly struggle between Galapharma AC and Rampart Starcorp continues, Helly, the son of Rampart's boss, must try to resist what will be the most hostile of takeovers. Helly and his band of companions must attempt to capture a crucial witness to the Galapharma conspiracy, who has taken refuge on a hostile planet. Galapharma's insanely ambitious boss, Alistair Drummond, will stop at nothing in his quest for power, and Helly is marked for death as the tow corporations continue to do battle.

Meanwhile, the malevolent Haluk follow their own appalling agenda, using human technology obtained from Galapharma to mutate their alien bodies, allowing them to infiltrate an ultimately conquer human society. Helly must find a way to alert the Commonwealth to the Haluk peril, while also protecting his family form Drummond's increasingly desperate efforts to annihilate the Rampart Worlds.

'SF adventure on a grand scale'
ALGIS BUDRYS

'An enjoyable read on many levels'
SFX

Julian May’s first story, the sf classic Dune Roller, was published in the early 1950s. She then wrote non-fiction and children’s books for many years before bursting onto the fantasy scene with the phenomenally successful Saga of the Pliocene Exile . Recent works include Magnificat, the finale to The Galactic Milieu series, and Sky Trillium. Prolific, thoughtful and ever imaginative, her novels have been published to wide acclaim around the world.