Summer’s End

Van Stry’s (Portals of Infinity) rakish hard science fiction novel is about a man looking to escape the threats from his past by fleeing into the solar system. Dave is an engineer, whose connections land him a berth on a freighter owned by a cost-cutting-minded corporation. Things start off so well: Dave buckles down, studies, and proves his worth to his newly adopted shipboard family. The trouble is people from Earth just won’t stop trying to kill him, but fortunately, Dave’s former gangster skills keep him safe and the bodies dropping. The story is told in a lively episodic fashion, with each chapter showing another leg of Dave’s journey into the solar system. His story is not a solitary one, as he finds unexpected romance in the stars. The novel’s exploration of the political structure and class conflict on the future Earth adds interest to the story and brings the solar system to life.