A SIGNAL SHATTERED

Sequel to Nylund’s VR/alien-contact yarn, Signal to Noise (1998). Wheeler, an amoral alien who plunders and then obliterates technological civilizations, duped computer whiz Jack Potter into helping him. But when Wheeler destroyed the Earth, Jack escaped by means of an instantaneous-transfer “gateway.” Also eluding Wheeler were ultra-competitive trader Isabel and geneticist Zero, who fled to their own hidden planets, while computer-enhanced spy Panda, warrior Safa, and drunk mathematician Harold Bruner took refuge at Jack’s moonbase. Now Jack is battling two saboteurs, and his computer’s gone batty. Another survivor shows up, but Jack trusts the devious spy Reno not at all. Wheeler declares that he’ll kill one of Jack’s friends within 24 hours unless Jack agrees to work for him again. Gersham, another alien, offers sanctuary from Wheeler but won’t name his price. Zero, it emerges, has infected them all with his new enzyme, supposedly to enhance their brainpower; instead, it drives everyone schizophrenically gaga. They can’t escape to another planet because the gateway’s power source is depleted, and, in any case, Wheeler’s bugged the gateway and would follow them. Gersham, it transpires, is Wheeler’s ex-associate, differing from his partner in that he tortures plundered civilizations instead of annihilating them. Isabel’s enzymically helpless, crazy Zero has grabbed Safa, Panda’s dying, and the clock’s ticking toward Wheeler’s deadline. Rather claustrophobic, what with the small cast and tenuous contact with reality. But, nonetheless, mind-bogglingly inventive, with astounding special effects and a headlong, pulse-pounding, do-or-die narrative.