Baryon 107 Review


Virtual Evil, Time Rovers, Book 2 Jana Oliver Dragon Moon Press, $15.95, 330 pages, ISBN: 9781896944760 reviewed by Jim Brock VIRTUAL EVIL is Book 2 of the Time Rover series so dramatically begun in SOJOURN. I feel like a Time Rover, myself, occasionally dropping in on Baryon with reviews of special books by special authors. Special and special – that’s VRTUAL EVIL and Jana Oliver. In SOJOURN, Jacynda Lassiter, time rover, was on assignment in 1888 London. She became entangled with the hunt for Jack the Ripper while making friends and enemies and dealing with the politics of both Victorian England and 2057. Her two best friends in London are both transitives (shape shifters). Sgt Keats of Scotland Yard uses his talents. Dr Alastair Montrose does not. They both follow Cynda on her wild ride. That ride continues for them all in VIRTUAL EVIL. Cynda foils an assassination attempt at a society gathering attended by the future King of England. While the target remains unclear, the assassin appears to be Harter Defoe, greatest of the Time Rovers. Dafoe proves to be more than just a Time Rover. He becomes Cynda’s problem – she must return him to 2057. Unfortunately, the assassin has disappeared from jail. Once again the politics of both eras intrude. Plots involving an Irish anarchist, a transitive hit man known as the Satyr, and several murders put Cynda, Montrose and Keats in peril. Keats is framed for murder. Montrose, due to death threats, closes his clinic and gets into forensic medicine. Jana Oliver has no weakness as an author. Her characters are strong and immensely likeable; her plots are filled with action and plausibility; dialogue and details are excellent; and, her books are just damn delights to read. They will engage you, entertain you, and leave you eager for more. While I prefer the world of 1888 to the world of 2057, my favorite world is now that of Fall 2008. That’s when Book 3, MADMAN’S DANCE is due. Cynda’s predicament at the end of VIRTUAL EVIL makes its arrival more pressing. Having commended to you any and all of Jana’s books as super reads, I will now reveal the depths of my devotion and respect. I am such a fan, I would even read her grocery list – I would even do her shopping for her – to give her more time to write.
reviews

Virtual Evil, Time Rovers, Book 2
Jana Oliver
Dragon Moon Press, $15.95, 330 pages, ISBN: 9781896944760
reviewed by Jim Brock

VIRTUAL EVIL is Book 2 of the Time Rover series so dramatically begun in SOJOURN. I feel like a Time Rover, myself, occasionally dropping in on Baryon with reviews of special books by special authors. Special and special – that’s VRTUAL EVIL and Jana Oliver.

In SOJOURN, Jacynda Lassiter, time rover, was on assignment in 1888 London. She became entangled with the hunt for Jack the Ripper while making friends and enemies and dealing with the politics of both Victorian England and 2057. Her two best friends in London are both transitives (shape shifters). Sgt Keats of Scotland Yard uses his talents. Dr Alastair Montrose does not. They both follow Cynda on her wild ride.

That ride continues for them all in VIRTUAL EVIL. Cynda foils an assassination attempt at a society gathering attended by the future King of England. While the target remains unclear, the assassin appears to be Harter Defoe, greatest of the Time Rovers. Dafoe proves to be more than just a Time Rover. He becomes Cynda’s problem – she must return him to 2057. Unfortunately, the assassin has disappeared from jail. Once again the politics of both eras intrude. Plots involving an Irish anarchist, a transitive hit man known as the Satyr, and several murders put Cynda, Montrose and Keats in peril. Keats is framed for murder. Montrose, due to death threats, closes his clinic and gets into forensic medicine.

Jana Oliver has no weakness as an author. Her characters are strong and immensely likeable; her plots are filled with action and plausibility; dialogue and details are excellent; and, her books are just damn delights to read. They will engage you, entertain you, and leave you eager for more.

While I prefer the world of 1888 to the world of 2057, my favorite world is now that of Fall 2008. That’s when Book 3, MADMAN’S DANCE is due. Cynda’s predicament at the end of VIRTUAL EVIL makes its arrival more pressing. Having commended to you any and all of Jana’s books as super reads, I will now reveal the depths of my devotion and respect. I am such a fan, I would even read her grocery list – I would even do her shopping for her – to give her more time to write.

reviews