Victory Conditions

by: Elizabeth Moon

Published by: Ballantine

Reviewed by Bob Pike CSP, CPAE

Ky Vatta has come a long way since being dismissed from Slotter Key’s Space Academy.
She has moved from privateer to commander and now is Admiral of a fleet still being assembled. And the enemy is the pirate Gammis Turek, a man so ruthless that many people believe there is no hope.

But Ky comes from a family of space traders who have survived plots and assassinations and stand ready to help. Her Aunt Grace, as minister of defense of Slotter Key, uses her influence and her cousin, Stella Vatta, the soon-to-be CEO of Vatta Enterprises, uses the ansible communication technology the family now controls to begin to level the playing field.

Elizabeth Moon crafts a tale of intrigue, military skill, and interpersonal conflict that will have the reader turning pages as quickly as possible. She paints characters that one can easily grow to both love and hate – and she helps the reader see the consequences of personal choices.

Many people have difficulty getting family members to cooperate – but to save the known galaxy, Ky, her family, and the few allies they have, are going to have to get entire worlds to cooperate – including agreeing to have their space forces serve under a single command wherever and wherever most needed–as decided by Admiral Vatta.

Any science fiction aficionado will find Victory Conditions and the earlier books in the series must-reads.

Armchair Interviews agrees.