Book Review: Kris Longknife: Undaunted by Mike Shepherd

Kris Longknife: Undaunted
Author: Mike Shepherd
Series: Kris Longknife (Book 7)
Publication: Ace; Original edition (September 23, 2009)

Description: Kris Longknife encounters some peaceful aliens who have come to warn humanity of an unidentifiable force that is roaming the galaxy, obliterating everything in its path-a path now leading directly toward the human worlds.

My Thoughts: This was another exciting episode in the Kris Longknife series. Kris and the company on the Wasp are out on the Rim looking for pirates and scientific opportunities. They really don't expect to find an ambassador from their former enemies the Iteeche who is looking for help from Grampa Ray.

As Kris and crew get to know Ron'sum Pin'sum qu Chap'sumWe, they learn more about the war that ended more than eighty years earlier. Unfortunately, there are still military veterans of that war on both sides including Kris's Greatgrandpa Ray who have very strong hatred for the Iteeche. Which means that she needs to sneak Ron and company back to Wardhaven so that he can meet with King Ray and lay out his needs. 

They take a brief detour on the way to Wardhaven to see Kris's Aunt Tru because her computer Nelly is developing some questionable characteristics. She seems to be developing a real mind of her own which is causing Kris some problems.

Once they get to Wardhaven, things don't go very well. Ray says essentially "I'll think about it," sends Ron and his entourage back home, and sends Kris to Texarkana to solve a political problem. Texarkana happens to be the home of two of Kris's college friends. Kris finds a sticky political situation. The original settlers who are farmers and ranchers are in conflict with later settlers who were industrialists. It seems that someone from outside is trying to stir up even more trouble between the two factions than their own stubbornness is causing. Kris finds herself victim of an assassination attempt on one of her old school friends. 

Kris does manage to find a solution to the discord between the two groups using Longknife charisma and Longknife money. But Ron's problem is far from being solved and Kris keeps get pulled away from it by King Ray's needs leaving Ron's problem a dangling plot thread for another book.

Favorite Quote:

She was very surprised at how very much she felt insulted not to be the center of attention at an assassination attempt. She really needed to talk to a professional counselor.

I bought this one. You can buy your copy here.