Title:
Promises to Keep
Author:
Janet Miller
Published By:
New Concepts
Publishing
ISBN:
1-58608-478-x
Release Date:
Available Now
Format:
Electronic
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In the 25th century, Dr. Sarah Johnson works as an obstetrician in a public service hospital on Earth. Because the hospital is for the poor, she works with little or no access to the very advanced medical technology available to the wealthy. Earth is crowded, polluted, and depressing, while Earth society is stratified by class. The war with Gaia has just ended with the Earth government's surrender. To Sarah it was a senseless war in which one of her closest friends was a casualty. Sarah holds the Gaians responsible for her friend's death--in particular, she hates Garran, the Gaian general responsible for Earth's defeat. In search of a better life, Sarah volunteers to emigrate to the Outer Colonies as a potential wife for a settler. Little does Sarah know that her future soon will be closely linked with her enemy, Garran...
This story updates the classic mail-order bride plot into the future, embellishing it with political overtones. The writing is very good, and the plot is well-paced, keeping one's interest throughout. The female characters are smart and brave and willing to take the initiative, perfect complements for colonial men. I was fascinated by the details of Earth and Gaian society, and the contrast between the two. The love scenes are sensual or spicy, rather than erotic. I quite enjoyed it, and recommend it as a good summer read.
Reviewed by: Jean
