In the final Regina Shen novel, the strong female
protagonist continues her journey while being a fugitive not to mention a pawn
in various power struggles. Rival luminaries in the World Federation wish to
control her for her unique genetic cold that could possibly deter a fertility
downfall across the world. Regina essentially has an eidetic memory when it comes
to texts that predate the After Community Movement (ACM) year-dating system,
with rising waters caused by climate change having initiated the change of
temporal measurement. The rival agents seek Regina’s knowledge so they can find
artifacts that predate the ACM year system, which the Department of Antiquities
(DOA) then destroys.
Even so, Regina attempts her best not to allow the
Federation to eliminate any more of the world’s history, while still seeking to
rescue her kidnapped younger sister Colleen Shen. A significant portion of the
novel’s action occurs in the Southwest Desert, whither Regina flees with a
close ally, in search of a vault she can hopefully exchange for her sister’s
emancipation from captivity. However, Regina is fated to endure tragedy that
both devastates her but opens up new potential, although this can lead her down
a precarious path close to her destiny, but farther from her sibling.
The story itself commences in the Alaska wilderness in the
month of August in the Year 298 ACM, with Regina still being narrator for the
majority of the novel, finding that she needs only food and water to survive,
maybe a blanket due to the coldness of Alaska in contrast to the Richmond
swamps where she was raised, although the action moves across North America. Overall,
the conclusion to the Regina Shen tetralogy is an enjoyable one, with plenty of
action and twists to keep readers on edge. As with its predecessors, a glossary
is included after the main text, which clarifies terminology unique to the novel,
not to mention its predecessors. As with most book series, furthermore, it’s
definitely a good idea to start from the very beginning, with readers very much
in for a treat in regards to this literary pantheon.
He was raised by a roaming aerospace engineer, growing up in various parts of the United States and Europe, as well as traveling through Asia. He took to stories as his anchor, including the works of Asimov, Bradbury, and Heinlein, and has been writing since age eleven.
Growing up, he was inspired by his father’s engineering work on cutting-edge aerospace projects to look to the future.
In an ideal world, Lance would find time loops where he could step out for a week at a time to read and write. Then he would return to the moment he left, without life getting in the way. Of course, since everyone would have the same ability, he suspects life would still sneak in.
Lance is also the author of short stories and novelettes.
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