A
promising young surgeon, Andrej Koscuisko, has come with great
reluctance to study at a military orientation center adrift in
black space. Against his will, he will train here to serve as
a "Ship's Inquisitor"a vocation that runs counter to his
deepest moral convictions.
During his tenure, Andrej will earn the devotion of his personal
slave. He will gain the grudging respect of the Station Administration.
He will make a deadly enemy of his fellow student. He will learn
a frightening truth about himself. And ultimately, he will be
forced to sacrifice all that he holds dear.
"...could
be one of the best SF books of the year. [Matthews'] writing is
strong, her pacing is excellent."
Penny Kenny, STARLOG, August 1997