Secret of the Snow Leopard

ISBN: 1882897293

Author: Robinson, John C

Condition: New

From Kirkus Reviews By the 22nd century, rioting and the breakdown of public order are the consequences of pollution, resource depletion, and ecological collapse - the reasons why world government established the New World Launch Program, sending off huge starships to colonize distant worlds, although, even with Hyper Leaps, journeys take 50 years or more. Now, Paul Torrden, chief of Torrden Enterprises, Inc., fights to be allocated space on the 20th starship for his researchers and their population of rare snow leopards. Set up by Paul's grandfather, the founder of T.E.I., the experiments have yielded some intriguing results. The ship departs - with the cats - and, despite sabotage by crazies who want to destroy the snow leopards, reaches planet Refander, where Paul, his wife and son, and others die in a shuttle crash. Meanwhile, one of two alien races that are fighting an endless space war sends a vessel to investigate Refander. The colonists manage to destroy it, but clearly they cannot withstand an invasion. Soon, though, they discover ancient ruins on the planet. Later, out in the planet's backcountry, Paul's grandson Ian and young wilderness-dweller Liraah will discover that the snow leopards not only can learn in human fashion, but sometimes learn things before they happen. Robinson's knowledge of, and love for, snow leopards shines through an otherwise stiff and rather strained presentation. -- Copyright 1999, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved. Product Description These compelling short stories, poems and essays are whimsical, philosophical and frightening. From Library Journal The Launch Program offers the hope of life among the stars for the inhabitants of a dying earth. When a ship carrying a contingent of research scientists and a population of snow leopards bred in captivity encounters a potentially hostile alien presence, the salvation of everyone hinges on understanding the enigmatic methods of communication possessed by the great cats. What this first novel lacks in polish, it makes up for in the authors enthusiasm for his subject matter. A marginal purchase for large collections.Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.