Breach of Contract by Danielle Palli
What's It About?
Breach of Contract (Skinny Leopard Media), the second installment of The Data Collectors series by Danielle Palli, takes readers far into the future to a time when galaxies have been grouped into “sections.” Why can’t they all get just along?The planet Earth is in trouble, and the human race is on the brink of extinction. An intergalactic coalition is working to save Earth’s species, but less-noble powers have other plans. Add aliens that look like cats, shape-shifting lizards, shape-shifting wolves, demons, and a crustacean-like species trying to destroy the universe because their god is telling them to do so, and you’ve got a sci-fi tale of epic proportions.
Breach of Contract (Skinny Leopard Media), the second installment of The Data Collectors series by Danielle Palli, takes readers far into the future to a time when galaxies have been grouped into “sections.” Why can’t they all get just along?
As the novel begins, the Intergalactic Peace Project, formed to create and maintain peace among intergalactic species, has banished the rescue coalition, known as the Data Collectors, from Earth after complaints from those who would rather sell the Earth’s resources to the highest bidder.
DESPERATELY SEEKING ANOMALOUS DATA COLLECTOR
The Data Collectors are genetically modified human-like beings from the planet Erde (Section 1) with exceptional empathy, who transmit information through thoughts and emotions instead of words. But one Data Collector is an anomaly. Born on Earth (Section 0), Lucene Jones has inherited the skills of her genetically modified Data Collector parents naturally, along with supernatural powers. And now, everyone wants Lucene Jones.
Hamish and the late Sabrina, two shape-shifting lizard/human Royals (Section 3), believed Lucene’s special skills would benefit their military strength. The insect-like demon, Jasper Set (of Section 4), wanted Lucene for reasons of his own. Hamish and Sabrina had agreed to deliver Lucene to Jasper, but after many failed attempts, Jasper now accuses Hamish of a breach of contract. The planet Vitruvia (Section 2), known for renegade bands that want to keep the forces of nature in balance, had once aligned with a member of Earth’s United Commonwealth, Drake Cushing. Drake, it seemed, had been double-dealing, offering up Lucene to the highest bidder.
Two professors from the Terrestrial Academy of Research and Awareness (TARA), Tanager Blackletter and Cepheus Baruch, rescue Lucene from Earth and take her to Erde where preserves have been set up for humans. Tanager is a Data Collector from Erde, and Cepheus is a shape-shifting lizard/human Royal (one of the good ones).
But even they may not be able to keep Lucene safe. On Erde, her charms attract the attention of Vitruvian Representative Dallen. He asks her out on a date, but his motives are not immediately clear. And by the way, Tanager Blackletter is also attracted to Lucene.
INTERGALACTIC INTRIGUE MEETS CLASSIC THEMES
The book is a picture-puzzle mix of futuristic and “some things never change” themes. It’s a classic tale of good versus evil, boy meets girl and earthling ingenuity on an intergalactic scale.
Chapters jump back and forth in time, but all are dated in relation to a meeting of the New Assembly, a gathering of the Intergalactic Peace Project, where “Erdelings and Vitruvians must form an uneasy alliance.”
The first several pages are a list of characters, locales and special intergalactic groups. It’s a helpful guide to keeping your humans, aliens, cats and shape-shifters straight.
For readers who want more background on the intergalactic intrigue, Danielle Palli’s first book of the series, The Data Collectors (reviewed here), begins at the beginning. Humans once lived on many planets but carelessly destroyed them all, one by one. Earth is their last outpost, and intergalactic plans are afoot to save — or destroy — them.
The third book in the series, Between the Layers, is also available and continues the saga. After 100 years of peace, Erde must prepare for war. And as if that were not enough, a portal opens allowing beings from other realms to come and go. Will Earth be saved?
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