Earth; Space Station Earthstar II; Spaceship Starchild; Denahault Colony – the Future

Billionaire Harrison Fairfax is considering investing in a new colony. But, since he never makes a real estate decision sight unseen, he makes arrangements with EarthFed Admiral Derocher to catch a ride on the Starchild, a ship captained by Trieka Cavendish. For all his money, he is an honest businessman. He is also haunted by the disappearance of his wife seven years ago.

Trieka Cavendish is by-the-book military. She is married to her career, and her loyalty to her job is unsurpassed. However, she has no time for civilians. She totally expects to find little to like in Harrison.

Before allowing a colony to be settled on a planet, it has to be deemed uninhabited so terraforming will not harm indigenous creatures. After their arrival at Denahault, both Trieka and Harrison find that not all is as it was presented. Through crack computer expert Madison Jeffries, who is also his caretaker on his San Francisco estate, Harrison uncovers layers and layers of corruption. When Harrison goes missing, Trieka sets out to find him. Neither could have predicted what followed or their encounter with the living, irrefutable proof that the politicians had indeed lied. Will either of them live to give testimony of what they know?

Property and prosperity should never come at the expense of sentient beings, nor should profits be made by razing an entire planet to make it habitable for usurpers. With STARCHILD, Katriena Knights blends social awareness with a first-rate, danger-filled, science fiction story. Faced with pain, suffering, greed, and political intrigue, two highly intelligent, self-sufficient people make this book a riveting tale. Trieka and Harrison discover more than government corruption. But, how can they be together, when they are such opposites? Members of her crew, Commander Jeff Anderson and Lieutenant Robin Wu, are also her friends and are very concerned about her. EarthFed President Schumann may or may not be involved. Love is all around. I recommend STARCHILD.

Vi Janaway