BPP Novel 6: Betrayals

The Babylon Project Podcast

The sixth standalone novel we’re discussing is Betrayals, by S.M. Stirling.

Raul offered a very useful way to view this book: as an anthology composed of two short stories and a novella. Taking this view helped frame or structure what we read. We all agreed this was a far better than the last two books—combined—even though, like the last several, this book seemed to contain more book than actual story. This is where the anthology perspective helped.

Overall, the book focuses on a significant diplomatic conference occurring on Babylon 5, driving an acute need for superb security. The primary attendees: diplomats from the Centauri Republic and Narn. At the same time, a previously unknown race called the T’ll arrive, currently ruled by the Narn, and seeking asylum. The trouble begins. A member of this unusual race commits a murder, and in the course of being pursued and apprehended, is rendered unconscious. For the T’ll, this is essentially a death sentence. Unconsciousness destroys what is a continuous memory within the individual, causing a return to the same mental state as a newborn. The friction between the Centauri and Narn is exacerbated by the current and deadly friction caused by the T’lln delegation. Things get even messier when President Clark gets involved: directing Captain Sheridan to oversee a fixed trial and death sentence for the T’lln assassin. Given that the assassin is already “dead” and a child now exists instead, the death sentence wouldn’t be justice. It would be the murder of an innocent. Sprinkle in some interesting dynamics with the press, present to cover the Centauri-Narn negotiations, and the creativity of Captain Sheridan, and the story concludes pretty well.

Some of the “odd themes” we’ve seen in the standalone novels presented themselves again: yet another new race (which we never hear from or about again), and a strong presentation on Narn aggression and dominance. Other more canonical themes are there too, including friction between the Narn and Centauri, and between Earth Gov and Babylon 5.

Our ratings were a 4, a 3.5, and a 3.5 (out of 5), giving us an overall Boom Scale rating of 3.67.

Next is the long-awaited novel The Shadow Within, by Jeanne Cavelos. You’ve stuck with us this long, so please continue reading and join us next time when we discuss one of the two standalone books that is generally well received.

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Just remember… When there’s no boom today, there’s boom tomorrow. There’s always boom tomorrow!