Shadow Planet
 William Shatner
 (Sr. Staff Reviewer - D. H. BROWN)
 2002 Eos/HarperCollins
  ISBN: 0061051195


A less likely group of saviors has never before jockeyed a great starship across the heavens.

Jim Endicott & the Stone Cowboys, a gang of street-toughened thugs & hoodlums are, however, the last hope of humanity.

In a ship hijacked from the alien suppliers of a killer narcotic, the outlaw heroes are rocketing toward a war to the death that must be waged on the enemy's home turf.

First, though, this motley scum of the galaxy must be molded into a trained & disciplined commando unit, & that's Jim Endicott's forte, along with the powers of the Omega.

Sr. Staff Reviewer D. H. BROWN writes:

I have reviewed another in the Quest for Tomorrow series: Beyond The Stars & I have come to find William Shatner's writing to be among the most enjoyable of my hard sci-fi readings. His poignancy in dealing with the human condition is nothing short of outstanding, & his understanding of the maturity with which youth can deal with situations is most enlightening.

In the dedication for Shadow Planet, Mr. Shatner writes: “Life continues its upward spiral. The grapes of life on the arbor of experience.” This absolutely says it all in regards to the maturity of this author.

Jim Endicott has been created & imbued with a depth of character much like D. H. BROWN Weber's Honor Harrington in Echoes Of Honor & Ashes of Victory. This isn't to say that Jim doesn't get confused at times, or have no clue as to what he's doing, but his sense of direction never truly falters.

As complex as the universe is painted by William Shatner in the Quest for Tomorrow series, he does it in such a way that makes it thoroughly enjoyable & understandable. The weave of his stories have throughout them have a thread of purpose that embraces the essence of the phrase “the grapes of life on the arbor of experience.”

As I have stated before Shadow Planet is thoroughly enjoyable & left me wanting more. So once again, I find myself eagerly awaiting another flight in the Quest for Tomorrow.

Highly recommended reading for young men & women with dreams.

More from William Shatner:
Beyond The Stars(Reviewed); The Law of War(Reviewed); The Captain's Peril; I'm Working on That: A Trek From Science Fiction to Science Fact; Get a Life!; Beyond the Stars, plus his Tek series & numerous Star Trek novels.
(05/25/03)

D. H. BROWN
A RebeccasReads.Com Sr. Staff Reviewer

Reviewer's Bio:
D. H. BROWN is the author of the critically acclaimed HONOR DUE and the Citizens Warrior Series. The son of missionary parents and with the help his Uncle Sam, he has touched base in more than 40 countries.  In 1986 he produced the independent children's film Lessie's Rainbow.  During the late 80s and early 90s, he wrote the book Common Sense and delivered the seminars of the same name for the Community Action Network of Seattle (CAN).  While doing his early Vietnam recovery work, he counseled Veterans and spoke widely to men's groups in Washington state, and was a founder of The Lodge of the Wolf.

D. H. BROWN has worked as a Logistics and Weapons Specialist in Viet Nam; day laborer; Director of Security; Armored Car Driver; Police Officer; Professional Hunting Guide; Trapper; Dog Sledder; Homesteader; Truck Driver; General Contractor; Minister; Editor; Writer; Speaker; Restaurateur; Movie Producer; Antique Restoration Specialist; Personal Care Worker; PC Repair Specialist; Computer Instructor; Webmaster and Web Designer. "I write about what I know."

He lives deep in the Pacific Northwest rainforest with his wife, author and editor Rebecca and Buddy Dog, working on his next book.
Visit him at: www.dhbrownbooks.com