And I recall the sort of rapproach between Lif and Garla - though I wasn't as faimiliar with their relationship. Both very well written characters - neither has the feel of a stock character.

Thanks! rbs

And Garla in the role of a frenemy... nice balance between the rescue and the betrayal. ANother classic "garden of forking paths" ploy and none the worse for wear.

I particularly enjoy writing speeches for my characters. It's a difficult thing to do - especially when it is deliberately formulaic political speech. It is a powerful storytelling technique - a speech can move the plot along in ways that neither action nor exhibition nor dialogue can. Alt.Garla's speech does that by conveying both current status and intent. And demonstrating that her plan has popular support.

Thanks!! rbs

Sic semper psychoanalysts.. In scifi stories they rarely fare well. A reflection of a broadly held suspicion that most of them are just making wild guesses. Hard not to empathize with Laas' triumph. Nobody liks being psychoanalized and its worse when a telepath is involved.

Thanks!! rbs

And alt-Lif is properly teased. Nice device with the holo-masks - wish I had thought of those... I'm a big nerd when it comes to alternate uses of the technology introduced in Star Trek. Also, very nice detail with the work lanes and the attitudes of the bears. And also Tazla having to do a quick think about the bears and overcome her initial inclination.

Thanks!! rbs

I'm very much a fan of process stories - such as a rough ride through turbulant space. This one has the virtue of not only moving the story forward, but enriching it both with character development and cultural development (destruction of the freighter). 

Many authors are in a hurry to just get to the next location and move the plot forward instead of giving a realistic feel to the story.

Thanks!! rbs

Nice reconciliation between Owens and Edison and good captain's dialoge from Owens. It's quite clear Jarik's leash needs some tightening..

It appears this platform is inimical to tildes, umlots, accent marks and their ilk. Jose is reliably represented as Jos?.

Thanks! rbs

Spellchecker chew: Pp beginning "Edison looked passed her..." I think you meant "past"

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A couple of typoes in the first Pp - Ggteway and theirr

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Spellchecker chews: the Pp beginning "Ordinarialy I would agree..." I think you meant "expecting" instead of "excepting."

Pp beginning "Understand, I am not equating..." I think you meant "reliving" instead of "relieving".

Thanks! rbs

Good Captain's dialogue from Michael - even though he has a bit of a challenge keeping his cool. I appreciated that his ire was primarily reserved for his officer and not the cantankerous Edison. I also appreciated the analysis about their alternates not being the same, but not entirely different.

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Looks like we're playing a lot of the same themes - a father estranged from his children, gigantic alien structures (Ep 10).

I particularly appreciate that Owen's poeple are willing to address a tough issue with him and that he listens to them.

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Interesting to see the competing lines of authority in this situation. No one is born ready to take orders from someone who just popped in from an alternate universe...

Thanks! rbs