BROTHERS@CS.COLUMBIA.EDU@caip.RUTGERS.EDU (02/11/86)
From: Laurence Brothers <BROTHERS@CS.COLUMBIA.EDU> Santiago, a new release from Mike Resnick, is definitely the best of his that I've read. It deals with the quest for the infamous Santiago, a criminal whose exploits have so shocked the galaxy that (I think), there are 11 bureaus of the galactic govrnment (the DEMOCRACY, which says it all) whose sole duty is tracking him down. Mainly the novel focuses on the efforts of Sebastian Nightingale Cain, a bounty hunter, to cash in on the cr 20M reward -- as the old line goes "Dead or Alive -- preferably dead!" This is probably the best of Resnick's attempts to render the 19th century American frontier milieu in an alien environment. Unfortunately, reading about characters who ALL have nicknames (or real names) like ManMountain Bates, Halfpenny Terwilliger, Songbird Cain, et al. can grow kind of wearisome, but this is only a minor annoyance. Actually, it probably says something that the only major character who doesn't use a name like that is Santiago himself and he --- well you'll have to read about it. If you liked any of Resnick's previous books, then you'll certainly like this one; if you didn't (like me), then you'll still probably find Santiago very worthwhile. -Laurence -------