Several books ago I reviewed a Gardner novel and told you to read other books in his explorer series. I found two of them used so…

Both stories involve the character of Lt. Admiral Festina Ramos working with other characters to solve various mysteries. The neat things about the stories is they always develop a new main character who gets help from the recurring supporting character of Festina Ramos.

Hunted is the story of a civil war going on for twenty years that has now started to involve others outside of the planet Troyen. The League of Peoples doesn’t allow non-sentients (those who kill or allow other to be killed) to travel between the stars. Slowly Festina and Edward York (the son of a High Admiral) have to solve the conspiracy of who instigated the civil war and how they could do it even with the Leagues rules. Edward himself is the secret to the whole mystery as he slowly discovers after being infected by themandassar of Troyen.

Vigilant is the story of Faye Smallwood as a child she watch as her father the doctor tried to save the OOloms from a vicioous wasting disease that would eventually kill 80% of all of them on the planet while humans were completely unaffected. Eventually through pure accident a cure is discovered by her father, however the whole planet has been scarred by the experience. Faye is greatly affected by the death of one of the plague victims that she nursed in her father’s field hospital. That experience helps Faye eventually decide on a career path she would become a member of the Vigil. The Vigil exam all actions of the government to make sure they are in the best interest of the people. When someone starts killing members of the Vigil Faye stumbles on a potential 2nd and 3rd deadly plague this time humans and freep are targeted. Her path of course will eventually cross Festina Ramos who is investigating unusual admiralty interest in Faye’s planet. Faye and Festina will eventually save the day but their are a few obstacles and subtle clues along the way.