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Mercury by Ben Bova
01/04/2006 . Source: David A. Hardy 
pub: TOR/Forge. 319 page hardback. Price: $24.95 (US), $34.95 (CAN). ISBN: 0-765-30412-0. Buy Mercury in the USA - or Buy Mercury in the UK  check out website: www.tor.com and www.benbova.net
It was a pleasant surprise to find this book, as I have read and enjoyed all of Ben's previous books in his 'Grand Tour Of The Solar System' series and hadn't seen this one. At first, it seemed that it might be less interesting than the others. After all, Mercury is not the most interesting planet: tiny, Moon-like and close to the Sun. But the author makes these into strengths, placing solar power satellites around it and a base on the surface. It seems that life may exist there, as it does (in this universe) on Mars, Venus, Jupiter and other worlds...
However, a large part of the book is not based on Mercury at all, but either on Earth or out in the asteroid belts. Mance Bracknell is responsible for building the first space elevator or skyhook to allow cheap and easy access to space. Someone arranges for an 'accident' that brings the whole structure toppling down, killing millions and with them any hope of further such projects. Was it the New Morality, the fanatical religious organisation that now governs most of Earth or Saito Yamagata, who owns the corporation that runs most of the current space transportation systems?
Bracknell is banished to the outer parts of the Solar System, but manages to escape and change his identity, becoming Dente Alexios, and eventually a powerful figure in charge of the base at Mercury. The other main players are Bishop Danvers and Lara Tierney, who once loved Bracknell but after his removal marries Victor Molina, once a friend but who betrayed Bracknell at his trial (yes, the eternal triangle once again!), and discoverer of life on Mercury or so he believes. Alexios is out for vengeance and evolves a complex plan which destroys, either physically or mentally, each of his tormentors one by one, without them ever knowing who he really is. Until the end, that is, when he reveals himself to Lara...
Despite its strong space background, this is mainly a novel about people and relationships and recommended as a good read.
David A. Hardy
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