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Paragaea: A Planetary Romance by Chris Roberson
01/10/2006 . Source: Geoff Willmetts 
pub: Prometheus Books. 406 page hardback. Price: $25.00 (US). ISBN: 1-59102-440-4)398 page enlarged paperback. Price: £15.00 (US). ISBN: 1-59102-444-7. Buy Paragaea: A Planetary Romance in the USA - or Buy Paragaea: A Planetary Romance in the UK  check out website: www.pyrsf.com and www.chriswroberson.net
As those who read my review of Chris Roberson's other book, 'Here, There And Everywhere', will know that I found it an interesting read. In contrast, I found this book less so. Whether it is because there is a certain amount of homage to Edgar Rice Burroughs' 'John Carter Of Mars' books or whether this book was hastily put together and lacks depth is hard to say. Certainly, it's not as challenging as it could be.
The second female Russian Cosmonaut Akilina 'Leena' Chirikov and her capsule are plucked from space and she arrives on Paragaea. A planet with an apparent single large continent contains other strays like herself as well as assorted meta-humans that are crosses between a variety of animals. She teams up with Lieutenant Hieronymus 'Hero' Bonaventure of the Royal Navy, from a much earlier time, and his partner, a black leopard man and deposed king, Balam. As they apparently have little else to do, they help Leena with her desire to find a portal home again and we follow their adventures across this planet.
On the whole, these adventures end up being more of a travel guide to Paragaea interspersed with tales from her companions and those who journey with them for short periods. Despite times when it would be very dangerous, this is so underplayed as to have no feel for the serious trouble they are in. If anything, this makes the story far too light and more a quasi-fantasy than Science Fiction. This might appeal to those with that kind of taste but I suspect many of you will probably find this book too under-nourished. Leena's 60s Communist leanings get very easily ignored and Bonaventure is practically a native bearing in mind the length of time he's lived on Paragaea. When the cast suddenly extends to six characters, there isn't enough for everyone to have a conversation or be developed.
I'm hoping Roberson wrote this book before 'Here, There And Everywhere' and that this isn't a backward step in a promising novelist.
GF Willmetts
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