The second Major Bhaajan mystery takes Bhaaj deep into the Undercity which has been inhabited by her people for years. Only recently, the Majda and other residents of the City of Cries learned that the residents of the Undercity have a much higher than normal number of psions.

Psions are essential to the survival of the Imperialate on its vast network of planets. But Bhaajan is determined that her people not be exploited. She wants help because they live in poverty and suffer from birth defects because of their millennia of inbreeding but she wants the help in a way that fits in with the culture of the Undercity.

When the Jagernaut accused of murdering a man flees to Raylicon and the Undercity, the Ruby Pharaoh hires her to find the woman. But the search leads Bhaaj to a much more dangerous thing than one out of control Jagernaut. An EI is waking up and has the goal of wiping out humanity. Its waking is disturbing the Psions in the Undercity and wreaking havoc with the mental network that runs things.

Bhaaj, the Ruby Pharaoh, and an order of monks must find a way to defeat the EI which calls itself Oblivion before all humanity is destroyed.

This was an enjoyable and exciting second episode in the series. I like seeing Bhaaj's growth as she comes to terms with her past and begins to build a new future for herself and for her people. ( )

Major Bhaaj is hired by the Majda's to find a killer whose crime was witnessed by the Ruby Pharoah remotely. During her investigation she uncovers ancient mysteries of the catacombs where she grew up.

library book read 10/14/2023 ( )

I can't believe it took me twenty years to find this author! I'll definitely be reading straight through her books! ( )

Decent ( )

Major Bhaaj fought her way out of the despised Undercity into a precarious position in her city. Then the Ruby Emperor directs her to find a killer whose strange behavior may threaten the Emperor herself. The quest leads Bhaaj back into the Undercity and to secrets about the history of the whole Ruby Empire. A good adventure story with a lot of worldbuilding. ( )