cover image The Paratwa

The Paratwa

Christopher Hinz. St. Martin's Press, $19.95 (404pp) ISBN 978-0-312-05489-2

In Liege-Killer and Ash Ock , the Paratwa--telepathically linked pairs of assassins--have, under the leadership of the Ash Ock (whose goal is the complete domination of humanity), destroyed the earth's biosphere and taken over the fleeing starships. Only on the satellite colonies has humanity resisted Paratwa control. Now the starships are demanding their surrender and Paratwa are covertly working inside the colonies to bring about their downfall. Gillian and Nick, hunters of Paratwa, have been awakened from stasis to deal with this threat. But Gillian, who used to be one-half of the five original Ash Ock, is haunted by the ghost of his linkage and embarks on a search for self-discovery that reveals the identity of the murderer of his other half as well as the truth behind the creation of the Paratwa. Hinz sprinkled hints of these events in the trilogy's first books, but adds surprising plot twists and satisfying resolutions in this exciting, smoothly written wrap-up. (Apr.)