Spin the Sky

After 15 years of wandering space and encountering various mutated humans with the names and characteristics of Greek gods and monsters, Cesar Vaquero finally returns to the orbital colony Ithaca, a sort of Texas in space. He finds his family ranch threatened by saboteurs; his almost-grown son, Trevor, collecting stories of his missing father; and his “fluffy little kitten” wife. Penelope, grown into a “panther” beset by suitors. Posing as a homeless drifter, Cesar must find a way to rescue his wife, save his ranch, and perhaps most difficult, earn his family’s forgiveness. Stauber (Revolution World) festoons this retelling of Homer’s Odyssey with clichés that range from amusing (“Their eyes flash and their chests heave and their lips meet”) to incoherent and offensive (a loyal, none-too-bright Mexican servant whose psychic powers only appear when convenient to the protagonists). Melodramatic characters, repetitive prose, and a narrative littered with clumsy infodumps add up to a tedious, unsatisfying read. (July)