The Dark Path

A veteran commander is placed in the path of an invasion by an unknown enemy, but she is soon placed in an even more difficult position: assuming the role of an alien legendary hero, whose fate is predestined. How far will she go before she steps off the path that has been created for her to follow? Man and zor, once sworn enemies engaged in a mutual campaign of xenocide, now live side by side. The war is over, and Admiral Marais, the legendary "Dark Wing" — both Angel of Death and Species Savior — is long dead, though some of his companions and participants in that great war still survive and have even chosen to live among the zor. Now a mystery from the past has become a threat to the present when an unholy menace jeopardizes both humans and zor alike. Whole space fleets have disappeared, with survivors stricken mad. And now man and zor alike must join forces to meet this adversary head on.… Editorial Reviews: "In this gripping sequel to The Dark Wing, Hunt does a better job of depicting character and handling zor mythology and interspecies relations… it offers plenty of surprises." —-Publisher's Weekly "What with the psychic-warrior complications, more Star Wars than Honor Harrington: some fans will relish the exploration of the zor culture." —:Kirkus Reviews "This fine sequel to Hunt's Dark Wing reads somewhat like a collaboration of David Weber and Orson Scott Card… It includes the implacable vuhl, a shape-changing, mind-controlling, insectoid enemy race that recalls the original foes of Card's Ender Wiggin… Imaginative twists include the facts that the human and zor quest team employs the telepathic assistance of Ch'ke'te's dead mate, Th'an'ya, and that some human POWs are finding out how to penetrate vuhl disguises. Gripping stuff that." —Booklist "The sequel to The Dark Wing combines military sf and space opera to produce a large-scale sf adventure that takes place in the depths of outer space, as well as within the minds of the combatants. A good choice for sf collections." —Library Journal "The novel [The Dark Wing] succeeded, did well, and now proves to be the first installment in a quest that may well prove science fiction's version of The Lord of the Rings… If you enjoyed Wing, you'll love Path." —Analog Science Fiction and Fact