Review: 'Otters in Space 2: Jupiter, Deadly' (Volume 2) by Mary E. Lowd (by Greyflank)

In an upifted universe, where the humans sneaked away when no one was looking, Earth is largely cats and dogs. The dogs rule, at least in North America, and otters rule in space. In the first book, Kipper is hunting a mystery that takes her into space and eventually Mars where the perfect cat world is found. Provided, of course, that you were a perfectly bred cat.

In Otters In Space: Jupiter Deadly, Kipper encounters aliens or possibly uplifted reptiles who seem bent on attacking Jupiter and friendly otter spacecraft. Before she can finish saying, "It's not my problem," a distress call goes out ... from another rather defenseless feline utopia.

This book is less subversive, the action is more in your face and Skipper's otter crew-mates are as loony as ever. The sequel is wonderful! And all the characters get fleshed out much better in this book. The political intrigue is explained and the dog culture is better explored. I like that in confronting the system, the average dogs that make up that system are better explored, rather than making the system outright evil or two dimensional.

Spoilers below!

See also: Review by Fred

Dallas, TX, FurPlanet Productions, July 2013, trade paperback $9.95 (227 pages), Kindle $6.99.

Trudith is a dream in her "good dog" mode. Petra and Alistair are expanded quite nicely and revealed as real people, and not the almost flat characters in the first otter book (to be fair, they weren't in Cat Havana much, just enough to spur Kipper on).

Emily the octopus has a greatly expanded role as do octopi in general. She comes across as just alien enough. She can emote and the writer has mastered making sentient octopi that aren't silly furs with eight arms. All the hard science in here just sneaks up on you, and I'm including biology in that.

When Kipper was introduced to OXE-Aqua, the breathable atmosphere of the Jolly Barracuda, I was not only amused but impressed by the writing of that scene. I was disappointed we just got a less than detailed version of that event with the rescued Persians.

And the election for president seemed too soon. That could have been held off for Otters In Space 3.

Because there will be an Otters in Space 3. Huzzah!

See, I told you there would be spoilers.