Valerian and Laureline Book 6: Ambassador of The Shadows
Valerian and Laureline Book 6: Ambassador of The Shadows, by Pierre Christin & Jean-Claude Mézières, Cinebook
POINT CENTRAL hangs in space, a space station created when alien life forms met, docked alongside each other and remained; getting bigger and ever more diverse as the years passed. And then they invited the Earth, but the Earth secretly wanted to pressgang this freewheeling multicultural cohabitation zone under its governmental yoke...
When Valerian and Laureline escort Earth’s ambassador there, they aren’t aware that his speech will be a demand for the aliens to fall into line or face the wrath of 10,000 armed terran cruisers heading that way. Fortunately, the ambassador doesn’t get to because he’s kidnapped, but so is Valerian. Thus Laureline goes in search of both of them and in doing so takes centre stage for the bulk of this book. Originally produced in 1975 when women’s movements had begun to establish themselves, this may well be the point whereby Laureline became more than just a sidekick come damsel in distress, and eventually lead to her name being added to the series’ title.
Less action, more walking and doing deals for information, Laureline travels the length of Point Central seeking clues, meeting aliens, occasionally accompanied by others, and providing some sharp-witted dialogue along the way. It does become a bit episodic in parts, and presumably because it first appeared that way in serialised form, and still reveals itself to be of its time in certain ways but is a fun read regardless, with Mézières constantly creating the most interesting bug eyed monsters and classic sci-fi environments.
Eventually she does find them, and not kidnapped in quite the way believed. But all is not well elsewhere and rebellion on Point Central is already being considered by other aliens. The story end neatly, even perhaps a tad too briskly, but it remains an entertaining read after all these years, and possibly even topical again with the various immigration conundrums Europe is currently facing.
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