Jason Wander has destroyed the Pseudocephelopod invasion force on Jupiter's moon, Ganymede. It was a battle no one expected the stranded force to win, but seven hundred of them actually survived. Now, Excalibur is on its way to rescue them.

Acting General Jason Wander was ready to go home and get the stars off his shoulders, more than ready to go back to being a lieutenant. However, destiny had a different fate in mind.

When he arrives home, Earth is nothing like he remembered. There is little green anywhere and it's cold, even in July. They are enduring a nuclear winter, thanks to the Slugs.

Not only had the climate changed, conditions had changed, too. Everywhere is destruction and ruin and not too much has been done toward rebuilding. All the money had gone to that one battle.

However, that is going to change. The first woman president, also the first African- American president, has been forced to resign. Defense spending has been drastically cut, and Excalibur has been mothballed. Now, Jason is being used as a public liaison to sell the new spending policy. Privately and publicly, he doesn't think it's a good idea because the Slugs could come back. When the next attack comes, only Jason Wander and a handful of others are prepared.

Orphan's Destiny is devoid of the politics that drive many of our space stories. Yet, politics is not at all excluded. The folly of remaining defenseless is fully driven home. Also, the politics of lying to the public and covering up when full disclosure would better serve is also studied. Orphan's Destiny will take its rightful place on the bestseller list. Pick up a copy and enjoy.