like Texas 2 and Little Havana that are intended to evoke memories of a happier time on Earth. However, there doesn’t seem to be a centralized government. Instead, law and order in New Destiny are maintained by the Bazaar, which appears to be a cross between a multinational CIA and FBI. New Destiny is already exhibiting the same structural wear and tear that has nearly decimated the Earth. Fortunately, the national powers have discovered another planet outside the solar system capable of sustaining life. As Dark Space begins, a ship called the Mosaic, with an American and Chinese crew (the Russians begged out), is on a several-month journey to the planet dubbed Esparar to determine if it’s suitable for colonization.

The main characters in Dark Space are Jose Carriles, the pilot of the Mosaic, and his old friend, Corin Timony, a former Bazaar agent on New Destiny. The book is told from their perspective, in alternating third-person narrative chapters. They have a long history of a friendship that went very sour. To make some extra money, Carriles once sold Timony some drugs. When he was busted, he then informed on her. Because Carriles came from an influential family, he got a slap on the wrist. However, Timony lost her agent status and was demoted to admin work.

 As the Mosaic approaches Esparar, Carriles and Timony, working separately, realize the Mosaic’s mission isn’t what it seems. Esparar is inhabited by a highly advanced species of aliens belonging to an interplanetary confederation called the Mutual. Specific individuals on New Destiny and the Mosaic are determined to get the resources and technology Earth needs from the Mutual, one way or another.

Unlike my comments in this review, the authors do not dump their intricately thought-out futuristic universe on readers all at once. Instead, they take a page from a movie script, starting the story with a crisis on the Mosaic (including a figurative ticking clock) that threatens the entire ship. Non-spoiler: Carriles saves the ship (or this would be a ten-page short story instead of a 300-page novel). From that moment on, Dark Space has a lot of action, both in space and on New Destiny. Carriles and Timony frequently engage in both armed and unarmed combat. (Timony’s Bazaar training allows her to grapple with formidable opponents.) The book has enough action to satisfy almost any space opera fan.

However, Dark Space is more complex than a mere good guys vs. bad guys story. Readers must figure out who the good and bad guys are, just as Carriles and Timony do. This book has spies, traitors, double and triple agents, hidden agendas, and a complex international and interplanetary political storyline. Many characters are not what they first seem, as Carriles and Timony learn, often to their detriment. Friends turn out to be enemies, and enemies wind up being allies. In other words, Dark Space also has the elements of a good espionage novel.

The science fiction elements of the novel are interesting but basic. Dark Space reverses the Star Trek theme of an interplanetary union exploring and enlightening new civilizations. Here, the people of Earth seek the Mutual with an agenda that doesn’t always hold up logically (but makes for an exciting book). The result is a plot that echoes some of the simplistic themes often occurring in Star Trek episodes. Those stories entertained 1960s TV viewers, but 21st-century science fiction readers expect greater insight and sophistication.

Nor is the backstory of societal decay on both Earth and New Destiny as interesting as it should be. I had a hard time picturing how lunar colonies could provide even a short-term solution to the overcrowding and diminishing resources mentioned in the book. However, the book does an excellent job of making Carriles and Timony flawed but decent three-dimensional characters. (Although I doubt that any law enforcement agency on the Earth or the moon would cashier an agent for drug abuse while conveniently allowing her access to the type of top-secret data needed to drive the plot.) I especially appreciated the depiction of Timony as a recovering drug addict. She made mistakes and poor decisions and was trying to work through them. Her recovery is hindered by her getting into a life-or-death situation, but I could appreciate the care the authors took in establishing her character.

Dark Space is a rollicking space opera with a complex plot filled with twists and surprise revelations. The action is riveting sometimes, and readers will enjoy figuring out who’s who in the book. The science fiction elements are often at the level of average Star Trek episodes, but they don’t detract from the story’s pace and entertainment value. Dark Space should find its space on many science fiction fans’ bookshelves.

NOTE: The publisher graciously provided me with a copy of this book through NetGalley. However, the decision to review the book and the contents of this review are entirely my own.