Night Train to Rigel
by Timothy Zahn
Our Price: $17.57
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Buy Used: from $0.02 (click here)
Category: Book
See more book details and other editions
Book Summary Information
Author: Timothy ZahnEdition: Mass Market Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2006-10-03
ISBN: 0765346443
Number of pages: 336
Publisher: Tor Science Fiction
Book Reviews of Night Train to Rigel
Book Review: Eyes on the Train
Summary: 5 Stars
Night Train to Rigel (2005) is the first SF novel in the Quadrail series. It is set a few decades in the future after Earth has been admitted into the Galactic community through the Quadrail system. The station costs a trillion dollars to construct outside Jupiter's orbit, but it then provides access to many destinations throughout the galaxy.
The Quadrail system is run by the Spiders, an arachnid-like species. The trains travel through tubes that connect to stations in other solar systems. The four-railed tracks are built around iridescent Corelines running down the center of each tube.
In this novel, Frank Compton is a former agent of Western Alliance Intelligence. He was fired for blowing the whistle on the Yandro scam. Several scapegoats in the UN were publicly terminated from their jobs over the scandal, but Comptom was also canned six months later.
Bayta is a mysterious woman who serves as Compton's guide and liaison with the Spiders. She communicates with the Spiders through a form of telepathy. Bayta obviously knows various secrets, but is more closed-mouthed than Compton himself.
Korak Fayr is a Belldic commando officer. He and his men have apparently gone renegade, picking their own missions. Compton has a few encounters with Fayr before learning his status among his superiors as a loose cannon.
In this story, Compton has found another job and makes the final arrangements with his new boss. Upon leaving the hotel, however, he finds a person waiting for him on the street. He says a few things to Compton and then falls over dead. The boy has multiple wounds that should have put him to sleep or killed him much sooner. Compton finds only two items on his person: a Quadrail ticket to Yandro in Compton's name and a cash stick.
Since Compton was thinking of leaving Earth in the next few days, he just accelerates his departure. He catches the next flight to the Quadrail station. Along the way, he notices a young woman following the same route.
Once he reaches the train, he finds his seat in the last passenger car. Actually, it has a single file of seats down the center with freight on both sides. It currently holds only six other passengers besides himself. As he starts reviewing his information sheets, Compton falls to sleep.
Upon awaking, Compton finds himself to be the only passenger in the car. Then Bayta introduces herself and informs him that he is on the way to a meeting arranged by the Spiders. At their destination, Compton is briefed on a situation that the Spiders would like him to investigate.
Compton is presented with an unlimited Quadrail pass, but is also forced to accept Bayta as his companion. Her ability to communicate with the Spiders convinces Compton to drop his objections. Then they are returned to their train. Compton is moved to a compartment next to Bayta's quarters.
Strange things begin to happen during their journey. First, two drunk Halkas (who are not really drunk) knock on his door. Then the same Halkas break into a lockbox, steal a knife, and attack Compton.
A Bellco drunk becomes friendly with Compton. Later the Bellco and his companions knock Compton unconscious and stuff him in a bundle of spices. Eventually Compton learns that the Bellco is Fayr.
This tale leads Compton from one confusing incident to another. He begins to realize that he is being used as a diversion. Compton becomes very angry with Bayta on several occasions, but decides to continue his role despite her withholding information from him. Apparently he has no need to know.
Despite his ignorance of the reason for their actions, Compton makes his own decisions. Bayta gets exasperated with him, but she follows his agenda. Eventually, Compton contributes more than the Spiders ever expected due to his Intelligence experience.
This story combines high tech with classic cinema scenarios. Several Hitchcock movies are mentioned within the tale. The next installment is The Third Lynx. Enjoy!
Highly recommended for Zahn fans and for anyone else who enjoys tales of innovative space transport, unexpected villains, and competent intelligence agents. Anyone who has not previously read books by this author might want to start with The Blackcollar, his first novel.
-Arthur W. Jordin
Summary of Night Train to Rigel
HUMANITY'S LAST HOPE
It begins when a man delivers a message for former government agent Frank Compton--only to fall dead at his feet. The message is a summons from the Spiders, the exotic and mysterious creatures who run the Quadrail, an incredible transportation system connecting civilizations across the galaxy. The Spiders believe that someone or something is preparing to attack their entire network and the worlds it serves, by smuggling battleships through the Quadrail--something that should be impossible to do. Compton, with the aid of a beautiful but enigmatic agent of the Spiders, is their last hope.
Because nobody else has been able to find the elusive enemy who seeks to enslave the entire galaxy?and Earth is its next target.
It begins when a man delivers a message for former government agent Frank Compton--only to fall dead at his feet. The message is a summons from the Spiders, the exotic and mysterious creatures who run the Quadrail, an incredible transportation system connecting civilizations across the galaxy. The Spiders believe that someone or something is preparing to attack their entire network and the worlds it serves, by smuggling battleships through the Quadrail--something that should be impossible to do. Compton, with the aid of a beautiful but enigmatic agent of the Spiders, is their last hope.
Because nobody else has been able to find the elusive enemy who seeks to enslave the entire galaxy?and Earth is its next target.
Literature & Fiction Books
Book Subjects
- Arts & Photography
- Biographies & Memoirs
- Business & Investing
- Children's Books
- Comics & Graphic Novels
- Computers & Internet
- Cooking, Food & Wine
- Entertainment
- Gay & Lesbian
- Health, Mind & Body
- History
- Home & Garden
- Horror
- Law
- Literature & Fiction
- Mystery & Thrillers
- Nonfiction
- Outdoors & Nature
- Parenting & Families
- Professional & Technical
- Reference
- Religion & Spirituality
- Romance
- Science
- Science Fiction & Fantasy
- Sports
- Teens
- Travel
Most talked about in Literature & Fiction Books
Little Womenby Louisa May Alcott
Scribner; Published: 1986-06-30; Paperback; Book
Best price: $3.49
Price in other shops:
The Killing Groundby JACK HIGGINS
HARPERCOLLINS PUBLISHERS LTD; Published: 2007; Hardcover; Book
Saving Fish from Drowningby Amy Tan
4th Estate; Published: 2005; Paperback; Book
Life Expectancyby Dean Koontz
Harpercollins Pb; Published: 2005-08-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $6.00
Constant Princessby Philippa Gregory
Touchstone/Simon & Schuster; Published: 2005; Hardcover; Book
Wolf of the Plains (Conqueror, Book 1)by Conn Iggulden
Harper; Published: 2007; Paperback; Book
Saharaby Clive Cussler
Harper Collins Pb; Published: 2005-03-21; Paperback; Book
Perelandra (Cosmic Trilogy)by C. S. Lewis
Voyager; Published: 2005-11; Paperback; Book
Best price: $6.80
Price in other shops:
The Lord Of The Rings: Part 2 The Two Towersby J. R. R. Tolkien
Harper Collins Publishers; Published: 2001; Paperback; Book
Red Marsby Kim Stanley Robinson
Trafalgar Square; Published: 2001-06; Paperback; Book
Similar Books and other products
The Green and the Grayby Timothy Zahn
Tor Science Fiction; Published: 2005-10-04; Mass Market Paperback; Book
Best price: $1.99
Price in other shops:
The Cobra Trilogy (Baen Books Megabooks)by Timothy Zahn
Baen; Published: 2009-11-03; Paperback; Book
Best price: $7.37
Price in other shops:
Manta's Giftby Timothy Zahn
Tor Books; Published: 2003-08-18; Mass Market Paperback; Book
Best price: $2.91
Price in other shops:
The Domino Patternby Timothy Zahn
Tor Books; Published: 2010-01-05; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $4.99
Price in other shops:
Angelmassby Timothy Zahn
Tor Science Fiction; Published: 2002-09-16; Mass Market Paperback; Book
Best price: $2.95
Price in other shops:
The Domino Patternby Timothy Zahn
Tor Science Fiction; Published: 2010-08-31; Mass Market Paperback; Book
Best price: $15.98
Odd Girl Out (Quadrail SF Thrillers)by Timothy Zahn
Tor Science Fiction; Published: 2009-11-03; Mass Market Paperback; Book
Best price: $1.75
Price in other shops:
The Icarus Huntby Timothy Zahn
Spectra; Published: 2000-07-05; Mass Market Paperback; Book
Best price: $3.74
Price in other shops:
Odd Girl Outby Timothy Zahn
Tor Books; Published: 2008-11-11; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $6.45
Price in other shops:
The Third Lynx (Quadrail SF Thrillers)by Timothy Zahn
Tor Science Fiction; Published: 2008-07-29; Mass Market Paperback; Book
Best price: $2.99
Price in other shops: