Time Dancers
by Steve Cash
Published by Del Rey
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Reviewed by Sarra Borne
Time Dancers continues the quest started by Zianno Zezen--Z for short--and his companions in The Meq,the first book in the trilogy. During his quest, Z has learned much about being Meq, made many new friends, and found his Ameq or soulmate. Now the Meq are gathering, they have one hundred years or fewer to prepare for the Time of Remembering, when they will finally uncover their destiny.
Like the first book, this one begins with a train journey. This journey, however, is one of hope and renewal, reuniting lost loved ones and finally returning home. Unfortunately, this time of happiness doesn't last long as Z's archenemy, Xanti Otso or the Fleur de Mal, kills two of their number. The Meq are few and cannot afford to lose any of their people, especially to one of their own. So a plan is made to hunt down the Fleur de Mal and his accomplices and kill them, thereby ending their reign of terror.
Working in teams, the Meq scatter to the ends of the Earth and follow whispers, rumors, and sightings false and real.
They search far and wide, yet the Fleur de Mal is always one step ahead. He lures them into ambush after ambush, each time causing loss and confusion. During this quest, the Meq discover that they are changing--and not always for the good. Ray Ytuarte, one of Z's oldest friends, becomes deathly ill after being bitten by a mosquito, something that has never happened before in the Meq's known history.
The timeline extends from the end of World War I in 1919 all the way through the bombing of Nagasaki in 1945. In contrast to The Meq, the action moves along at a fairly even speed, although there are sections where years pass with barely a mention. Author Cash has done his research, and a constant flow of historical figures and events litter the pages. From Babe Ruth's homerun record, to Josephine Baker in Paris, to Lindbergh's solo flight and the eventual murder of his son by kidnappers--it's all included.
Being the second book in a trilogy leaves this book at somewhat of a disadvantage. Although there is a two-page recap, without first perusing The Meq, the reader has an enormous handicap.
Armchair Interviews says: Time Dancers also ends with a major cliffhanger and is obviously to be continued. This will leave the reader somewhat frustrated while they await the publication of the final segment sometime in 2007.