Review of Conduct Unbecoming by Nina M. Osier

TITLE: Conduct Unbecoming
AUTHOR: Nina M. Osier
Genre: Science Fiction

The last vestiges of pure Humans live in ghetto-like conditions on Luna, bitter at the Protectorate of Amalgamated Species, who the Humans believe have taken what was rightfully theirs: Earth.

The Humans think of the amalgamated species as little more than animals, mutants who have no right to even exist, never mind on their planet! The only reason the Protectorate allows a colony of Humans to live in Luna, is because Human DNA is what made amalgamation possible (the cross breeding of different alien species.)

Life is tough on Luna. There isn't enough space with little employment and only the men who can provide for their women are allowed to marry. Some men have more than one wife, if they can afford it as they have to keep each wife in her own house. As a result of only the richer men fathering children, the gene pool is dwindling, but the Humans will not accept any help from the Protectorate in that respect. Humans will breed naturally or not at all.

Rik Bohemer escapes from Luna as soon as he is able and becomes a captain on a Defender ship, where he befriends many non-Humans.

The Humans have long looked with envious eyes at earth, lots of space, room for everyone to work and live, take a mate, not just the chosen few who could afford it and over the years a plan has been developing to reclaim Earth, and Rik will find his loyalties tested between his comrades and his family...

This is a great book. Great characters, great story, great sweeps of imagination. It was a hard book to put down, I could hardly wait to see what would happen next. Rik's dilemma was entirely plausible. His divided loyalties between his family and his friends was heart wrenching. There were lots of twists and turns to keep you guessing. One to curl up with in a chair on a rainy day.

Reviewed by Annette Gisby, author of Silent Screams and Shadows of the Rose.