The Best of All Possible Worlds

Gentle, slow-moving but endearing novel about the growing relationship between cerebral Dllenahkh, whose home world has been destroyed, and emotional but professional Grace Delarua, who joins Dllenahkh's mission to find suitable mates for his fellow countrymen who are now without a planet. I'm not sure of the likelihood of this book finding a large target audience; it's too subtle for typical romance readers, and not technical enough for hard-core Sci-Fi readers. At times the plot barely moves forward as author Karen Lord, in her sophomore effort, portrays episodic adventures at each new settlement that the mission encounters. She seems to have more interest in exploring the sociological implications of the various cultures than in providing the narrative with any momentum. It's difficult not to be caught up in her enthusiasm, however, and the last few chapters do finally ramp up the dramatic stakes. If the HEA is not the most romantic one of all time, it is a satisfying one nonetheless. For readers looking for something different, The Best of Possible Worlds might be the best of all possible options.