Strange things were happening on the icy planet called Petaybee. Unauthorized genetically engineered species had been spotted, while some people were simply disappearing. None of the locals were talking to the company, so the company sent disabled combat veteran Yanaba Maddock to spy. But a strange thing happened. With her relocation to the arctic planet came a return of Yana's health and strength. And the more she got to know the people of Petaybee, the more determined she became to protect her new home.... From the Paperback edition. YA-A well-written, entertaining novel. Ex-soldier Major Yanaba Maddock has retired to the "company" planet of Petaybee due to major lung damage from poison gas. Strange things are going on there. Survey teams are disappearing, and the locals are acting suspiciously. As it turns out, the planet is alive and the natives have formed a beneficial symbiotic relationship with it, and it is threatened by the exploitive company that is mining precious gems. While not a completely original idea, the story will be enjoyed by McCaffrey and Scarborough fans alike. John Lawson, Fairfax County Public Library, VA Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc. Forced by her ruined lungs to resign from active service with the Company, Major Yanaba Maddock "retires" to the ice-bound planet of Petaybee with an order to mingle with the colonists and discover the source of certain anomalies on the planet. What she finds is both a new way of life and a challenge to all the loyalties she has ever known. Award-winning author McCaffrey (the "Dragonriders of Pern" series) and Scarborough ( The Healer's War , Bantam, 1989) combine their talents to produce an exciting tale of survival and moral courage featuring an engaging female protagonist. This fast-paced adventure belongs in most collections. Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc. Well-handled far-future speculation on ecological engineering and planetary consciousness, from McCaffrey (Damia's Children, etc.) and Scarborough (Last Refuge). Major Yana Maddock of the ubiquitous ``company'' is medically discharged (poison gas has ruined her lungs) on the arctic planet Petaybee, where the company has noted some odd goings-on: unauthorized new life forms have mysteriously appeared; geological survey teams have inexplicably disappeared. Yana is assured of a full pension in return for spying on the Petaybeans, the latter a mixed Eskimo-Irish population well adapted to the frigid climate. Befriended by the local women, taught how to survive in the cold, given a medicine that heals her lungs, Yana soon comes to admire the Petaybeans, especially handsome genetics whiz Sean. And their secret? Well, the planet itself is sentient, and eager to communicate with those willing to listen. But soon the company grows impatient with Yana's honest explanations, sending in troops to grab what they want. The planet itself reacts to confound the invaders, forcing them to learn to communicate. And Sean turns out to be doubly adapted--he can transform his body into that of a seal. Agreeably colorful, well-realized adventure centered on an intriguing alternative lifestyle. A felicitous combination of authors, rather better indeed than either contributor's recent solo efforts. -- Copyright ©1993, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved. gs were happening on the icy planet called Petaybee. Unauthorized genetically engineered species had been spotted, while some people were simply disappearing. None of the locals were talking to the company, so the company sent disabled combat veteran Yanaba Maddock to spy. But a strange thing happened. With her relocation to the arctic planet came a return of Yana's health and strength. And the more she got to know the people of Petaybee, the more determined she became to protect her new home.... From the Paperback edition. 1st Edition Powers That Be Anne McCaffrey