Serpent’s Gift (StarBridge #4)

WHAT PRICE WOULD A SPECIES PAY TO EXTEND THEIR LIFESPAN?
The golden-eyed Elspind live brief but fulfilling lives. Gaining membership into the Cooperative League of Systems could bring many benefits…including a drug that would greatly extend their lives, but some are opposed to such infringement—violently opposed. Can a soon-to-be StarBridge interrelator on the verge of dropping out unite the people of Elseemar? Come along with Mark, Cara, and Eerin on an adventure filled with danger where a single misstep could mean disaster.

PRAISE FOR THE STARBRIDGE SERIES
“This series offers well-told tales with a welcome note of realism about interspecies relationships…Recommended.” — Booklist

“These novels challenge our understanding among intelligent races…Readers will care about these characters.” — Library Journal

“Crispin’s aliens are a diverse and fascinating lot…She’ll be the leading candidate for the title of the ‘the Norton of the 1990s!’” — Dragon Magazine

“Rousing adventure…a very exciting and reader-enticing series!” — Andre Norton

BOOKS IN THE STARBRIDGE SERIES
Book 1: StarBridge - Earth discovers they are not the only sentient beings in the universe and their first contact turns deadly in an unfortunate turn of events.

Book 2: Silent Dances - Deaf since birth, Tesa is the perfect ambassador to the alien Grus whose sonic cries can kill. Has earth made its own discovery of a new sentient species?

Book 3: Shadow World - A young man learns how to cope with death from a golden-eyed race of beings with tragically short lives.

Book 4: Serpent’s Gift - A young girl creates a mind-link with the StarBridge computer, and a series of deadly accidents threatens all life on the asteroid.

Book 5: Silent Songs - Amphibious beings from a distant world land on the planet Trinity, threatening the native creatures and the StarBridge ambassadors.

Book 6: Ancestor’s World - When a member of an archeological team on the planet Na-Dina is brutally murdered, Mahree Burroughs arrives to find the killer, no matter the cost.

Book 7: Voices of Chaos - The feline beings known as Arrekhi have requested admission into the Cooperative League of Systems, but they are harboring a secret that could have deadly consequences.

WE ARE NOT ALONE, AND WE’RE ABOUT TO MEET OUR NEIGHBORS
After more than a hundred years of space travel, a stray radio signal indicates the possibility that alien life might exist. The crew of the Désirée has no training in interstellar diplomacy and a minor dispute turns to disaster that could escalate into a full scale war.

Can the bond formed between two very different friends be strong enough to bridge their differences and save their people? Come along in this first book in the StarBridge Series in an exciting journey across the stars in a desperate gamble to save both their worlds.

PRAISE FOR THE STARBRIDGE SERIES
“This is the type of rousing adventure story which Heinlein made so popular a generation ago…Excellent!” — Andre Norton

“An interesting supporting cast of aliens and a strong theme of understanding and acceptance among races” — Booklist

“A great success…An adventure novel with some thought in it!” — Vonda N. McIntyre

“Crispin’s aliens are a diverse and fascinating lot…She’ll be the leading candidate for the title of the ‘the Norton of the 1990s!’” — Dragon Magazine

BOOKS IN THE STARBRIDGE SERIES
Book 1: StarBridge - Earth discovers they are not the only sentient beings in the universe and their first contact turns deadly in an unfortunate turn of events.

Book 2: Silent Dances - Deaf since birth, Tesa is the perfect ambassador to the alien Grus whose sonic cries can kill. Has earth made its own discovery of a new sentient species?

Book 3: Shadow World - A young man learns how to cope with death from a golden-eyed race of beings with tragically short lives.

Book 4: Serpent’s Gift - A young girl creates a mind-link with the StarBridge computer, and a series of deadly accidents threatens all life on the asteroid.

Book 5: Silent Songs - Amphibious beings from a distant world land on the planet Trinity, threatening the native creatures and the StarBridge ambassadors.

Book 6: Ancestor’s World - When a member of an archeological team on the planet Na-Dina is brutally murdered, Mahree Burroughs arrives to find the killer, no matter the cost.

Book 7: Voices of Chaos - The feline beings known as Arrekhi have requested admission into the Cooperative League of Systems, but they are harboring a secret that could have deadly consequences.

THE SERENITY OF TRINITY IS THREATENED AND ITS FUTURE DEPENDS ON TWO STARBRIDGE AMBASSADORS
Return to Trinity where Earth had first discovered intelligent life that allowed them admittance into the Cooperative League of Systems. Through friendship and understanding the men and women of StarBridge are forming bonds with the natives.
In the skies of Trinity, the birdlike Grus welcome the deaf human ambassador, Tesa. In the seas of Trinity, the aquatic Singers communicate with the young StarBridge student, Jib. But on the surface of Trinity, an alien life form has landed, and these amphibious beings from a distant world are definitely not friendly.

PRAISE FOR THE STARBRIDGE SERIES
“This series offers well-told tales with a welcome note of realism about interspecies relationships…Recommended.” — Booklist

“This is the type of rousing adventure story which Heinlein made so popular a generation ago…Excellent!” — Andre Norton

“These novels challenge our understanding among intelligent races…Readers will care about these characters.” — Library Journal

“This is space opera in the best tradition…just tremendous; I’m delighted to recommend it.” — Judith Tarr

“…the series is batting a thousand!” — Dragon

BOOKS IN THE STARBRIDGE SERIES

Book 1: StarBridge - Earth discovers they are not the only sentient beings in the universe and their first contact turns deadly in an unfortunate turn of events.

Book 2: Silent Dances - Deaf since birth, Tesa is the perfect ambassador to the alien Grus whose sonic cries can kill. Has earth made its own discovery of a new sentient species?

Book 3: Shadow World - A young man learns how to cope with death from a golden-eyed race of beings with tragically short lives.

Book 4: Serpent’s Gift - A young girl creates a mind-link with the StarBridge computer, and a series of deadly accidents threatens all life on the asteroid.

Book 5: Silent Songs - Amphibious beings from a distant world land on the planet Trinity, threatening the native creatures and the StarBridge ambassadors.

Book 6: Ancestor’s World - When a member of an archeological team on the planet Na-Dina is brutally murdered, Mahree Burroughs arrives to find the killer, no matter the cost.

Book 7: Voices of Chaos - The feline beings known as Arrekhi have requested admission into the Cooperative League of Systems, but they are harboring a secret that could have deadly consequences.

An Archeologist Opens an Ancient Tomb. His Discovery Reveals A Secret. A Secret Some Will Kill to Keep Buried.

On the planet Na-Dina, the tombs in the Ancestor’s Valley have lain undisturbed for six thousand years. A fully intact royal chamber promises treasures beyond reckoning, but no one expected ancient Mizari artifacts. When a member of the team is brutally murdered, Ambassador-at-Large Mahree Burroughs arrives, determined to find the killer…no matter the cost. What she discovers will change her life, the lives of the Na-Dina, and the lives of everyone in the Cooperative League of Systems.

Praise for the StarBridge Series

“Rousing adventure…a very exciting and reader-enticing series!” — Andre Norton
“This series offers well-told tales with a welcome note of realism about interspecies relationships…Recommended.” — Booklist

“This is space opera in the best tradition…just tremendous; I’m delighted to recommend it.” — Judith Tarr

“A highly emotional and surprisingly successful story…With its touches of humor, and an intriguing set of characters, the action-packed plot races along!” — Locus

“…the series is batting a thousand!” — Dragon

A Secret is Concealed. A StarBridge Telepath Senses the Truth. Can a Bloodbath Be Averted?

A newly discovered feline species seeks admission to the Cooperative League of Systems. Skillful at dialog…and deception…they are hiding a terrible secret. A secret that would disqualify them from CLS membership. A secret that has created seething pockets of underground rebellion. A secret that could plunge their world into chaos.

Praise for the StarBridge Series

“These novels challenge our understanding among intelligent races…Readers will care about these characters.” — Library Journal

“Fascinating…an excellent addition to any SF collection.” — Locus

“This entertaining entry combines well-rounded, likeable characters; touches of romance; the strong but subtle theme of mutual cultural respect; and the quick pacing and technological tricks of the trade.” — Booklist

“Crispin’s aliens are a diverse and fascinating lot…She’ll be the leading candidate for the title of the ‘the Norton of the 1990s!’” — Dragon Magazine

“This is space opera in the best tradition…just tremendous; Im delighted to recommend it.” — Judith Tarr

“This is the type of rousing adventure story which Heinlein made so popular a generation ago…Excellent!” — Andre Norton

In a drunken stupor, Brandon O'Malley frightens his brother Aidan's girlfriend, enraging his brother and the rest of his family. Aidan offers Brandon the choice of rehab or jail, and Brandon reluctantly enters treatment. While in rehab, he confronts the lifetime of secrets and resentments that fueled his spiral into alcoholism, and these revelations have a major effect on his entire family. When he returns home expecting to resume his supervisory role in the familys construction business, Brandon learns his father has retired and put his younger brothe, Colin,r in charge. Brandon is unhappy to be given the job of renovating an apartment building where he loses his heart to an adorable five-year-old tenant named Mike. After he falls hard for Michaela, Brandon becomes involved with her mother Daphne, who is running from a past that will later test his sobriety and his mettle as a man.