Web Fed Award-winning Planets

Reviewed on February 10, 2000

As soon as I entered the orbit of Sassenach, my control panel went absolutely crazy, moaning sounds were heard from the hull, and strange flashing lights appeared on the viewscreen. Either my ship was in need of an overhaul or I’d better lay off that marsrat chili for a while. Haulers coming in and out of the link were quick to assure me this was a normal phenomenon, so I just took another bite out of my bowl and settled onto the landing pad, my chili-induced belching drowning out the accented voice determined to impart some important message that kept sounding from my comm unit.

The landing pad was a way station for travelers, with faded signs pointing out the local marketplace, medical facilities, bathhouse, and tavern. The bill of fare was a little out of date, and the bowl of bones served up in the eatery too stale for me to even pick up. Everything seemed a little neglected and disused on this planet, even the village and ruins I found while exploring the overgrown path leading from the way station. You’d think that people who wanted planet reviews would at least dust the place off before my visit.

I was prepared to brush this off as just another system with a minimum of locations and nothing especially interesting to report. But while I was taking a rest stop and watering the stones around the ruins, I noticed one especially pretty little item that Fifi would surely appreciate enough to give up a night of passionate hound-loving. I picked it up, and found myself catapulted through time and space faster than sex-starved baronesses tired of being beamed by the Dukes of Fed and headed for Horsell.

The parallel world in Sassenach is rich in color and locations to explore, even offering a modest puzzle to challenge visitors. I don’t want to give away too much here (and the chili is turning a bit anyway), but this system presents a nice twist on the theme that is worth checking out. Congratulations Claire, Sassenach is now owner of a Carpenter Award!