Science Fiction is often viewed as something geeks like to read, and shows where men like to gawk at girls in skimpy costumes. The thing is, most of the writers of science fiction, at least among the fan magazines and underground stories, are women. Fruits of Betrayal is a take by a woman on science fiction that is primarily a romance. Perhaps the latest change from the hard science, fictionalized to now romanticized as well as fantasized.

Justin Foster is, from all descriptions, the classical good-looking California beach boy or an Apollo like the god from Rome. And apparently a lot smarter, too. He works for Protectors of the Keepers of the Environment. You'd think if aliens were smarter, they come up with better titles for their secret groups. However, he has a weakness named Trina, his adopted human daughter. Because of that, he is now a double agent. He ended up delivering a box, contents unknown, meant for his alien bosses to protect earth. Instead it was delivered to the enemy in exchange for ensuring the safety of his kidnapped daughter, who was kidnapped only because he let Elyse Greenwood, also an alien, under his skin, and into his heart and bed. Now he has to get his daughter and the box back, and find a way to stop Raymond Broody and whatever he is doing with the Destroyers intent on taking over the Earth. Only problem is his boss at Protectors has told him to get re-involved with Ms. Greenwood in a counter mission that could play straight into the Destroyer's hands.

So the Fruits Of Betrayal begin to bud on the tree. What is different about this story from the mainstream is that its focus is really primarily on sex and S&M. The story itself pretty much sits in the background. While there is plenty of story action, a terrific chase scene, and sparsely filled out characters, it still comes up short. Why? Because it reads more like a sex manual than a story. There needed to be more balance. I wanted to know things like, why are these people here on earth? While the Protectors and Destroyers are like family dynasties and passed down from parent to child, there is no hint as to why they really want to be on Earth. What is at stake here? Yes, trying to keep them from over taking Earth, that old overused, tired plot. But why Earth? Surely there are other worlds more worthy of their attention, or are there? While this story is only one hundred pages long, there was still room to put in some of this without detracting from the story. What else attracted them to each other besides hormones, or does that matter? Also, where is the reason to care for these characters? It also could have built up better for the sex scenes by using the tension and delayed gratification for us, the readers.

Fruits Of Betrayal left me feeling fruitless after reading. So much was promised and so little was given. More story and less graphic sex would have helped tremendously over all.

Reviewed By Nancy Louise
© July 2007