Babylon 5 Book 2 : Accusations
                    Author Lois Tilton
                  Boxtree/Channel 4 œ4.99

                      Reviewed by Sue

Accusations certainly do fly thick and fast in this second Babylon
5 book. The story starts when Susan Ivanova gets a message from
her ex-flight instructor, JD Ortega. He's obviously in trouble,
and wants to meet her, but though she waits for several hours, he
doesn't turn up. Searching the station files to try to discover
what has happened to him, Ivanova finds his file is restricted -
using her password she opens the file, to find out that he is
wanted - for terrorism! Getting concerned for her missing friend,
she calls in Garbaldi's help. Part of the mystery is solved when
Ortega's dead body is discovered in a locker. But there is a lot
more to discover if his murderer is to be unmasked.

Some investigators turn up from Earthforce headquarters to find
out the truth. But their suspicion immediately falls on Ivanova -
after all, Ortega contacted her just before his death. Is she also
a terrorist?  Preposterous, say Garibaldi and Sheridan, but
Garibaldi is forbidden by Earthforce to interfere in the
investigation so how can he help his friend prove her innocence,
especially once the investigators start locking his files? Then
another body - or rather, part of it - turns up.  Is there one
murderer, or two?

Meanwhile, raiders are picking off transport ships seemingly at
random ... maybe not. Ivanova and Garibaldi become convinced that
there is some connection but it isn't going to be easy proving it.

This is just as enjoyable as the first book in the series. The
pace keeps up throughout, but the storyline gets a bit convoluted
in places. The ending is somewhat rushed and a few explanations
given hurriedly in the last few pages. But apart from those minor
gripes, an excellent book.


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