ROSWELL on PLANET-SF

THE STOWAWAY opens with the aftermath of the rescue of Michael, Cameron and Adam from their captivity at the climax of THE INTRUDER. Adam's actions are a major cause for concern, and Cameron wonders how Michael will take the news that she was the one who betrayed Max and Isabel.

The Adam storyline takes centre stage for the first half or so of the book. Wary of the kid's powers, the three aliens agree to keep a watch over him at Ray's apartment - well, the owner won't be needing it anymore obviously. Cameron also decides to hang around for a while, a decision no doubt helped by Roswell's own babe magnet Michael Guerin.

Michael also has his problems this time around. Three of them to be precise, in the form of Maria, Isabel and Cameron. Previously Isabel had believed Maria to be no competition, but how on Earth could anyone be interested in Cameron - with her red hair and a buzz cut - over her? Of course, they couldn't, especially when she'd already seen Michael kissing her in his dream. His reaction when she confronts him about this is hilarious - well, I thought so anyway.

First Adam, and then Isabel, start acting strangely, and then we discover the identity of the stowaway who was onboard the aliens' ship when it crashed, which Ray explained earlier in the series.

Overall, THE STOWAWAY was up to the series' usual standards apart from a dip in the last couple of chapters. As soon as the plan to defeat the stowaway and his allies was announced, the ending seemed completely obvious - it was just a matter of who it would be. Still, given the series' main readership, perhaps I should be less cynical, although why the cover features Max and Liz I have absolutely no idea - obviously Cameron doesn't feature in the TV series but Michael and Isabel and/or Maria would have been far more appropriate. BACK TO THE TOP

THE STOWAWAY

Written by MELINDA METZ

POCKET BOOKS

£4.99

RATING: 7/10

NEXT RELEASE:
THE VANISHED

PREVIOUS RELEASE:
THE INTRUDER