328 pp.
Del Rey Books, 2005

This is a sequel to the earlier collaboration, "Time's Eye", in which Soldier Bisea Dutt is transported to a patchwork world assembled from different periods of human history. They induce from the cut-off date that some catastrophe must destroy mankind soon.

In "Sunstorm", Bisea has returned to London and her proper time, just as scientists discover a flaw in the sun that will destroy the earth in a few years. The Astronomer Royal works out a plan to build a giant solar shield, and humanity is saved.

The plot moves right along, but it's a little disappointing. Some of it feels like it comes right out of "how to write a disaster movie". We are told that the sunstorm will have terrific consequences even with the shield in place. Domes are built over big cities, of course, but we spend no time on the puzzle of how to light and cool these domes. Oh, well, big fans, but other than that.

In our big denouement, the dome over London cracks and drips molten metal on the building below, so what do our heroes do? They go outside, where it's safer. Um, if it's safer, why did you need the dome? Oh, so we could have that dramatic dripping metal.

The side plot on Mars really doesn't go anywhere, we never really find out what the Chinese are doing launching hundreds of stealth rockets and not helping with the shield. The story on the Moon proves pretty much insignificant - might as well have been in Chelsea.

It's fun SF though, a pleasant quick read.