Candle of Distant Earth
Taken #3
Alan Foster
SF
2 stars
262 pages

The gang all make home to their respective homeworlds. However, Walker and George both decide, just as they find our solar system, that they have “grown” and that now they want to travel. Gee, wish they had decided that before they set out with a whole fleet! And the Villinji who kidnapped them and has been chasing them, well, what do you know? He has a sudden change of perspective and sees that maybe other sentients aren’t just “goods” to be sold. How heartwarming .

Foster forced this ending and it didn’t fit with everything that had gone on before. Glad I never bought these.

The Light-Years Beneath My Feet
Taken #2
Alan Dean Foster
sf
3 stars
245 pages

the second in the Taken Trilogy. The four friends go to another planet since Marc is now a chef. End up meddling in politics to further their journey home. Still pursued by the aliens that originally kidnapped them. Ends with them leaving for a part of the galaxy that “might” be familiar with one of the non-terran aliens. Nice and light and not crass like the first.

Lost and Found
Taken #1
Alan Dean Foster
SF
2 stars

the first in the TAKEN trilogy. A man is kidnapped by aliens, held in a ship along with many other lifeforms, to be eventually sold as a “novelty” piece of entertainment to the highest bidder. A dog has also been taken and given enhanced intelligence to boost his price. These 2, along with 2 other aliens, stage a revolt and break free. Get in contact with a good force of aliens, but have no idea where their homeworld is, so they can’t go back to earth. Ends with all 4 companions vowing to leave the aliens homeworld and search for their own homeworlds.

Light, but crass humor dragged it down. I ordered the trilogy omnibus from the SFBC, but I’m not sure that order made it, so if I replace the order, I’ll leave the trilogy out. Not worth buying.