Felice Picano is the author of over 20 volumes of fiction, poetry and non-fiction too, including the best-selling Joy of Gay Sex. His latest publication, Dryland's End is an epic sci-fi adventure set five thousand years into the future. But, bearing in mind its author's credentials, is it any good?

Here's what the plot looks like: A rebellion of Cybernetic servants has left the women of the galaxy unable to procreate. This in turn has destroyed their matriachal powerbase. Obviously this is a problem, and the race is on to find a solution. But there are other groups who have power in their sights and they're not afraid to use underhand tactics to get what they want.

Picano's novel, like the best science fiction, picks up on issues that affect the world today, including race and gender conflicts, cloning and queer sexuality. It's a book that wants to say Big Things about society but although Picano is undoubtedly an accomplished writer, this book failed to move me.

For a start, you know you're in trouble as a reader when you pick up a massive novel that comes complete with a substantial glossary. Although you want to applaud Picano for having the vision to create an imaginary world, the glossary seems like lazy shorthand. You're forever flicking back and forth to find out who the Maudlin Se'ers are, or what the acronym STY stands for, that you end up with wrist ache and a sore head. Moreover, its entries are so dry that they read like some kind of catalogue. Maybe the sci-fi nerds will dig Dryland's End because of that, but this reviewer didn't.

I think my main problem with this book is that it's a bit boring in the way that only poorly written sci-fi can be. In a shorter novel it might be forgivable, but Dryland's End drones on and on, as though the writer has forgotten that his job is to entertain and inform his reader. The prose is turgid and filled with so much inane jargon (hence the glossary) that you just want to hurl the whole thing at a wall and pick up a nice bit of Victorian love poetry instead.

I know this is a harsh review, and it's probable that I am not the target audience for Dryland's End. If you're the kind of person that loves reading dense sci-fi epics, if you think those obsessive fans who wear replica Star Trek uniforms are lightweight milquetoasts, if you've ever tried to converse in an alien language and if you secretly think that your name is Gorn the Elder, then this book is for you. Enjoy.

Dryland's End by Felice Picano
Published by: Harrington Park Press
ISBN: 1560235209
Price: £16.99

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