Alaska Saedelaere and Gry O'Shannon receive a mysterious signal and embark on an adventure to uncover its origins, encountering a quirky civilization and facing a threat to an ancient tower. Their decision to continue their journey to spread important information leads to a revelation about a hidden ES fragment in Terrania, setting the stage for potential future developments in the series.

Reader Review Summary

"Saedelaeres Entscheidung" is a delightful addition to the long-running Perry Rhodan science fiction series, centering around the beloved protagonists Alaska Saedelaere and Cry O'Shannon. Fans will be overjoyed to have these two characters back in the spotlight, continuing their adventures aboard the ZYLINDER-X small craft as they follow the trail of the LEUCHTKRAFT towards the Condor Galaxy.

The novel excels in its character development and interactions between Alaska and Cry. Their relationship dynamic is portrayed with great tenderness and wit, keeping readers invested in their rapport. The ending scene where they debate retiring but ultimately decide they must "save the world one more time" is an absolute highlight, subverting expectations in a delightfully meta way while promising more adventures to come with this iconic pairing. As one reader review aptly summarizes: "I like how MMT depicts Alaska and the relationship between Alaska and Cry."

Thurner's vivid descriptions and imaginative world-building are also a consistent strength. The opening chapter with Cry in her "star garden" experiencing cosmic wonders is singled out as being particularly beautifully rendered. The planet they discover, inhabited by a quirky civilization where lying is the norm, makes for an inspired setting rife with amusing social commentary. Even minor details like Alaska sitting on the hull of a spacecraft, stargazing, are evocative little vignettes that linger in the imagination.

On a plot level, the mystery surrounding the strange "paraflickering" signal that sets the events in motion provides a compelling drive to the narrative. The concept of the ancient tower, the alien ship trying to breach its defenses, and Alaska and Cry getting caught in the middle creates a gripping central conflict. The ultimate revelations about the signal's origins tying into the broader events of the series mythology are said to be well-conceived and logical continuations.

Beyond the engaging story and characters, the novel is also praised for its deeper philosophical underpinnings. Thurner seems to weave in intriguing thoughts on topics like religion, observation/experience, and other intellectual conceits in an organic, unobtrusive way. This layers the book with an appreciated bit of thematic heft.

If there are any criticisms, some reviews mention that certain plot points like the "time message" from Perry Rhodan that instigates Alaska and Cry's return feel perhaps a tad contrived. And a few readers express impatience for the romantic will-they-won't-they between the leads to evolve past the teasing stage. But these are quite minor quibbles in the grand scheme.

Overall, "Saedelaeres Entscheidung" emerges as a crowd-pleasing, well-crafted entry that gives longtime fans exactly what they crave - smart, exciting tales featuring their favorite characters and worlds. Michael Marcus Thurner's assured writing, imagination, and deft juggling of action, humor, and introspection make this novel a pure delight from start to finish. The touching tribute cover honoring the late artist Arndt Drechsler-Zakrzewski is just the cherry on top of a must-read for any Perry Rhodan aficionado.