A decent story that stands out for its great villain and decent setting.

Our party visits an interplanetary casino where deadly games are being played. While there, Ben gets accused of cheating and Polly gets arrested for time travel. How will they get out of this one?

Let’s start with the setting, as it demonstrates both the best and worst parts of this story well. On paper, the interplanetary casino is a great idea. Casinos generally exude a lot of energy. Flashy lights, high risks and people both happy and destitute. Add the sci-fi element to it, and you do have a place worth exploring.

However, it feels difficult to truly settle in the place. Elements and characters seem to be chosen at random. For example, the casino is run by 1920’s snake gangsters from Earth and one of the guests is just an old cowboy. They are fine as they are, but they don’t really feel like they fit in with an interplanetary casino, aliens and a general future aesthetic. Yet these characters feature prominently and play a big role in the story.

And really, that clash in elements continues in this story. As it goes on, Polly gets her hands on a time bangle and uses it throughout the story. Never questioning what it is exactly, yet using it to get the story where it needs to be. In 60s Who, where changing history always seems to loom in the background, this feels sloppy. It all functions perfectly well, but it feels a bit stitched together, rather than using the characters or setting organically.

One element shines however, and that is the villain, Miss Fortune. As the name might suggest, she preys on people with back luck and can see the odds someone has played through their life. It’s unsettling and a great challenge for Polly, even though she never does anything more than talk. It’s also never made clear if she’s just a human or something bigger. I wouldn’t mind if she came back in a story with higher stakes.

All in all, the story is just too flawed to be great. It is coherent and the main plot works, but the way it just seems to add in random elements is off-putting. Worth a listen, but not more than that.

Space casinos and time travel. Together at last.

Absolutely LOVED this story. Just exhilarating from start to end. Steve Lyons, you've done it again.

S. Maybe A+.

This story is just pure fun honestly the cover does NOT give the story justice and I love how Steve references his other work with story before this