"GURPS Space Atlas 4: Phoenix and Saga Sectors", written by David Pulver (GURPS Psionics, Bio-Tech) and Stephen Dedman (GURPS Dinosaurs, The Art of Arrow Cutting) was the last in the "Space Atlas" series to date, it covers the two named sectors (3-D regions 40 parsecs to a side and 40 parsecs deep). Both are frontier sectors located next to a stellar void called the Gunningagap which stretches between the Orion and Perseus arms of the galaxy.
The Sectors.
Phoenix Sector, created by David Pulver is divided between the democratic Federation and the feudal Phoenix Dominion, while both are threatened by the mysterious Ilshani Domination.
It consists of 25 star systems, one of which is the Phoenix Nebula, a supernova remnant located above the plane of the sector, above which lies the Ilshani Domination, a region that is left for the Games Master/Referee to develop.
Stephen Dedman's, Saga Sector, is a space western environment, recently settled and with some worlds still being terraformed. Saga is host to corrupt lawmen (just about everywhere), hellfire preachers (Welbefallen/Marianis/Covenant), space-ninja (Musashi), prospectors and settlers. It is also the contact point between humanity and the alien alliance known as the Troika, which lies somewhere within the Gunningagap.
There are 24 star systems listed for Saga sector, with one system, Mersault located off the bottom of the map inside the Gunningagap.
As in the previous volumes, the sectors are provided with alternate backgrounds, campaign ideas and details of important organisations. While the organisations provided for Phoenix are nothing special, Saga has two organisations of interest. The first is 'The Order of the Table', a private exploring organisation, with an Arthurian bent which could provide the players with a patron.
The second is 'The Spacers Guild', an organisation which provides space-pilot licences, this is the only time prior to "GURPS Traveller: Far Trader", that this issue is covered in a "GURPS Space" suppliment.
The Planets.
David Pulver has provided interesting backgrounds for Phoenix Sector worlds. While Stepehn Dedman has provided everything a GM needs in his planetary descriptions for Saga Sector.
The planets of Phoenix sector cover the full range of types that could be created using "GURPS Space", two, Azrael, shared between humans and the alien Malikithi D'Ken and Fiobrachne, with a populace descended from space pirates and who worship 300 gods, are deserving of expanded treatment.
In Saga sector, most of the planets fit the space western theme, there are farming communities (Alardin), company towns (Faberge, Hautdesert, Ironsides & Mushasi) and gold rush settlements (Breuse). The worlds of Welbefallen, Marianis & Covenant were settled by people fleeing the persecution of their religion (their leaders were fleeing the fraud squad). An exception is the world of Montgolfier, which is an outer space Bali.
The planetary descriptions for Saga Sector include, information on prices, jobs for Player Characters and dis/advantages common for each planet.
Character Options.
"Space Atlas 4" provides plenty of options for player characters with four alien species, three altered human (parahuman) species, Space Gypsies and the provision of 'planetary characteristics' for the worlds of Saga Sector.
The four Alien species are, the Malikithi, split by civil war into the friendly D'Ken, who are full members of the Federation and the Ilshani, ruled by a computer and fast becoming a race of clones bred for loyalty. The Nexa, a reptilian race, who send their worst into space and are the senior members of the Troika. The insectoid Garuda . The Felinoid Kinski
The three parahuman types are, Floaters, optimised for zero-g environments and seeking to create a human who can survive in open space. Medusans, designed for waterworlds and unable to operate on dry land without water-tight "landsuits". The Winterfolk, their colony collapsed into a stone age tribal culture, their world occupied by the Phoenix Domain whose nobles hunt the Winterfolk for their skins.
Space Gypsies are exactly what the name suggests, spacegoing Gypsies, while in Saga sector the advantages & disadvantages common to the people of each planet are provided, enabling players and GM's to design 'local' characters.
Overall Impression.
This book is what "Space Atlas One" should have been, a full demonstration of what is possible using the book "GURPS Space".
David Pulver has provided interesting backgrounds for Phoenix Sector worlds. While Stepehn Dedman has provided everything a GM needs in his planetary descriptions for Saga Sector.
I'll give this one 3 out of 5 for presentation and 4 out of 5 for content.
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