Summary
Plague Ship is the second book in Andre Norton’s Solar Queen series, a fast-paced space adventure following the crew of the Solar Queen, a Free Trader spaceship operating on the fringes of interstellar commerce.
The story continues the journey of Dane Thorson, a young apprentice cargo master, and the rest of the Solar Queen’s diverse crew. After securing a valuable trading contract on the exotic planet Sargol, they begin loading their cargo of rare and fragrant Koros stones—beloved across the galaxy.
But soon after departure, crew members begin falling mysteriously ill, and the Solar Queen is branded a "plague ship", a status that forces them into quarantine and leaves them isolated and hunted.
With their lives and reputations on the line, Dane and the crew must uncover the truth behind the illness, clear their name, and fend off sabotage, piracy, and betrayal.
Combining action, mystery, and world-building, Plague Ship explores themes of loyalty, resilience, and survival in the face of corporate corruption and alien diplomacy.