This is generally a good guide to the Zhodani within the standard Traveller setting. However, there is one notable flaw that lets it down - while there are a number of interesting depictions of the Zhodani approach to shipbuilding, and there are deck plans provided for each design, complete with key numbers on the plans ... there are no keys that identify what these numbers are for most of the ships.

Zhodani covers the necessary human villains of the Original Traveller Universe. While the game elements presented within, and the fluff as well, are given well and really immerse one in the Zhodani culture, this book has one major flaw.

The artwork is horrendous. It's a shame to say it about this product, but especially the drawings in the career section. The pictures there look like they come from a bad Tintin fan comic. It's not enough to turn one off completely, but it distracts greatly from an otherwise-fantastic book.

This book contains everything you need to know about the inhabitants of that area to Spinward and Coreward of the Third Imperium - the Zhodani.

As with other Mongoose Traveller Alien Modules, Mongoose Traveller Alien Module 4 (MTAM4) has a familiar structure: opening with uniquely Zhodani careers and character generation, then an article on the more advanced psionic Talents the Zhodani have developed, followed by articles on the Zhodani, the race, their history, and the present and immediate future for the Consulate - specifically the forthcoming Fifth Frontier War.

A glossary of Zhodani terms allows Referees and players to add an exotic atmosphere to their Zhodani games, and the equipment list focuses on psi-gear, glosses over augments and drugs, then goes on to look at Zhodani combat armour and Zhodani bots, then vehicles and ultimately Zhodani spacecraft - with some really beautiful illustrations showcasing Zhodani spacecraft design.

Encounter tables, reaction tables, Patrons, animals, NPCs all follow, with an article on Zhodani worlds and a detailed look at Ziafrplians Sector (a step to the left and one step Coreward of the Spinward Marches) follow, concluding with sections on adventuring in Ziafrplians and an article on Zhodani Campaigns.

In all, a thorough and comprehensive look at the mysterious Masters of Mind, including elements which newcomers would be likely to be surprised about - the Core Expeditions, and how they come about; also the phenomenon known among Traveller grognards as "The Empress Wave," and an NPC minor race called the Addaxur.

If you're already familiar with the Zhodani from previous articles, a lot of this material won't surprise you - but then, this material was written for people who have never run the Zhodani before, and would not know what to expect of them, so this book will be full of pleasant surprises to them.

It is to those newcomers to Traveller, who have no previous material on the Zhodani to compare, that I recommend this book. MTAM4 and the Mongoose Traveller are all you need to play Zhodani campaigns effectively.

I found this book useful. My current Adventures take place in the Foreven sector and the Zhodz are the largest land holders in the Sector. It also let me know what absolute bastards these FMing SOB's are!