ielerol's review against another edition
4.0
I don’t love Bren’s family drama, it’s mostly just repetitive and unpleasant, but everything else about this series is great, and I guess I can see how the family drama here played into the communications issues caused by the political drama I do enjoy.
essinink's review against another edition
4.0
Who am I to decide?
Most of all, what have I become, to like this? To gamble with the whole world's future?
Tabini. Tabini. Tabini, who's the only power fit to rule the world.
His own species calls him ruthless.
What do they call me?
You know that feeling when you binge through several good books in a very short window? Kind of a "brain-full" sense that's not bad but might be a small warning to slow down? I just hit that. But I really, really am enjoying this series. Hard to want to stop when you're invested in characters like these.
Precursor timeskips three years ahead. Bren is 30 now, and he and Jase have worked closely in this gap to make the atevi space shuttle functional. Deals are coming due, and that means negotiating with Mospheira's inconvenient space-faring relatives.
Much like in Cherryh's non-Foreigner works, Spacers are a unique lot. Big on order, schedules, security, heirarchy, and (underpinning it all) a convoluted network of kinship ties. Frictions between the three parties (Mospheira, the aishidi'tat, and the Ship) are high.
There is also the ongoing theme of Bren's personal life, and the many directions in which he is pulled. Human (and specifically Mospheiran) by birth, but so specifically acculturated to atevi at this phase that he has to remind himself of such. He's accumulated a great deal of power in atevi society, but that same power comes with a level of responsibility and obligation that undercuts his ability to navigate his own human family dynamic.
"We can't be the same as these ship-humans, but we don't need to be. We won't be." He caught himself using we, as he used it in his thoughts. "Atevi don't need to be. And atevi won't be."
No one is having a wonderful time here, honestly. It's a lot of cramped quarters and subterfuge, and power and helplessness/constraint in equal measure; it's a slow-rise of tension to the boiling point, alleviated by dry bursts of humor.
I have, in the last, only a single complaint, though I earnestly hate to make it.
Spoiler
Look, I ADORE Ilisidi. She's amazing. But she's also come swooping in with key information or resources in every single one of these last four books. Can we (just once) not have her be the key element? I know that's a lot to ask, because she's very important, and also fantastic. But... really now. Got to be careful with the formulas.What can I say, but on to the next book?
cathepsut's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Book #4 of the series, first book of the next trilogy, continuing three years after the last books. Shuttles have started to go up to the station, the Atevi have reached space. Relations with Mospheira have improved. Tabini unexpectedly sends up Bren with with his Atevi household and a Mospheiran delegation. They are not exactly welcome on the station, despite agreements to the contrary. Relations with the crew of the Phoenix prove more difficult than expected and go downhill quickly.
I have to confess that I could not fully relate to the action of the ship‘s captains and their motivations. Was this simply a powerplay? Why stall and antagonize the people that they asked for help and in fact need so badly?
Bren‘s family is still a pain in the neck, especially his mother. And Ilisidi is hilarious, as always.
I am finally, finally hooked. This book so far was the fastest moving, with the most action. I enjoyed this a great deal and will definitely continue. Great start for the next subplot and trilogy.
twentythree_sunrise's review against another edition
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Being left on Read; the last minute plans and the after appointment cancellations; the stonewalling; the false promises; the evasion; the lack of transparency; the deliberate deceptions; the resounding failure to offer any gesture of friendship. Such is this narrative on the difficulties of making friends and dealing with people who are so utterly isolated. People who have never once in their lives left the confines of their own house, never tasted tea or fruit or candy, never felt the sun's warmth on their skin, never smelled the salty breeze of the sea nor the stench of manure. A people, drifting amongst the stars, so consumed by their own fears and loneliness.
And yet, they are entirely human.
By now, the fourth book in the series, we know the familiar characters well. We share in their jokes and their laughter, we fear for them as we would for our friends and family. We admire their bravery, their honor, their sense of etiquette and of aesthetics, and their unerring devotedness.
A story both compelling and humorous, so full of frustration, of danger, and of sudden hope.
A delightful continuation of the Foreigner saga.
And yet, they are entirely human.
By now, the fourth book in the series, we know the familiar characters well. We share in their jokes and their laughter, we fear for them as we would for our friends and family. We admire their bravery, their honor, their sense of etiquette and of aesthetics, and their unerring devotedness.
A story both compelling and humorous, so full of frustration, of danger, and of sudden hope.
A delightful continuation of the Foreigner saga.
Content Warnings
Minor: Xenophobia and Gun violence
malmer's review against another edition
adventurous
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
tome15's review against another edition
4.0
If you are a science fiction writer who creates a complex alien environment, how do you keep up the suspense and narrative drive while you feed your reader the information needed to understand your world? To find out, read anything by C. J. Cherryh. No one does it better.
sleeping_while_awake's review against another edition
4.0
Another solid entry and just as engaging as the previous book.
Precursor is the first book in space! It's limited to the space station and its politics. A contrast to the typical atevi politics being obscure, the humans in the space station have their own motives that aren't clear to everyone.
Bren and the atevi try to navigate the negotiations among the humans in Mospheira, the space station, and the atevi. Each have their own interested. In the beginning, Mospheira and the atevi appear diametrically opposed. They have been that way for the previous three books. However, as things progress, they may have things in common.
I like that at this point in the series, I am completely on the atevi side of things. Even though now there are two distinct human groups, I can't help but just root for the cold-headed atevi.
I am super interested in what these other aliens are that are supposedly a threat. I'm sure it will still be a decent number of books before there's any sort of face to face meeting with the threat, but I am invested.
Overall, similar pacing as the previous books.
Precursor is the first book in space! It's limited to the space station and its politics. A contrast to the typical atevi politics being obscure, the humans in the space station have their own motives that aren't clear to everyone.
Bren and the atevi try to navigate the negotiations among the humans in Mospheira, the space station, and the atevi. Each have their own interested. In the beginning, Mospheira and the atevi appear diametrically opposed. They have been that way for the previous three books. However, as things progress, they may have things in common.
I like that at this point in the series, I am completely on the atevi side of things. Even though now there are two distinct human groups, I can't help but just root for the cold-headed atevi.
I am super interested in what these other aliens are that are supposedly a threat. I'm sure it will still be a decent number of books before there's any sort of face to face meeting with the threat, but I am invested.
Overall, similar pacing as the previous books.
mothwing's review against another edition
4.0
His security looked at him as if he and his entire species had run mad in the streets.
The world is getting more and more complex and we get more background information on the characters as well as their family relationships. Politics are heating up, too. I'm reading this entire series as one long, very enjoyable novel. As always, Banichi has got THE best lines.
“We have to advise the Mospheirans,” Bren said. “For diplomatic reasons, for courtesy if nothing more. If they think we’ve double-crossed them, they’ll deal with the other side. They’ll conclude they can’t trust us. They have to have the same chance to get out of here. They have to know we’re on their side.”
“One can hardly speak securely on the intercom with them,” Banichi said.
“One can’t” he agreed, trying to think what to do.
“It’s not that far,” Banichi said. “I can walk there, too, and talk to Ben.”
“You’ve had a drink. You’re not on duty. No!”
“I might have another. If I’m walking the halls, I am doubtless an inebriate having strayed from duty, and will say I require Kaplan to guide me home. Humans understand inebriation. I recall your machimi. They consider it quite amusing.”
“Not when you’re damned guilty and in the wrong corridor. We’re not supposed to be able to open these doors.”
“One would certainly have to admit to that.”
“And there’s the problem of making the Mospheirans believe you when you get there.”
“Give me a token for them. Is this not machimi?”
“One will be prostrate with nerves the whole damned time,” Bren muttered, seeing less and less chance of dealing with a situation run amok. “One has not the least idea what Kroger may do. The woman distrusts me very easily. We simply can’t—”
“A banner is traditional.”
“Not among humans. Rings. Letters.” It was preposterous. “It’s a damned comedy, is what it is.” Banichi wasn’t one to propose lunacy. He had the feeling of being maneuvered, backed toward an ultimatum.
“We can hardly do this by intercom,” Banichi said, silken-smooth and one drink down.
“I can simply invite them to dinner and tell them face-to-face. No more wandering about the halls. By no means.”
Banichi sighed. “One did look forward to it.”
The world is getting more and more complex and we get more background information on the characters as well as their family relationships. Politics are heating up, too. I'm reading this entire series as one long, very enjoyable novel. As always, Banichi has got THE best lines.
“We have to advise the Mospheirans,” Bren said. “For diplomatic reasons, for courtesy if nothing more. If they think we’ve double-crossed them, they’ll deal with the other side. They’ll conclude they can’t trust us. They have to have the same chance to get out of here. They have to know we’re on their side.”
“One can hardly speak securely on the intercom with them,” Banichi said.
“One can’t” he agreed, trying to think what to do.
“It’s not that far,” Banichi said. “I can walk there, too, and talk to Ben.”
“You’ve had a drink. You’re not on duty. No!”
“I might have another. If I’m walking the halls, I am doubtless an inebriate having strayed from duty, and will say I require Kaplan to guide me home. Humans understand inebriation. I recall your machimi. They consider it quite amusing.”
“Not when you’re damned guilty and in the wrong corridor. We’re not supposed to be able to open these doors.”
“One would certainly have to admit to that.”
“And there’s the problem of making the Mospheirans believe you when you get there.”
“Give me a token for them. Is this not machimi?”
“One will be prostrate with nerves the whole damned time,” Bren muttered, seeing less and less chance of dealing with a situation run amok. “One has not the least idea what Kroger may do. The woman distrusts me very easily. We simply can’t—”
“A banner is traditional.”
“Not among humans. Rings. Letters.” It was preposterous. “It’s a damned comedy, is what it is.” Banichi wasn’t one to propose lunacy. He had the feeling of being maneuvered, backed toward an ultimatum.
“We can hardly do this by intercom,” Banichi said, silken-smooth and one drink down.
“I can simply invite them to dinner and tell them face-to-face. No more wandering about the halls. By no means.”
Banichi sighed. “One did look forward to it.”