A review by oleksandr
Invader by C.J. Cherryh
3.0
This is the second volume of a lengthy (21 volume and it is still not completed I guess) SF saga about a collaboration between humans and atevi, humanoid locals, who were first contacted by humans in their age of steam, but now are roughly in Earth’s 1950s. The first volume, [b:Foreigner|57043|Foreigner (Foreigner, #1)|C.J. Cherryh|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1386924617l/57043._SY75_.jpg|1592031], I reviewed here.
The problem is that while on a surface alevi are quite human-like, their evolution different, so that evolutionary traits that turned social, like friendship or love are quite different for them, and say loyalty is biological and not only social.
The story’s protagonist is still Bren Cameron is the current envoy or paidhi (interpreter), who supply info to local ruler (aiji) Tabini. He just got his badly damaged arm operated in only human’s island colony Mospheira as he is called back to the mainland, Shejidan. He is tired, in pain, dulled by drugs and in this state he has to keep cooperation between humans and atevi, even if there are opponents of such policy in both camps. Bren finds out what has happened, while he was under meds: first, there is the Phenix, the ship that brought first colonists but them flew off to search a way back to Earth 200 year ago, back on the orbit. Locals panic, with human-like alien invasion fears of the 50s, but with humans as invaders. Second, while he was away, he was replaced by a younger paidhi with zero practical experience, who in addition suspect that Bren “went native”. She, Deana Hanks, decided to create own alliances, not with Tabini, but with his opponents and disclosed a lot of info, including the theoretical possibility of faster than light travel. As if these issues aren’t enough, Bren finds out that his potential fiancé tired of waiting for him, has married.
So the book is another crazy week of the paidhi, with guessing intrigues, both humans in the colony, on the ship, atevi with Tabini and his opponents, fighting with Deana, who ought to be his friend and replacement… the latter is quite interesting in the sense that if the book was written by a man, I guess he would have been accused of misogyny – we have the experienced and diplomatic man, Bren, and inexperienced and stubborn younger woman, who almost broke the fragile relations between the species (such is at least Bren’s impression).
While I cannot say that the book is wow or filled with novel ideas, but it is definitely an interesting and unusual SF, not to everyone’s taste. I plan to continue the series.
The problem is that while on a surface alevi are quite human-like, their evolution different, so that evolutionary traits that turned social, like friendship or love are quite different for them, and say loyalty is biological and not only social.
The story’s protagonist is still Bren Cameron is the current envoy or paidhi (interpreter), who supply info to local ruler (aiji) Tabini. He just got his badly damaged arm operated in only human’s island colony Mospheira as he is called back to the mainland, Shejidan. He is tired, in pain, dulled by drugs and in this state he has to keep cooperation between humans and atevi, even if there are opponents of such policy in both camps. Bren finds out what has happened, while he was under meds: first, there is the Phenix, the ship that brought first colonists but them flew off to search a way back to Earth 200 year ago, back on the orbit. Locals panic, with human-like alien invasion fears of the 50s, but with humans as invaders. Second, while he was away, he was replaced by a younger paidhi with zero practical experience, who in addition suspect that Bren “went native”. She, Deana Hanks, decided to create own alliances, not with Tabini, but with his opponents and disclosed a lot of info, including the theoretical possibility of faster than light travel. As if these issues aren’t enough, Bren finds out that his potential fiancé tired of waiting for him, has married.
So the book is another crazy week of the paidhi, with guessing intrigues, both humans in the colony, on the ship, atevi with Tabini and his opponents, fighting with Deana, who ought to be his friend and replacement… the latter is quite interesting in the sense that if the book was written by a man, I guess he would have been accused of misogyny – we have the experienced and diplomatic man, Bren, and inexperienced and stubborn younger woman, who almost broke the fragile relations between the species (such is at least Bren’s impression).
While I cannot say that the book is wow or filled with novel ideas, but it is definitely an interesting and unusual SF, not to everyone’s taste. I plan to continue the series.