A review by tyrshand
This Alien Shore by C.S. Friedman

5.0

I'd read and loved this book ages ago and was in the mood to experience it again. I found the audio version, thinking my prior knowledge would help me with the split focus I have to have listening to books at work. Well, that was kind of wrong. The story is so complex and fascinating that it did require a good bit of tension. I love the still-relevant (after, what, 15 years or so?) explorations of what it means to be connected in our internet savvy world and where this all might lead. It also, of course, explores diversity in many fascinating ways. Race is no longer particularly important to most people when humanity has split into so many different variations -- and they mostly get along pretty well. Additionally, when humanity has changed so much, what does count as mental illness? What the "Terrans" labeled such are the seeds of many useful traits. Then, on top of all that, there are interesting characters, a good mystery, and plenty of adventure.