Explorer - C.J. Cherryh Book Review

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"Explorer"
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Review Summaries

" Daw, November 2002, 23.95, 480 pp. ISBN 0756400864 The human spaceship Phoenix is on a course that will take them to the Reunion Space Station, which was thought to have been destroyed by unknown aliens. On board the ship are the crew, the Mosphierans and the alien sentient race the atevi, all who have a stake in the outcome of this mission. Upon arrival at their destination, the Phoenix communicates with an alien vessel, whose occupants insists that the Reunion attacked them and demand the return of their crew member and scout ship. The captain of the Phoenix promises to try but when they dock at the refueling area, the Reunion won't give them any until certain conditions are met and don't seem in any hurry to be rescued. Bren Cameron, a highly trained human diplomat in the atevi court, is the only possible person capable of negotiating with all the races and groups in the hopes of coming to a peaceful resolution that will placate all interested parties. This is the final installment in the second Foreigner Universe trilogy and it ties up all the loose ends by answering all the questions and resolving all the issues in a believable manner. C.J. Cherryh writes excellent space opera filled with plenty of action and adventure. The sentient aliens add another rich layer to this colorful tapestry and keeps reader interest not only from first page to last, but back to rereading the previous novels as well. Harriet Klausner "
Harriet Klausner, Resident C.J. Cherryh Scholar

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Overall Review

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Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot

Composition of Book
Descript. of chases or violence - 10%
planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 20%
Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 40%
Descript. of society, phenomena (tech), places - 30%

Tone of book - suspenseful (sophisticated fear)
FANTASY or SCIENCE FICTION? - science fiction story
Political power play Yes
Political plotlets - preventing/managing clash/war between govts/kingdoms
Is this an adult or child's book? - Adult or Young Adult Book
Cultural problems, alien culture Yes
Culture clash- - one culture tries to impose its culture on another group
Intense exploration of society's culture? Yes

Main Character
Identity: - Male
Profession/status: - champion of justice
Age: - 20's-30's
How sensitive is this character? - sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor - Strong but gentle sense of humor
Intelligence - Very much smarter than other characters
Physique - very athletic

Main Adversary
Identity: - Male
Age: - 40's-50's
Profession/status: - bureaucrat
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in: - a little/some
How sensitive is this character? - mean, arrogant
Sense of humor - Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence - Smarter than most other characters
Physique - average physique

Setting
Spaceship setting: - really, really giant spaceship/station
Takes place in spaceship? Yes

Style
Person? - mostly 3rd
Accounts of torture and death? - generic/vague references to death/punishment
scientific jargon? (SF only) - a fair amount of scientific explanation
How much dialogue? - significantly more dialog than descript

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Note: the views expressed here are only those of the reviewer(s).

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