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Review Summaries
"He is the best man for the job, an ambassador from earth, ambitious and famous across the galaxy. Of course he is chosen for first contact with the aliens, even though they are known to be less than friendly. He goes alone. He returns alone, having made no progress and unaware that while he slept they gave some of their telepathic talent to him - but only the ability to broadcast his worst feelings and emotions to anyone near him. He cannot turn it off, he is stuck in broadcast mode, and not a single feelgood impulse is ever output. A curse on him and a warning to Man.
An outcast and an outsider he flees to live out his days alone. But they track him down, and now, yet again, he is the only man for the next job - solo contact with new aliens, so far above man physically and mentally that we appear to them as mere animals, to be domesticated and put to work with our convenient and dextrous little fingers. This time it is his telepathic curse that will enable him to communicate...but perhaps he is too burned, too alienated to care now, or even to do a good job, perhaps."
Michael JR Jose, Resident Robert Silverberg Scholar
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Overall Review
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Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot
Mental/magical powers focus
Yes
Inner Struggle
Yes
Plotlet:
- coping with mental/magical powers
- change of heart
Lifeform altered?
Yes
Kind of alteration:
- exotic/alien torture for major character
- Given added abilities
Is this an adult or child's book?
- Adult or Young Adult Book
Main Character
Identity:
- Male
Profession/status:
- diplomat
Age:
- 60's-90's
Has magical/special powers?
Yes
Eccentric:
Yes
- eccentric
How sensitive is this character?
- sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor
- Cynical sense of humor
Intelligence
- Smarter than most other characters
Physique
- average physique
Main Adversary
Identity:
- Male
Age:
- 60's-90's
Profession/status:
- diplomat
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in:
- a moderate amount
How sensitive is this character?
- mean, arrogant
Sense of humor
- Cynical sense of humor
Intelligence
- Smarter than most other characters
Physique
- average physique
Setting
Terrain
- Domed/Underground City
A substantial portion of this book takes place on a non-Earth planetary body:
- humans in a futuristic society
- unfriendly aliens
- empty, or nearly empty world
Planet outside solar system?
Yes
Style
Person?
- mostly 3rd
Accounts of torture and death?
- moderately detailed references to deaths
scientific jargon? (SF only)
- a moderate amount of scientific explanation
Sex in book?
Yes
What kind of sex:
- vague references only
- descript of kissing
How much dialogue?
- roughly even amounts of descript and dialog
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