"Three more years have passed, the space station has been considerably refurbished and a new star ship is under construction.
All is going well, but Bren Cameron finds himself at a loss as to why Tabini wanted him to hurry down to the planet to attend a strange funeral ceremony, have a brief chit-chat and then have him hurry back to the space station.
Shortly afterwards, Stani Ramirez, a senior captain dies, and Bren discovers he has been left out of the loop. The plot thickens. And the intercultural protocols get strained to bursting.
Defender fits well with the previous four books, introducing a significant new character in the shape of Tabini's son. However, this is not really a stand alone item, it being more of a continuation of Precursor and a lead in to Explorer
"
Charles Smyth, Resident C.J. Cherryh Scholar
"
C. J.Cherryh
Daw, Nov 2001, 23.95, 480 pp.
ISBN: 0886779111
Two centuries ago the human starship Phoenix fled the planet leaving behind kin to defend themselves from the native atevi. The resulting war was a slaughter, but before global destruction occurred a peaceful coexistence developed. The few human survivors were exiled to the isolated island of Mospheira where they prayed for a miracle.
Now the Phoenix returns, ignoring their marooned human lineage while offering interstellar technology to the atevi in exchange for needed manpower to renovate an aging space station. Now with three space shuttles in their CJ Cherryh arsenal, the atevi internally argue about remaining earthbound or journeying into space. As they debate the impact to their culture, atevi leader Tabini-aiji sends his human paidhi-diplomat Bren Cameron to bargain with the Phoenix leadership. Bren learns that the Phoenix cowardly deserted its own people in the wake of a third species invasion in another space sector.
Merge the best violations of the prime directive of classic Star Trek with the wallop of Star Wars and the reader has DEFENDER. The complex story line is a taut thriller that explores several layers of emotions including the impact of technology on a race and the survivor instinct of both the individual and the collective society. Bren is a powerful character struggling to stand astride two cultures, one of which is innately alien to his core thinking. The key atevi characters, especially Bren's bodyguards, allow the audience to believe that the species exist. Fans of CJ Cherryl's Foreigner Universe and alien stories in general will fully relish this thriller.
Harriet Klausner
"
Harriet Klausner, Resident C.J. Cherryh Scholar
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Overall Review
Our unique search engine breaks down books and movies into
dozens of literary elements, all of which are searchable.
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 - 30% Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 30% Descript. of society, phenomena (tech), places - 30%
Tone of book
- suspenseful (sophisticated fear)
FANTASY or SCIENCE FICTION?
- science fiction story
Explore/1st contact/ enviro story
Yes
Plotlets:
- generally friendly contact with alien(s)
Political power play
Yes
Political plotlets
- saving govt/kingdom from external overthrow
- preventing/managing clash/war between govts/kingdoms
Inner Struggle
Yes
Plotlet:
- search for identity/new understanding
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
Main Character
Identity:
- Male
Profession/status:
- diplomat
- champion of justice
Age:
- 20's-30's
How sensitive is this character?
- sensitive to others' feelings
- middling sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor
- Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence
- Smarter than most other characters
- Very much smarter than other characters
Physique
- average physique
Main Adversary
Identity:
- Male
- Female
Age:
- 40's-50's
Profession/status:
- politician/elected ruler
- mastermind
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
- Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence
- Average intelligence
- Smarter than most other characters
Physique
- average physique
Setting
Terrain
- Domed/Underground City
Spaceship setting:
- futuristic human warship
- a space station
A substantial portion of this book takes place on a non-Earth planetary body:
- humans in a futuristic society
- humans in a primitive/fantasy society
- inhabited by friendly aliens
- unfriendly aliens
- very controlled society
Planet outside solar system?
Yes
Takes place in spaceship?
Yes
Style
Person?
- mostly 3rd
Accounts of torture and death?
- generic/vague references to death/punishment
- moderately detailed references to deaths
scientific jargon? (SF only)
- a fair amount of scientific explanation
How much dialogue?
- roughly even amounts of descript and dialog
- significantly more descript than dialog
