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nullset's review against another edition
challenging
hopeful
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.5
begemot's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
hagbard_celine's review against another edition
3.0
Interesting and thoughtful and fun, but also I listened to this while doing chores so i'm sure some virtues and vices were missed.
branch_c's review against another edition
3.0
I thought this would be a quick read, but in fact it had some surprising depth, and was worth lingering over a bit longer than expected. The plot itself is indeed rather brief and straightforward; the depth comes from the sophisticated writing style, as well as the content, which is an unusual but interesting split between the technical details of alien spacecraft mechanics and the complex character interactions. The style reminded me a bit of Niven, with the hani being perhaps similar to the kzin. The info about this world is dumped only sparingly, and the reader is additionally kept off balance by having an alien POV character, Pyanfar - she was a bit abrasive for my taste, but I understand that’s the feeling the author was going for by focusing on her. Overall, certainly enjoyable, and I’ve heard other work by Cherryh is even better, so I’ll be looking to try some more.
mrswythe89's review against another edition
3.0
Book includes 'The Pride of Chanur', 'Chanur's Venture' and 'The Kif Strike Back'. Was a bit indignant to discover that 'The Kif Strike Back' wasn't the last book of the series and that I'd have to read two more if I wanted to find out the ending.
Wah lah, this was a super hard slog at times! I really like Cherryh's ideas, but her style is SF-dry -- not that all SF books are written in a dry style, but there is a certain dryness that is very common in SF books. And all the spaceship jargon. I really cannot take hard SF -- reverse the polarity of the neutron flow for me every time.
But there were things I really liked. For me Cherryh did not really achieve the feeling of a world with a mix of wildly different cultures -- the different alien species were interesting, but they definitely felt made up. I dunno, they just lacked something -- complexity, I think. I know they had a lot of different rules and characteristics and so on, but it still felt very neat, like a story. There wasn't any sense that there was more to know than Cherryh was telling you.
But I did like reading about all the alien species -- the Appendix was one of my favourite parts of the book -- and I really like the whole idea of hani culture and social structure. I was a bit puzzled until I figured out they were like lions, which I did pretty late on (I know, I know, slow!). And I really liked Pyanfar, who is tough, pragmatic and honourable. She reminded me a lot of Vimes in how she's always got a million and one things on her plate and how she powers through impossible situations with pure will and cunning. Though she is sort of less self-indulgent than Vimes, I think. Also I like that Tully is such a minor character.
Ah, I do not know if I want to read the next two books. I really want to know what happens to Pyanfar and Chanur and everything, but the thought of having to plow through all those docking maneuvers and grapplers and I don't know what ... not to mention the politics! I have no head for politics. It is interesting, but half the time I do not even know what anyone is talking about or what they want or what they are going to do. But I guess Pyanfar is in much the same position!
Wah lah, this was a super hard slog at times! I really like Cherryh's ideas, but her style is SF-dry -- not that all SF books are written in a dry style, but there is a certain dryness that is very common in SF books. And all the spaceship jargon. I really cannot take hard SF -- reverse the polarity of the neutron flow for me every time.
But there were things I really liked. For me Cherryh did not really achieve the feeling of a world with a mix of wildly different cultures -- the different alien species were interesting, but they definitely felt made up. I dunno, they just lacked something -- complexity, I think. I know they had a lot of different rules and characteristics and so on, but it still felt very neat, like a story. There wasn't any sense that there was more to know than Cherryh was telling you.
But I did like reading about all the alien species -- the Appendix was one of my favourite parts of the book -- and I really like the whole idea of hani culture and social structure. I was a bit puzzled until I figured out they were like lions, which I did pretty late on (I know, I know, slow!). And I really liked Pyanfar, who is tough, pragmatic and honourable. She reminded me a lot of Vimes in how she's always got a million and one things on her plate and how she powers through impossible situations with pure will and cunning. Though she is sort of less self-indulgent than Vimes, I think. Also I like that Tully is such a minor character.
Ah, I do not know if I want to read the next two books. I really want to know what happens to Pyanfar and Chanur and everything, but the thought of having to plow through all those docking maneuvers and grapplers and I don't know what ... not to mention the politics! I have no head for politics. It is interesting, but half the time I do not even know what anyone is talking about or what they want or what they are going to do. But I guess Pyanfar is in much the same position!
katica's review against another edition
5.0
I’m surprised at how much I enjoyed this novel. All accepted gender roles thrown out the window in spectacular fashion- a rare treat. Decently paced action as well made this not a heavy drudge of a read that I’ve come to expect of older science fiction. Onwards to book 2!
elenancalima's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
georgina_bawden's review against another edition
4.0
This was a lot of fun but definitely felt like an installment- quite short but deftly setting up the world and the stakes. Surprisingly modern-feeling. Reminded me a lot of Becky Chambers' Galactic Commons books.
saraotoole's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
doodlefox's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0