Scan barcode
jewelsjoy's review against another edition
4.0
I've always felt I should read CJ Cherryh, but never felt the desire to actually pick up one of her books, so when the blurb for this one sounded interesting, I knew I should try it. I haven't been too disappointed yet, although it almost lost me about a quarter of the way in.
humanignorance's review against another edition
1.0
1 star. Unfinished at 54%, page 217 of 408. The beginning was almost intolerably slow: it was filled with world-building, but the world was not very compelling, as the ideas were lacking and the characters were not given enough page time to really connect with them. The plot picked up about a third through as time began to pass, but there were too many mysteries and too little substance for me to be willing to slog through the rest of the book.
spaffrackett's review against another edition
3.0
Took my till half way through the book to understand and enjoy; thrown off by rapid change of characters. In the end I may have seen the book anew with 11 year old eyes, moved by it's conclusions.
tallbox's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
justiceofkalr's review against another edition
4.0
This is probably my least favorite Cherryh I've read so far. But that's not saying it's not good! It is, it's fantastic! I just like her more space based books better with all the politicking going on with Union and Alliance and Earth. This is very much planet based and very much cut off from the rest of her universe, although what's happening in the universe still has a huge effect here. It's fascinating to see society on Gehenna grow/collapse over time and how humanity adapts to their circumstances. Because of the long time covered though, I did feel disconnected from some of the characters and not invested in their future. This was particularly a problem for me in the middle sections as a result of the quick changes in generations and the naming practices of the Gehennans meaning that all the characters there seem to have the same names. The first and last generations though, where so much more time is spent and you get to know the characters more, those were perfection. Overall, this is your typically amazing Cherryh book.
esmithumland's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual violence, Sexual assault, and War
Moderate: Xenophobia, Violence, Rape, and Death
fihman's review against another edition
5.0
Exceptional! So intoxicating. Reminded me a lot of Nicola Griffith's 'Ammonite'. I imagine this might have served as inspiration for Griffith's novel.
olegx's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Весьма интересный взгляд на историю покинутой космической колонии и контакт с разумной формой жизни, которую мы не узнаем как разумную.
(cw: в середине вскользь описывается групповое изнасилование)
(cw: в середине вскользь описывается групповое изнасилование)
Content Warnings
Minor: Sexual assault
furicle's review against another edition
4.0
This book is set in Cherryh's Union-Alliance Universe, but stands alone very well. Don't feel like you need to read anything else to enjoy this one, and enjoy it you will!
The basic premise doesn't seem very original - new colony starting out a fresh inviting earth type planet. It quickly departs from the expected and turns darker. From the way the 'azi' are transported and the rest of the colony shipped out to the reasons for the colony's very existence it's unsettling and thought provoking.
It continues on for the next 200 years without ever losing the darker edge.
It's not space opera moving the plot along with Hollywood abandon, but it's also not as 'meta' and internalized as many of Cherryh's other novels often are. A long book split into eight major parts, I suspect it was originally conceived as a trilogy or at least multiple novels, and then pared back. My biggest criticism of the whole book is the uneven transitions between some of those parts, which is only partially covered up by the change of characters and generations.
Start to finish it's a rewarding narrative of the rise of new culture from the mismatched building blocks of several old ones. Worth reading more than once.
The basic premise doesn't seem very original - new colony starting out a fresh inviting earth type planet. It quickly departs from the expected and turns darker. From the way the 'azi' are transported and the rest of the colony shipped out to the reasons for the colony's very existence it's unsettling and thought provoking.
It continues on for the next 200 years without ever losing the darker edge.
It's not space opera moving the plot along with Hollywood abandon, but it's also not as 'meta' and internalized as many of Cherryh's other novels often are. A long book split into eight major parts, I suspect it was originally conceived as a trilogy or at least multiple novels, and then pared back. My biggest criticism of the whole book is the uneven transitions between some of those parts, which is only partially covered up by the change of characters and generations.
Start to finish it's a rewarding narrative of the rise of new culture from the mismatched building blocks of several old ones. Worth reading more than once.
kittenscribble's review against another edition
3.0
Pros: Really neat treatment of how humans, abandoned on an alien world, can "go native" and form a symbiosis with the existing lifeforms (giant lizards). Cool invention of a very fascinating melded culture. Intriguing characters, especially towards the end of the book.
Cons: Tries to do too much. Cherryh could have done better by starting nearer the end of the book, instead of trying to show the whole thing from the beginning and forcing the reader to span multiple generations of characters, and reusing the same names to boot. The reader doesn't have the chance to get attached to any specific character, so doesn't have a lot of motivation to get to the last third of the book, which is where all the action is.
Verdict: I'd read it again, and the concepts are really amazing, but really only the last third of the book is worth the time.
Cons: Tries to do too much. Cherryh could have done better by starting nearer the end of the book, instead of trying to show the whole thing from the beginning and forcing the reader to span multiple generations of characters, and reusing the same names to boot. The reader doesn't have the chance to get attached to any specific character, so doesn't have a lot of motivation to get to the last third of the book, which is where all the action is.
Verdict: I'd read it again, and the concepts are really amazing, but really only the last third of the book is worth the time.