A review by macheath
Downbelow Station by C.J. Cherryh

adventurous challenging dark emotional tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

A first read although I have read and enjoyed other C.J. Cherryh stories just not ones in the Alliance-Union series. Loved it with minor caveats: despite being a space opera with battles in space and on land and on station, it's a slow and complicated read. Figuring out how characters align with the factional politics takes a bit of mental work, especially since this is a story about political change and shifting loyalties. The alien hisa have a little too much of the noble savage stereotype in them for my modern tastes. But the characters and situations are complex in the best way and the setting is seriously considered. Still one of the great SF novels.