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A review by mschlat
Hellspark by Janet Kagan
4.0
I don't know of any other work of fiction that emphasizes so much the mediation of culture through language, especially body language. Our protagonist Tocohl Susumo (a Hellspark, or independent trader) is helping a planetary survey team solve a murder and determine if a local species is sentient, while at the same time trying to build a sense of community amongst the extremely different survey team members by using her familiarity with different cultures to facilitate effective communication.
It's very relationship-based science fiction (and I haven't even mentioned Tocohl's partnership with her inquisitive and ever-learning ship's computer, Maggy), and reminds me of more recent reads like [b:The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet|22733729|The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet (Wayfarers, #1)|Becky Chambers|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1405532474l/22733729._SY75_.jpg|42270825] while still calling upon more classic sf tropes (like the investigation of sentience in [b:Little Fuzzy|1440148|Little Fuzzy (Fuzzy Sapiens, #1)|H. Beam Piper|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1348972417l/1440148._SY75_.jpg|1876891]).
Kagan's writing confused me at times (there is a LOT to keep track of) and frustrated me at others (the plotting tends a bit towards the facile), but the whole book shines with goodwill, eagerness, and interest in culture. Recommended if you are interested in the more sociological side of science fiction.
It's very relationship-based science fiction (and I haven't even mentioned Tocohl's partnership with her inquisitive and ever-learning ship's computer, Maggy), and reminds me of more recent reads like [b:The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet|22733729|The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet (Wayfarers, #1)|Becky Chambers|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1405532474l/22733729._SY75_.jpg|42270825] while still calling upon more classic sf tropes (like the investigation of sentience in [b:Little Fuzzy|1440148|Little Fuzzy (Fuzzy Sapiens, #1)|H. Beam Piper|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1348972417l/1440148._SY75_.jpg|1876891]).
Kagan's writing confused me at times (there is a LOT to keep track of) and frustrated me at others (the plotting tends a bit towards the facile), but the whole book shines with goodwill, eagerness, and interest in culture. Recommended if you are interested in the more sociological side of science fiction.