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

4.0

Pell Stations stands, neutral and vulnerable, in the center of a war brewing between what's left of Earth's forces and what's become of colonist's expansion onto further worlds. Downbelow Station is a slow burn, a space opera setting up an entire fictional universe. But once it warms up, it's unexpectedly compelling--not just for the politics, but for the human element. Cherryh's style is dense, emotionally- and philosophically-laden, and her cast has powerful motivations and flaws. And the plot here is brutal--I wish, without spoiling too much, that the main cast were less exempt from worst-case outcomes, but on the whole this balances its large, awful scale with intense local investment. Though by no means perfect, I found myself enthralled and I recommend it.