Synopses & Reviews
Civil war on the world of the
atevi seems to be over, but diplomatic disputes and political infighting continue unabated. Bren Cameron, brilliant human diplomat allied with the dominant Western Association, has just returned to the capital from his country home on the coast. But his sojourn was anything but restful. Attacked by rebel forces hoping to kill not only him, but also Ilisidi, the grandmother, and Cajieri, the young son, of Tabini-aiji, the powerful head of the Western Association, Bren and his resourceful associates have had a small war of their own to contend with. And this small war has ended with a daring proposition: that their longtime enemy Machigi, having been double-crossed by his allies and approached by Ilisidi with an offer of alliance, will sign a trade agreement with her Eastern district-a situation which has upset both the rebels and the loyal north.
But Brens accustomed role as negotiator for Tabini, Ilisidi, and their associates has suddenly changed radicallyfor Machigi, to Brens utter shock, has evoked an ancient law. Bren wears the white ribbon that for the last few centuries has identified the single official human-atevi negotiator. But before humans landed, this white ribbon represented a specialized negotiator between atevi adversariesa mediator who agreed to represent both sides with equal loyalty. These ancient mediators frequently ended up dead.
Now back in the capital, Bren finds that things are even more complicated than they previously were. He has now been put in the precaroius position of representing both Ilisidi and Machigi to the congress, and is becoming embroiled with both conservative and liberal factions. Meanwhile, Tabini-aiji is enraged to have lost the personal negotiator who has been his associate for decades, and is also jealous of any other party who stands to influence his young son. But there are even more dangerous things afoot, for Brens bodyguard has warned him there is a crisis inside the immensely dangerous Assassins Guild, and that the recent dustup with the Shadow Guild, a rebellious faction within the Assassins, may be only the beginning.
The long-running Foreigner series can also be enjoyed by more casual genre readers in sub-trilogy installments. Intruder is the 13th Foreigner novel. It is also the 1st book in the fifth subtrilogy.
Review
"One of the best long-running SF series in existence.... Cherryh remains one of the most talented writers in the field."
Review
"Some of the finest work of Cherryh's long and distinguished career."
Review
"My favorite science fiction series is C. J. Cherryh's Foreigner Universe. Cherryh deftly balances alien psychology and human vanities in a character caught between being human and part of an alien race."
Review
"There is plenty of intrigue…marvelous attention to detail that makes the culture of the atevi one of the most complex, multi-layered creations in science fiction…. The Foreigner series is about as good as it gets…so finely and densely wrought that you may end up dreaming of sable-skinned giants with gold eyes, and the silver spun delicacy of interstellar politics."
Review
"A seriously probing, thoughtful, intelligent piece of work, with more insight in half a dozen pages than most authors manage in half a hundred."
Review
“Cherryh superbly crafts complex intrigues and alien races possessed of integrity, as well as a sense of otherness.”
Review
“A large new Cherryh novel is always welcome...a return to the anthropological science fiction in which she has made such a name is a double pleasure.... Superlatively drawn aliens and characterization.”
Review
"This series has lost none of its vigor.
Destroyer is an excellent adventure." —
The Denver Post "Well-developed characters, fine style, and intense psychological realism. Cherryh's many readers should snap this one up." —Publishers Weekly
"With every new Foreigner novel, Cherryh strengthens the saga's already imposing reputation as one of the foremost series exploring the complex and delicate relationships between human and alien cultures. Cherryh's Foreigner saga is cerebral science fiction at its very best—as entertaining as it is contemplative." —The Barnes and Noble Review
Review
“Cherryhs project is particularly impressive, not only because it has gone on for so many years and volumes, but because every partial mutual understanding gained by humans and
atevi opens up new opportunities for misunderstanding (and vice versa).” —
Locus
"The latest Foreigner Universe saga...is a deep cerebral entry." —Midwest Review
"Another beautifully woven tapestry in a mesmerizing series about a complex alien society. Ms. Cherryhs expertise in world-building is again showcased in this masterpiece of protocol and intrigue that blends easily understood emotions with the intricacies of maneuvering that accompanies power struggles on a global scale." —Night Owl Reviews
"One of the best long-running SF series in existence...Cherryh remains one of the most talented writers in the field." —Publishers Weekly
"My favorite science fiction series is C. J. Cherryh's Foreigner Universe. Cherryh deftly balances alien psychology and human vanities in a character caught between being human and part of an alien race." —Denver Post
"The Foreigner series is about as good as it gets...so finely and densely wrought that you may end up dreaming of sable-skinned giants with gold eyes, and the silver spun delicacy of interstellar politics." —SFSite
“Cherryh superbly crafts complex intrigues and alien races possessed of integrity, as well as a sense of otherness.” —Library Journal
Review
"One of the best long-running SF series in existence.... Cherryh remains one of the most talented writers in the field." —
Publishers Weekly
"Some of the finest work of Cherryh's long and distinguished career."—Locus
"My favorite science fiction series is C. J. Cherryh's Foreigner universe. Cherryh deftly balances alien psychology and human vanities in a character caught between being human and part of an alien race."—Denver Post
"There is plenty of intrigue…marvelous attention to detail that makes the culture of the atevi one of the most complex, multi-layered creations in science fiction…. The Foreigner series is about as good as it gets…so finely and densely wrought that you may end up dreaming of sable-skinned giants with gold eyes, and the silver spun delicacy of interstellar politics."—SF Site
"A seriously probing, thoughtful, intelligent piece of work, with more insight in half a dozen pages than most authors manage in half a hundred."—Kirkus
"Cherryh superbly crafts complex intrigues and alien races possessed of integrity, as well as a sense of otherness."—Library Journal
"A large new Cherryh novel is always welcome...a return to the anthropological science fiction in which she has made such a name is a double pleasure.... Superlatively drawn aliens and characterization."—Chicago Sun-Times
Synopsis
C.J. Cherryh, one of the most prolific and acclaimed SF writers in the world, delivers the seventh book in her Foreigner series, and the first book in the new Foreigner trilogy-the epic tale of the survivors of a lost spacecraft who crash-land on a planet inhabited by a hostile, sentient race. From its beginnings as a human-alien story of first contact, the Foreigner series has become a true SF odyssey.
Synopsis
It's coming up on Cajeiri's birthday. The boy has been promised he can have the young human children he knew from his voyage sent down from the space station for a two week stay.
But there's far a darker business going on in the backgrounda major split compromising the Assassins' Guild, which furnishes security and law enforcement to the whole continent. Tabini's consort's own father has been barred from court, and may be involved in a new conspiracy against him. For safety reasons, Tabini wants Bren and Ilisidi to take charge of Cajeiri, and protect him and his young guests. They themselves are very likely targets of whatever's going on, no question of it. So is Cajeiri. But having the targets separated and contained is an advantage.
It's Bren's responsibility to entertain the guests, keep the security problem secret...and let a lonely eight-year-old prince reestablish his controversial relationship with the only other children he's ever met...inside the best security they can manage.
The long-running Foreigner series can also be enjoyed by more casual genre readers in sub-trilogy installments. Protector is the 14th Foreigner novel. It is also the 2nd book in the fifth subtrilogy.
Synopsis
At lastCajeiri has his young guests from the starship, three young folk entranced by weather and trees and creatures with minds of their own. Its all he dreamed of...
But now safety is foremost: Cajeiris grandfather has been assassinated, hostile Assassins Guild invaded Great-uncles house, and now Bren Cameron, paidhi-aiji, who was sent to keep the aijis son safe, has more than the young guests on his mind. The aiji-dowager knows whos to blame for the attacks, and theyre going after him.
The fact that the person responsible is in the heart of Assassins Guild Headquarters, the most closely guarded fortress on the continent, is not going to stop her.
Bren Cameron has the pieces now, of a decades-old plot thats been threaded through Guild actions going back before his arrival on the continent, and morehe knows the person responsible is going to find out he knows, and find out within hours.
They have no choice. If they dont move, the other side will.
And the lives of the boy, the guests, the entire ruling family are at stake.
Synopsis
It has been two years since the starship
Phoenix left Alpha Station on a rescue mission where over four thousand human spacers were under attack by a hostile alien race. Now, exhausted from their journey, the crew of the
Phoenix yearns for home. But when the ship makes the jump into
atevi space, they learn the worst: that supplies to the station have been cut off; that civil war has broken out on the
atevi mainland; that the powerful Western Association has been overthrown; and that Tabini-aiji, Bren Cameron's primary supporter and Ilisidi's grandson and ally, is missing and may be dead.
With no one left to lead the Western Association, Ilisidi and Bren know that the survival of their allies lies in their hands. And with the atevi world at war, the only safe landing strip lies on the human colony at Mospheira. Although there are many dangers inherent in bringing a powerful atevi leader such as Ilisidi onto human lands, Bren realizes they have no other choice. But even if they safely survive their landing, will Bren and Ilisidi together prove strong enough to muster the remaining shards of the Western Association and regain control of their planet?
The long-running Foreigner series can also be enjoyed by more casual genre readers in sub-trilogy installments. Destroyer is the 7th Foreigner novel. It is also the 1st book in the third subtrilogy.
About the Author
Of all science fiction writers there is none more highly respected than the brilliant, prolific C.J. Cherryh. Cherryh has written more than fifty novels, has won three Hugo Awards, both in the novel and the short story categories, and has frequently appeared on both the Hugo Award ballot and the Nebula Award ballot.