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Lady Hanna #1
Sentience
True- Humans---
They thought themselves he lords of the universe and looked upon D'Neerans, the only human telepaths, as being not quite human, not quite trustworthy. But a few true-humans could see the promise and the possibilities of the D'Neerans. So when Jameson, true-human master of manipulation launched the exploratory starship Endeavor, one D'Neeran, the Lady Hanna, a navigator and telepath who had studied the known sentient races was part of the crew.
The Endeavor began its star search, broadcasting a message of greeting and hope. But when an answer finally came, it was meant for the single D'Neeran aboard -- and upon her would rest the fate of all humankind
They thought themselves he lords of the universe and looked upon D'Neerans, the only human telepaths, as being not quite human, not quite trustworthy. But a few true-humans could see the promise and the possibilities of the D'Neerans. So when Jameson, true-human master of manipulation launched the exploratory starship Endeavor, one D'Neeran, the Lady Hanna, a navigator and telepath who had studied the known sentient races was part of the crew.
The Endeavor began its star search, broadcasting a message of greeting and hope. But when an answer finally came, it was meant for the single D'Neeran aboard -- and upon her would rest the fate of all humankind
- GenresScience FictionFiction
381 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1986
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47 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
September 6, 2020
Terry Adams debut novel was well received and won a Locus Award way back in 1986. It has been sitting on my TBR shelf these many years, alongside sequel 'The Master of Chaos'. Sentience exhumes the now rather unfashionable trope of telepathy, and uses it effectively and cleverly to introduce one of the more fascinating alien First Contact episodes (and concept of an alien society) I have read.
The human Polity has spread across many worlds, one of which is home to the somewhat despised D'neerans, who are telepaths, not true-humans. In the opening chapter, we are introduced to Hanna Korath, seemingly faced with certain death and under attack by hostile forces. Her audacity in the face of danger buys just enough time for salvation, and and thereby the opportunity to fulfill her ambition to join the 'Endeavour' exploratory mission as an exopsychologist.
The Endeavour is seeking out a mysterious and elusive communication. But it is Hanna who will undergo a traumatic and near fatal trans formative encounter with the secretive alien race.
Be warned that the writing style used to depict alien though and telepathic communication can be confusing and difficult to comprehend without careful reading.
The human Polity has spread across many worlds, one of which is home to the somewhat despised D'neerans, who are telepaths, not true-humans. In the opening chapter, we are introduced to Hanna Korath, seemingly faced with certain death and under attack by hostile forces. Her audacity in the face of danger buys just enough time for salvation, and and thereby the opportunity to fulfill her ambition to join the 'Endeavour' exploratory mission as an exopsychologist.
The Endeavour is seeking out a mysterious and elusive communication. But it is Hanna who will undergo a traumatic and near fatal trans formative encounter with the secretive alien race.
Be warned that the writing style used to depict alien though and telepathic communication can be confusing and difficult to comprehend without careful reading.
December 24, 2017
I would rate Sentience a 7/10
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I really enjoyed this book but I feel it was really complicated to read and understand, not extremely so but you are viewing this story through the mind of a telepath who speaks in a short hand firm if speech and thought most of the time using more images to get her thoughts across and to make it worse...those images are not shown nor described to the reader, not only that but you are trying to also understand a race who's concepts of thinking and if the universe itself are so foreign that they can't be described in human terms...
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If you can get past the reading difficulty the story itself is very enjoyable, very interesting, and introduces really great concepts as you strain your mind to understand concepts beyond human understanding made more realistic by the confusing writing style making the main characters lack of understanding blend together with your own as you try together, do recommend if you want an interesting mind straining read. I believe there are 2 other books in the series I will have to try to purchase
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I really enjoyed this book but I feel it was really complicated to read and understand, not extremely so but you are viewing this story through the mind of a telepath who speaks in a short hand firm if speech and thought most of the time using more images to get her thoughts across and to make it worse...those images are not shown nor described to the reader, not only that but you are trying to also understand a race who's concepts of thinking and if the universe itself are so foreign that they can't be described in human terms...
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If you can get past the reading difficulty the story itself is very enjoyable, very interesting, and introduces really great concepts as you strain your mind to understand concepts beyond human understanding made more realistic by the confusing writing style making the main characters lack of understanding blend together with your own as you try together, do recommend if you want an interesting mind straining read. I believe there are 2 other books in the series I will have to try to purchase
September 13, 2021
Be forewarned, Adams knows how to write torture. Don't say I didn't warn you.
November 13, 2022
I read this in one day. It certainly could have been shorter, and I did spent a lot of time going "maybe if I keep reading it'll make sense?" and boy howdy can you tell it was written in the 80s, but like, I could not put it down.
I really want to think of a clever way to relate this to The Sparrow, and if I ever reread it, maybe I will.
I really want to think of a clever way to relate this to The Sparrow, and if I ever reread it, maybe I will.
December 18, 2020
It’s so confusing. I wish I could have gotten more out of it, because the story is so interesting.
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October 23, 2025science fiction
February 25, 2024
Absolutely not for the faint of heart. There are graphic scenes of torture, and even worse than the ordeal Hanna suffers in body is the torture of her mind. No reader with any actual sense of empathy (real empathy, not immature narcissists demanding we worship their trauma) will be unaffected. However nothing is gratuitous or salacious. It's all in service to the complex and emotional story the author is telling. If you can get past that hurdle and make it to the finale, the reader is rewarded with one of the best descriptions ever put to type of how it feels for a human to experience the mind of an alien species and a truly alien perspective.
Human beings, particularly in science fiction, want to fling ourselves into the cosmos without a clue of what might actually be out there. We just assume we'll solve all the problems that our species will confront with wit, aplomb and technical know-how. Modern-day shows like Star Trek Discovery insist that our adherence and obedience to correct "human" values will overcome the horrors of outer space and the monstrous natures of unenlightened species and people wearing MAGA hats. The truth is that understanding what is alien to our perspective - even the perspective of other human beings - takes work, is painful, slow, and doesn't always turn out well. Lady Hanna of the D'Neera doesn't become one of the most underrated heroines in all of science fiction because she's a telepath and is uniquely suited to encounter a hostile alien form; it's because of her inner strength, her intelligence, her utter refusal to break, and her compassion, as well as her willingness to do the work and never take the easy way out.
A hidden classic of SF. This novel and its sequel, "Master of Chaos", are collected in an omnibus edition called "The D'Neeran Factor", though without the gorgeous James Gurney cover.
Human beings, particularly in science fiction, want to fling ourselves into the cosmos without a clue of what might actually be out there. We just assume we'll solve all the problems that our species will confront with wit, aplomb and technical know-how. Modern-day shows like Star Trek Discovery insist that our adherence and obedience to correct "human" values will overcome the horrors of outer space and the monstrous natures of unenlightened species and people wearing MAGA hats. The truth is that understanding what is alien to our perspective - even the perspective of other human beings - takes work, is painful, slow, and doesn't always turn out well. Lady Hanna of the D'Neera doesn't become one of the most underrated heroines in all of science fiction because she's a telepath and is uniquely suited to encounter a hostile alien form; it's because of her inner strength, her intelligence, her utter refusal to break, and her compassion, as well as her willingness to do the work and never take the easy way out.
A hidden classic of SF. This novel and its sequel, "Master of Chaos", are collected in an omnibus edition called "The D'Neeran Factor", though without the gorgeous James Gurney cover.
May 18, 2024
4.5/5
I loved this book. This is everything I want in a space opera. There are politics, prejudice, an intriguing main character, and an interesting plot. I read this book many years ago but it still comes to mind near the front when I think of space opera. The only reason I don't give this book a higher score is that a book has to have made a lasting mark over decades to get a higher score and is reserved for books like Tom Sawyer, To Kill a Mockingbird, and MacBeth.
I recommend this book for anyone who enjoys the space opera sub-genre of science fiction. It is absolutely outstanding.
I loved this book. This is everything I want in a space opera. There are politics, prejudice, an intriguing main character, and an interesting plot. I read this book many years ago but it still comes to mind near the front when I think of space opera. The only reason I don't give this book a higher score is that a book has to have made a lasting mark over decades to get a higher score and is reserved for books like Tom Sawyer, To Kill a Mockingbird, and MacBeth.
I recommend this book for anyone who enjoys the space opera sub-genre of science fiction. It is absolutely outstanding.
August 4, 2011
So, I'm up and down on this one. I considered putting it down, then there was a plot twist I liked, so I kept going until the end. The characters are well written, but the story itself takes a long time for very little to happen. A lot of the story felt very needlessly complicated. I'm going to try to the sequel, but I'm not sure it's really worth the time and effort.
November 7, 2015
Great read, interesting ideas. I enjoyed Adams technique of confusing the reader to evoke the confusion of the main character.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews