What do you think?
Rate this book
Trang #2
Trust
"This will definitely be a series to keep up with." — Futures Past and Present. The strange and powerful Magic Man has single-handedly conquered the Cyclopes planet. Now, in the second book in award-winning writer Mary Sisson's Trang series, Philippe Trang must prevent the Magic Man from destroying the aliens who the shape-shifter dominates but cannot begin to understand. Can he save the Cyclopes from extinction—one more time? Trust is a full-length novel, 113,000 words or 375 pages, and contains harsh language.
- GenresScience Fiction
817 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 30, 2012
5 people are currently reading
5 people want to read
About the author
Mary Sisson
14 books18 followersMary Sisson is an award-winning writer, editor, and journalist. She graduated magna cum laude with a degree in English and American Language and Literature from Harvard University, and she has a master’s degree in Journalism from New York University, where she received the Edwin Diamond Award, the department’s highest honor. She has contributed to award-winning books ranging in topic from terrorism to food to history to technology. None of this means she’s actually any more qualified to write about aliens, space Marines, or pixies than the next person, but she carries on regardless. See what she’s up to by visiting marysisson.com!
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
August 23, 2020
Great books
Very well done stories of first contact and probable human government reaction. Well written and enjoyable.My dog thinks I'm crazy for bursting out laughing occasionally. Recommended
Very well done stories of first contact and probable human government reaction. Well written and enjoyable.My dog thinks I'm crazy for bursting out laughing occasionally. Recommended
September 21, 2018
Trust is the second book in the Trang series. The story picks up two weeks after the first novel ends. The shape-shifting alien known as "The Magic Man" has completed his conquest of the planet of the aggressive Cyclopes. Due to his world's experience with many forms of government, Trang has been tasked by the Magic Man to establish a government for the Cyclopes. Despite queasy feelings about imposing his political views upon another race, Trang reluctantly accepts. If he fails, the Magic Man may perceive that the entire race of Cyclopes are "diseased" and kill them all.
Sisson has retained her soft sci-fi feel, but made Trust stronger than its predecessor. While dialogue continues to drive the story, she has added action and built up suspense to avoid lulls in the story's pace. Although this book is just as long as the first one, at no point did I feel it was dragging.
While the first novel introduced us to all of the aliens on the space station, there was little room for Sisson to go in depth with any one of them. There were a couple who were vital to the plot, but even these left me wanting more. However in this book, the focus is on the Cyclopes as Trang must come up with a system of government that they will accept yet won't get them killed. There are several great discussions about government between Trang and various Cyclopes. Democracy is an alien concept to them; meritorious dictatorship with periodic assassination is more their style. Sisson does an excellent job in presenting the alien viewpoint in these debates.
Another time, during one of the book's action scenes, Trang and his bodyguards have crash landed on the Cyclopes' planet on the "Lightning Continent," whereupon they are hunted by a large beast ("Giant Mankiller"). But the scene isn't told from the human POV. It's told from the POV of Daring Attack, one of the Cyclopes who's chosen to live far from the "Civilized Continent." It's well done. Not only do we get an in depth look into the psyche and culture of the Cyclopes, but we also see the failings of the Translator that the Hosts (the aliens who run the space station) have provided from an alien's perspective. The misunderstanding could go horribly wrong but Sisson uses it for humorous effect. What's even better is that the reader comes away knowing more about the Cyclopes than the humans in the story.
Characterization and dialogue remain strong Sisson traits. All of her characters, even the aliens, have distinct traits which make them unique. Trang evolves, as does his relationship with Shanti, the military head of the operation. They see themselves less as antagonists and more like team members. Sisson demonstrates this camaraderie through a sub-plot involving Trang and Union Intelligence.
As for the technicals, Sisson utilized an editor this time. The manuscript has dramatically improved, not only in typos but in sheer readability. The narrative flows much better and there are no side trips that lack bearing on the plot or character development. In fact, Sisson ties it all together in the end in a very satisfactory fashion.
The telltale sign that an author has written a great story is when, upon reaching the end of a chapter late at night, I feel compelled to keep reading when I should be sleeping. Sisson's writing has achieved that level in Trust. I'm looking forward to seeing where she goes with this series.
Sisson has retained her soft sci-fi feel, but made Trust stronger than its predecessor. While dialogue continues to drive the story, she has added action and built up suspense to avoid lulls in the story's pace. Although this book is just as long as the first one, at no point did I feel it was dragging.
While the first novel introduced us to all of the aliens on the space station, there was little room for Sisson to go in depth with any one of them. There were a couple who were vital to the plot, but even these left me wanting more. However in this book, the focus is on the Cyclopes as Trang must come up with a system of government that they will accept yet won't get them killed. There are several great discussions about government between Trang and various Cyclopes. Democracy is an alien concept to them; meritorious dictatorship with periodic assassination is more their style. Sisson does an excellent job in presenting the alien viewpoint in these debates.
Another time, during one of the book's action scenes, Trang and his bodyguards have crash landed on the Cyclopes' planet on the "Lightning Continent," whereupon they are hunted by a large beast ("Giant Mankiller"). But the scene isn't told from the human POV. It's told from the POV of Daring Attack, one of the Cyclopes who's chosen to live far from the "Civilized Continent." It's well done. Not only do we get an in depth look into the psyche and culture of the Cyclopes, but we also see the failings of the Translator that the Hosts (the aliens who run the space station) have provided from an alien's perspective. The misunderstanding could go horribly wrong but Sisson uses it for humorous effect. What's even better is that the reader comes away knowing more about the Cyclopes than the humans in the story.
Characterization and dialogue remain strong Sisson traits. All of her characters, even the aliens, have distinct traits which make them unique. Trang evolves, as does his relationship with Shanti, the military head of the operation. They see themselves less as antagonists and more like team members. Sisson demonstrates this camaraderie through a sub-plot involving Trang and Union Intelligence.
As for the technicals, Sisson utilized an editor this time. The manuscript has dramatically improved, not only in typos but in sheer readability. The narrative flows much better and there are no side trips that lack bearing on the plot or character development. In fact, Sisson ties it all together in the end in a very satisfactory fashion.
The telltale sign that an author has written a great story is when, upon reaching the end of a chapter late at night, I feel compelled to keep reading when I should be sleeping. Sisson's writing has achieved that level in Trust. I'm looking forward to seeing where she goes with this series.
August 5, 2015
The story of this special group of people stuck on a far a way space station somehow just completely intrigues me.
At times the writing-style doesn't appeal to me, around chapter 16 the word "emphatically" being in every other sentence really bugged me. Luckily also around this chapter the overuse quite subsided.
There are many other things that bugged me, but despite all I just like the premise of this unique story and I will loyally read every book in the series! (And patiently wait for them).
My biggest beef is with Trang, the main character, he suddenly so shallow and not always convincingly naiive. Why would such a strong man averse to all kinds of physical enhancement and a true believer in talking to solve all problems just rollover and be voluntarily brainwashed so many times? Despite the, again overused word, apparent reasonability it really was not reasonable at all. Why did he let this happen to himself? Why did he need a vague counselor to make him pay attention to details (previously Trang's second nature) and why did the counselor so easily breach patient confidentiality?
But then again Trang's pleasantly confused thinking when stepping in an empty corridor, could easily have been my own.
I do hope that Trang will step up his game in the next book! (or will step away and let someone else be the main character).
Thumbs up though for a lovely reading experience!
At times the writing-style doesn't appeal to me, around chapter 16 the word "emphatically" being in every other sentence really bugged me. Luckily also around this chapter the overuse quite subsided.
There are many other things that bugged me, but despite all I just like the premise of this unique story and I will loyally read every book in the series! (And patiently wait for them).
My biggest beef is with Trang, the main character, he suddenly so shallow and not always convincingly naiive. Why would such a strong man averse to all kinds of physical enhancement and a true believer in talking to solve all problems just rollover and be voluntarily brainwashed so many times? Despite the, again overused word, apparent reasonability it really was not reasonable at all. Why did he let this happen to himself? Why did he need a vague counselor to make him pay attention to details (previously Trang's second nature) and why did the counselor so easily breach patient confidentiality?
But then again Trang's pleasantly confused thinking when stepping in an empty corridor, could easily have been my own.
I do hope that Trang will step up his game in the next book! (or will step away and let someone else be the main character).
Thumbs up though for a lovely reading experience!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 19, 2012
This book was an excellent sequel. It set off a few weeks after the end of the first book and most importantly left me wanting more from the series.
I can't wait to see where it goes!
I can't wait to see where it goes!
December 29, 2012
Nice extension for Trang's story.
Again, really good old SF... As We do not see often now.
Again, really good old SF... As We do not see often now.
August 12, 2015
Good follow-up
Another good story. Not to much politics and the story is easy to follow. I like the characters and the plot. I would recommend this book.
Another good story. Not to much politics and the story is easy to follow. I like the characters and the plot. I would recommend this book.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews