Fallway

by Paula E. Downing

Floating in the caverns beneath the surface of an asteroid has been the only existence Jahnel has ever known. She is accustomed to the effortless freefall lifestyle of living with the alien race, Avelle, and the necessity of hiding behind her cloak when they approach. When intruders threaten the Avelle, Jahnel prepares to defend the only companions she has ever known. But when the invaders arrive she is stunned to discover her enemies are human. Torn between defending the Avelle or honoring her the race of her birth, Jahnel must choose where her loyalties lie. She can prove herself as a warrior for the aliens, return to the place of her birth with her rescuers, or turn away from both and begin a new life for herself away from everything she understands, both human and alien. As the battle between races begins on the asteroid, the conflict inside Jahnel grows out of control.

Genres: Science Fiction

242 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published November 1, 1992

About the author

Paula Downing King lived in Pinetop, Arizona, where she worked as a managing attorney of five Legal Aid offices and was also the Public Defender for the White Mountain Apache Tribe. She sold her first two novels, Mad Roy's Light and Rinn's Star, in 1989. In her spare time she enjoyed reading, cross-stitch and playing guitar.

She published science fiction novels in the 1990s as Paula King (Mad Roy's Light), Paula E. Downing, P. K. McAllister (Orion's Dagger) and Paula Downing King, and a fantasy trilogy in the early 2000s as Diana Marcellas.

For more information, see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paula_E...

Reviews

[QueenAmidala · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good Sci Fi.
Two very different species have learned to live together in an underground world on an asteroid. The culture of the Avelle is interesting and complex. They have rescued the Faon and accepted them into their city. Over the centuries the Faon have adapted to the new culture and learned how to survive in it.
This fragil coexistance is threatened when intuders land on the surface of the asteroid.

The writing and describing of this alien world was so creative and interesting. The story line was filled with adventure and suspense,and how varied personal relationships were affected. The dilemas were thought provoking. The characters were very developed. I really enjoyed the book.

[Stacey · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite books of all time. Fascinating pieces of culture and linguistics drive the story of humans who live with aliens, and what happens when other humans find them.