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From Stars They Fell
An alien ship crash lands on Earth, leaving its only occupant stranded. But in a fortunate twist, Earth is a hospitable planet for Veni, from the atmosphere and food to the friendly and intelligent inhabitants.The first such inhabitants Veni meets call themselves dwarves. And though they don't understand the technology that brought the alien to them, they insist on being hospitable. Sure, Veni doesn't understand why the inhabitants of this land insist on speaking a language that modifies for gender, but ze is anything if not adaptable—especially after ze meets Wystan, a man who speaks only with his hands.
67 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 28, 2015
67 people want to read
About the author
H.R. Harrison
6 books7 followersH.R. Harrison is the penname of an unfortunate soul whose ancestors opted to Americanize pronunciation… but not spelling.
She is a linguist and ESL (English as Second Language) teacher by trade, and spends a lot of time thinking about communication, language, and how words… word.
She has a love for fantasy, mythos, and genre subversion, and has a tendency to fall into research pits while trying to write. Therefore, she knows a lot of random trivia about a lot of random topics.
Her hobbies include sleeping, getting far too invested in possibly queer fictional characters, and, recently, marveling at the weirdness of Madame d'Aulnoy's contes de fées in the original French.
Librarian Note:
There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name
She is a linguist and ESL (English as Second Language) teacher by trade, and spends a lot of time thinking about communication, language, and how words… word.
She has a love for fantasy, mythos, and genre subversion, and has a tendency to fall into research pits while trying to write. Therefore, she knows a lot of random trivia about a lot of random topics.
Her hobbies include sleeping, getting far too invested in possibly queer fictional characters, and, recently, marveling at the weirdness of Madame d'Aulnoy's contes de fées in the original French.
Librarian Note:
There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
September 18, 2015
I received this book as an ARC though Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.
I liked the blend of fantasy, and science fiction in this book. I liked that Veni was from a much more technologically advanced civilization, and race that they never looked down on the people they met. They were curious, and open, and willing to learn from those around them, and I appreciated that. I liked their developing relationship with Wystan. I liked how Veni treasured the things that made Wystan different, and left him a bit isolated from the people around him. The plot was nicely developed, but I wasn't wild about the resolution. I appreciate that there were no easy answers, and that Veni was forced to make a very difficult decision. I didn't like that Veni seemed to forget the larger implications of his decision Overall a good story about the meeting of races and cultures.
I liked the blend of fantasy, and science fiction in this book. I liked that Veni was from a much more technologically advanced civilization, and race that they never looked down on the people they met. They were curious, and open, and willing to learn from those around them, and I appreciated that. I liked their developing relationship with Wystan. I liked how Veni treasured the things that made Wystan different, and left him a bit isolated from the people around him. The plot was nicely developed, but I wasn't wild about the resolution. I appreciate that there were no easy answers, and that Veni was forced to make a very difficult decision. I didn't like that Veni seemed to forget the larger implications of his decision Overall a good story about the meeting of races and cultures.
September 15, 2015
Featured on All Our Worlds!
I’ve been looking forward to this story ever since I spotted it on the Forthcoming list. And I wasn’t disappointed: there’s a curious alien, a welcoming community, and plenty of diversity.
Veni crashlands on Earth after escaping a perilous political situation on hir homeworld. Luckily, ze has translation software, so ze can talk to the people ze meets. Veni’s species doesn’t have gender, so they use ze/hir pronouns for everybody. (Social distinction is instead drawn between long- and short-winged individuals, but even then, there are people in between.) Veni, when told about gender, adapts to the dwarves’ he and she, but continues to use ze for unknowns. What’s really interesting here (and reminiscent of Diskworld!) is that dwarf gender presentation isn’t like human presentation- women have beards!
And then the romance comes in. Wystan, who trades with the dwarves’ community, is deaf, and his use of sign language intrigues Veni. Through hir translation program, ze is able to communicate easily in Wystan’s own language, and the two strike up a friendship that soon becomes romantic.
I really loved the way the story handled cultural differences. Veni, the dwarves, and Wystan had several interesting conversations about aspects of their cultures, and nobody was rude or judgmental. I hope I can find more stories like this!
(Review copy received through Netgalley)
I’ve been looking forward to this story ever since I spotted it on the Forthcoming list. And I wasn’t disappointed: there’s a curious alien, a welcoming community, and plenty of diversity.
Veni crashlands on Earth after escaping a perilous political situation on hir homeworld. Luckily, ze has translation software, so ze can talk to the people ze meets. Veni’s species doesn’t have gender, so they use ze/hir pronouns for everybody. (Social distinction is instead drawn between long- and short-winged individuals, but even then, there are people in between.) Veni, when told about gender, adapts to the dwarves’ he and she, but continues to use ze for unknowns. What’s really interesting here (and reminiscent of Diskworld!) is that dwarf gender presentation isn’t like human presentation- women have beards!
And then the romance comes in. Wystan, who trades with the dwarves’ community, is deaf, and his use of sign language intrigues Veni. Through hir translation program, ze is able to communicate easily in Wystan’s own language, and the two strike up a friendship that soon becomes romantic.
I really loved the way the story handled cultural differences. Veni, the dwarves, and Wystan had several interesting conversations about aspects of their cultures, and nobody was rude or judgmental. I hope I can find more stories like this!
(Review copy received through Netgalley)
September 16, 2015
Disclaimer: I am part of the publisher that published this work.
That said, I adored this book. It's amazingly sweet and cute and the way H.R. Harrison blends the high-tech of Veni's world with the craftsmanship and lower tech of the dwarven/human/etc. world is amazing. I had to keep putting it down because the two MCs were so cute, and it's just... ugh, I'm going to re-read it about 23732074 times.
That said, I adored this book. It's amazingly sweet and cute and the way H.R. Harrison blends the high-tech of Veni's world with the craftsmanship and lower tech of the dwarven/human/etc. world is amazing. I had to keep putting it down because the two MCs were so cute, and it's just... ugh, I'm going to re-read it about 23732074 times.
October 27, 2015
This review was originally posted on Just Love
.
* I received an advanced copy of this novel in exchange for a fair and honest review. *
Science fiction meets fantasy in this delightful short story about understanding, tolerance, and finding love against all odds. I have to say, I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this story... I've never read anything quite like it, and I think it was a great blend of multiple genres, with interesting characters and a fantastic plot.
I will admit that I'm not very familiar with non-gender binary characters in a novel. My previous experience with gender-neutral characters was another science fiction, "Ancillary Justice" by Ann Leckie, where all characters were referred to with the female pronoun. So I apologize if I make any errors in my review; please know that it is not intentional, and I am trying to respect the author and character to the best of my knowledge.
The Earth of Harrison's short story isn't the one we're familiar with; this is a land of dwarves and humans, where magic lurks in the forest. When Veni crash-lands, ze are lucky to be rescued by a group of dwarves who help hir adapt to this new planet. While language isn't a difficult barrier to overcome, thanks to translation chips and advanced technology, Veni is baffled by the dwarves question of whether ze is male or female.
The romance between Veni and Wystan is really fantastic. They're two characters who are different from those around them, and who bond because they're able to see beneath the surface. Wystan is deaf, and Veni is one of the few who is able to communicate with him. And Wystan finds beauty in Veni, even when he's confused or frightened by hir foreign customs.
And there's a plot! I know, you're thinking "why is this something to get excited about"? But I find that short stories rarely have elaborate plots with twists and backstories. Harrison has done a fantastic job of weaving together multiple plots to create a story with a great pace, and an antagonist who is more than just a caricature.
This was a great short-story, and I think it will appeal to anyone looking for something different. The sci fi and fantasy elements were subtle, the characters diverse and unique, and the plot entertaining. It's a quick read, but I'd love to see more with these characters!
This review was originally posted on Just Love .
* I received an advanced copy of this novel in exchange for a fair and honest review. *
Science fiction meets fantasy in this delightful short story about understanding, tolerance, and finding love against all odds. I have to say, I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this story... I've never read anything quite like it, and I think it was a great blend of multiple genres, with interesting characters and a fantastic plot.
I will admit that I'm not very familiar with non-gender binary characters in a novel. My previous experience with gender-neutral characters was another science fiction, "Ancillary Justice" by Ann Leckie, where all characters were referred to with the female pronoun. So I apologize if I make any errors in my review; please know that it is not intentional, and I am trying to respect the author and character to the best of my knowledge.
The Earth of Harrison's short story isn't the one we're familiar with; this is a land of dwarves and humans, where magic lurks in the forest. When Veni crash-lands, ze are lucky to be rescued by a group of dwarves who help hir adapt to this new planet. While language isn't a difficult barrier to overcome, thanks to translation chips and advanced technology, Veni is baffled by the dwarves question of whether ze is male or female.
"So, I never did get the chance to ask, Veni. Are you a man or a woman?"
I tilted my head to express my confusion. "I do not understand."
Ze seemed perplexed, as if I'd just said I didn't understand that things fall when dropped. "You know... Are you the sort to carry the baby or the one to put it there?"
My head remained tilted. "My kind lays eggs."
The romance between Veni and Wystan is really fantastic. They're two characters who are different from those around them, and who bond because they're able to see beneath the surface. Wystan is deaf, and Veni is one of the few who is able to communicate with him. And Wystan finds beauty in Veni, even when he's confused or frightened by hir foreign customs.
And there's a plot! I know, you're thinking "why is this something to get excited about"? But I find that short stories rarely have elaborate plots with twists and backstories. Harrison has done a fantastic job of weaving together multiple plots to create a story with a great pace, and an antagonist who is more than just a caricature.
This was a great short-story, and I think it will appeal to anyone looking for something different. The sci fi and fantasy elements were subtle, the characters diverse and unique, and the plot entertaining. It's a quick read, but I'd love to see more with these characters!
This review was originally posted on Just Love .
August 10, 2016
I received a free copy via Inked Rainbow Reads in exchange for an honest review.
This is a strange little story, in a good way. I found it interesting to view a fantasy setting through the eyes of an alien who is without a concept of gender and needs a translator to understand it.
The writing is excellent, and I loved the concept. Veni, the alien, is misunderstood by the local inhabitants and assumed to be an angel. Just as Veni cannot comprehend a society divided by gender, the dwarves (who themselves are what we might call gender non-conforming) cannot fathom a genderless society. Their interactions are interesting. Despite their confusion, Veni and the locals develop respect and friendship, and no one finds Veni too strange to deserve companionship. The lack of alien panic is refreshing.
I loved the gentle, sweet romance between Veni and Wystan. Because of the length of the story, it unfolds quickly, but there is no instant love. There are no declarations of forever, just two beings who find each other under unusual circumstances.
There are many fun little surprises throughout the story which delighted and impressed me. This is an excellent exploration of what's underneath the surface and at our core. Ordinarily I like to hope we're at the point of writing characters of various genders without using metaphor, but this was so well-written and was about much more than "Look, a genderless character!" Mx. Harrison has certainly earned a new fan.
This is a strange little story, in a good way. I found it interesting to view a fantasy setting through the eyes of an alien who is without a concept of gender and needs a translator to understand it.
The writing is excellent, and I loved the concept. Veni, the alien, is misunderstood by the local inhabitants and assumed to be an angel. Just as Veni cannot comprehend a society divided by gender, the dwarves (who themselves are what we might call gender non-conforming) cannot fathom a genderless society. Their interactions are interesting. Despite their confusion, Veni and the locals develop respect and friendship, and no one finds Veni too strange to deserve companionship. The lack of alien panic is refreshing.
I loved the gentle, sweet romance between Veni and Wystan. Because of the length of the story, it unfolds quickly, but there is no instant love. There are no declarations of forever, just two beings who find each other under unusual circumstances.
There are many fun little surprises throughout the story which delighted and impressed me. This is an excellent exploration of what's underneath the surface and at our core. Ordinarily I like to hope we're at the point of writing characters of various genders without using metaphor, but this was so well-written and was about much more than "Look, a genderless character!" Mx. Harrison has certainly earned a new fan.
October 28, 2015
From Stars They Fell is a wonderful debut novella from H.R. Harrison. The blend of sci fi and fantasy elements, spaceships and dwarves, translation chips and magic, works beautifully, and the main characters are both sympathetic and interesting.
I loved the protagonist, Veni. Ze was truly alien and provided a unique perspective on the world on which ze crash-landed. We see hir make some faux pas, but ze also does a remarkable job of communicating and patching things up. There is some romantic tension due to cultural misunderstandings, but it's realistic and not overly dramatic. It's nice to see two characters who care for each other doing their best to communicate and succeeding despite the odds.
I loved the protagonist, Veni. Ze was truly alien and provided a unique perspective on the world on which ze crash-landed. We see hir make some faux pas, but ze also does a remarkable job of communicating and patching things up. There is some romantic tension due to cultural misunderstandings, but it's realistic and not overly dramatic. It's nice to see two characters who care for each other doing their best to communicate and succeeding despite the odds.
November 24, 2015
I was very interested in this story going into it, but I have to say a lot of it was lost on me. The first 60% of this story is world building, which is mostly irrelevant to the plot that finally and slowly starts up (not all of it but about 70% of it). For a story that’s only 20k words in length, I expect to finish in an hour or two at most. This story took me three weeks to read because I really saw no point in going back to it.
The plot is simple and easy, when it does finally show up. And frankly, there are a lot of scenarios it should have dealt with toward the end that it didn’t. For a caste that’s so hell-bent on their task, dispatching only one soldier and having no fear of being found again seems unlikely to me.
There is a romance that happens within these pages, though I found the romance unnecessary but intriguing. Intriguing only in that the practical aspect of how they have sex was interesting. As for the connection between the characters, I believe a deep friendship would have been simple enough in order to get the plot across. As for the actual sex scene, it was odd and hard to follow. I had issues understanding parts and almost wish it wasn’t there because it was more confusing than interesting or innovative.
I did like the aspect of a stranger for a foreign world coming to a new world and having to learn about everything. That was very well described, if mostly irrelevant. The diversity in this piece is vast, which I greatly appreciated. And, if you throw in a Deaf character and sign into anything, I’m probably going to latch onto that and run with it.
Overall, not a fantastic read. I’m still not quite sure what to make of it and am thinking I really should have not necessarily continued with the reading.
**I received this ARC free in exchange for an honest review from Inked Rainbow Reads**
October 31, 2015
3.5 stars. This intriguing, short, fish-out-of-water tale mixes Science Fiction with Fantasy in a wonderful blend, where aliens meet dwarves and internal computer programming translates and teaches sign language in next to no time at all.
Veni is a wonderful main character. Ze is so open and curious about everything without being patronising or judgemental. It’s clear that Veni is from a much more advanced world, but ze finds plenty to admire amongst the industrious dwarves, while in Wystan ze finds solace from everything ze had to leave behind.
I have to admit I was a little non-plussed about the romance. I wasn’t sure what precisely drew Veni to Wystan – other than his unusual looks, I suppose – and likewise why Wystan fell for Veni. Everything about Veni is so insect-like that I struggled to picture hir face, which didn’t help, and the whole alien sex moment sounded pretty uncomfortable for Veni.
However, that aside, I really liked the details about how Veni differed from the humans and dwarves – from breathing to social taboos. It showed real thought from the author and I definitely admired that. I was less convinced with how things ultimately turned out, but in a story this short there isn’t room for in-depth plots or explorations of minor side characters – which is a shame because I really liked those dwarves and was very curious about some things there.
Overall, though, this is a well thought out tale that beautifully integrates a gender-neutral character in a high fantasy world, with a deaf romantic lead and some clever female dwarves. It’s full of wonder and curiosity and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I’ll be looking out for more from this author.
(I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.)
Veni is a wonderful main character. Ze is so open and curious about everything without being patronising or judgemental. It’s clear that Veni is from a much more advanced world, but ze finds plenty to admire amongst the industrious dwarves, while in Wystan ze finds solace from everything ze had to leave behind.
I have to admit I was a little non-plussed about the romance. I wasn’t sure what precisely drew Veni to Wystan – other than his unusual looks, I suppose – and likewise why Wystan fell for Veni. Everything about Veni is so insect-like that I struggled to picture hir face, which didn’t help, and the whole alien sex moment sounded pretty uncomfortable for Veni.
However, that aside, I really liked the details about how Veni differed from the humans and dwarves – from breathing to social taboos. It showed real thought from the author and I definitely admired that. I was less convinced with how things ultimately turned out, but in a story this short there isn’t room for in-depth plots or explorations of minor side characters – which is a shame because I really liked those dwarves and was very curious about some things there.
Overall, though, this is a well thought out tale that beautifully integrates a gender-neutral character in a high fantasy world, with a deaf romantic lead and some clever female dwarves. It’s full of wonder and curiosity and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I’ll be looking out for more from this author.
(I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.)
March 19, 2016
Title: From Stars They Fell
Author: H.R. Harrison
Publisher: Less Than Three Press
ISBN: 9781620046258
Buy Link: http://www.lessthanthreepress.com/boo...
Reviewer: Teresa - Fallen Angel
Blurb:
An alien ship crash lands on Earth, leaving its only occupant stranded. But in a fortunate twist, Earth is a hospitable planet for Veni, from the atmosphere and food to the friendly and intelligent inhabitants.
The first such inhabitants Veni meets call themselves dwarves. And though they don't understand the technology that brought the alien to them, they insist on being hospitable. Sure, Veni doesn't understand why the inhabitants of this land insist on speaking a language that modifies for gender, but ze is anything if not adaptable—especially after ze meets Wystan, a man who speaks only with his hands.
Summary:
Veni's escape from his world and crash landing took place right before the dwarfs arrived creating an interesting combination that never occurred to me. Veni was from a world where each individual was capable of creating life making it difficult for Veni to comprehend the differences. Veni's use of gender neutral pronouns brought the contrast to their culture. It was fun to read how the author incorporated some of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs while adding a unique sci-fi feel. Wystan had his own difficulties from being deaf to dealing with a sick mother, but he couldn't keep his eyes off of Veni. The contrast between Veni and Wystan's worlds became apparent when Veni's friend crash landed leaving Wystan wondering if their relationship was them same to him as to Veni, but looks can be deceiving. This was a very interesting and unique story.
Author: H.R. Harrison
Publisher: Less Than Three Press
ISBN: 9781620046258
Buy Link: http://www.lessthanthreepress.com/boo...
Reviewer: Teresa - Fallen Angel
Blurb:
An alien ship crash lands on Earth, leaving its only occupant stranded. But in a fortunate twist, Earth is a hospitable planet for Veni, from the atmosphere and food to the friendly and intelligent inhabitants.
The first such inhabitants Veni meets call themselves dwarves. And though they don't understand the technology that brought the alien to them, they insist on being hospitable. Sure, Veni doesn't understand why the inhabitants of this land insist on speaking a language that modifies for gender, but ze is anything if not adaptable—especially after ze meets Wystan, a man who speaks only with his hands.
Summary:
Veni's escape from his world and crash landing took place right before the dwarfs arrived creating an interesting combination that never occurred to me. Veni was from a world where each individual was capable of creating life making it difficult for Veni to comprehend the differences. Veni's use of gender neutral pronouns brought the contrast to their culture. It was fun to read how the author incorporated some of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs while adding a unique sci-fi feel. Wystan had his own difficulties from being deaf to dealing with a sick mother, but he couldn't keep his eyes off of Veni. The contrast between Veni and Wystan's worlds became apparent when Veni's friend crash landed leaving Wystan wondering if their relationship was them same to him as to Veni, but looks can be deceiving. This was a very interesting and unique story.
January 28, 2016
4.5 stars. This is a strange and delightful version of Snow White, which I wasn't expecting at all. Veni, an alien from a genderless species that has similarities with both insects and humans, crashes on a medieval fantasy world - the planet is referred to as Earth, but there was magic, as well as dwarves and a dark elf, so it wasn't really our Earth.
There, Veni meets a handsome man, Wystan, who is deaf and communicates in sign language. Their bond is based on mutual attraction, but also on the fact that Veni can communicate with Wystan without the need for an interpreter. So the romance was believable, although it was a little underdeveloped. There was room for more development of just about everything in this story, but I can't object, due to its fairy-tale feel.
There's a good amount of fish-out-of-water type stuff here, as Veni becomes accustomed to the new planet, but that concept was never really played for laughs, which I found unusual and refreshing. I also especially liked the clever ideas about alien language. Overall, this is a sweet, short read. I would definitely be interested in reading more works set in this world - I'd love to read Calder's story someday.
There, Veni meets a handsome man, Wystan, who is deaf and communicates in sign language. Their bond is based on mutual attraction, but also on the fact that Veni can communicate with Wystan without the need for an interpreter. So the romance was believable, although it was a little underdeveloped. There was room for more development of just about everything in this story, but I can't object, due to its fairy-tale feel.
There's a good amount of fish-out-of-water type stuff here, as Veni becomes accustomed to the new planet, but that concept was never really played for laughs, which I found unusual and refreshing. I also especially liked the clever ideas about alien language. Overall, this is a sweet, short read. I would definitely be interested in reading more works set in this world - I'd love to read Calder's story someday.
October 16, 2015
Life gets interesting when you realize there are so many people who are not just like you.
So then you try to put people in categories just to keep track of them all.
Then you realize that categorization is an evolutionary vestige left over from when we needed to make snap decisions for fight or flight, and human beings are too complex to put in just a few boxes.
I think that's what H.R. Harrison is teaching us with this story. I don't often read short stories because you can't get caught up with the characters like you can in longer novels. But here the author weaves an interesting, romantic, and especially suspenseful tale.
It was a bit different from what I expected. A mix of science fiction and fantasy, as well as a retelling of a well-known fairy tale (though one that might be rated 'R').
I liked how, because of hir culture, the main character used gender-neutral pronouns (ze and hir). I've not seen them used in writing before.
I enjoyed it - not only because I got caught up in the story - but because it made me think.
Thanks to NetGalley and Less Than Three Press for a copy in exchange for an honest review.
So then you try to put people in categories just to keep track of them all.
Then you realize that categorization is an evolutionary vestige left over from when we needed to make snap decisions for fight or flight, and human beings are too complex to put in just a few boxes.
I think that's what H.R. Harrison is teaching us with this story. I don't often read short stories because you can't get caught up with the characters like you can in longer novels. But here the author weaves an interesting, romantic, and especially suspenseful tale.
It was a bit different from what I expected. A mix of science fiction and fantasy, as well as a retelling of a well-known fairy tale (though one that might be rated 'R').
I liked how, because of hir culture, the main character used gender-neutral pronouns (ze and hir). I've not seen them used in writing before.
I enjoyed it - not only because I got caught up in the story - but because it made me think.
Thanks to NetGalley and Less Than Three Press for a copy in exchange for an honest review.
December 28, 2015
This story was very hard to get into. It took me way too long to get through it, especially with it being a short story. From the very beginning I was just confused. I couldn't keep track of the characters from the very beginning. I'm pretty sure the main character wasn't human but again it was so hard to figure out who was who. I definitely did not like this story at all whatsoever.
June 26, 2017
Content warnings: betrayal, sex, death, attempted murder, drugging of a character in an attempt to kill them, neopronoun use, non heterosexual relationships.
Review can be found here at Blow Pop's Book Reviews.
Review can be found here at Blow Pop's Book Reviews.
April 23, 2016
The story is exotic and classic at the same time, as are the characters. Has flavors of Snow White but is definitely not your grandma's fairy tail. Veni and Wystan are perfect! I also especially love the dwarves!
February 2, 2016
I'm crying. Big ugly tears.
Great story!
Great story!
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews