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Foreigner #3
Inheritor
Six months have passed since the reappearance of the starship Phoenix—the same ship which brought humans to the world of alien atevi nearly 200 years ago, leaving a small and vulnerable colony to struggle for survival in a hostile environment. During these six months, the alien atevi have striven to reconfigure their fledgling space program in a breakneck bid to take their place in the heavens alongside humans. But the return of the Phoenix has added a frighteningly powerful third party to an already volatile situation, polarizing political factions in both human and atevi societies, and making the possibility of all-out planetary war an even more likely threat.
On the atevi mainland, human ambassador Bren Cameron, in a desperate attempt to maintain the peace, has risked alienation from his own people by communicating with the staff of the Phoenix as spokesman for the atevi, and has arranged for one human representative from the Phoenix to take up residence with him in his apartments, and for another to be stationed on Mosphiera, humanity's island enclave.
Now, Bren has the difficult task of indoctrinating Jason Graham, a young man who has never before set foot on a planet, in the intricate, delicate, and potentially lethal maneuverings of the human-atevi interface. And this at a time when, thanks to the assassination of an atevi lord who had been one of Bren's primary adversaries, and the near-collision of Bren's personal plane with a jet manned by an unknown pilot, the relationship between atevi factions is becoming more strained by the minute.
On the atevi mainland, human ambassador Bren Cameron, in a desperate attempt to maintain the peace, has risked alienation from his own people by communicating with the staff of the Phoenix as spokesman for the atevi, and has arranged for one human representative from the Phoenix to take up residence with him in his apartments, and for another to be stationed on Mosphiera, humanity's island enclave.
Now, Bren has the difficult task of indoctrinating Jason Graham, a young man who has never before set foot on a planet, in the intricate, delicate, and potentially lethal maneuverings of the human-atevi interface. And this at a time when, thanks to the assassination of an atevi lord who had been one of Bren's primary adversaries, and the near-collision of Bren's personal plane with a jet manned by an unknown pilot, the relationship between atevi factions is becoming more strained by the minute.
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First published April 1, 1996
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About the author
C.J. Cherryh
292 books3,546 followersCurrently resident in Spokane, Washington, C.J. Cherryh has won four Hugos and is one of the best-selling and most critically acclaimed authors in the science fiction and fantasy field. She is the author of more than forty novels. Her hobbies include travel, photography, reef culture, Mariners baseball, and, a late passion, figure skating: she intends to compete in the adult USFSA track. She began with the modest ambition to learn to skate backwards and now is working on jumps. She sketches, occasionally, cooks fairly well, and hates house work; she loves the outdoors, animals wild and tame, is a hobbyist geologist, adores dinosaurs, and has academic specialties in Roman constitutional law and bronze age Greek ethnography. She has written science fiction since she was ten, spent ten years of her life teaching Latin and Ancient History on the high school level, before retiring to full time writing, and now does not have enough hours in the day to pursue all her interests. Her studies include planetary geology, weather systems, and natural and man-made catastrophes, civilizations, and cosmology…in fact, there's very little that doesn't interest her. A loom is gathering dust and needs rethreading, a wooden ship model awaits construction, and the cats demand their own time much more urgently. She works constantly, researches mostly on the internet, and has books stacked up and waiting to be written.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 184 reviews
February 9, 2017
I'm entranced (again) by reading this series straight through. I was always a big fanboy when they first came out and it was by this book that I devoted myself, mind and soul, to the collecting of every hardcover edition.
Yeah, I still think it's that good.
The high expectations between Jase and Bren, now that Jase has made it, barely, to the mainland after his drop from space, and now he's basically regretting everything that brought him to the Atevi. Bren's not having the time of his life, either, because the Human's island had all but written him off and the extremists are badly harassing his family, and he can't do a damn thing about it.
Political tensions are high on every side. The Atevi, even though they're doing very well with the schedule to be the first to get into space and join up with the human starship and to retrofit the abandoned space station, is still on guard from all the factions that could still derail it. The humans are caught in their lies and their inability to pull off the miracles they'd promised to the returning starship. And between them, war is absolutely on the table.
This is exactly what Bren would prevent, and so he's working his butt off to build ever-stronger associations, a spirit of comradeship and helpfulness and the highest tide of well-wishing Atevi the world has ever known, very happy with the humans. Especially Bren. But of course, he has opened all the floodgates of technology that the humans, by the losing side of a treaty, was forced to release to the Atevi slowly so as not to disrupt their civilization. But now, that doesn't really matter any longer because the two societies are practically in parity, with the Atevi in control of vast numbers of truly brilliant workers, all the resources of the planet, and the humans grumbling and generally making asses of themselves, now a minority and a less advanced minority, to boot.
Things could always get worse.
And of course they do. Most of the book is politics, getting into the country with grandma, and dealing with tragedies in the middle of heavy political nightmares. Still, the ending was quite satisfying on a purely emotional level, and that's true not only for me, but for Bren as well. Thank goodness!
Yeah, I still think it's that good.
The high expectations between Jase and Bren, now that Jase has made it, barely, to the mainland after his drop from space, and now he's basically regretting everything that brought him to the Atevi. Bren's not having the time of his life, either, because the Human's island had all but written him off and the extremists are badly harassing his family, and he can't do a damn thing about it.
Political tensions are high on every side. The Atevi, even though they're doing very well with the schedule to be the first to get into space and join up with the human starship and to retrofit the abandoned space station, is still on guard from all the factions that could still derail it. The humans are caught in their lies and their inability to pull off the miracles they'd promised to the returning starship. And between them, war is absolutely on the table.
This is exactly what Bren would prevent, and so he's working his butt off to build ever-stronger associations, a spirit of comradeship and helpfulness and the highest tide of well-wishing Atevi the world has ever known, very happy with the humans. Especially Bren. But of course, he has opened all the floodgates of technology that the humans, by the losing side of a treaty, was forced to release to the Atevi slowly so as not to disrupt their civilization. But now, that doesn't really matter any longer because the two societies are practically in parity, with the Atevi in control of vast numbers of truly brilliant workers, all the resources of the planet, and the humans grumbling and generally making asses of themselves, now a minority and a less advanced minority, to boot.
Things could always get worse.
And of course they do. Most of the book is politics, getting into the country with grandma, and dealing with tragedies in the middle of heavy political nightmares. Still, the ending was quite satisfying on a purely emotional level, and that's true not only for me, but for Bren as well. Thank goodness!
May 12, 2022
The end of the first trilogy in this epic SF series.
It's six months on from the second book and Jase-paidhi is coming along under Bren-paidhi's supervision, but it shows that Bren was a product of a ruthless competitive selection process and that Jase is just a volunteer. Even so, Jase is becoming fluent in what sounds like an insanely complex language. (All adult sentences must contain harmonious numbers of words, which means that a speaker must not only be aware of all the nuances of atevi numerology, but must be pretty good at counting on the fly while speaking as well).
The atevi space program is coming along as well and Tabini-aiji's Association seems strong after the events of the second book. However, relations with the human island of Mospheira haven't been worse since the War and Bren is living as an exile with his human friends and family on the island the subject of harassment that the authorities refuse to deal with. This comes to a head with the assassination of one of Tabini-aiji's enemies and some important news for Jase-paidhi that's poorly delivered.
Again we have Cherryh's trademark third-person intensive following Bren and his complex diplomatic and political thought processes as he steps far beyond the traditional role of paidhi. In this volume we don't have the bewilderment of the first book, or the second volume's overwhelming tiredness and injury, but instead we get Bren's full on frustration and anger with his own government. It will be interesting where that leaves Bren in the subsequent trilogy and whether his relationship with Mospheira stabilizes in the future.
An interesting undercurrent in this is the contrast of the political systems here, and the comparison between the atevi autocracy and association and the human democracy. The humans don't come off looking great in this and it's a really interesting read with what's going on elsewhere in November 2016.
-----
Reread in 2022 and it's no less interesting for the vividly accurate depiction of a democracy captured by fear, inaction and counter-factual belief.
It's six months on from the second book and Jase-paidhi is coming along under Bren-paidhi's supervision, but it shows that Bren was a product of a ruthless competitive selection process and that Jase is just a volunteer. Even so, Jase is becoming fluent in what sounds like an insanely complex language. (All adult sentences must contain harmonious numbers of words, which means that a speaker must not only be aware of all the nuances of atevi numerology, but must be pretty good at counting on the fly while speaking as well).
The atevi space program is coming along as well and Tabini-aiji's Association seems strong after the events of the second book. However, relations with the human island of Mospheira haven't been worse since the War and Bren is living as an exile with his human friends and family on the island the subject of harassment that the authorities refuse to deal with. This comes to a head with the assassination of one of Tabini-aiji's enemies and some important news for Jase-paidhi that's poorly delivered.
Again we have Cherryh's trademark third-person intensive following Bren and his complex diplomatic and political thought processes as he steps far beyond the traditional role of paidhi. In this volume we don't have the bewilderment of the first book, or the second volume's overwhelming tiredness and injury, but instead we get Bren's full on frustration and anger with his own government. It will be interesting where that leaves Bren in the subsequent trilogy and whether his relationship with Mospheira stabilizes in the future.
An interesting undercurrent in this is the contrast of the political systems here, and the comparison between the atevi autocracy and association and the human democracy. The humans don't come off looking great in this and it's a really interesting read with what's going on elsewhere in November 2016.
-----
Reread in 2022 and it's no less interesting for the vividly accurate depiction of a democracy captured by fear, inaction and counter-factual belief.
October 6, 2018
10/5
A near flawless climax to the first sequence in Cherryh's magnificent first contact epic. I have a blog post coming about the first Foreigner trilogy - will link when it's posted.
A near flawless climax to the first sequence in Cherryh's magnificent first contact epic. I have a blog post coming about the first Foreigner trilogy - will link when it's posted.
August 21, 2022
Book #3 in the massive Foreigner series. From the book blurb:
“The first book in C.J.Cherryh's eponymous series, Foreigner, begins an epic tale of the survivors of a lost spacecraft who crash-land on a planet inhabited by a hostile, sentient alien race. From its beginnings as a human-alien story of first contact, the Foreigner series has become a true science fiction odyssey, following a civilization from the age of steam through early space flight to confrontations with other alien species in distant sectors of space. It is the masterwork of a truly remarkable author.
The long-running Foreigner series can also be enjoyed by more casual genre readers in sub-trilogy installments. Inheritor is the 3rd Foreigner novel. It is also the 3rd book in the first subtrilogy.“
I abandoned the audiobook around halfway in 2019, as I was bored. Go figure.
The first book, Foreigner, was also a mixed bag. I really liked the first two sections of that novel. First the arrival in the planetary system, then a fast forward of a few generations to the planetary settlers and first contact with the indigenous population of their chosen planet, the Atevi. I enjoyed the setting in space and the glimpse at societal differences of the humans onboard the ship and those on the planet.
Down below I had fun reading from the POV of an Atevi. His human counterpart was an interesting character as well. Unfortunately, with the beginning of the main storyline, my enjoyment took a nosedive. I was not fond of Bren, who I called a whiney little shite in my review back in 2017. I gave the book 2 stars, but was fascinated enough to continue. I actually loved Invader (Foreigner #2) so much that I gave it 5 stars.
Long story short, I abandoned this one halfway, but I delved into a few really long books in the meantime (endurance training) and I really want to like this series, so I decided to give it another try.
The Phoenix, the ship that left the first settlers behind in Foreigner, is back at the end of book #2 and wants help. The Atevi are still progressing towards space in a slow pace, strung along by those settlers and Bren as the go-between. Bren’s connection to Mospheira is more or less non-existent at this point and what relationships he has left with his home are strained.
As in the previous books, there is a lot of intrigue, politics and complicated relationships. This time around I had a fun, though. Ok, some parts flowed by me on audio — as Bren pointed out several times: One needs a flowchart to keep track of it all. I really did have to look up some of the characters several times. A lot of them sound very similar and the names are not easy. But I think I finally might be hooked. I really want to know how it all plays out now.
—————
My review from April 2019: — Obviously, the below does not reflect my current opinion anymore. I can‘t tell you why it didn‘t work then, but does now…
I know this is a series loved by many and considered a great work of SF, but I give up. I don‘t get it, sorry.
Glimpses of good story telling with exiting developments combined with utter, endless boredom. Put on hold somewhere in the middle. Picked it up again for another 1 and a half hours of listening and I am calling it quits. I do not care. I really, really wanted to and I did actually like the second book of this story arch. I was pretty excited about what it could mean for the rest of the series. Alas. Boring, meandering, talkative. Lack of plot progression. Talk, talk, talk. Juvenile characters. Nothing happening. Bored to tears! So sorry, but nope. I am sure there is a fabulous world hiding somewhere and I am probably missing some subtle point. But.... too bored.
————
Shejidan Wiki: https://shejidan.fandom.com/wiki/Shej...
“The first book in C.J.Cherryh's eponymous series, Foreigner, begins an epic tale of the survivors of a lost spacecraft who crash-land on a planet inhabited by a hostile, sentient alien race. From its beginnings as a human-alien story of first contact, the Foreigner series has become a true science fiction odyssey, following a civilization from the age of steam through early space flight to confrontations with other alien species in distant sectors of space. It is the masterwork of a truly remarkable author.
The long-running Foreigner series can also be enjoyed by more casual genre readers in sub-trilogy installments. Inheritor is the 3rd Foreigner novel. It is also the 3rd book in the first subtrilogy.“
I abandoned the audiobook around halfway in 2019, as I was bored. Go figure.
The first book, Foreigner, was also a mixed bag. I really liked the first two sections of that novel. First the arrival in the planetary system, then a fast forward of a few generations to the planetary settlers and first contact with the indigenous population of their chosen planet, the Atevi. I enjoyed the setting in space and the glimpse at societal differences of the humans onboard the ship and those on the planet.
Down below I had fun reading from the POV of an Atevi. His human counterpart was an interesting character as well. Unfortunately, with the beginning of the main storyline, my enjoyment took a nosedive. I was not fond of Bren, who I called a whiney little shite in my review back in 2017. I gave the book 2 stars, but was fascinated enough to continue. I actually loved Invader (Foreigner #2) so much that I gave it 5 stars.
Long story short, I abandoned this one halfway, but I delved into a few really long books in the meantime (endurance training) and I really want to like this series, so I decided to give it another try.
The Phoenix, the ship that left the first settlers behind in Foreigner, is back at the end of book #2 and wants help. The Atevi are still progressing towards space in a slow pace, strung along by those settlers and Bren as the go-between. Bren’s connection to Mospheira is more or less non-existent at this point and what relationships he has left with his home are strained.
As in the previous books, there is a lot of intrigue, politics and complicated relationships. This time around I had a fun, though. Ok, some parts flowed by me on audio — as Bren pointed out several times: One needs a flowchart to keep track of it all. I really did have to look up some of the characters several times. A lot of them sound very similar and the names are not easy. But I think I finally might be hooked. I really want to know how it all plays out now.
—————
My review from April 2019: — Obviously, the below does not reflect my current opinion anymore. I can‘t tell you why it didn‘t work then, but does now…
I know this is a series loved by many and considered a great work of SF, but I give up. I don‘t get it, sorry.
Glimpses of good story telling with exiting developments combined with utter, endless boredom. Put on hold somewhere in the middle. Picked it up again for another 1 and a half hours of listening and I am calling it quits. I do not care. I really, really wanted to and I did actually like the second book of this story arch. I was pretty excited about what it could mean for the rest of the series. Alas. Boring, meandering, talkative. Lack of plot progression. Talk, talk, talk. Juvenile characters. Nothing happening. Bored to tears! So sorry, but nope. I am sure there is a fabulous world hiding somewhere and I am probably missing some subtle point. But.... too bored.
————
Shejidan Wiki: https://shejidan.fandom.com/wiki/Shej...
June 16, 2022
4.5 - end of first trilogy
The planet is still in turmoil from the arrival of the Phoenix and what it represents, especially between Mospheira and the atevi. Until now, this relationship was based on the humans divulging technology little by little, making sure that it didn't cause too wild a wave in the native society, in order to keep the peace while ensuring their ‘superiority' for as long as possible.
However, the spaceship overthrows this precarious balance by literally giving all the information necessary to get the orbital station re-manned, repaired, and functional to assist the space travellers. The result is not only a race between the two civilisations to build a ship capable of ferrying people and material between the surface and orbit, but also deep and complex political shifts, with several factions on both sides!
Bren is still in the middle of this, only too aware of the explosive nature of the situation and trying all he can to ‘save’ both sides through his diplomatic role and influence. However his government is under the hand of a fundamentalist group bent against him and his views, presenting him as a defector against Mospheira people, while on the atevi side, conflicting groups make their moves.
This volume still deals with the linguistic component, especially in the matter of Jase trying to learn the language, fighting with its complexity, while giving the limelight to politics. This might sound dry but Cherryh succeeds in portraying this in a fascinating way. She also adds very interesting little touches, such as the psychological aspect of another completely different point of view (Jase is as alien as the atevi and often put 'in contrast' to Bren), of someone used to living on a ship having to adapt to living on a planet, or inter-racial relationships.
Cannot wait what Cherryh has in store for us in the second cycle!
The planet is still in turmoil from the arrival of the Phoenix and what it represents, especially between Mospheira and the atevi. Until now, this relationship was based on the humans divulging technology little by little, making sure that it didn't cause too wild a wave in the native society, in order to keep the peace while ensuring their ‘superiority' for as long as possible.
However, the spaceship overthrows this precarious balance by literally giving all the information necessary to get the orbital station re-manned, repaired, and functional to assist the space travellers. The result is not only a race between the two civilisations to build a ship capable of ferrying people and material between the surface and orbit, but also deep and complex political shifts, with several factions on both sides!
Bren is still in the middle of this, only too aware of the explosive nature of the situation and trying all he can to ‘save’ both sides through his diplomatic role and influence. However his government is under the hand of a fundamentalist group bent against him and his views, presenting him as a defector against Mospheira people, while on the atevi side, conflicting groups make their moves.
This volume still deals with the linguistic component, especially in the matter of Jase trying to learn the language, fighting with its complexity, while giving the limelight to politics. This might sound dry but Cherryh succeeds in portraying this in a fascinating way. She also adds very interesting little touches, such as the psychological aspect of another completely different point of view (Jase is as alien as the atevi and often put 'in contrast' to Bren), of someone used to living on a ship having to adapt to living on a planet, or inter-racial relationships.
Cannot wait what Cherryh has in store for us in the second cycle!
April 30, 2017
Wow! I loved 'Inheritor'! Unfortunately, it is book three in C.J. Cherryh's Foreigner series, which is turning out to be a series so linked in plots - in, fact, as linked as if they were actually one book - there is no way to describe the plot of the book without destroying the pleasure of reading the series. It is better advice to say start here: Foreigner.
I can further advise the series is an acquired taste - it either appeals or it doesn't. It will be loved best, if it is loved, first by political thriller junkies who also like science fiction and complex intricate plots. There are too many characters (I wish there had been a list of characters and their family associations). The science fiction aspect is only a stage and, so far, a backstory, which the author has used to imagine what interactions very different first-contact races with different loyalties and similar ambitions would do.
Humans are the foreigners in this series, and it is humans who are disrupting and wrecking an entire planet's cultural norms. The humans' starship arrived at the planet of the Atevis five centuries earlier, and a portion of the starship's humans landed on the planet as refugees. All of the humans had become lost in space and they are desperate for a home and resources to live, much the same situation as current events, just like - dare I say it? Need I say it? Ok, then.
I can further advise the series is an acquired taste - it either appeals or it doesn't. It will be loved best, if it is loved, first by political thriller junkies who also like science fiction and complex intricate plots. There are too many characters (I wish there had been a list of characters and their family associations). The science fiction aspect is only a stage and, so far, a backstory, which the author has used to imagine what interactions very different first-contact races with different loyalties and similar ambitions would do.
Humans are the foreigners in this series, and it is humans who are disrupting and wrecking an entire planet's cultural norms. The humans' starship arrived at the planet of the Atevis five centuries earlier, and a portion of the starship's humans landed on the planet as refugees. All of the humans had become lost in space and they are desperate for a home and resources to live, much the same situation as current events, just like - dare I say it? Need I say it? Ok, then.
November 23, 2020
"Inheritor" is the thrid installment of C.J. Cherryh's "Foreigner" sci-fi series. It continues the complex and interesting tale of two species, human and atevi, who are trying to get along on the same planet.
Bren Cameron has been the main ambassador to the Atevi. However, a thrid party of humans have arrived on a spaceship. Much of these events were covered in book two. The third book focuses on the problems with Jase, an ambassador-in-training from the ship. I personally did not like Jase, but he does throw some interesting wrenches into the story.
With the ship destabilizing the politics of the planet, Bren scrambles to find a way to avoid war between the two species as he fights atevi rebels and his own human trouble-makers. No more spoilers.
The continued complex relations between the two species and the difficulty of translating ideas and concepts that both species can understand is quite interesting. While some may find this series dull, it is not. The story just happens to be complex and political maneuvering can sometimes seem dull when it is merely a slowly developing catastrophe.
Thus while this series may not appeal to everyone, it is a very good sci-fi story. The emphasis on cultural differences and finding a bridge make this series rather deep. I have enjoyed the first three books and will certainly be onboard for the next one.
Bren Cameron has been the main ambassador to the Atevi. However, a thrid party of humans have arrived on a spaceship. Much of these events were covered in book two. The third book focuses on the problems with Jase, an ambassador-in-training from the ship. I personally did not like Jase, but he does throw some interesting wrenches into the story.
With the ship destabilizing the politics of the planet, Bren scrambles to find a way to avoid war between the two species as he fights atevi rebels and his own human trouble-makers. No more spoilers.
The continued complex relations between the two species and the difficulty of translating ideas and concepts that both species can understand is quite interesting. While some may find this series dull, it is not. The story just happens to be complex and political maneuvering can sometimes seem dull when it is merely a slowly developing catastrophe.
Thus while this series may not appeal to everyone, it is a very good sci-fi story. The emphasis on cultural differences and finding a bridge make this series rather deep. I have enjoyed the first three books and will certainly be onboard for the next one.
February 9, 2020
Still very much enjoying this series and C.J. Cherryh’s writing. I love the complexities that she forces her main character, Bren, to deal with. His job is supposed to be translating between humans and atevi on the atevi’s planet. It sounds simple, but there are humans involved here and wherever there are at least three humans (or chimpanzees) there will be politics. So he must deal with human factions and humans are rank amateurs at intrigue compared to the atevi! Add to that mix the long-lost interplantary ship which has returned to look for the humans that it left behind, and the situation becomes even more complex. The atevi believe that a ship full of humans will undoubtedly side with the planet-side humans and have a hard time believing Bren that humans aren’t a monolithic group.
I think Cherryh must have studied colonial histories, perhaps Britain and India or similar patterns, to help her structure a believable narrative. The humans planet-side are so sure of their technological superiority that they get complacent and let their skills slip. They are arrogant because they overestimate their position and under-estimate the skills of the native population, the atevi.
Cherryh certainly knows how to torment a main character. With all the other complexities, she throws in a human ship representative who seems destined to blow a gasket, a burgeoning romantic relationship for Bren, and deteriorating relations with his family. Watching him negotiate this maze of details is fascinating!
Book number 351 in my Science Fiction and Fantasy reading project.
I think Cherryh must have studied colonial histories, perhaps Britain and India or similar patterns, to help her structure a believable narrative. The humans planet-side are so sure of their technological superiority that they get complacent and let their skills slip. They are arrogant because they overestimate their position and under-estimate the skills of the native population, the atevi.
Cherryh certainly knows how to torment a main character. With all the other complexities, she throws in a human ship representative who seems destined to blow a gasket, a burgeoning romantic relationship for Bren, and deteriorating relations with his family. Watching him negotiate this maze of details is fascinating!
Book number 351 in my Science Fiction and Fantasy reading project.
May 4, 2021
Notes:
The first three books of the series should be read together. I enjoyed the way everything tied together in this book. I'll definitely continue the series but need to see if I can work it into my audiobook buy list. =)
The first three books of the series should be read together. I enjoyed the way everything tied together in this book. I'll definitely continue the series but need to see if I can work it into my audiobook buy list. =)
May 28, 2022
ETA: I don't know why this only got 4 stars from me before, but anyway, that's fixed now.
This review is probably best seen as a recap of my thoughts about the second and third books in this series. It will assume you’ve read Foreigner. It will actually mention some major plot points from Invader and Inheritor too. There will be spoilers. You have been warned. If you’re curious about and/or new to the series, go read my review of Foreigner instead, because most of what follows will a) be spoiler-y and b) probably not make a whole lot of sense to you.
Read the entire review of Invader and Inheritor on my site Far Beyond Reality!
This review is probably best seen as a recap of my thoughts about the second and third books in this series. It will assume you’ve read Foreigner. It will actually mention some major plot points from Invader and Inheritor too. There will be spoilers. You have been warned. If you’re curious about and/or new to the series, go read my review of Foreigner instead, because most of what follows will a) be spoiler-y and b) probably not make a whole lot of sense to you.
Read the entire review of Invader and Inheritor on my site Far Beyond Reality!
June 25, 2024
*** 4.55 ***
April 9, 2022
The series is really hitting its stride. Still a lil bit long-winded for my taste at points, but the politics are interesting, Bren still can't catch a break, and the relationship I was hoping for finally happened. And the ending was intense, wrapped up the plotlines nicely, but left just enough of a hook to want me to continue.
March 7, 2023
Inheritor is the third novel of SFWA Grandmaster Carolyn Janice Cherry’s Foreigner series. Started in 1994, this series currently is made up of 21 volumes. C. J. Cherryh released the latest in 2020, and so the series may yet grow longer. The series is organized into sub-trilogies, and this novel should not be read stand-alone, but as the conclusion of the first trilogy. If you have not, go back and first read the prior two novels Foreigner and Invader. In my hidden comments below, I try to avoid spoilers regarding Inheritor, but by necessity, there will be no safeguards regarding content of the prior novels. Consider yourself warned.
I have grown disappointed with the lack of development of the main speculative concept of the series.
I found the structure of this third novel to be poorly executed.
As I mentioned, this concludes the first trilogy of a series made up of seven trilogies, but I am so done with it. No more.
I have grown disappointed with the lack of development of the main speculative concept of the series.
I found the structure of this third novel to be poorly executed.
As I mentioned, this concludes the first trilogy of a series made up of seven trilogies, but I am so done with it. No more.
July 10, 2024
This book fucks.
It resoundingly wraps up the first trilogy/arc in the Foreigner Universe. As always, this book continues Bren Cameron's time as the Paidhi -- the neutral translator for the Alien Atevi -- and the issues that are caused by the stirrup he makes in the political minutiae of the world. In this installment he takes on a teaching role for the new Paidhi, sent as an intermediary for the human ship over the planet, Jase. Jase is isolated majorly; he has no knowledge of the language. In this regard, the book is fun and relatable because Jase has to learn and makes ample errors trying to master Ragi (alien language). The issue with all of this, however is that words mean a lot to the Atevi and whole disputes can be caused by shitting on someone's honor or ill use of an honorific (can't have odd #s of syllables for example). So, seeing Jase's errors and overall worry he'll do something is fun. Bren, of course, tries his best, but he's inexperienced as a teacher.
Jase also has to learn to control his emotions as Bren has. Atevi cannot comprehend even basic human emotions as words like Love or friend do not exist -- rather association. This, of course, has been an overarching plotline as Bren does care about his Atevi companions and bodyguards in a loving way but he is unable to show it/is biologically incapable of being understood. However, he was accepted that as an okay reality in this book FINALLY. Of course, Jase can't learn this lack of emotion easily and it becomes a big thing form Bren that he's alien both among Atevi and humans. Leaving him in this middle zone.
Man'chi (the word for association) is also expanded upon much more in this book. Love is not a thing to atevi but man'chi is what they have. In a way it's like loyalty to your immediate superiors. And even if you form friendship with someone you cannot trust them because their man'chi could be to someone else. I loved Jase's issues with this as it isolates his character a lot. NO EMOTION, CAN'T SPEAK THE LANGUAGE, AND CAN'T TRUST NOBODY EXCEPT BREN?! Jesus, he's a worrywart, but I see why. Fuck me does that sound awful. and cherryh translates that well.
Additionally, the conflict of the conservative human govt wanting to remove Bren as Paidhi because he is too tolerant of the Atevi is well managed here -- and comes to a shootout at the end. Fuck Hanks. Hanks of course being the conservative govt's replacement for Bren.
As you can see I loved the novel. I'm becoming more comfortable with Cherryh's writing and tight 3rd person. Additionally, exploring the depths of a characters mind on what love, friendship, loss, etc is like for a species who does not understand it, will forever be fascinating.
the only drawback is that it's slow. a slow political/cultural clash thriller. and for that it's not perfect. But I love it for what it is.
Scores:
Story: 4/5
Characters: 4/5
Mechanics: 3.5/5
Pacing: 3.5/5
Setting/WB: 3.75/5
Overall: 3.8/5 ⭐️
It resoundingly wraps up the first trilogy/arc in the Foreigner Universe. As always, this book continues Bren Cameron's time as the Paidhi -- the neutral translator for the Alien Atevi -- and the issues that are caused by the stirrup he makes in the political minutiae of the world. In this installment he takes on a teaching role for the new Paidhi, sent as an intermediary for the human ship over the planet, Jase. Jase is isolated majorly; he has no knowledge of the language. In this regard, the book is fun and relatable because Jase has to learn and makes ample errors trying to master Ragi (alien language). The issue with all of this, however is that words mean a lot to the Atevi and whole disputes can be caused by shitting on someone's honor or ill use of an honorific (can't have odd #s of syllables for example). So, seeing Jase's errors and overall worry he'll do something is fun. Bren, of course, tries his best, but he's inexperienced as a teacher.
Jase also has to learn to control his emotions as Bren has. Atevi cannot comprehend even basic human emotions as words like Love or friend do not exist -- rather association. This, of course, has been an overarching plotline as Bren does care about his Atevi companions and bodyguards in a loving way but he is unable to show it/is biologically incapable of being understood. However, he was accepted that as an okay reality in this book FINALLY. Of course, Jase can't learn this lack of emotion easily and it becomes a big thing form Bren that he's alien both among Atevi and humans. Leaving him in this middle zone.
Man'chi (the word for association) is also expanded upon much more in this book. Love is not a thing to atevi but man'chi is what they have. In a way it's like loyalty to your immediate superiors. And even if you form friendship with someone you cannot trust them because their man'chi could be to someone else. I loved Jase's issues with this as it isolates his character a lot. NO EMOTION, CAN'T SPEAK THE LANGUAGE, AND CAN'T TRUST NOBODY EXCEPT BREN?! Jesus, he's a worrywart, but I see why. Fuck me does that sound awful. and cherryh translates that well.
Additionally, the conflict of the conservative human govt wanting to remove Bren as Paidhi because he is too tolerant of the Atevi is well managed here -- and comes to a shootout at the end. Fuck Hanks. Hanks of course being the conservative govt's replacement for Bren.
As you can see I loved the novel. I'm becoming more comfortable with Cherryh's writing and tight 3rd person. Additionally, exploring the depths of a characters mind on what love, friendship, loss, etc is like for a species who does not understand it, will forever be fascinating.
the only drawback is that it's slow. a slow political/cultural clash thriller. and for that it's not perfect. But I love it for what it is.
Scores:
Story: 4/5
Characters: 4/5
Mechanics: 3.5/5
Pacing: 3.5/5
Setting/WB: 3.75/5
Overall: 3.8/5 ⭐️
July 30, 2012
This took quite a while to get through. While previous novels in the Foreigner series were slow going plot wise in the beginning, this last book in the first trilogy suffers from rather a different problem - that of poor editing. The entire first quarter of the novel is devoted to re-capping the events of the previous two novels. Considering how complex and info-heavy those plots are, this makes for a rather boring and dreary read. It is hard to understand why Cherryh has chosen to do this. One is almost tempted to believe that the re-telling was insisted upon by the publishers, in order to not alienate readers who have not read the first two books. However, if that is the case, why also include complicated (and quite brilliant) in-jokes which could only be understood by someone who has read both of the previous installments? It does really seem like Cherryh does not enjoy this extravagant info-dumping, because once the plot gets going, the prose flourishes.
Unfortunately, once we've been updated on the current situation, Cherryh chooses to let Bren - the main character - learn about events from being told about them by other characters rather than experiencing them first-hand. After having first been assaulted by tons of (for most readers) redundant information, the reader is then flooded with even more information. The effect is rather like hearing a lecture on current Atevi politics. You can't shake the feeling that you should be taking notes. And indeed, in order to understand what is going on and who is who, one DOES need to take at least some rudimentary notes. What this means, in essence, is that almost the entire first half of the book consists of heavy info-dumping and exposition.
There is enough plot here to fuel at least two entire novels, and it is almost impossible to keep up with who is trying to assassinate whom, or trying to marry whose sister/brother. As such, it is certainly the least accessible of the series that I've read thus far. However, it's all worth it for the few gleaming episodes where Cherryh's writing really comes into its own. The characters are engaging as always, and there are some very interesting contemplations on the differences between Atevi and Human culture. I only wish there'd been more of it.
Unfortunately, once we've been updated on the current situation, Cherryh chooses to let Bren - the main character - learn about events from being told about them by other characters rather than experiencing them first-hand. After having first been assaulted by tons of (for most readers) redundant information, the reader is then flooded with even more information. The effect is rather like hearing a lecture on current Atevi politics. You can't shake the feeling that you should be taking notes. And indeed, in order to understand what is going on and who is who, one DOES need to take at least some rudimentary notes. What this means, in essence, is that almost the entire first half of the book consists of heavy info-dumping and exposition.
There is enough plot here to fuel at least two entire novels, and it is almost impossible to keep up with who is trying to assassinate whom, or trying to marry whose sister/brother. As such, it is certainly the least accessible of the series that I've read thus far. However, it's all worth it for the few gleaming episodes where Cherryh's writing really comes into its own. The characters are engaging as always, and there are some very interesting contemplations on the differences between Atevi and Human culture. I only wish there'd been more of it.
July 28, 2022
And another Foreigner novel! Inheritor timeskips 6 months after the previous two books. Bren's job as Paidhi--translator/diplomat/bridge--is now well beyond dictionary work, and the launch craft for the space program is well underway. Tensions are high, security is tight, and his new human roommate--the spaceborn Jason Graham--is NOT acclimating well at all.
Part of the tension here is that Bren is always On, so to speak. Jase is learning-on-the-job, and Bren is trying to both teach him and patch over his errors. Unfortunately, that means he and Jase struggle to connect on any kind of human level for most of the book.
Bren is very much married to his job. He's been basically disowned by the Mospheiran government at this point, unable to return to the island under threat of arrest. But with humans in orbit above their heads, it's fallen to him to navigate that human-atevi interface until Jase learns enough to share the load.
I've mentioned before that Cherryh is very kind to her readers in this series. In this book that's a slight detriment. The number of pages spent recapping the politics and events of the last two books (framed, of course, as Bren thinking about the situation), went on for a while. Had I been reading at time of publication, I might have appreciated it more, but since I just read those books, it felt a bit excessive.
I also thought the ending here was a bit pat. Cherryh (through Bren) has spent a lot of time showing and telling the reader why atevi-human relations have to be very carefully mediated, and the level of change we see in the conclusion is concerning in that regard. (Also, it's too pleasant. I don't trust Cherryh to write happy endings. Fortunately, there are many more books yet to read. I'm certain this is more happy-for-now than actually happy).
An excellent story, and I'm looking forward to reading the next arc.
Part of the tension here is that Bren is always On, so to speak. Jase is learning-on-the-job, and Bren is trying to both teach him and patch over his errors. Unfortunately, that means he and Jase struggle to connect on any kind of human level for most of the book.
The training didn't let expression reach his face. The training didn't let him do anything overt. He just sat there a moment [...] with the knowledge he had to get up and function with very dangerous people and go be sure Jase was alright.
Bren is very much married to his job. He's been basically disowned by the Mospheiran government at this point, unable to return to the island under threat of arrest. But with humans in orbit above their heads, it's fallen to him to navigate that human-atevi interface until Jase learns enough to share the load.
I've mentioned before that Cherryh is very kind to her readers in this series. In this book that's a slight detriment. The number of pages spent recapping the politics and events of the last two books (framed, of course, as Bren thinking about the situation), went on for a while. Had I been reading at time of publication, I might have appreciated it more, but since I just read those books, it felt a bit excessive.
I also thought the ending here was a bit pat. Cherryh (through Bren) has spent a lot of time showing and telling the reader why atevi-human relations have to be very carefully mediated, and the level of change we see in the conclusion is concerning in that regard. (Also, it's too pleasant. I don't trust Cherryh to write happy endings. Fortunately, there are many more books yet to read. I'm certain this is more happy-for-now than actually happy).
An excellent story, and I'm looking forward to reading the next arc.
February 10, 2016
Third in the series and a swift, fascinating read by a writer who makes you think as well as entertaining you.
Those threads in the first book are now being deftly woven into more complexity. It's six months on. Jase from the spaceship is struggling to learn atevi language and living with Bren. But the spaceship has added more tension as the conservatives on both sides find it an excuse to cause real political problems. Also Jase is not easy to get on with. And finally he reveals the real reason why the spaceship returned. They stirred up another space going race who shot up their space station.
One of the delights of the series is how the characters grow and change. The aiji is wanting a contract even perhaps a marriage and an heir. His consort is deciding. Bren has found some comfort in being an atevi lord and part of the aiji's establishment. Bren's bodyguard are becoming more relaxed with Bren and more individual. It's fun watching them interact and change.
Start with the first book and I defy you not to read them all!
Those threads in the first book are now being deftly woven into more complexity. It's six months on. Jase from the spaceship is struggling to learn atevi language and living with Bren. But the spaceship has added more tension as the conservatives on both sides find it an excuse to cause real political problems. Also Jase is not easy to get on with. And finally he reveals the real reason why the spaceship returned. They stirred up another space going race who shot up their space station.
One of the delights of the series is how the characters grow and change. The aiji is wanting a contract even perhaps a marriage and an heir. His consort is deciding. Bren has found some comfort in being an atevi lord and part of the aiji's establishment. Bren's bodyguard are becoming more relaxed with Bren and more individual. It's fun watching them interact and change.
Start with the first book and I defy you not to read them all!
August 9, 2015
This series is growing on me. It’s excruciatingly slow and repetitive, but this has ceased to be annoying, as I’ve reached a point where I’ve become fond of this quirky aspect of Cherryh’s writing. The setting still fascinates, and this book has a pretty exciting ending.
Cameron, the human translator/ambassador to the native population, is still shepherding them through their rapid assimilation of human technology, while simultaneously training a nervous new guy from the spaceship. The humans in orbit are desperate for someone on the planet to achieve manned spaceflight and thereby provide labor and materials to repair the decaying space station. The native population is now in direct competition with the stranded human colony, whose government appears to have lost its mind.
I’m enjoying the fact that the aliens have mathematically inclined minds, and their religion/superstition is numerological. There is much concern over felicitous vs. infelicitous numbers in many aspects of their lives.
Cameron, the human translator/ambassador to the native population, is still shepherding them through their rapid assimilation of human technology, while simultaneously training a nervous new guy from the spaceship. The humans in orbit are desperate for someone on the planet to achieve manned spaceflight and thereby provide labor and materials to repair the decaying space station. The native population is now in direct competition with the stranded human colony, whose government appears to have lost its mind.
I’m enjoying the fact that the aliens have mathematically inclined minds, and their religion/superstition is numerological. There is much concern over felicitous vs. infelicitous numbers in many aspects of their lives.
July 28, 2021
3.5-ish.
I'm glad that some of my complaints during the book were addressed (namely Bren being pretty hypocritical with Jase, and Jase's weird mood swings), but I've detected a pattern in the books that I'm not sure I want to continue with. Things came to a head too quickly, I really wanted to explore those repercussions more.
Also, and always: needs more Tabini.
The party scene was pretty much the best in the book. More of the political intrigue stuff where people talk to each other, and Bren isn't just wandering in his own head!
I'm glad that some of my complaints during the book were addressed (namely Bren being pretty hypocritical with Jase, and Jase's weird mood swings), but I've detected a pattern in the books that I'm not sure I want to continue with. Things came to a head too quickly, I really wanted to explore those repercussions more.
Also, and always: needs more Tabini.
The party scene was pretty much the best in the book. More of the political intrigue stuff where people talk to each other, and Bren isn't just wandering in his own head!
December 26, 2018
The book arc was ultimately good overall but I think it suffered with pacing issues for the first 2/3 of the book. The last third or so really saved it.
June 14, 2022
A happy family, on its way to the beach, Bren thought, surveying his complement of catatonic, well-dressed roommate and heavily armed security.
The final part of the first Foreigner trilogy! And what an ending it was.
Following the events of INVADER, Bren (with the assistance of the new ship-paidhi sent down from the returned spaceship Jase) is trying to push through the construction of a earth-to-orbit ship built by the Atevi amidst the whirling miasma of politics, math and licensed assassination that we know and love. A stressful event for Jase leads to he, Bren, and their security going for a 'vacation' - which, of course, turns out to have world-altering ramifications over and above doing some fishing.
I loved INHERITOR - I think it's a combination of my finally feeling comfortable with Cherryh's writing style and the culture and language of the Atevi, and it simply being a very enjoyable and solid end to the trilogy.
Jase is a very interesting character, very different to how you expect after INVADER - but Cherryh does an excellent job of portraying the stress and alienation of a person who grew up on a ship being thrust onto a foreign world. Small things like his fear of the open sky, weather, and air travel.
Bren continues to come on leaps and bounds - he was far less self-deprecating in this book compared to the prior novels, more confident with his grasp of his role and purpose. Part of that is his having to teach Jase everything he knows - and his explanations to the younger man certainly help with our comprehension of the vagueries of Atevi culture as well.
INHERITOR is probably the funniest that the Cherryh books have been so far, in my opinion - Banichi is hilarious, and his constant banter at the expense of Bren and Jago's 'association' never failed to make me laugh.
As I've come to expect from Cherryh the final hundred pages or so was utterly frenetic, bringing it all to a surprisingly satisfying conclusion.
I am so excited to see where this universe goes from here. Cannot wait to go onto PRECURSOR.
July 6, 2022
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Quote:
Review:
Bren is caught between so many rocks and hard places it isn't even funny. (It's a little funny.) Deanna, the backup paidhi who was sent to the mainland when Bren went out of contact in the first book, is trying to cause a war all the way from Mospheira. So Bren either has to become a traitor to his country or let the war break out and everything devolve into chaos. Good choices, there. Plus, Jace, who has come down from the spaceship, is doing nothing but causing problems due to ignorance at the world and a difficulty in adjusting to being on a planet, and Bren has to keep ahead of his dumbassery. Also, the Atevi are constantly putting pressure on him, too.
All while Bren’s personal life is going haywire. His family is suffering back on the island due to his choices in Invader. They blame him for the choices he had to make, and want him to give up what he is doing and being the paidhi. He has friends he isn't strictly supposed to have among the Atevi, Banichi and Jago, and they aren't around because they're off on a secret mission. And he has been doing everything alone for the six months between the previous book and the start of this one.
Wow, is there a lot for Bren to juggle in Inheritor.
I don't particularly care for Jace right now. All he does is whine and complain and get in the way. And he irritates me far more than he should. One can only hope that he gets better with time. And calms the fuck down. And stops getting in the damn way.
A large part of Inheritor is Bren meeting with a bunch of politicians followed by a nice, long hike. A hike with guns. And nothing ever goes to plan. Shocker. Which really is basically the format of all the books so far. Bren does politics, Bren gets to go for a nice trip somewhere else to go do something else and gets into danger, or goes somewhere to get out of danger. Nothing goes to plan. It's a great formula. Works very well.
I’m not a major fan of the end or any of the numerous bombshells that were dropped, but I’m curious to see where this going. However I do enjoy reading this, no matter what is happening. This series makes the weirdest leaps of logic I’ve ever seen. I’m constantly wondering where something came from. The story leaps in odd fits and starts, too. Overall odd but fantastic.
Quote:
“Possibly she has other reasons, nadi, such as intentions she holds in secret, and I would suggest that you remember she is old because some of her enemies are dead.”
Review:
Bren is caught between so many rocks and hard places it isn't even funny. (It's a little funny.) Deanna, the backup paidhi who was sent to the mainland when Bren went out of contact in the first book, is trying to cause a war all the way from Mospheira. So Bren either has to become a traitor to his country or let the war break out and everything devolve into chaos. Good choices, there. Plus, Jace, who has come down from the spaceship, is doing nothing but causing problems due to ignorance at the world and a difficulty in adjusting to being on a planet, and Bren has to keep ahead of his dumbassery. Also, the Atevi are constantly putting pressure on him, too.
All while Bren’s personal life is going haywire. His family is suffering back on the island due to his choices in Invader. They blame him for the choices he had to make, and want him to give up what he is doing and being the paidhi. He has friends he isn't strictly supposed to have among the Atevi, Banichi and Jago, and they aren't around because they're off on a secret mission. And he has been doing everything alone for the six months between the previous book and the start of this one.
Wow, is there a lot for Bren to juggle in Inheritor.
I don't particularly care for Jace right now. All he does is whine and complain and get in the way. And he irritates me far more than he should. One can only hope that he gets better with time. And calms the fuck down. And stops getting in the damn way.
A large part of Inheritor is Bren meeting with a bunch of politicians followed by a nice, long hike. A hike with guns. And nothing ever goes to plan. Shocker. Which really is basically the format of all the books so far. Bren does politics, Bren gets to go for a nice trip somewhere else to go do something else and gets into danger, or goes somewhere to get out of danger. Nothing goes to plan. It's a great formula. Works very well.
I’m not a major fan of the end or any of the numerous bombshells that were dropped, but I’m curious to see where this going. However I do enjoy reading this, no matter what is happening. This series makes the weirdest leaps of logic I’ve ever seen. I’m constantly wondering where something came from. The story leaps in odd fits and starts, too. Overall odd but fantastic.
August 13, 2017
Humans came and humans might go. But the land went on, and the sea washed the rocks.
The spaceship is in the sky, and a race is on the land - a race between humans and Atevi, as well as opposing factions in both societies.
The title of this book could refer to the heavy info-dumping in the first quarter of the book: literal recap of the first book, as well as informational speeches Bren gets from his associates. It was tedious and boring. I didn't care enough to take notes on the Atevi soap-opera, choosing to be confused at times. Laziness!
Thankfully, the rest of the book moves the plot forward, as well as numerous relationships Bren has. One of the central ones is certainly that with a newcomer from the ship, who is struggling. I really love how Cherryh depicts problems one has when introduced to new culture and scenery.
You can die of old age on this planet if we mistranslate a design spec and the program fails. You could die sooner if you don't understand culturally where you're likely to find security wires. You can die if your insults to the aiji disturb the peace of this country.
We can also see how much Bren has changed from the first book - and it's not all unicorns and rainbows, either. Yes, he is much more successful with Atevis, but is also doubting his own humanity. How much could one get estranged from his own people while isolated in another's culture? How to carry on after your own government turns on you and starts behaving irrationally? He sometimes blunders, but tries to hold his own, which made me warm up to him.
Get through this alive and take down the ones who'd threatened him and his the way he could deal with them, not with a gun, but by getting to what they wanted before they did, and interdicting them from everything they intended.
This book concludes the first trilogy in Foreigner's series, and I'm taking a break. This is much harder to swallow than Chanur saga, but still has it perks. One of them is definitely this Chanur reference:
I've been working on get. Everyone uses get.
The spaceship is in the sky, and a race is on the land - a race between humans and Atevi, as well as opposing factions in both societies.
The title of this book could refer to the heavy info-dumping in the first quarter of the book: literal recap of the first book, as well as informational speeches Bren gets from his associates. It was tedious and boring. I didn't care enough to take notes on the Atevi soap-opera, choosing to be confused at times. Laziness!
Thankfully, the rest of the book moves the plot forward, as well as numerous relationships Bren has. One of the central ones is certainly that with a newcomer from the ship, who is struggling. I really love how Cherryh depicts problems one has when introduced to new culture and scenery.
You can die of old age on this planet if we mistranslate a design spec and the program fails. You could die sooner if you don't understand culturally where you're likely to find security wires. You can die if your insults to the aiji disturb the peace of this country.
We can also see how much Bren has changed from the first book - and it's not all unicorns and rainbows, either. Yes, he is much more successful with Atevis, but is also doubting his own humanity. How much could one get estranged from his own people while isolated in another's culture? How to carry on after your own government turns on you and starts behaving irrationally? He sometimes blunders, but tries to hold his own, which made me warm up to him.
Get through this alive and take down the ones who'd threatened him and his the way he could deal with them, not with a gun, but by getting to what they wanted before they did, and interdicting them from everything they intended.
This book concludes the first trilogy in Foreigner's series, and I'm taking a break. This is much harder to swallow than Chanur saga, but still has it perks. One of them is definitely this Chanur reference:
I've been working on get. Everyone uses get.
December 30, 2022
Inheritor continues the story begun in the first two books of the series, picking up shortly after the second concluded. Things have changed in the mindset and capabilities of the native population under the influence and flood of information incoming from the recently returned space humans. They've sent crew to the planet and the push is on to regain the ability to get to the mothballed station and revive it in order to service the ship. The space human motives are suspect from the start and turn out to provide a compelling imperative for the native population to accelerate their understanding and capabilities for engineering and science despite intensive cultural push back. Once again, there's lots of adventure with intrigue, political sabotage and alliances, assassinations, gambling, and other mayhem. Alongside this, there's evolution on the (limited) romantic front and continued intensive and devoted personal attachments by our protagonist with the natives despite their inability to form human like attachments.
The story remains compelling in wanting to find out what happens next and the main characters remain likeable. Additional secondary characters are introduced and play pivotal roles in moving the tale along - the story was complex starting with the first book and is only becoming more so. The back stories for different parts of the world are unfolding and provide depth and nuance to what happens and the possible motives for various characters.
Although I've read these books several times already, I found myself binge reading towards the last half of the book for an uninterrupted experience. This book has less of a cliff hanger ending than the first two books of the series. There are a total of 21 books published in this series for which I, for one, am glad and looking forward to re-reading.
The story remains compelling in wanting to find out what happens next and the main characters remain likeable. Additional secondary characters are introduced and play pivotal roles in moving the tale along - the story was complex starting with the first book and is only becoming more so. The back stories for different parts of the world are unfolding and provide depth and nuance to what happens and the possible motives for various characters.
Although I've read these books several times already, I found myself binge reading towards the last half of the book for an uninterrupted experience. This book has less of a cliff hanger ending than the first two books of the series. There are a total of 21 books published in this series for which I, for one, am glad and looking forward to re-reading.
August 29, 2021
Fifth reading: such an intimate exploration of loneliness and estrangement. Encouraging and comforting.
---
Fourth reading: Saw so many things I missed the first three times! 5+++
____
On my second visit to the Foreigner Series I am seriously so in love with the characters (and so much more familiar with them) that this book now also goes on my list of favorites.
The main character, Bren, deals with the profound pain of being alienated from his family and his people because they don't understand why he has to do the things he does. The questions of loneliness, alienation (between both humans and between humans and aliens), lack of trust, and the struggle to function in the midst of a break-down in social connections is examined with great depth and beauty.
I'm finding this book a place in which to understand and be understood. It is a privilege to read it.
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Fourth reading: Saw so many things I missed the first three times! 5+++
____
On my second visit to the Foreigner Series I am seriously so in love with the characters (and so much more familiar with them) that this book now also goes on my list of favorites.
The main character, Bren, deals with the profound pain of being alienated from his family and his people because they don't understand why he has to do the things he does. The questions of loneliness, alienation (between both humans and between humans and aliens), lack of trust, and the struggle to function in the midst of a break-down in social connections is examined with great depth and beauty.
I'm finding this book a place in which to understand and be understood. It is a privilege to read it.
October 24, 2021
3.5 stars.
I found this third book just that bit better than the second. Although I got lost in differentiating all those different Atevi factions, I enjoyed the intrigues and actions. That grandmother is such a formidable lady!
I thought the ending was a bit rush though, especially since the author has been so wordy throughout. However, this first trilogy has provided enough interest for me to continue with the series.
I found this third book just that bit better than the second. Although I got lost in differentiating all those different Atevi factions, I enjoyed the intrigues and actions. That grandmother is such a formidable lady!
I thought the ending was a bit rush though, especially since the author has been so wordy throughout. However, this first trilogy has provided enough interest for me to continue with the series.
June 26, 2011
Another intrigue and tension filled chapter of Bren Cameron's life as Paidhi among the atevi population. Riveting and thoroughly enjoyable. I couldn't put it down tonight until I finished it.
February 6, 2020
Inheritor picks up about 6 months after the second novel in the trilogy, and once again covers a very short period of time, around 2 weeks. Bran, our main protagonist, begins by touring various alien aerospace industrial plants currently working on building a space shuttle; after returning the capital, politics and intrigue once again dominate the story.
I enjoy Cherryh's books, and this one is another solid installment in the Foreigner series. Some have classified it as anthropological science fiction, but I prefer sociological scifi. I cannot count how many scifi authors have aliens looking different from humans, but having basically the same motivations and thought processes. Cherryh takes her aliens seriously. The atavi are 'hard-wired' differently; they have no words for friends or love, or even like (unless it pertains to food-- I like this more than that). Yet, they also have (it seems) a score of words for treachery, etc. They structure their relationships differently, and their politics and economics. Refreshing!
My main quibble with the series is that unless you really enjoy reading hundreds of pages of alien political intrigue, it is slow going (serious soap/space opera). Also, she seems to be falling into formulaic territory here, at least in this trilogy-- spend 350 pages or so exploring the political contours, alliances, associations, etc., then have an action packed 50 pages or so where it all comes to a head. 3.5 stars.
I enjoy Cherryh's books, and this one is another solid installment in the Foreigner series. Some have classified it as anthropological science fiction, but I prefer sociological scifi. I cannot count how many scifi authors have aliens looking different from humans, but having basically the same motivations and thought processes. Cherryh takes her aliens seriously. The atavi are 'hard-wired' differently; they have no words for friends or love, or even like (unless it pertains to food-- I like this more than that). Yet, they also have (it seems) a score of words for treachery, etc. They structure their relationships differently, and their politics and economics. Refreshing!
My main quibble with the series is that unless you really enjoy reading hundreds of pages of alien political intrigue, it is slow going (serious soap/space opera). Also, she seems to be falling into formulaic territory here, at least in this trilogy-- spend 350 pages or so exploring the political contours, alliances, associations, etc., then have an action packed 50 pages or so where it all comes to a head. 3.5 stars.
September 13, 2017
I'm re-reading the Foreigner series as audiobooks, many years after I first read the books. It is a pleasure to revisit and remember the development of Bren Cameron from a nervy and uncertain diplomat, to his present illustrious status. 'Inheritor' begins six months after the arrival of the representatives of the starship 'Phoenix' to the earth of ther Atevi. Jase Taylor has remained on the mainland with Bren and the atevi, whilst Yolanda Murcheson has been speedily despatched to Mospheira, to liaise with the human colony.
As is always true of a Cherryh novel, things are not going so smoothly for the protagonists. Jase taylor is NOT proving to be the enthusiastic young man Bren believed he was expecting, and the byzantine machinations and intrigues of both atevi and human politics are causing ructions on both sides of the straits of Mospheira. Disaster always seems just a hairs breadth away, either via an assassin's bullet, or by an infelicitous word.
Meanwhile, a shutle is being built, and the atevi are advancing rapidly to their destiny in orbit above the planet.
As is always true of a Cherryh novel, things are not going so smoothly for the protagonists. Jase taylor is NOT proving to be the enthusiastic young man Bren believed he was expecting, and the byzantine machinations and intrigues of both atevi and human politics are causing ructions on both sides of the straits of Mospheira. Disaster always seems just a hairs breadth away, either via an assassin's bullet, or by an infelicitous word.
Meanwhile, a shutle is being built, and the atevi are advancing rapidly to their destiny in orbit above the planet.
June 19, 2022
Less personal than the previous volumes, but another excellent continuation of the Foreigner series.
This volume focuses on Bren's relationship with Jase, with a rather exciting development with Jago as well! There are the usual twists and turns, with this volume diving more into the complex in-universe politics. A few chapters are intentionally written to leave one's head spinning. While these are fun to untangle for oneself, these especially dense sections are summarized afterwards for convenience.
As seems tradition now, the narrative spirals into chaos before concluding in an ever so heart-warming ending.
Very good, but not quite that of previous volumes. Quite a bit of foreshadowing that I am excited to see unfold!
This volume focuses on Bren's relationship with Jase, with a rather exciting development with Jago as well! There are the usual twists and turns, with this volume diving more into the complex in-universe politics. A few chapters are intentionally written to leave one's head spinning. While these are fun to untangle for oneself, these especially dense sections are summarized afterwards for convenience.
As seems tradition now, the narrative spirals into chaos before concluding in an ever so heart-warming ending.
Very good, but not quite that of previous volumes. Quite a bit of foreshadowing that I am excited to see unfold!
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