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Foreigner #18
Convergence
The 18th novel in Cherryh's Foreigner space opera series, a groundbreaking tale of first contact and its consequences.
Alpha Station, orbiting the world of the atevi, has taken aboard 5,000 human refugees from a destroyed station in a distant sector of space. With supplies and housing stretched to the breaking point, it is clear that the refugees must be relocated down to the planet, and soon. But not to the atevi mainland, rather to the territory reserved for humans: the island of Mospheira.
Tabini-aiji, the powerful political head of the atevi, tasks his brilliant human diplomat, Bren Cameron, to negotiate with the Mospheiran government. For the Alpha Station refugees represent a political faction that the people of Mospheira broke from two centuries ago, and these Mospheirans are not enthusiastic about welcoming these immigrants from space.
In the decades Bren has served Tabini, he has become enmeshed in the atevi world in a way no human ever has before. Bren is now an atevi lord, with his own estate on the mainland, his own household, and his own Assassin's Guild bodyguards. He is a treasured resource to Tabini and has become close to Tabini's young son and heir, Cajieri, the first atevi child ever to grow up in the presence of a human. Tabini, impatient with human politics, has ordered Bren to return to the island of his birth in his official capacity as an atevi lord, with his full atevi retinue. Bren is to inform the president of Mospheira that he is no longer his diplomat, that Mospheira must take in the refugees from Alpha, and that there is no other acceptable solution. And among the refugees are three children requiring special protection because Cajieri has made them his "associates" - a bond of atevi loyalty that is unbreakable and lifelong.
While Bren travels to Mospheira, Tabini sends Cajieri to the country to visit his uncle Tatiseigi - a political gesture to shore up an old man and give the boy a well-earned vacation, a cherished opportunity to escape the formality of the atevi court. Tatiseigi's neighbors, however, are determined to end an old feud to their own satisfaction....and Cajieri's presence is just the excuse they need.
Alpha Station, orbiting the world of the atevi, has taken aboard 5,000 human refugees from a destroyed station in a distant sector of space. With supplies and housing stretched to the breaking point, it is clear that the refugees must be relocated down to the planet, and soon. But not to the atevi mainland, rather to the territory reserved for humans: the island of Mospheira.
Tabini-aiji, the powerful political head of the atevi, tasks his brilliant human diplomat, Bren Cameron, to negotiate with the Mospheiran government. For the Alpha Station refugees represent a political faction that the people of Mospheira broke from two centuries ago, and these Mospheirans are not enthusiastic about welcoming these immigrants from space.
In the decades Bren has served Tabini, he has become enmeshed in the atevi world in a way no human ever has before. Bren is now an atevi lord, with his own estate on the mainland, his own household, and his own Assassin's Guild bodyguards. He is a treasured resource to Tabini and has become close to Tabini's young son and heir, Cajieri, the first atevi child ever to grow up in the presence of a human. Tabini, impatient with human politics, has ordered Bren to return to the island of his birth in his official capacity as an atevi lord, with his full atevi retinue. Bren is to inform the president of Mospheira that he is no longer his diplomat, that Mospheira must take in the refugees from Alpha, and that there is no other acceptable solution. And among the refugees are three children requiring special protection because Cajieri has made them his "associates" - a bond of atevi loyalty that is unbreakable and lifelong.
While Bren travels to Mospheira, Tabini sends Cajieri to the country to visit his uncle Tatiseigi - a political gesture to shore up an old man and give the boy a well-earned vacation, a cherished opportunity to escape the formality of the atevi court. Tatiseigi's neighbors, however, are determined to end an old feud to their own satisfaction....and Cajieri's presence is just the excuse they need.
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First published April 4, 2017
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About the author
C.J. Cherryh
292 books3,577 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 153 reviews
January 12, 2018
Oddly enough, I was fully expecting more space, more diplomacy, and more aliens, but that's done for now. Non-aggression treaty and Rosetta Stone signed, in hand, and now shipped downwell, Bren and crew have a brand new problem.
What the hell are they going to do with all those station refugees? Atevi won't take them and there's definitely not enough resources to keep them for long on the station around the Atevi world.
Oddly enough, the simple solution takes this series in a seriously awesome direction I'm surprised hasn't been explored as fully as now: Mospheira. The island where all the humans are kept penned in like livestock. :) Or not livestock, but clannish and fearful refugees from 200 years ago thinking they still have a good handle on things when in reality they're just being tolerated by a very understanding Atevi. :)
I was drawn all the way in. I'm surprised how much I enjoyed seeing the human populace for once instead of just dealing with them (or not dealing at all) from the mainland where the Atevi rule. Cajeiri's side-story was quite interesting and develops his character and relationships nicely in a new-adult way, but honestly, I was very much more invested in Bren dealing with all his old colleagues and detractors without getting to rely on all the honors or stations of the Atevi political side.
A good diplomat always tries to work from a position of power, and it was too funny how he worked it. :)
Still a great series! And there's one more that came out! Woo! Can't wait! :)
What the hell are they going to do with all those station refugees? Atevi won't take them and there's definitely not enough resources to keep them for long on the station around the Atevi world.
Oddly enough, the simple solution takes this series in a seriously awesome direction I'm surprised hasn't been explored as fully as now: Mospheira. The island where all the humans are kept penned in like livestock. :) Or not livestock, but clannish and fearful refugees from 200 years ago thinking they still have a good handle on things when in reality they're just being tolerated by a very understanding Atevi. :)
I was drawn all the way in. I'm surprised how much I enjoyed seeing the human populace for once instead of just dealing with them (or not dealing at all) from the mainland where the Atevi rule. Cajeiri's side-story was quite interesting and develops his character and relationships nicely in a new-adult way, but honestly, I was very much more invested in Bren dealing with all his old colleagues and detractors without getting to rely on all the honors or stations of the Atevi political side.
A good diplomat always tries to work from a position of power, and it was too funny how he worked it. :)
Still a great series! And there's one more that came out! Woo! Can't wait! :)
December 12, 2024
Book 18
The explosive discovery made at the end of the previous instalment is kept under wraps, with only a handful of people aware of it. Knowing Cherryh, I guess we’re going to have to wait quite a while for that dish to be ready to be served.
In the meantime, I was pleasantly surprised when this narrative took Bren to Mospheira. I’d been wanting to see that perspective for quite a while. I can well see the huge change Bren would embody, and yes, I had fun seeing him deal with the university’s obtuse members. Cajeiri’s side of the story was the one I appreciated a lot more on this re-read. The young atevi is starting to take an active role, using all he has experienced and learnt.
The explosive discovery made at the end of the previous instalment is kept under wraps, with only a handful of people aware of it. Knowing Cherryh, I guess we’re going to have to wait quite a while for that dish to be ready to be served.
In the meantime, I was pleasantly surprised when this narrative took Bren to Mospheira. I’d been wanting to see that perspective for quite a while. I can well see the huge change Bren would embody, and yes, I had fun seeing him deal with the university’s obtuse members. Cajeiri’s side of the story was the one I appreciated a lot more on this re-read. The young atevi is starting to take an active role, using all he has experienced and learnt.
April 27, 2017
I love this series. I love all of CJs books. I've met CJ and enjoy reading her blog. I love her writing style, and the atevi, and the individual characters, and the tense situations resolved by cleverness and guile.
But this book is clearly the weakest in the series. This is a pivot point in the series, and had so much potential for intrigue and synergy. But it was one simple passage, with the same topic discussed over and over, with the same words. The same people from book #1 (!!!) return to the stage, and they haven't changed much at all. It's like an Expendables movie.
Even the co-story with Cajeiri advanced slowly, even though it set the stage for future growth.
I'm sure that this is just a pause in the sequence, and the next entry will be as strong as the previous ones. But this one was disappointing, made worse by my own high hopes.
And the cover is awful!
But this book is clearly the weakest in the series. This is a pivot point in the series, and had so much potential for intrigue and synergy. But it was one simple passage, with the same topic discussed over and over, with the same words. The same people from book #1 (!!!) return to the stage, and they haven't changed much at all. It's like an Expendables movie.
Even the co-story with Cajeiri advanced slowly, even though it set the stage for future growth.
I'm sure that this is just a pause in the sequence, and the next entry will be as strong as the previous ones. But this one was disappointing, made worse by my own high hopes.
And the cover is awful!
October 6, 2024
Good, as expected, but more of a wrap up book after the last two (not that there’s anything wrong with that!).
April 7, 2017
It almost feels like Cherryh is coasting on the strength of characters developed over the course of twenty-three (!) years and eighteen (!!) novels. It's disappointing that she couldn't find more for them to do: as much as it's fun to follow Bren, his lengthy testimony to the Linguistics Committee of the University of Mospheira does not really pack quite the same punch as alien feudal intrigue or looming inter-species space war.
It was enjoyable to see Cajeiri's character develop as the "young gentleman" grows into his role of heir, though his sub-plot suffers from overlong description of complex atevi clan relationships: one can understand that Cherryh is proud of all the work she put into world-building, but one finds oneself wishing she would get on with the story! Very little actually happens in this novel, with the most compelling characters - Ilisidi, Banichi, Jago - relegated to very brief and inconsequential cameos.
It's not clear where, if anywhere, the series is headed. There are no immediate dangers threatening the Earth of the atevi, for once: the kyo have their own paidhi, and in any case their war is far away... at least for now. The aishidi'tat is at peace and loose ends are being tied up. It's hard to imagine anyone not already heavily invested in the Foreigner universe caring much one way or the other whether there will be a novel #19.
It was enjoyable to see Cajeiri's character develop as the "young gentleman" grows into his role of heir, though his sub-plot suffers from overlong description of complex atevi clan relationships: one can understand that Cherryh is proud of all the work she put into world-building, but one finds oneself wishing she would get on with the story! Very little actually happens in this novel, with the most compelling characters - Ilisidi, Banichi, Jago - relegated to very brief and inconsequential cameos.
It's not clear where, if anywhere, the series is headed. There are no immediate dangers threatening the Earth of the atevi, for once: the kyo have their own paidhi, and in any case their war is far away... at least for now. The aishidi'tat is at peace and loose ends are being tied up. It's hard to imagine anyone not already heavily invested in the Foreigner universe caring much one way or the other whether there will be a novel #19.
January 11, 2020
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Quote:
Review:
Hmm Convergence was..different somehow. A lot of hows, to be honest. I think if I weren't so biasedly in love with this series I might have rated this much more poorly than I have.
While both Bren and Cajeiri have been sharing the perspective for the book since I believe book eight or nine, it is different this time around. They are much more equal characters. Cajeiri has been acting more like an adult, having more and more agency with each successive book. Acting less like chaos incarnate. This was like a test for him, and he passed with flying colours.
Bren's story was much of the same as it has been the entire series. Politics, politics, and more politics. The difference being that it was entirely human politics, and it didn't even have to deal with the space station or space ship. It was all Mospheiran. Tabini has sent Bren to Mospheira to make them deal with the rapidly deteriorating situation on the space station, and get Cajeiri's friends down to the planet safe, and in a program to someday replace him as paidhi.
There is a lot of time spent trying to get the Mospheirans to see reason. Which... good luck with that. Jeez humans in this series are absolutely impossible to get along with. It is no wonder that Bren prefers to deal with the Atevi. It is a lot of what we have seen to date. A lot of meetings, mostly without tea because they were large meetings with different cabinets. Nothing special, but still damn fine to read.
Cajeiri on the other hand... has had his first solo outing. He has gone, on his own, to his great uncle Tatiseigi's house. With permission this time! Tabini wants to show that Tatiseigi isn't out of favour with him, and this gives a chance for Cajeiri to just be a kid and get to ride his macheiti which he has only been allowed to ride once before.
Cajeiri is learning how to do things on his own, how to direct the going ons around him on his own. It's all politics, but of the sort a child can handle. He has to deal with keeping his family from getting even more of a mess than it already is. He is a child of politics, tying together way too many lines.
But he is only a kid. And I found myself crying a bit for Cajeiri. He is never allowed to just be a kid. Everything has an ulterior motive. Nothing is safe for him. Everything he ever has tried to do to just be a kid has been interrupted by gunfire or assassins or kidnapping, or some combination. And now he is being saddled with even more responsibility while not being in charge of anything in his life. He is always at the whims of the adults while not ever being allowed to be a kid. It sucks and he isn't even allowed to complain. Poor kid.
Quote:
“Mani says if we site a space industry in their district they will become great supporters of the ship. Perhaps we should give them a contract.”
“Change, son of mine, should be applied like salt to a dish—best taste it, understand it, and then decide.”
Review:
Hmm Convergence was..different somehow. A lot of hows, to be honest. I think if I weren't so biasedly in love with this series I might have rated this much more poorly than I have.
While both Bren and Cajeiri have been sharing the perspective for the book since I believe book eight or nine, it is different this time around. They are much more equal characters. Cajeiri has been acting more like an adult, having more and more agency with each successive book. Acting less like chaos incarnate. This was like a test for him, and he passed with flying colours.
Bren's story was much of the same as it has been the entire series. Politics, politics, and more politics. The difference being that it was entirely human politics, and it didn't even have to deal with the space station or space ship. It was all Mospheiran. Tabini has sent Bren to Mospheira to make them deal with the rapidly deteriorating situation on the space station, and get Cajeiri's friends down to the planet safe, and in a program to someday replace him as paidhi.
There is a lot of time spent trying to get the Mospheirans to see reason. Which... good luck with that. Jeez humans in this series are absolutely impossible to get along with. It is no wonder that Bren prefers to deal with the Atevi. It is a lot of what we have seen to date. A lot of meetings, mostly without tea because they were large meetings with different cabinets. Nothing special, but still damn fine to read.
Cajeiri on the other hand... has had his first solo outing. He has gone, on his own, to his great uncle Tatiseigi's house. With permission this time! Tabini wants to show that Tatiseigi isn't out of favour with him, and this gives a chance for Cajeiri to just be a kid and get to ride his macheiti which he has only been allowed to ride once before.
Cajeiri is learning how to do things on his own, how to direct the going ons around him on his own. It's all politics, but of the sort a child can handle. He has to deal with keeping his family from getting even more of a mess than it already is. He is a child of politics, tying together way too many lines.
But he is only a kid. And I found myself crying a bit for Cajeiri. He is never allowed to just be a kid. Everything has an ulterior motive. Nothing is safe for him. Everything he ever has tried to do to just be a kid has been interrupted by gunfire or assassins or kidnapping, or some combination. And now he is being saddled with even more responsibility while not being in charge of anything in his life. He is always at the whims of the adults while not ever being allowed to be a kid. It sucks and he isn't even allowed to complain. Poor kid.
June 1, 2017
I really like these books, and I was glad to visit again with the characters and become immersed in the language style. However, this is perhaps the weakest entry in the whole series (aside from the first book which is weak for entirely different reasons).
It’s 90% talking. That might not be so bad, but most of the talking is either rehashing of previous events, or even worse, Bren explaining the current Situation over and over again. Even that might have been tolerable if there was the usual bit of suspenseful action at the end, but this absolutely just peters out.
The Situation is the same as at the end of the previous book: the alien kyo have signed a treaty of good will and are leaving the solar system; there are 5000 people on the space station who need to be relocated to the planet as soon as possible; and the human children whom Cajeiri befriended on the station would be good candidates for future paidhi.
I have all that memorized, because Bren explains it, at length, at least a dozen times. He’s making a formal visit to the human island with his entire atevi entourage, and it should have been fun to see their reaction to the human region, and the reaction of the locals. Unfortunately Jago and Banichi speak hardly a word, and all Bren does is meet with various people and explain the aforementioned Situation again until you're ready to scream. The humans merely nod and agree with Bren entirely, unless they are small-minded conservative bigots who embarrass themselves by spluttering weak arguments.
Cajeiri’s part of the story is only slightly more interesting. He visits his uncle, gets assigned more bodyguards, and meets a distant cousin with some information about the tense political situation. At one point I thought there was potential for a good gun battle, or at least one hasty evacuation by bus, but no such luck. Cajeiri doesn’t get lost or kidnapped or even thrown off his mecheita. The only nice bit is that he's gradually accepting his role as a future leader.
I like Cherryh’s work enough to put up with a certain amount of repetition and slow pacing, but this book is a disappointment. This series has been fascinating and exciting at times, and I hope the next book will be much better.
It’s 90% talking. That might not be so bad, but most of the talking is either rehashing of previous events, or even worse, Bren explaining the current Situation over and over again. Even that might have been tolerable if there was the usual bit of suspenseful action at the end, but this absolutely just peters out.
The Situation is the same as at the end of the previous book: the alien kyo have signed a treaty of good will and are leaving the solar system; there are 5000 people on the space station who need to be relocated to the planet as soon as possible; and the human children whom Cajeiri befriended on the station would be good candidates for future paidhi.
I have all that memorized, because Bren explains it, at length, at least a dozen times. He’s making a formal visit to the human island with his entire atevi entourage, and it should have been fun to see their reaction to the human region, and the reaction of the locals. Unfortunately Jago and Banichi speak hardly a word, and all Bren does is meet with various people and explain the aforementioned Situation again until you're ready to scream. The humans merely nod and agree with Bren entirely, unless they are small-minded conservative bigots who embarrass themselves by spluttering weak arguments.
Cajeiri’s part of the story is only slightly more interesting. He visits his uncle, gets assigned more bodyguards, and meets a distant cousin with some information about the tense political situation. At one point I thought there was potential for a good gun battle, or at least one hasty evacuation by bus, but no such luck. Cajeiri doesn’t get lost or kidnapped or even thrown off his mecheita. The only nice bit is that he's gradually accepting his role as a future leader.
I like Cherryh’s work enough to put up with a certain amount of repetition and slow pacing, but this book is a disappointment. This series has been fascinating and exciting at times, and I hope the next book will be much better.
April 8, 2017
After the explosive revelations of Visitor, Convergence is a much quieter book. On Cajeiri's side, we see the boy's first real foray into atevi politics as a major player in his own right. I'm fascinated to see Cajeiri's viewpoint shifting as he grows up; he's still clearly not an adult, but he seems to be in the atevi equivalent of adolescence, old enough to finally understand a lot of what's going on around him and be motivated by the kind of world he wants to inherit and rule instead of simply reacting to boredom or fear. I'm looking forward to getting even more of this older Cajeiri in future books. And the political situation set up here could have very interesting repercussions as well.
On Bren's side, though, we get Guess Who's Coming to Dinner, a lot of conversations going over the same ground with different people as he works to lay the ground for a mass of Reunioner refugees descending on Mospheira. It feels like what we get could have taken much less space in the narrative, and at the same time, the book ends so abruptly that it feels like a chapter break rather than the capstone on a trilogy. I'm eager to know what's next, but this is not one of my favorites in the series.
On Bren's side, though, we get Guess Who's Coming to Dinner, a lot of conversations going over the same ground with different people as he works to lay the ground for a mass of Reunioner refugees descending on Mospheira. It feels like what we get could have taken much less space in the narrative, and at the same time, the book ends so abruptly that it feels like a chapter break rather than the capstone on a trilogy. I'm eager to know what's next, but this is not one of my favorites in the series.
May 14, 2018
OK, I've now read 18 of the 19 books in this series, and I've continuously and consistently not been able to dish out 5 stars.
Why? Sour grapes? Actually, it's not. I have one single gripe with this entire series, but it's one that's growing by the book, because this issue is present in ALL the books, and it stops what is otherwise an outstanding series from, well, being outstanding.
That gripe? It's a simple little thing, and it's called consistency. From a small thing like keeping the names of major secondary characters consistent (Yolanda to Yolande, anyone?) to a MAJOR thing like the fact that the requirements of atevi society and their psychology changes from book to book...that's inexcusable for me.
This is not an indie author running her series on a shoe-string budget off the side of a desk. And even most of those understand that consistency is important. This is CJ Cherryh, people. She has the whole team at DAW behind her. One of the key jobs of a copy-editor is to find and kill this type of screw-up. Failing that, most authors just take a few notes.
*Takes a deep breath* *Replaces soapbox in storage*
Why? Sour grapes? Actually, it's not. I have one single gripe with this entire series, but it's one that's growing by the book, because this issue is present in ALL the books, and it stops what is otherwise an outstanding series from, well, being outstanding.
That gripe? It's a simple little thing, and it's called consistency. From a small thing like keeping the names of major secondary characters consistent (Yolanda to Yolande, anyone?) to a MAJOR thing like the fact that the requirements of atevi society and their psychology changes from book to book...that's inexcusable for me.
This is not an indie author running her series on a shoe-string budget off the side of a desk. And even most of those understand that consistency is important. This is CJ Cherryh, people. She has the whole team at DAW behind her. One of the key jobs of a copy-editor is to find and kill this type of screw-up. Failing that, most authors just take a few notes.
*Takes a deep breath* *Replaces soapbox in storage*
September 28, 2020
This is a pretty good novel that doesn't advance the story arc much. In Mospheira, we see Bren negotiating with the human government for the immigration of the refugees from the derelict Reunion Station, starting with the heir Cajieri's three young friends. And he spends a fair amount of time in an academic dispute with the University. I was hoping to learn more about Mospheira, but this half of the narrative was oddly bloodless. And none of the refugees are actually landed by the end of the book.
Across the strait on the mainland, we see Cajieri at his Uncle's estate (on his mother's side) helping to resolve a dispute in her ancestral clan, and perhaps pick a new clan leader. This half of the book is more interesting, and it's fun to see the young gentleman maturing -- but there's still a lot of recycling of old background stuff. Mind, the book moves right along, but I found myself getting impatient with the talk, talk, talk and endless repetition.
I expect I'll read the next one, but "Convergence" is one of the weaker books in the series -- especially by comparison the the past two which were first-rate. This one gets a weak 3 stars from me, and if you skip it you won't miss very much. Jamie Collins's review points out the weak points, though I liked it more than she did: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Across the strait on the mainland, we see Cajieri at his Uncle's estate (on his mother's side) helping to resolve a dispute in her ancestral clan, and perhaps pick a new clan leader. This half of the book is more interesting, and it's fun to see the young gentleman maturing -- but there's still a lot of recycling of old background stuff. Mind, the book moves right along, but I found myself getting impatient with the talk, talk, talk and endless repetition.
I expect I'll read the next one, but "Convergence" is one of the weaker books in the series -- especially by comparison the the past two which were first-rate. This one gets a weak 3 stars from me, and if you skip it you won't miss very much. Jamie Collins's review points out the weak points, though I liked it more than she did: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
April 14, 2017
Can't get enough of the Foreigner series!
I am just as drawn to this world that Cherryh's created as when I first started the series more than 20 years ago with Bren Cameron taking up his role as Paidhi. Watching Cajeiri mature and make sense of his world, Bren having to set up things to solve the problems and challenges faced by the inhabitants of the Atevi world. And in the background the aliens, the Kyo.
As usual the way things relate for the atevi is complex and watching Cajeiri work that out--fascinating.
I am just as drawn to this world that Cherryh's created as when I first started the series more than 20 years ago with Bren Cameron taking up his role as Paidhi. Watching Cajeiri mature and make sense of his world, Bren having to set up things to solve the problems and challenges faced by the inhabitants of the Atevi world. And in the background the aliens, the Kyo.
As usual the way things relate for the atevi is complex and watching Cajeiri work that out--fascinating.
April 7, 2017
It's such a pleasure to be among these old friends. I only regret that I'm finished. Next, please, CJ.
November 3, 2025
I love this series so much and reread it every year or two. I'm picking up from where I left off last year.
2025 Reread
2025 Reread
August 12, 2019
Cherryh, C. J. Convergence. Foreigner No. 18. Daw, 2017.
So, the strange aliens have signed a respect-our-borders treaty and are bugging out of the system, but now the trick is to get the human beings to sign on and the different groups of human beings to get along so amicably. Bren, who now defines his role as mediator, rather than translator, has to prepare for the next generation to take over his job. On the Atevi side, there are the usual number of dangerous complications, which we see more and more through the eyes of the young prince as he grows up and tries, at age nine, to adjust to his new responsibilities. If Visitor was a tribute to linguistics, Convergence is a tribute to mediation.
So, the strange aliens have signed a respect-our-borders treaty and are bugging out of the system, but now the trick is to get the human beings to sign on and the different groups of human beings to get along so amicably. Bren, who now defines his role as mediator, rather than translator, has to prepare for the next generation to take over his job. On the Atevi side, there are the usual number of dangerous complications, which we see more and more through the eyes of the young prince as he grows up and tries, at age nine, to adjust to his new responsibilities. If Visitor was a tribute to linguistics, Convergence is a tribute to mediation.
April 13, 2017
I have read most of her books including this entire series. For the most part this book took place in boardrooms or at the dining table. It had little of the Scifi feeling about it. It was slow. It was chock full of little boy angst. Tea was mentioned over five hundred times. That is a lot of formal tea in one book. . I will still read the next one and likely the one after that but this one was not one I loved.
April 18, 2017
I was a little disappointed as this book just seemed to be a setup for another book. No real story this time.
August 18, 2022
This is an odd installment. Ostensibly, this is the 3rd book of the 6th subtrilogy, but it reads far more like the first book of something else. Given that this is where the series naming pattern changes, perhaps that's intentional.
The plot is now split between Cejeiri on the mainland (who's gotten himself involved with the question of Ajuri's succession), and Bren on Mospheira. That's right, we're actually going to spend time on the island. It's kind of neat. Or it would be, but it's all the usual political meeting and bustle, with a lot less introspection than normal.
And maybe that's what's bugging me. There's plenty of talking in this book, but not a lot of internal development or consideration for Bren. Some things happen, but I'm not sure it was enough to justify an entire novel. It's all setup for the next subtrilogy, and it does feel a bit like Cherryh's coasting here. If anything, I found myself leaning more strongly into Cajeiri's perspective, because he at least is still figuring things out in the way that kids do. Historically, I haven't liked the kid's PoV as much because... well, he's a kid and his internal dialogue is inherently less developed. But he's getting there.
Strong opening into a meandering filler novel. 3* because I somehow stayed engaged.
The plot is now split between Cejeiri on the mainland (who's gotten himself involved with the question of Ajuri's succession), and Bren on Mospheira. That's right, we're actually going to spend time on the island. It's kind of neat. Or it would be, but it's all the usual political meeting and bustle, with a lot less introspection than normal.
And maybe that's what's bugging me. There's plenty of talking in this book, but not a lot of internal development or consideration for Bren. Some things happen, but I'm not sure it was enough to justify an entire novel. It's all setup for the next subtrilogy, and it does feel a bit like Cherryh's coasting here. If anything, I found myself leaning more strongly into Cajeiri's perspective, because he at least is still figuring things out in the way that kids do. Historically, I haven't liked the kid's PoV as much because... well, he's a kid and his internal dialogue is inherently less developed. But he's getting there.
Strong opening into a meandering filler novel. 3* because I somehow stayed engaged.
July 23, 2019
A better addition to the series than some other ones. And this book is 50% minutes of committee meetings Bren attends, so there's that.
This time we go to the island of Mosphera where the humans settlement is. It was a fresh and interesting take on the series. But I could have done without all the talking.
And why has everyone's backstory changed? Since when was the president single, he had a wife and kids. And Toby had an ex wife and kids. But there's no mention of meeting nephews or nieces, or any other extended family. And nothing about how atevi adapt to living in cramped human sized conditions.
The action mostly happens on the Atevi mainland. And it's sparse, meagre action. I found the jump in Cajeiri's character to be unnecessary. Suddenly he's doing and saying all the right things. It's made him kind of boring.
Can't put my finger on any plot that came full circle in the book, but it does seem to set up something interesting for the storyline of Cajeiri's mother and her clan.
One for the fans of the series really.
This time we go to the island of Mosphera where the humans settlement is. It was a fresh and interesting take on the series. But I could have done without all the talking.
And why has everyone's backstory changed? Since when was the president single, he had a wife and kids. And Toby had an ex wife and kids. But there's no mention of meeting nephews or nieces, or any other extended family. And nothing about how atevi adapt to living in cramped human sized conditions.
The action mostly happens on the Atevi mainland. And it's sparse, meagre action. I found the jump in Cajeiri's character to be unnecessary. Suddenly he's doing and saying all the right things. It's made him kind of boring.
Can't put my finger on any plot that came full circle in the book, but it does seem to set up something interesting for the storyline of Cajeiri's mother and her clan.
One for the fans of the series really.
December 10, 2024
This felt more like the middle novel of a trilogy than its conclusion. Luckily it’s not too long, because it was light on plot.
There is a lot of name dropping and discussion of historical clan relationships and entanglements. I wonder if the printed book has a genealogical chart? If it doesn‘t, it definitely should!
Bren travels to Mospheira as an Atevi official to facilitate the relocation of the 5000 human refugess on Alpha Station to the island. This is the first time he sets foot on the island as an Atevi representative, which doesn’t go down well with some of the Mospheirans and leads to many discussions about the preceived tasks of a paidi. The shocking revelation of the previous book is kept a secret.
And Cajeiri gets entangled in Atevi politics during a visit to his uncle Tatiseigi.
As the third book in a sub-trilogy this was a bit weak. I liked the plot, but there was too much talking, too little action and it lacked a satisfying ending for me. So, I expect a strong next book as the start of the 7th sub-trilogy.
3.5/5 — ⛵️⛵️⛵️½
There is a lot of name dropping and discussion of historical clan relationships and entanglements. I wonder if the printed book has a genealogical chart? If it doesn‘t, it definitely should!
Bren travels to Mospheira as an Atevi official to facilitate the relocation of the 5000 human refugess on Alpha Station to the island. This is the first time he sets foot on the island as an Atevi representative, which doesn’t go down well with some of the Mospheirans and leads to many discussions about the preceived tasks of a paidi. The shocking revelation of the previous book is kept a secret.
And Cajeiri gets entangled in Atevi politics during a visit to his uncle Tatiseigi.
As the third book in a sub-trilogy this was a bit weak. I liked the plot, but there was too much talking, too little action and it lacked a satisfying ending for me. So, I expect a strong next book as the start of the 7th sub-trilogy.
3.5/5 — ⛵️⛵️⛵️½
May 18, 2017
All I can say is, C. J. Cherry must really be a good writer because I happily read this book in which NOTHING HAPPENED!
I took note when the story finally seemed to be moving along a bit - page 200. This is definitely a stand alone book because the first 200 pages retell everything that took place in the previous 17 books. I admit that this is a marvelous feat, but not really what I was hoping for. On the plus side I enjoyed slipping back into this wonderful world. I also enjoy the character development happening as we watch Cajeiri grow up.
I'm not sorry I read this but, really, nothing happened.
I took note when the story finally seemed to be moving along a bit - page 200. This is definitely a stand alone book because the first 200 pages retell everything that took place in the previous 17 books. I admit that this is a marvelous feat, but not really what I was hoping for. On the plus side I enjoyed slipping back into this wonderful world. I also enjoy the character development happening as we watch Cajeiri grow up.
I'm not sorry I read this but, really, nothing happened.
October 5, 2017
I admit I had a bit of a panic partway through the book. I was worried that this one might be the last of the series. This book covers the fallout on the planet after the encounter with the Kyo and begins to find a solution to some of the problems found during Murino's rebellion. The level of detail in this series is wonderful
April 6, 2017
I really hate it when a book just ends in without having a proper ending. This one does just that. Bren is wishing he was home and nothing that has been set up is solved. Book 18 is Bren letting the humans know what the atevi expect and Cajeiri, the atevi heir, learning more about what was expected of him and seeing the power he had even as a child.
Convergence does set up a whole new set of problems for all of the humans and the atevi with Bren again at the heart of the problems and the solutions. Do not start this series here. It is long running and complex. A must read for fans of the series even with the ending that is really not an ending at all. I kept trying to find the next page but there just was not one.
Convergence does set up a whole new set of problems for all of the humans and the atevi with Bren again at the heart of the problems and the solutions. Do not start this series here. It is long running and complex. A must read for fans of the series even with the ending that is really not an ending at all. I kept trying to find the next page but there just was not one.
April 16, 2017
Even after 18 books in this series the writing and story are still crisp and fresh. This particular book is definitely a set up book. It spends its time setting up what is to come in the next two books and I can't wait to see what happens next. I loved learning more about Mosperia and Cajeri and the politics involved in both sides.
June 12, 2017
The latest entry in the Foreigner series lives up to to what has gone before. More of a cliff hanger that most of the previous volumes, but I'm entirely lacking in any aversion to such. All it does is leave me eager to see what comes next!
April 4, 2017
Good book. Not as complex as some her books. Focused quite a bit on the islanders. Will read the next in the series. It is one of my favorites.
April 15, 2017
If you are a fan of this series you have to read this book. C'mon... Cajeiri and Bren!!!! Kudos and props to this series and clearly more to come!!!
May 14, 2021
It's book 18 of the Foreigner series, and C.J. Cherryh hasn't yet lost momentum. For those who are reading the series, "Convergence" is more of what you'd expect -- and of course those who aren't must, absolutely must, start with the first book, "Foreigner."
Note, however, there is the possibility of addiction. One friend of mine read all 21 books published so far in just over a year.
Note, however, there is the possibility of addiction. One friend of mine read all 21 books published so far in just over a year.
April 19, 2017
This is a quieter book than the last several, which was a nice change of pace. Really, this entire book could be summarized as "Bren trying not to snark at humans."
Disappointing it ended abruptly, but most of the series ends like that, so it's fitting. I'm curious to see how the series finishes now, with only (in theory) 3 books left.
Disappointing it ended abruptly, but most of the series ends like that, so it's fitting. I'm curious to see how the series finishes now, with only (in theory) 3 books left.
April 26, 2017
I like Cherryh's almost procedural detail on political and social intrigue and nuance. I have a tin ear for the fine details of social cues and political strategy, so it's interesting to me to learn about, and marvelous how Bren Cameron is instantly alert to details of nuance and implication that I would need spelled out. I survive socially by being unfailingly polite, apologetic as necessary, and as honest as possible, while being tactful or silent. The social minefields of the aishidi'tat would drive me stark raving mad.
I'm intrigued by this entire series of books and how they intertwine. I would like to go through and note all the people and events; each book covers a short period of time (one of them is only 3 days span), but the sheer amount of detail boggles my mind. I confess that for some of the books, while I was reading them, I gave my teenage daughter a precis of what happened, read the juiciest dialogue aloud, and read the details to myself. It occasionally plodded and repeated the same concerns over again when Bren was busy being angsty to himself. Yet it was interesting to see how one set of concerns, mulled over in detail, led to better understanding and choices of action. It was like being inside Bren's brain.
Though the entire 18 books cover a short period of time for so many books, they are yet fascinating and I want to know how the main characters will come through their challenges. This is Not the end of the series. I only hope C. J. Cherryh continues to write them and is able, eventually to finish... though maybe there isn't an end to this series any more than there's any end to world history on Earth.
I like Bren Cameron a lot. I feel he is a fine, upstanding man, diligent and conscientious to a fault, willing to take action, loyal to the planetary leaders as long as he agrees with where they're taking the world. He tries to see others' points of view clearly. He needs to represent them fairly and objectively, as paidhi or go-between. The villains tend to be bureaucratic, rule-bound, traditionalists of one type or another. Some of them are quite willing to kill to keep things from changing. There is not much capital-A Action in this book; it's details and set-up for dust-ups in the next few books, I suspect. There will be action on Mospheira and on the continent; the problems are never completely gone.
I'm intrigued by this entire series of books and how they intertwine. I would like to go through and note all the people and events; each book covers a short period of time (one of them is only 3 days span), but the sheer amount of detail boggles my mind. I confess that for some of the books, while I was reading them, I gave my teenage daughter a precis of what happened, read the juiciest dialogue aloud, and read the details to myself. It occasionally plodded and repeated the same concerns over again when Bren was busy being angsty to himself. Yet it was interesting to see how one set of concerns, mulled over in detail, led to better understanding and choices of action. It was like being inside Bren's brain.
Though the entire 18 books cover a short period of time for so many books, they are yet fascinating and I want to know how the main characters will come through their challenges. This is Not the end of the series. I only hope C. J. Cherryh continues to write them and is able, eventually to finish... though maybe there isn't an end to this series any more than there's any end to world history on Earth.
I like Bren Cameron a lot. I feel he is a fine, upstanding man, diligent and conscientious to a fault, willing to take action, loyal to the planetary leaders as long as he agrees with where they're taking the world. He tries to see others' points of view clearly. He needs to represent them fairly and objectively, as paidhi or go-between. The villains tend to be bureaucratic, rule-bound, traditionalists of one type or another. Some of them are quite willing to kill to keep things from changing. There is not much capital-A Action in this book; it's details and set-up for dust-ups in the next few books, I suspect. There will be action on Mospheira and on the continent; the problems are never completely gone.
April 21, 2017
It's a nice visit with some of the characters but not much happens in Convergence aside from place setting for the next arc, especially disappointing considering Visitor's bombshell and all the possible internal and external drama "Bren returns to Mospheira for the first time in years declaring himself ambassador to the atevi as well as Mospheirans and telling them atevi demands" could have.
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