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Web Shifters #3.5
The Only Thing to Fear
This exclusive e-novella, set shortly after the events in Hidden in Sight, features the first glimpse of the All Species' Library of Linguistics and Culture in the Web Shifters sci-fi series.
The Human Commonwealth has spread into a section of space well and truly claimed by others, a wealth of intelligent species who doubt we've much to offer. The only recourse? Diplomacy! At least that's what Evan Gooseberry, assigned to the Human embassy on Urgia Prime, firmly believes. Enough to fight his own deep terrors and remain where even a walk outside is an exhausting challenge.
But what happens when a species' misunderstood biology is its diplomacy?
The stakes are high; the situation desperate. Doubted by his superiors, Evan stands alone.
Unless he can accept help from the strangest alien of all: Esen-alit-Quar, Esen in a hurry, Es between friends. Having come to Urgia Prime with her friend Paul on their own mission, the remarkable Webshifter is willing to do whatever she can. There's only one problem.
Esen is everything Evan Gooseberry fears.
The Human Commonwealth has spread into a section of space well and truly claimed by others, a wealth of intelligent species who doubt we've much to offer. The only recourse? Diplomacy! At least that's what Evan Gooseberry, assigned to the Human embassy on Urgia Prime, firmly believes. Enough to fight his own deep terrors and remain where even a walk outside is an exhausting challenge.
But what happens when a species' misunderstood biology is its diplomacy?
The stakes are high; the situation desperate. Doubted by his superiors, Evan stands alone.
Unless he can accept help from the strangest alien of all: Esen-alit-Quar, Esen in a hurry, Es between friends. Having come to Urgia Prime with her friend Paul on their own mission, the remarkable Webshifter is willing to do whatever she can. There's only one problem.
Esen is everything Evan Gooseberry fears.
105 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 4, 2018
21 people are currently reading
92 people want to read
About the author
Julie E. Czerneda
103 books754 followersHaving written 25 novels (and counting) published by DAW Books, as well as numerous short stories, and editing several anthologies, in 2022, Julie E. Czerneda was inducted in the Canadian Science Fiction and Fantasy Hall of Fame. Her science fiction and fantasy combines her training and love of biology with a boundless curiosity and optimism, winning multiple awards. Julie's recent releases include the standalone novel To Each This World, her first collection Imaginings, and A Shift of Time, part of her Night's Edge fantasy series. For more visit czerneda.com Julie is represented by Sara Megibow of Megibow Literary Agency LLC.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
September 7, 2018
This e-novella serves as a good bridge between the first three Esen (Web Shifters) series (published between 1998 and 2003) and the next three books (the first of which, Search Image, comes out in October 2018).
Fortunately, I have a Kindle and so was able to easily purchase and download the Kindle version of the first three books so I'm all caught up already.
The Only Thing to Fear is a good introduction for readers who had not read any of the first three books. You don't really have had to have read the first three to enjoy this e-novella (but of course I enjoyed it much more because I had just finished reading the first three books).
The third book ended with Esen and Paul (her Human partner) getting ready to build their All Species' Library of Linguistics and Culture. As a librarian myself, I totally approve of libraries. Theirs will be open to all BUT you need to contribute something to the knowledge stored there before you can partake of said knowledge.
(It will be interesting how that works out in practice but I guess each being, at minimum, could contribute something of their OWN story if they did not know of anything else that they could contribute to either linguistics or culture.)
That said, this e-novella The Only Thing to Fear is a good, solid Esen-and-Paul adventure on its own and I highly recommended it!
Fortunately, I have a Kindle and so was able to easily purchase and download the Kindle version of the first three books so I'm all caught up already.
The Only Thing to Fear is a good introduction for readers who had not read any of the first three books. You don't really have had to have read the first three to enjoy this e-novella (but of course I enjoyed it much more because I had just finished reading the first three books).
The third book ended with Esen and Paul (her Human partner) getting ready to build their All Species' Library of Linguistics and Culture. As a librarian myself, I totally approve of libraries. Theirs will be open to all BUT you need to contribute something to the knowledge stored there before you can partake of said knowledge.
(It will be interesting how that works out in practice but I guess each being, at minimum, could contribute something of their OWN story if they did not know of anything else that they could contribute to either linguistics or culture.)
That said, this e-novella The Only Thing to Fear is a good, solid Esen-and-Paul adventure on its own and I highly recommended it!
September 8, 2018
Esen is back! I actually was reluctant to start this novella, after leaping to buy it: could it possibly live up to my expectations? Well, it did!
Not only do we get to experience another chaotic adventure with Esen (in large part as Bess), along with Paul and Rudy, but we meet a wonderful new character, Evan Gooseberry. Evan is dedicated to becoming an interspecies ambassador, which means overcoming a number of severe phobias. Unfortunately, spiders are one of those phobias, and you can guess what the important alien contact he needs to make resembles. Various species have their own agendas at the festival, and Evan may have to choose between the best interests of the Popeakans and the goals of his own human superiors.
The story moves deftly from the ridiculous to the emotional to matters of life and death and, as in real life, there aren't always clear lines between them.
A number of my favorite SF books/series involve building cultural understanding, so you can understand that Web-Shifters is a perfect fit for me. I wish I could visit Esen and Paul's new All-Species Library of Linguistics and Culture.
I don't want to spoil the twists of the plot, so I'll just say that if you haven't met Esen yet, go and read the series from the beginning (Beholder's Eye), right now. There's a new novel coming soon, and I can't wait!
Not only do we get to experience another chaotic adventure with Esen (in large part as Bess), along with Paul and Rudy, but we meet a wonderful new character, Evan Gooseberry. Evan is dedicated to becoming an interspecies ambassador, which means overcoming a number of severe phobias. Unfortunately, spiders are one of those phobias, and you can guess what the important alien contact he needs to make resembles. Various species have their own agendas at the festival, and Evan may have to choose between the best interests of the Popeakans and the goals of his own human superiors.
The story moves deftly from the ridiculous to the emotional to matters of life and death and, as in real life, there aren't always clear lines between them.
A number of my favorite SF books/series involve building cultural understanding, so you can understand that Web-Shifters is a perfect fit for me. I wish I could visit Esen and Paul's new All-Species Library of Linguistics and Culture.
I don't want to spoil the twists of the plot, so I'll just say that if you haven't met Esen yet, go and read the series from the beginning (Beholder's Eye), right now. There's a new novel coming soon, and I can't wait!
October 3, 2018
I absolutely adore this series and this novella was a treat. I think I read it way too fast. XD
May 14, 2022
“The Only Thing to Fear” is a e-novella set just after the events of “Hidden in Sight” in Julie Czerneda’s Web Shifters Series. In these works, we follow the life of Esen-alit-Quar, Esen or Es for short. Esen is a most unique being, thought to be one of the last of her kind. She is a web-being, a shapeshifter that can assume the forms other beings.
She and her trusted humans, chief among these her oldest friend Paul, have set out to build a All Species Library of Linguistics and Culture. Just before opening this edifice, which intends to help species in the Commonwealth better understand each other, Es and Paul decide to take a vacation. They set off to a festival on a world where many species gather to see impromptu street theater involving giant automatons. What could go wrong there?
Julie E. Cznereda was a Biologist before she became an author, and this clearly shows in her world-building. There are so many amazing aliens in her works. These well-thought-out beings range from mineral to aquatic, and include interesting human cultures that have diverged from the standard as mankind expanded into a galaxy that was already teeming with life. This is an amazing old-school space opera with a vast scope. It’s also a pretty positive read, where even warlike species evolved from aggressive herd animals can be understood and reasoned with if one can only try to think like they do.
She and her trusted humans, chief among these her oldest friend Paul, have set out to build a All Species Library of Linguistics and Culture. Just before opening this edifice, which intends to help species in the Commonwealth better understand each other, Es and Paul decide to take a vacation. They set off to a festival on a world where many species gather to see impromptu street theater involving giant automatons. What could go wrong there?
Julie E. Cznereda was a Biologist before she became an author, and this clearly shows in her world-building. There are so many amazing aliens in her works. These well-thought-out beings range from mineral to aquatic, and include interesting human cultures that have diverged from the standard as mankind expanded into a galaxy that was already teeming with life. This is an amazing old-school space opera with a vast scope. It’s also a pretty positive read, where even warlike species evolved from aggressive herd animals can be understood and reasoned with if one can only try to think like they do.
October 21, 2020
I absolutely LOVE this book!!! It's really creative and fun and i love all of the characters!! I like all of the different perspectives, and the clever story line, and all of the things that make this world and characters come to life! I have not read the other books in this series (yet!) but I'm really exited too and see more of the magic of this story. This book has enough detail to be easy to visualize and lose myself in the story, but not so much detail that it disrupts the story (which is a lot of fun to read and hard to do). I would recommend this book to everyone 8 or 9 and above!!! (I was 10 when i read this)
Happy reading!!
(And to the author : thank you so much for writing this wonderful book!)
Happy reading!!
(And to the author : thank you so much for writing this wonderful book!)
October 21, 2020
I really liked this book because of the characters, and Evan was definitely my favorite in this book! I liked how both the Popeakan and Evan were scared of each other, but afterwards they actually liked each other. I also liked how there were different perspectives, but in the middle of the book the characters met, and so there were different takes on the story playing out. The way that the Popeakans work is very interesting and unique. I would definitely recommend this to anyone 9+.
This is a great book, so three cheers, some glitter, and a pink raincoat for Julie Czerdena!
This is a great book, so three cheers, some glitter, and a pink raincoat for Julie Czerdena!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews