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Foreigner #6
Explorer
The sixth novel in Cherryh’s Foreigner space opera series, a groundbreaking tale of first contact and its consequences…
It has been nearly ten years since the starship Phoenix returned to Alpha, the station orbiting the world of the atevi , which had been abandoned following a rift between a faction of the station's inhabitants and the spacers' Pilot's Guild. The unexpected return of the Phoenix has forever changed the lives of both atevi and Mospheirans, for over the ensuing decade, the captains of the Phoenix have brought both species into space. Their motivation seemed Reunion Station, a human station in another sector of space, had been destroyed by aliens.
But on his deathbed, the senior captain of the Phoenix admits that he lied to the crew—that Reunion was merely damaged, not destroyed, and many people may have survived. At this disclosure, the crew rebels and forces the Phoenix to undertake a rescue mission to Reunion.
Onboard the rescue mission are Bren Cameron, brilliant human paidhi representing the atevi ruler Tabini-aiji, and Tabini's grandmother Ilisidi, a fearsome and ambitious atevi leader with an agenda of her own. Trapped in a distant star system with little fuel left, facing a bellicose alien ship, how can Bren help to avoid interspecies war when the notoriously secretive Pilot's Guild aboard Reunion Station refuse to cooperate, and may have kept the inhabitants of their own station ignorant of their true situation?
The long-running Foreigner series can also be enjoyed by more casual genre readers in sub-trilogy installments. Explorer is the 6th Foreigner novel, and the 3rd book in the second subtrilogy.
It has been nearly ten years since the starship Phoenix returned to Alpha, the station orbiting the world of the atevi , which had been abandoned following a rift between a faction of the station's inhabitants and the spacers' Pilot's Guild. The unexpected return of the Phoenix has forever changed the lives of both atevi and Mospheirans, for over the ensuing decade, the captains of the Phoenix have brought both species into space. Their motivation seemed Reunion Station, a human station in another sector of space, had been destroyed by aliens.
But on his deathbed, the senior captain of the Phoenix admits that he lied to the crew—that Reunion was merely damaged, not destroyed, and many people may have survived. At this disclosure, the crew rebels and forces the Phoenix to undertake a rescue mission to Reunion.
Onboard the rescue mission are Bren Cameron, brilliant human paidhi representing the atevi ruler Tabini-aiji, and Tabini's grandmother Ilisidi, a fearsome and ambitious atevi leader with an agenda of her own. Trapped in a distant star system with little fuel left, facing a bellicose alien ship, how can Bren help to avoid interspecies war when the notoriously secretive Pilot's Guild aboard Reunion Station refuse to cooperate, and may have kept the inhabitants of their own station ignorant of their true situation?
The long-running Foreigner series can also be enjoyed by more casual genre readers in sub-trilogy installments. Explorer is the 6th Foreigner novel, and the 3rd book in the second subtrilogy.
528 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published November 4, 2002
51 people are currently reading
1076 people want to read
About the author
C.J. Cherryh
292 books3,544 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 132 reviews
February 19, 2017
I really love re-reading this series. As this second mini-trilogy comes to a close, it shines in all the ways that the slow burn of book 5 does not. We're hurtling through space to new destinations for some and an intense rescue mission for others.
The space station that was left behind, Reunion, could be hurting bad or it could be besieged or it could be the source of a whole slew of headaches for all those people who mistrust the Guild. This is Space Opera, through and through.
How did we get from a translator in an alien society that barely had TV to this point, only ten years and 6 books in?
Easy! Read the books! :) And just to make sure you're on your toes, Cherryh makes absolutely certain that there's always THREE sides to the situations. Felicitous Three. :)
ALIENS. (New aliens! Oh goodness! What a scary turn! :) The Atevi, the Humans, and ... mysterious aliens! :) And of course the Atevi for all their assassinations seems to be much better suited for survival, politically, intellectually, and martially. Only the single human, our favorite Bren-nandi, seems to have the wits and wherewithal to handle both first-contact situations and hairy numbers theories at the same time. :)
God, I love this series. :) Translators KICK ASS.
Suffice to say, this is a thrilling novel that has just about everything, from strike forces to serious negotiations to seriously dark decisions and a HUGE can of worms.
And now we're getting set up for the next mini-trilogy, and translation is getting pushed to the forefront once more! :)
Ilsidi STILL ROCKS. :)
The space station that was left behind, Reunion, could be hurting bad or it could be besieged or it could be the source of a whole slew of headaches for all those people who mistrust the Guild. This is Space Opera, through and through.
How did we get from a translator in an alien society that barely had TV to this point, only ten years and 6 books in?
Easy! Read the books! :) And just to make sure you're on your toes, Cherryh makes absolutely certain that there's always THREE sides to the situations. Felicitous Three. :)
ALIENS. (New aliens! Oh goodness! What a scary turn! :) The Atevi, the Humans, and ... mysterious aliens! :) And of course the Atevi for all their assassinations seems to be much better suited for survival, politically, intellectually, and martially. Only the single human, our favorite Bren-nandi, seems to have the wits and wherewithal to handle both first-contact situations and hairy numbers theories at the same time. :)
God, I love this series. :) Translators KICK ASS.
Suffice to say, this is a thrilling novel that has just about everything, from strike forces to serious negotiations to seriously dark decisions and a HUGE can of worms.
And now we're getting set up for the next mini-trilogy, and translation is getting pushed to the forefront once more! :)
Ilsidi STILL ROCKS. :)
November 5, 2022
6th book in the Foreigner series (end of the second trilogy)
Cherryh once more gives us a taut psychological and political thriller, in space. As always, there are more factions than you can count, all wanting different things, overtly manipulating events, and holding out vital information.
I can't figure out whether the reason I loved this instalment is due to the plot, or to having had already 5 previous books that have built and cemented this world and characters in my mind. More than likely, both. Whichever way you look at it, this one is just brilliant. Travel in space to rescue humans left on an abandoned space station, and to cap it, the possible threat of another alien nation!
The author does make this one a lot more suspenseful. Bren is an amazing character, as is Ilisidi (of course), Cajeiri, and Jason. The way these four are instrumental is just a delight to read. I also loved how the Atevi's customs, such as polite ceremony (tea, good food, proper attire), succeed in breaking barriers.
This is proving to be one of my favourite series ever. Roll on book 7 next month.
Cherryh once more gives us a taut psychological and political thriller, in space. As always, there are more factions than you can count, all wanting different things, overtly manipulating events, and holding out vital information.
I can't figure out whether the reason I loved this instalment is due to the plot, or to having had already 5 previous books that have built and cemented this world and characters in my mind. More than likely, both. Whichever way you look at it, this one is just brilliant. Travel in space to rescue humans left on an abandoned space station, and to cap it, the possible threat of another alien nation!
The author does make this one a lot more suspenseful. Bren is an amazing character, as is Ilisidi (of course), Cajeiri, and Jason. The way these four are instrumental is just a delight to read. I also loved how the Atevi's customs, such as polite ceremony (tea, good food, proper attire), succeed in breaking barriers.
This is proving to be one of my favourite series ever. Roll on book 7 next month.
February 12, 2022
For some reason, I really struggled with the first 200 pages of this novel. More to do with me than the book, I suspect. I've been in a restless state since Christmas, with a short attention span, and the first pages require attention to the Ship vs. Colonists politics and guessing about the Guild, all of which require that the reader pays attention! I finally got into the groove and I am so glad I stuck with it.
When the Ship arrives at the Guild space station, they discover a large hole blown in it and an alien ship lurking near by. The Guild is determined, despite their dire situation, to maintain control of all humans. Too bad they have no idea any more of how to actually deal with real humans, who think for themselves, make their own plans, and have their own objectives. What could they possibly have done to annoy the aliens so much? Bren and Jase have a lot on their plates, but they have Ilisidi, the aiji-Dowager, and a committed security staff. And cooks and tailors who know more than a little about diplomacy.
I love the Dowager! When she bangs her cane, everybody snaps to. After a long life of plotting and planning, she is a formidable presence. She manages to steer them all to a path that may accomplish what seems impossible at the beginning. And I love that she has no compunction about ordering even Bren to go sleep if she judges that they need it.
Cherryh writes political manoeuvring and covert operations very well. I couldn't put the book down for the final 200 pages, making up for my slow start.
Book Number 440 of my Science Fiction & Fantasy Reading Project.
When the Ship arrives at the Guild space station, they discover a large hole blown in it and an alien ship lurking near by. The Guild is determined, despite their dire situation, to maintain control of all humans. Too bad they have no idea any more of how to actually deal with real humans, who think for themselves, make their own plans, and have their own objectives. What could they possibly have done to annoy the aliens so much? Bren and Jase have a lot on their plates, but they have Ilisidi, the aiji-Dowager, and a committed security staff. And cooks and tailors who know more than a little about diplomacy.
I love the Dowager! When she bangs her cane, everybody snaps to. After a long life of plotting and planning, she is a formidable presence. She manages to steer them all to a path that may accomplish what seems impossible at the beginning. And I love that she has no compunction about ordering even Bren to go sleep if she judges that they need it.
Cherryh writes political manoeuvring and covert operations very well. I couldn't put the book down for the final 200 pages, making up for my slow start.
Book Number 440 of my Science Fiction & Fantasy Reading Project.
October 3, 2024
*** 4.42 ***
I honestly don't know how to explain why this series speaks to me the way it does. As I have said before, there is little to no action, our main character is a translator/diplomat, and there is a lot of observation of cultural differences and nuances, as well as some political intrigue, power struggles and a lot of conversations between the now three races of beings. Yes! We finally meet the third alien species! It is brief, but I hope for more of them in the future 😀.
If you are looking for a fast paced or hard Sci-fi, this might not meet your expectations. However, this series is thoughtful, nuanced, and the author is really good at building tension by using small gestures and language. I am a devoted fan of the series and especially Ilsidi and Cajieri 😀👍😃!
I honestly don't know how to explain why this series speaks to me the way it does. As I have said before, there is little to no action, our main character is a translator/diplomat, and there is a lot of observation of cultural differences and nuances, as well as some political intrigue, power struggles and a lot of conversations between the now three races of beings. Yes! We finally meet the third alien species! It is brief, but I hope for more of them in the future 😀.
If you are looking for a fast paced or hard Sci-fi, this might not meet your expectations. However, this series is thoughtful, nuanced, and the author is really good at building tension by using small gestures and language. I am a devoted fan of the series and especially Ilsidi and Cajieri 😀👍😃!
January 30, 2024
A terrific conclusion to the second trilogy in the Foreigner series.
There was so much action in addition to the usual politicking; the characters both new and old continue to be absolutely riveting. I’m absolutely planning to continue with the series.
There was so much action in addition to the usual politicking; the characters both new and old continue to be absolutely riveting. I’m absolutely planning to continue with the series.
March 14, 2020
This is a fast-moving adventure novel, that plays to all the strengths of the series. I’d stopped reading the books at (I think) #5, years ago, and was pleasantly surprised at how quickly I picked up on what was going on, and how much of the backstory I remembered. The book does have a slow start, slow enough that I was wondering whether to keep reading. I’m glad I stuck it out. If you read it, give the book a couple of chapters to get going. As always with Cherryh, you have to pay close attention to the story-line. 4 stars, closer to 5 for the second half. I really liked the encounter with a new alien species.
November 19, 2022
Phoenix and its human crew and atevi passengers along with Bren Cameron have come to the solar system where Reunion is placed only to find that the station has been badly damaged and the system is under the surveillance of an alien ship. Worse, the station is being cagey about what's going on and the status of a much-needed refuel for Phoenix as a last-ditch power play by the Pilot's Guild, a group that the humans from the atevi world have a long history with. With hostile humans, and potentially hostile aliens, Bren, Jace and Ilsidi need to get things under control quickly.
The end of the second trilogy of this brilliant series sees a new first contact story set in the overall ongoing alien contact story of the humans and atevi. Bren Cameron is brilliant at his job, both as a translator and a diplomat, and increasingly, as a politician, and seeing him in his element here with able support from his allies is competence porn at its finest. The aliens are interesting, and as with most Cherryh books, alien in values as well as in biology.
The end of the second trilogy of this brilliant series sees a new first contact story set in the overall ongoing alien contact story of the humans and atevi. Bren Cameron is brilliant at his job, both as a translator and a diplomat, and increasingly, as a politician, and seeing him in his element here with able support from his allies is competence porn at its finest. The aliens are interesting, and as with most Cherryh books, alien in values as well as in biology.
June 5, 2022
This conclusion of the second trilogy is simply flawless. It takes all the elements of the five previous novels and wrings every drop of meaning and tension out of them, resulting in a novel that's both intellectually stimulating and wildly entertaining.
November 14, 2022
The finale of the second trilogy. And it was a great finale. Quite a lot of action, pretty exciting. Everything that came before this was a great read as well. I loved the look at language and how it works or could work, verbally and body language.
We are headed towards that abandoned space station and potentially aggressive aliens. And Cherryh takes us in an unexpected direction again. She gets me every time. There are politics again as well, but the machinations between Atevi, Mospheirans, ship crew and Bren in the middle don‘t seem as strenuous this time around. Or maybe I am getting used to Bren‘s daily navigation through diplomatic minefields.
Bren Cameron is a pretty settled character by now. I really liked his ongoing letters to those he left behind. Then there is Ilisidi with her no-nonsense attitude and adorable Cajeiri—great addition. I really like him and I can‘t wait to find out into what kind of adult he will develop in coming books. I laughed a lot at the toy car shenanigans.
Did I mention the great action? And new aliens. Exciting and a great first contact situation.
And isn‘t it nice, how sharing food and polite company break down all those barriers? Some tea, dear?
“Jase-aiji suggests this maneuver will be extremely long, even days, and that for comfort and dignity—”
“No,” Ilisidi said abruptly. “We will not go below.”
“Nand’ dowager . . .”
“Interesting things happen here. Not there. If I were reckless of staff safety I would send after hot tea,” Ilisidi said. “I forego the tea. In that, I have taken my personal precautions and my staff is settled in safety.”
I am a bit apprehensive about the next trilogy. Can it possibly be this good?
We are headed towards that abandoned space station and potentially aggressive aliens. And Cherryh takes us in an unexpected direction again. She gets me every time. There are politics again as well, but the machinations between Atevi, Mospheirans, ship crew and Bren in the middle don‘t seem as strenuous this time around. Or maybe I am getting used to Bren‘s daily navigation through diplomatic minefields.
Bren Cameron is a pretty settled character by now. I really liked his ongoing letters to those he left behind. Then there is Ilisidi with her no-nonsense attitude and adorable Cajeiri—great addition. I really like him and I can‘t wait to find out into what kind of adult he will develop in coming books. I laughed a lot at the toy car shenanigans.
Did I mention the great action? And new aliens. Exciting and a great first contact situation.
And isn‘t it nice, how sharing food and polite company break down all those barriers? Some tea, dear?
“Jase-aiji suggests this maneuver will be extremely long, even days, and that for comfort and dignity—”
“No,” Ilisidi said abruptly. “We will not go below.”
“Nand’ dowager . . .”
“Interesting things happen here. Not there. If I were reckless of staff safety I would send after hot tea,” Ilisidi said. “I forego the tea. In that, I have taken my personal precautions and my staff is settled in safety.”
I am a bit apprehensive about the next trilogy. Can it possibly be this good?
July 12, 2022
And finished! The first 30% or so were a little slow, but, typical for the series, once it got going, it really got going and I blazed through the rest. Plenty of high-stakes interspecies diplomacy and fun space stuff in this one. And Ilisidi and the chaos kid! Honestly who doesn't love a cranky grandmother.
Curious where the series will go next.
Curious where the series will go next.
November 12, 2018
Review to come!
August 10, 2024
I've been enjoying C.J. Cherryh Foreigner series. It's socio-political approach to telling the story of human and alien relationships was a great read. But this book was excellent.
The Humans and the Atevi have made it out into space. They are trying to figure out what happened to the station and the Guild. What they find will surprise them and they will encounter a new alien species. Bren's experience with the Atevi will come into play as they try to communicate with the new species while also trying to balance the threat of the Guild.
One of the more exciting books in the series. The stakes are raised considerably and the introduction of another alien species makes the story even more interesting. I am eagerly waiting to pick up the next book in this excellent series.
The Humans and the Atevi have made it out into space. They are trying to figure out what happened to the station and the Guild. What they find will surprise them and they will encounter a new alien species. Bren's experience with the Atevi will come into play as they try to communicate with the new species while also trying to balance the threat of the Guild.
One of the more exciting books in the series. The stakes are raised considerably and the introduction of another alien species makes the story even more interesting. I am eagerly waiting to pick up the next book in this excellent series.
January 22, 2016
This book is a five star book on three levels:
1. Just plain amazing.
Explorer has everything. Every little thing that my science fiction-craving mind needs. There is a ship. There is space travel. There is a space station. There are aliens. But wait, there are even MORE aliens! There is conspiracy. Humans being awful and back-stabby as only humans can be. Cultural misunderstandings, clashes, mistrust. Intrigue. BATTLES! Propaganda. MORE SHOOTING! (and this time it's as fun as the previous rounds of shooting weren't). First contact. Introspection about what it all means.
Every. Last. thing.
2. As far as Foreigner books go, it's the best.
The foreigner books sometimes have a tendency to move a little on the slow side, and while I have no trouble enjoying their slow burn, the faster pace of this one was fantastic. It is a much, MUCH different book from Foreigner, but at the same time bears witness to how far everyone has come. Bren, and we with him, has learned a lot. Everyone has learned a lot. Everyone has changed, developed, grown, and it is simply amazing to see the work of 6 books come to fruition in such a perfect, totally satisfying way.
3. It offers something - a lot of things, actually - for foaming fans.
In some places the squee moments (and there are quite a few) are just so perfect that it's hard to believe that this book is real and not just some perfectly imitated, gratuitous piece of fan fiction.
Most of it (of course) centers around Illisidi and company, because sometimes propriety and rules are for the breaking. There's also a particularly cool scene where we can see - finally see with a few words of actual description! - Jago doing her *other* job of beating annoying people up. And driving remote-controlled toy cars with bombs strapped to them.
1. Just plain amazing.
Explorer has everything. Every little thing that my science fiction-craving mind needs. There is a ship. There is space travel. There is a space station. There are aliens. But wait, there are even MORE aliens! There is conspiracy. Humans being awful and back-stabby as only humans can be. Cultural misunderstandings, clashes, mistrust. Intrigue. BATTLES! Propaganda. MORE SHOOTING! (and this time it's as fun as the previous rounds of shooting weren't). First contact. Introspection about what it all means.
Every. Last. thing.
2. As far as Foreigner books go, it's the best.
The foreigner books sometimes have a tendency to move a little on the slow side, and while I have no trouble enjoying their slow burn, the faster pace of this one was fantastic. It is a much, MUCH different book from Foreigner, but at the same time bears witness to how far everyone has come. Bren, and we with him, has learned a lot. Everyone has learned a lot. Everyone has changed, developed, grown, and it is simply amazing to see the work of 6 books come to fruition in such a perfect, totally satisfying way.
3. It offers something - a lot of things, actually - for foaming fans.
In some places the squee moments (and there are quite a few) are just so perfect that it's hard to believe that this book is real and not just some perfectly imitated, gratuitous piece of fan fiction.
Most of it (of course) centers around Illisidi and company, because sometimes propriety and rules are for the breaking. There's also a particularly cool scene where we can see - finally see with a few words of actual description! - Jago doing her *other* job of beating annoying people up. And driving remote-controlled toy cars with bombs strapped to them.
July 31, 2022
I can't govern what happens to me on the way. I never could. And every change has been away, not toward, and every change makes the circle of those who've been through this with me smaller, not larger, until at this moment I think I'm becoming a sort of black hole, and I'm going to pull everything I know into a pinpoint so none of us can get out, and then I'll stop existing at all in this universe.
Maybe it's that I'm tired, and it does the book a disservice, or maybe it's that this installment is so tropey, but so far I think this is the least compelling Foreigner novel. Which isn't to say at all that it's bad, just a bit stretched.
Cherryh's ship folk are all of a similar stripe. Authoritarian, orderly, familial, ship-first, crew-first, and so on. This book feels like many Cherryh books I've felt before, even entangled as it is with questions like what was Ramirez planning? Why was Jase born? How much does Sabin know? How far does the conspiracy go? And what, of all things, are they going to do about the second station and the other aliens that have been stirred up in the expanse?
There's still some humor. Cajeiri, while atevi, is still a bored kid. And Bren pulls some chameleon acts in the text to amusing effect. But by and large this is a very human-centric installment, and ship-human at that. To that end, it's all fairly predictable.
The new aliens are vaguely interesting, I suppose, but the details of first contact are all pretty standard SF fare. Visual communication, specific object ID, etc. Nothing novel, nothing daring. I may take a break before the next sub-trilogy. At least a day. Give the series some time to percolate and the next books some room to breathe. Or maybe I won't. I do dearly want to know what happens next... 3/5
August 27, 2010
This was the best by far of the six in this series I've read to date. It's about a space voyage and it is very intriguing -- minimum about mechanics and a lot about what it's like to be voyaging in space for humans and atevi alike. Grandam Ilisidi is along for the ride and in fine form, along with Tabini's son and Ilisidi's grandson, Cajeiri. New aliens are met. Arrogant humans are dealt with. And all is impelled along an ever increasing tension ridden trajectory. Bren does a lot of letter writing to those he's left at home, a kind of rambling "I want you to know this before I die" kind of monologue, very moving. He and Jago spend a lot of time in bed, enduring the mind befuddlement of time spent in 'folded space' -- one imagines the 'worm holes' described in other books. Bren is put to the ultimate test, building enough of a language vocabulary to be able to communicate with another race of aliens. All in all a thrilling ride and a very satisfying conclusion to the 2nd trilogy in this fascinating series.
June 11, 2022
10th reading: I love these people so much!
5th Reading thots: Anyone who stands between cultures, who tries to understand what the world looks like to someone from a different culture, will resonate with the first two trilogies of the Foreigner Series. It doesn't get better than this.
----
Outstanding!
5th Reading thots: Anyone who stands between cultures, who tries to understand what the world looks like to someone from a different culture, will resonate with the first two trilogies of the Foreigner Series. It doesn't get better than this.
----
Outstanding!
July 14, 2023
Jesus fuck Bren
So this is the conclusion to this arc of foreigner--and for good reason. Because holy shit does the scope expand at this book's conclusion.
I am very much looking forward to reading the next entry.
EDIT: also I very much require a print of grandma islidi. DAMN.
So this is the conclusion to this arc of foreigner--and for good reason. Because holy shit does the scope expand at this book's conclusion.
I am very much looking forward to reading the next entry.
EDIT: also I very much require a print of grandma islidi. DAMN.
August 24, 2020
Given the length of this series -- and the fact I'm devouring the books like tasty snacks -- unless something drastic happens, I'll just keep posting the same review.
First note: Start with Foreigner ... if you don't, you'll miss so much of what makes the series special.
Second note: Human Bren Cameron is a linguist and diplomat who bridges the gap between humans stranded far from Earth and the aliens they encounter. He does bring a lot of angst to the table, but so far, the emotional turmoil hasn't detracted from the books.
Third note: There are a lot of political machinations going on, and a lot of Cameron trying to tease out motivations. There's physical action too, but the bigger picture is more interesting.
That's it -- I'm still reading, and on to the next volume.
First note: Start with Foreigner ... if you don't, you'll miss so much of what makes the series special.
Second note: Human Bren Cameron is a linguist and diplomat who bridges the gap between humans stranded far from Earth and the aliens they encounter. He does bring a lot of angst to the table, but so far, the emotional turmoil hasn't detracted from the books.
Third note: There are a lot of political machinations going on, and a lot of Cameron trying to tease out motivations. There's physical action too, but the bigger picture is more interesting.
That's it -- I'm still reading, and on to the next volume.
February 25, 2023
A novel of intrigue, daring adventure, and heartwarming humor. Explorer captures the best elements the Foreigner series has seen thus far, while also opening a world of new opportunities. Cherryh tells a story here of how, despite our differences and our fears, a bit of courage, honesty, and goodwill can make all the difference.
March 19, 2021
This might have been my favourite of the series so far. After some reminders of how we got here, there's a lot more action all the way through. The new alien species makes for excellent suspense and tension.
I'm embarassed to realize, having looked up the next book in the series, that I had NO IDEA how many more books there are in this universe. I thought it was three trilogies...but then it keeps going and going...
I'm definitely going to read the next one, gotta see where things go next. Cherryh is very good at doing that to me.
I'm embarassed to realize, having looked up the next book in the series, that I had NO IDEA how many more books there are in this universe. I thought it was three trilogies...but then it keeps going and going...
I'm definitely going to read the next one, gotta see where things go next. Cherryh is very good at doing that to me.
January 26, 2025
This one really has it all, including actual space travel, multi-species alien diplomacy, lots of up-close interpersonal politics, and the occasional Miles Vorkosigan-level hijinks on Bren Cameron’s part including a memorable distribution of sandwiches. What a fantastic conclusion to the second Foreigner trilogy!
April 21, 2018
More action...on to the next one and let's see how this unfolds.
May 10, 2020
This was probably my favorite book so far out of this series.
One of the major themes here, even more so than in the previous books, is the deconstruction of the notion that solving one's problems through violence should be the first and automatic answer to everything, which shows up in works of science fiction ranging from Independence Day to Signs. Always, the theme is the same: a group of aliens show up and use their superior weapons to attack humanity without provocation, sometimes in a fight for resources but more often than not for no reason at all, and the only thing to be done is shoot it, stab it, nuke it from orbit, poison it, infect it with a virus... no matter what horrors humanity commits, it's justified, because it's self-defense. It doesn't matter how many murders were committed; it doesn't even matter if the conflict ends in a literal genocide, because humanity did nothing wrong. They attacked us, you see? Surely the ensuing bloodbath is completely justified if they were the ones who started shooting first, right?
Except there's a difference between not being aware of what you did wrong, and not having actually done anything wrong. Some of my favorite science fiction narratives are the ones that deconstruct this notion, and reveal that the "completely innocent and blameless" humans had actually, intentionally or not, committed some atrocity to provoke the attack: stories like "The Devil in the Dark" and Binti .
This book tells a story in much the same vein: though the ship-humans in the previous book had claimed that they'd just been minding their own business when a group of hostile aliens had attacked them out of nowhere, even before seeing the situation for himself Bren was smart enough to realize that an alien civilization rational and cooperative enough to make into space doesn't just go around attacking other species for no reason. It may not always be clear what the reason is, but the trope of humanity always being the innocent victim is bullshit, and it's good to see a story that acknowledges that once in a while rather than resorting to any excuse for violence.
Sure enough, it turns out to be humanity that was in the wrong. And, lo and behold, after Bren's group rescues the alien that the station has been holding captive, and start treating him like a person rather than a laboratory specimen, he actually proves to be quite rational and willing to negotiate.
At any rate, I think I'm going to leave off this series for the time being. This book was a high point in terms of both plot resolution and personal enjoyment, so I think it would be a good place to take a break.
One of the major themes here, even more so than in the previous books, is the deconstruction of the notion that solving one's problems through violence should be the first and automatic answer to everything, which shows up in works of science fiction ranging from Independence Day to Signs. Always, the theme is the same: a group of aliens show up and use their superior weapons to attack humanity without provocation, sometimes in a fight for resources but more often than not for no reason at all, and the only thing to be done is shoot it, stab it, nuke it from orbit, poison it, infect it with a virus... no matter what horrors humanity commits, it's justified, because it's self-defense. It doesn't matter how many murders were committed; it doesn't even matter if the conflict ends in a literal genocide, because humanity did nothing wrong. They attacked us, you see? Surely the ensuing bloodbath is completely justified if they were the ones who started shooting first, right?
Except there's a difference between not being aware of what you did wrong, and not having actually done anything wrong. Some of my favorite science fiction narratives are the ones that deconstruct this notion, and reveal that the "completely innocent and blameless" humans had actually, intentionally or not, committed some atrocity to provoke the attack: stories like "The Devil in the Dark" and Binti .
This book tells a story in much the same vein: though the ship-humans in the previous book had claimed that they'd just been minding their own business when a group of hostile aliens had attacked them out of nowhere, even before seeing the situation for himself Bren was smart enough to realize that an alien civilization rational and cooperative enough to make into space doesn't just go around attacking other species for no reason. It may not always be clear what the reason is, but the trope of humanity always being the innocent victim is bullshit, and it's good to see a story that acknowledges that once in a while rather than resorting to any excuse for violence.
He watched the air from the duct stir the streamers and the leaves, artificial wind in a steel world. Fluid moved in their veins and simple light and nutrients let their cells divide. A wondrous invention of planets.
So were they.
So was that other packet of life that met out there, this far from other living cells. And they wanted to shoot one another? Unacceptable. Entirely unacceptable. The lord of the heavens refused to take that answer.
In that light, the whole universe seemed surreal, beyond easy belief, relative to those gently moving fronds. One reality wasn't the other, and one found it distractingly easy to slip into that green world. Here, a stubborn set of human beings, and maybe some alien hard-heads as well, had made a botch of what should have been a simple situation—oh, hello. Anyone home? Your estate? Do excuse me. I didn't realize I'd crossed your boundary. And: Are you a neighbor or a traveler? Do step in for tea.
[...]
Life itself. Dared one think that in this void where life was rare, life was bond enough, that a couple of reasonable entities might say they'd had their encounter, they both understood the limits, and could get along?
Sure enough, it turns out to be humanity that was in the wrong. And, lo and behold, after Bren's group rescues the alien that the station has been holding captive, and start treating him like a person rather than a laboratory specimen, he actually proves to be quite rational and willing to negotiate.
At any rate, I think I'm going to leave off this series for the time being. This book was a high point in terms of both plot resolution and personal enjoyment, so I think it would be a good place to take a break.
April 25, 2021
This is book six in a long-running science fiction series that began with Foreigner (1994) and currently numbers twenty-one books. I've greatly enjoyed the first six books and will begin with general remarks that apply to them collectively, before progressing to comments on book six in particular.
The series, at least thus far, centers on Bren Cameron, a human translator and mediator living among aliens. Bren's thoughts are shown in a depth that I found fascinating and highly immersive. This careful meticulous detail reminds me of reading L. E. Modesitt, Jr., though Cherryh's themes are not Modesitt's. I note that some readers find the level of detail an annoyance and the pace slow. I do not.
Spoilers ahead. But the main attraction for me continues to be Bren. I'm addicted to following his adventures, the detailed unfolding of his thoughts, his perspective on aliens, his essential integrity.
Four out of five felicitous stars.
About my reviews: I try to review every book I read, including those that I don't end up enjoying. The reviews are not scholarly, but just indicate my reaction as a reader, reading being my addiction. I am miserly with 5-star reviews; 4 stars means I liked a book very much; 3 stars means I liked it; 2 stars means I didn't like it (though often the 2-star books are very popular with other readers and/or are by authors whose other work I've loved).
The series, at least thus far, centers on Bren Cameron, a human translator and mediator living among aliens. Bren's thoughts are shown in a depth that I found fascinating and highly immersive. This careful meticulous detail reminds me of reading L. E. Modesitt, Jr., though Cherryh's themes are not Modesitt's. I note that some readers find the level of detail an annoyance and the pace slow. I do not.
Spoilers ahead. But the main attraction for me continues to be Bren. I'm addicted to following his adventures, the detailed unfolding of his thoughts, his perspective on aliens, his essential integrity.
Four out of five felicitous stars.
About my reviews: I try to review every book I read, including those that I don't end up enjoying. The reviews are not scholarly, but just indicate my reaction as a reader, reading being my addiction. I am miserly with 5-star reviews; 4 stars means I liked a book very much; 3 stars means I liked it; 2 stars means I didn't like it (though often the 2-star books are very popular with other readers and/or are by authors whose other work I've loved).
October 15, 2022
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Quote:
Review:
BREN, EVEN FURTHER IN SPACE! WOO!
Explorer opens about a year after the previous book, when they are nearing the end of their journey to get to the Reunion outpost. And apparently they didn't do a whole lot of anything on the journey over, because only now things are coming to light that have apparently taken an entire year to find out. Which is about the only thing that annoyed me out of this awesome, amazing book.
Once things started going in this book, boy did they start going. Like from 0 to 100 in a chapter flat. This has happened in every book in the series so far, but it was just soo much more this time around. Completely action packed and full of awesome.
Bren the diplomat. What scary thought. This anxiety-ridden man is in charge. And everyone could die based on Bren's choices. Great. Marvelous writing. I loved it. I love Bren. I love this situation. I love these people. I love this story.
The cool thing was that there was an alien presence already at reunion when they got there. I expected the obstinacy from the Captain's Guild at Reunion. That was boring and expected and whatever. You knew it was going to happen. It just had to play out. I didn't expect all the action it engendered. And I didn't expect aliens so quickly, either. I like Bren the linguist.
Overall, I really liked reading the book. And I need more. Always, more.
Quote:
“Jase-aiji suggests this maneuver will be extremely long, even days, and that for comfort and dignity—”
“No,” Ilisidi said abruptly. “We will not go below.”
“Nand’ dowager . . .”
“Interesting things happen here. Not there. If I were reckless of staff safety I would send after hot tea,” Ilisidi said. “I forego the tea. In that, I have taken my personal precautions and my staff is settled in safety."
Review:
BREN, EVEN FURTHER IN SPACE! WOO!
Explorer opens about a year after the previous book, when they are nearing the end of their journey to get to the Reunion outpost. And apparently they didn't do a whole lot of anything on the journey over, because only now things are coming to light that have apparently taken an entire year to find out. Which is about the only thing that annoyed me out of this awesome, amazing book.
Once things started going in this book, boy did they start going. Like from 0 to 100 in a chapter flat. This has happened in every book in the series so far, but it was just soo much more this time around. Completely action packed and full of awesome.
Bren the diplomat. What scary thought. This anxiety-ridden man is in charge. And everyone could die based on Bren's choices. Great. Marvelous writing. I loved it. I love Bren. I love this situation. I love these people. I love this story.
The cool thing was that there was an alien presence already at reunion when they got there. I expected the obstinacy from the Captain's Guild at Reunion. That was boring and expected and whatever. You knew it was going to happen. It just had to play out. I didn't expect all the action it engendered. And I didn't expect aliens so quickly, either. I like Bren the linguist.
Overall, I really liked reading the book. And I need more. Always, more.
May 5, 2013
Book number 6 in the Foreigner Universe - this is in no way a stand alone book for those of you not familiar with the series.
I'm not sure I can adequately describe a book that is the cumulation of the five books that preceded it. Bren Cameron, our Atevi liaison and now appointed "Lord of the Heavens", embark on a joint Atevi-Human space voyage to the stranded Reunion station. Lies, falsehoods and politics that span decades are the basis for current animosities. What the ship finds upon arrival is an alien entity, a paranoid station, and fear and resentment that's been simmering for over ten years.
This book starts out a bit slow as the reader needs to travel with Bren, his Atevi bodyguards, the Dowager-ajji and her ward, and the human crew on the ship to Reunion Station. The First-Captain is an angry resentful woman, the Second-Captain - Bren's friend and cohort from the Ajji's court - bears the brunt of First-Captain's anger and resentment as he uncovers more lies and reveals them to Bren and the Atevi. A fair amount of discussion, yelling, contemplation and angst make up the first half of the story.
When the ship finally pops into space near the station Reunion, that's when the reader is treated to some joint human-Atevi action, where Bren needs to figure out logistics from a human perspective and employ Atevi techniques to carry out the mission. The reader is steadily pulled along in what becomes, in my opinion, a page turner that is hard to put down.
Recommended if you've read the first five. Which I also recommend.
I'm not sure I can adequately describe a book that is the cumulation of the five books that preceded it. Bren Cameron, our Atevi liaison and now appointed "Lord of the Heavens", embark on a joint Atevi-Human space voyage to the stranded Reunion station. Lies, falsehoods and politics that span decades are the basis for current animosities. What the ship finds upon arrival is an alien entity, a paranoid station, and fear and resentment that's been simmering for over ten years.
This book starts out a bit slow as the reader needs to travel with Bren, his Atevi bodyguards, the Dowager-ajji and her ward, and the human crew on the ship to Reunion Station. The First-Captain is an angry resentful woman, the Second-Captain - Bren's friend and cohort from the Ajji's court - bears the brunt of First-Captain's anger and resentment as he uncovers more lies and reveals them to Bren and the Atevi. A fair amount of discussion, yelling, contemplation and angst make up the first half of the story.
When the ship finally pops into space near the station Reunion, that's when the reader is treated to some joint human-Atevi action, where Bren needs to figure out logistics from a human perspective and employ Atevi techniques to carry out the mission. The reader is steadily pulled along in what becomes, in my opinion, a page turner that is hard to put down.
Recommended if you've read the first five. Which I also recommend.
January 6, 2017
Flawless. Absolutely flawless.
Bren's depression during the folded space scenes was so sad. He missed his family, his stuff, the ocean, the ground itself. He couldn't even bring himself to go watch cartoons or Godzilla with everyone in the security station, nor could he get in on the remote control car races.
I loved Cajeiri. I loved Cajeiri and Ilisidi together. There was something sweet about grandmother with a cane being a part of the universal language of "everyone shut up, granny is talking." And, of course, Ilisidi loved that, but so she should. She did earn it.
The station humans were basically all jerks, but I've come to expect this of the Foreigner universe. "We are here to rescue you" as they shoot at Bren is pretty much human history.
The Kyo were interesting, and I loved that Cajeiri and Ilisidi tag teamed learning to speak with the Kyo prisoner. I wish we knew what stories he'd told everyone, but it sounds like it was comparable to the script of Die Hard.
loved, loved, loved this book.
Bren's depression during the folded space scenes was so sad. He missed his family, his stuff, the ocean, the ground itself. He couldn't even bring himself to go watch cartoons or Godzilla with everyone in the security station, nor could he get in on the remote control car races.
I loved Cajeiri. I loved Cajeiri and Ilisidi together. There was something sweet about grandmother with a cane being a part of the universal language of "everyone shut up, granny is talking." And, of course, Ilisidi loved that, but so she should. She did earn it.
The station humans were basically all jerks, but I've come to expect this of the Foreigner universe. "We are here to rescue you" as they shoot at Bren is pretty much human history.
The Kyo were interesting, and I loved that Cajeiri and Ilisidi tag teamed learning to speak with the Kyo prisoner. I wish we knew what stories he'd told everyone, but it sounds like it was comparable to the script of Die Hard.
loved, loved, loved this book.
January 11, 2023
"Safe. Secure. All dice accounted for. Baji-nagi."
Following the events of DEFENDER, Bren and the Phoenix arrive in the system where the station of Reunion remains with who knows how many people still aboard, and a complicated multiple pronged political game begins.
Really good! I fell off the reading wagon for about two months so I had a hefty break between starting and finishing EXPLORER but it really didn't feel like it, which is a testament to Cherryh's writing. I picked it back up and didn't break stride after 6 weeks being out of the book.
My reviews of the Foreigner books are becoming obsolete as each one basically heaps the same praise on the writing. Really enjoyed this - the introduction of the new player/s in an already brow-furrowing political web was very enjoyable, and I liked the more hard-SF elements of shipboard life and station technical aspects which felt lifted directly out of one of Cherryh's Alliance Space novels.
Really good. Can't wait for the next one.
August 9, 2015
This is my favorite of these books so far; a great wrap-up of the second trilogy in a series that reads like one very long novel.
Bren and his Atevi entourage travel with the spaceship crew to rescue the people left behind when their station was attacked by mysterious aliens. It’s a two-year voyage, for which Cherry’s slow pacing is quite suitable, then things get exciting when the ship reaches the damaged station.
This has a nice first-contact scenario. These books are not hard sci-fi, and I'm not sure that the technical/scientific aspects would stand much scrutiny, but the linguistic stuff is nice.
These books are getting so good that I want to binge-read them, something I usually avoid.
Bren and his Atevi entourage travel with the spaceship crew to rescue the people left behind when their station was attacked by mysterious aliens. It’s a two-year voyage, for which Cherry’s slow pacing is quite suitable, then things get exciting when the ship reaches the damaged station.
This has a nice first-contact scenario. These books are not hard sci-fi, and I'm not sure that the technical/scientific aspects would stand much scrutiny, but the linguistic stuff is nice.
These books are getting so good that I want to binge-read them, something I usually avoid.
December 31, 2021
Finally some space opera! I forgive the author's slow build ups because I appreciate the cleverness (the translator doesn't understand space folding nor advanced military tactics so no need for tedious made up words, just like the real world we trust the experts). The intrigue isn't actually too surprising but it's entertaining to see the characters in action. Downsides are the stretches of "alien compatibility" and losing some of the cross-species "friendship is not a word" (because some running characters like Jago and Banichi become 2D props).
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