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Chanur #5
Chanur's Legacy
National best-selling author C.J. Cherryh continues her highly acclaimed series with a new generation of alien encounters.
A game of interstellar politics in which Hilfy Chanur and her vessel Legacy are commissioned to transport a small, mysterious religious object. The price is extremely generous, perhaps too generous.
Praise for the Chanur series:
A tour de force...quintessential SF. (The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction
One of the best science fiction tales ever. (Minneapolis Star and Tribune)
A game of interstellar politics in which Hilfy Chanur and her vessel Legacy are commissioned to transport a small, mysterious religious object. The price is extremely generous, perhaps too generous.
Praise for the Chanur series:
A tour de force...quintessential SF. (The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction
One of the best science fiction tales ever. (Minneapolis Star and Tribune)
416 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1992
58 people are currently reading
732 people want to read
About the author
C.J. Cherryh
292 books3,570 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 77 reviews
April 1, 2018
This is a reread for me and part of the buddy read of the Chanur series with the SpecFic Buddy Reads group. The series is structured is an initial volume, a middle trilogy and this book, a sequel following Pyanfur's neice Hilfy as the captain of her own ship.
There were five years between the publication of Chanur's Homecoming and this book (and I suspect most of that book was written straight after the previous two) and it really shows. The writing of this is so much smoother and the world so much better thought out.
Hilfy Chanur takes on an unusually lucrative contract with the Stsho governor of Meetpoint Station. Unfortunately she almost immediately regrets the decision as she becomes embroiled in political machinations regarding Stsho internal government with both Mahendo'sat and Kif muddying the waters. Meanwhile her relatively inexperienced crew is having to contend with a male Hani spacer that Hilfy has somehow acquired in the midst of the action on Meetpoint.
The story is told through alternating viewpoints of Hilfy, Hallan (the Hani male) and one of Hilfy's crew Tiar Chanur. Hallan's point-of-view is compelling as stepping beyond gender stereotypes in an environment where all his companions believe he doesn't belong. Hilfy's point-of-view is familiar from the other Chanur books, but she's done a lot of growing up and does a lot more during this book. By the end of it, it's clear that Pyanfur has an heir if she wants one.
This book also gives the Stsho some overdue attention and we learn a lot more about them and their peculiar and fragile psyche as well as their gender system.
If you can slog through the earlier Chanur books and their dense writing, this one is well worth getting to.
There were five years between the publication of Chanur's Homecoming and this book (and I suspect most of that book was written straight after the previous two) and it really shows. The writing of this is so much smoother and the world so much better thought out.
Hilfy Chanur takes on an unusually lucrative contract with the Stsho governor of Meetpoint Station. Unfortunately she almost immediately regrets the decision as she becomes embroiled in political machinations regarding Stsho internal government with both Mahendo'sat and Kif muddying the waters. Meanwhile her relatively inexperienced crew is having to contend with a male Hani spacer that Hilfy has somehow acquired in the midst of the action on Meetpoint.
The story is told through alternating viewpoints of Hilfy, Hallan (the Hani male) and one of Hilfy's crew Tiar Chanur. Hallan's point-of-view is compelling as stepping beyond gender stereotypes in an environment where all his companions believe he doesn't belong. Hilfy's point-of-view is familiar from the other Chanur books, but she's done a lot of growing up and does a lot more during this book. By the end of it, it's clear that Pyanfur has an heir if she wants one.
This book also gives the Stsho some overdue attention and we learn a lot more about them and their peculiar and fragile psyche as well as their gender system.
If you can slog through the earlier Chanur books and their dense writing, this one is well worth getting to.
July 11, 2023
Cherryh evokes more humor here than any other book of hers I have read, and I have read dozens of hers. Chanur's Legacy takes place a decade or so after the events of the last book, where 'Aunt Pyanfar', along with her crew aboard The Pride of Chanur thwarted full scale war among the Compact and brought about a new peace. Pyanfar now acts as a sort of president of the han and also the kif (it's complicated) but pretty much stays in space doing her thing all the time. Pyanfar's niece, Hilfy, was introduced in the series as the youngest crew member of Pyanfars; now, she has her own ship-- Chanur's Legacy-- and becomes the main protagonist here.
Once again, this starts at Meetpoint, the only space station were all members of the compact are 'welcome' if you will. Hilfy and crew have been trying to make ends meet for years now but her aunt casts a long shadow. Now, however, she is offered a deal by the station master, a stsho, to transport a small, mysterious 'religious' object to a fellow stsho on a nearby station. The amount of credits will finally put Chanur's Legacy in the black, but of course there are complications 😎.
First off, as part of the deal, Hilfy agrees to take aboard a young, male han that was apparently dumped at the station by its former ship. Secondly, the contract itself regarding the object is more than a little complex. In the original stsho, it is some 500 pages long; translated, several thousand pages, with all kinds of clauses, etc. Still, it seems like a deal! Yet, a suspicious mane warns her not to take it, and a kif also expresses some interest. Suddenly, a simple job becomes very complicated, with all kinds of intrigue, especially as Hilfy finds out she will have to transport a stsho as no one by a stsho can touch to the object.
As usual for Cherryh, and especially this series, expect long dialogues, and then long interpretations of the dialogues. The political intrigue is fun and Cherryh introduces some sexual dynamics with the young male han on the ship. He has such lovely eyes! The cutting banter among the crew mates regarding the male made me laugh and the contract itself is something Kafka could have thought out. Much more lighthearted than the previous volumes, but Cherryh still introduces some fairly profound speculations on interspecies communications and the fascinating political situation of the Compact itself.
Besides the rom-com aspects (Cherryh doing rom-com? who knew!?!) the last alien race, the stsho finally receive some attention. We already knew they were three gendered herbivores who originated as a herd species, but not much more. Here, their very civilized, political nature is explored in detail, including long dialogues (no surprise there) between Hilfy and the stsho on her ship. This is the longest book in the series, and quite polished. Good stuff! 4 hani stars!
Once again, this starts at Meetpoint, the only space station were all members of the compact are 'welcome' if you will. Hilfy and crew have been trying to make ends meet for years now but her aunt casts a long shadow. Now, however, she is offered a deal by the station master, a stsho, to transport a small, mysterious 'religious' object to a fellow stsho on a nearby station. The amount of credits will finally put Chanur's Legacy in the black, but of course there are complications 😎.
First off, as part of the deal, Hilfy agrees to take aboard a young, male han that was apparently dumped at the station by its former ship. Secondly, the contract itself regarding the object is more than a little complex. In the original stsho, it is some 500 pages long; translated, several thousand pages, with all kinds of clauses, etc. Still, it seems like a deal! Yet, a suspicious mane warns her not to take it, and a kif also expresses some interest. Suddenly, a simple job becomes very complicated, with all kinds of intrigue, especially as Hilfy finds out she will have to transport a stsho as no one by a stsho can touch to the object.
As usual for Cherryh, and especially this series, expect long dialogues, and then long interpretations of the dialogues. The political intrigue is fun and Cherryh introduces some sexual dynamics with the young male han on the ship. He has such lovely eyes! The cutting banter among the crew mates regarding the male made me laugh and the contract itself is something Kafka could have thought out. Much more lighthearted than the previous volumes, but Cherryh still introduces some fairly profound speculations on interspecies communications and the fascinating political situation of the Compact itself.
Besides the rom-com aspects (Cherryh doing rom-com? who knew!?!) the last alien race, the stsho finally receive some attention. We already knew they were three gendered herbivores who originated as a herd species, but not much more. Here, their very civilized, political nature is explored in detail, including long dialogues (no surprise there) between Hilfy and the stsho on her ship. This is the longest book in the series, and quite polished. Good stuff! 4 hani stars!
October 8, 2024
I almost wish there were more stories to see how Hilfi continues her career as the Legacy's captain and how Pynafur gets on as the galaxy bigwig. This was so entertaining and perhaps the best story of the 5-volume set. I loved all the characters and how Cherryh gives us these stream-of-consciousness perspectives on running a ship, doing maintenance, and of course running away from scary methane-breathing aliens and avoiding traps from untrustworthy ones. It was also interesting that our friend (and Hilfi's once lover) Tully is not present and so there are not any human characters at all in this story. Just astounding writing and some of the most fun you can get for your sci-fi dollar.
September 2, 2021
Well, this is an odd one.
Yes, there's some machinations. A couple fights. The usual interspecies wrangling. But mostly this is one darn lighthearted book.
Yes, "lighthearted." As a descriptor for something written by Cherryh. I know.
Some years after Chanur's Homecoming, Hilfy Chanur (previously a Junior Officer on The Pride) is captain of Chanur's Legacy and urgently trying to make a living and name separate from her aunt's. It starts with a stsho contract, is complicated by a stranded hani male, and spirals from there.
We learn a lot about the Stsho. Legalistic, herd-minded, tri-sexed herbivores that they are, they're also hilarious. Every time Hilfy had to sit in conversation with one, I found myself snickering. To say nothing of their 500+ page contracts. (And it's a credit to Cherryh that she made spacefaring trade and legalese, complete with indemnity clauses, both interesting and humorous).
And then there's Hallan, who we first saw in the epilogue of Homecoming. As a young Hani male breaking ground in space (recall that this was taboo, until Pyanfar started shaking things up), he is a wide-eyed blundering innocent who got himself stranded lightyears away from home. Naturally, Hilfy's not about to leave him stranded, even though taking him along is yet another complication.
As funny/interesting as the stsho plot is, the Hallan plot is slightly more interesting. It's a bit of the coming-of-age, a bit of the romantic comedy, and no small amount of serious reflection on the ramifications of rapid social change.
And not just Hallan himself. Hilfy's been through a lot over the years, and didn't part ways with Pyanfar on good terms. She's still finding her feet, and Hallan is a catalyst that forces her to confront her own hang-ups.
In some ways, this is the best of the Chanur books; it's fairly straightforward, with a delicate balance on humor and depth. That said, I don't know that it would make sense without knowledge from the preceding stories.
In other ways... well, it's definitely not perfect. Hallan is extremely naïve, and as much as I adore his character, the rom-com plot thread and its ultimate conclusion doesn't quite sit well with me. Still, I enjoyed this, and I can see myself rereading it. Solid 4/5.
Yes, there's some machinations. A couple fights. The usual interspecies wrangling. But mostly this is one darn lighthearted book.
Yes, "lighthearted." As a descriptor for something written by Cherryh. I know.
Sheets dropped into the printout tray. One ... two ... three ...
... ten ... eleven. The thing was a monster.
... forty-nine... fifty...
My gods, was the printer on a loop?
...one hundred ... one hundred one ...
Out of paper.
Some years after Chanur's Homecoming, Hilfy Chanur (previously a Junior Officer on The Pride) is captain of Chanur's Legacy and urgently trying to make a living and name separate from her aunt's. It starts with a stsho contract, is complicated by a stranded hani male, and spirals from there.
"Honor it with your ownership. Your discrimination is of wide repute."
"Your graciousness is most extravagent."
"Your excellency's delicacy and sensitivity amply justify our admiration."
It went on like that for two and three more rounds of compliments and deprecations.
We learn a lot about the Stsho. Legalistic, herd-minded, tri-sexed herbivores that they are, they're also hilarious. Every time Hilfy had to sit in conversation with one, I found myself snickering. To say nothing of their 500+ page contracts. (And it's a credit to Cherryh that she made spacefaring trade and legalese, complete with indemnity clauses, both interesting and humorous).
And then there's Hallan, who we first saw in the epilogue of Homecoming. As a young Hani male breaking ground in space (recall that this was taboo, until Pyanfar started shaking things up), he is a wide-eyed blundering innocent who got himself stranded lightyears away from home. Naturally, Hilfy's not about to leave him stranded, even though taking him along is yet another complication.
As funny/interesting as the stsho plot is, the Hallan plot is slightly more interesting. It's a bit of the coming-of-age, a bit of the romantic comedy, and no small amount of serious reflection on the ramifications of rapid social change.
And not just Hallan himself. Hilfy's been through a lot over the years, and didn't part ways with Pyanfar on good terms. She's still finding her feet, and Hallan is a catalyst that forces her to confront her own hang-ups.
"Nobody had told her when she was growing up that every attitude and opinion she had learned was going to be obsolete when she was twenty-five.
In some ways, this is the best of the Chanur books; it's fairly straightforward, with a delicate balance on humor and depth. That said, I don't know that it would make sense without knowledge from the preceding stories.
In other ways... well, it's definitely not perfect. Hallan is extremely naïve, and as much as I adore his character, the rom-com plot thread and its ultimate conclusion doesn't quite sit well with me. Still, I enjoyed this, and I can see myself rereading it. Solid 4/5.
July 2, 2018
'Chanur's Legacy' is the final book of 'Chanur' series, or maybe it's better to call it post-final, as the story of Pyanfar and the crew of 'The Pride of Chanur' was concluded in 'Chanur's Homecoming'. 'Chanur's Legacy' stands out among other books of the series for several reasons - first of all, it features an entirely new cast of characters, with only Hilfy and Hallan serving as recurring characters – if Hallan's appearance in the epilogue of 'Chanur's Homecoming' qualifies to make him a recurring character. Secondly, the conflict of the story isn't as large-scale as the Compact-wide war that Pyanfar had to deal with, but it had just enough of political scheming and complex diplomatic manoeuvring to keep me glued to the pages. And thirdly, the story has a strong focus on stsho, the species that received so little attention in the original series, even though they are pretty interesting. Also, it's been awhile since I read the book that focused on the market and economy so much, because the heroes are traders and they need to make a living.
Hilfy Chanur is now the captain of her own ship, 'Chanur's Legacy', and she is far from the naive and innocent kid we met in the very first book of the series. It's clear that it was impossible for her not to change after everything she had gone through, including the war and her time as the kif's prisoner, but it was still sad to see Hilfy grow so bitter and hardened. Hilfy struggles so much throughout this story with both her past and her present – the burden of responsibility on her shoulders, the tangled mess of politics that her crew got dragged into, her failed marriage, her feelings for Tully and her separation from him, and all of that ultimately manifested into anger toward her aunt Pyanfar, whom Hilfy blames for the situation. But Hilfy's journey in this book also changes her, and as she tries to navigate her way in the deadly interspecies politics that she got involved in, Hilfy has to make hard decisions for the sake of her crew – and after being in Pyanfar's shoes herself, Hilfy was finally able to understand her aunt and the reasons of her actions and accept Tully's decision to go with ‘The Pride’ and not her. In the previous books I saw Hilfy change from a naïve, idealistic youth into a harsher and cynical person, and now I saw her actually grow wise and judicious – ironically, very much like Pyanfar. Hilfy wasn't always an easy character to follow, but I couldn't be more proud of the person she became at the end of the book.
Hallan Meras shares the role of protagonist in 'Chanur's Legacy', and in some way Hallan plays the same role that Hilfy did during the first books of the series, that of the newcomer to the ship and junior-most crewmember that has a lot to learn. By the time the story takes place, hani males are allowed into space, but they are still very uncommon there, and that makes Hallan, who had dreamed of space as long as he can remember, quite a rarity. But even though Hallan is met with hostility and prejudice on most stations and ships, he works hard to achieve his goals; he is overly enthusiastic, eager to see the world and very pleasant to read about. I had several theories regarding the way Hallan's story was going to develop – for example, I seriously suspected that Hallan was actually Chur's illegitimate son that she had abandoned as a babe, but that theory quickly fell apart when Hallan was sharing memories of his family. Hallan's journey wasn't what I expected it to be, but it was all the more enjoyable for it.
Hallan’s interactions with the crew of ‘Chanur’s Legacy’ and the different relationships he forms with them was definitely a highlight of the book for me. Hilfy, Tiar, Tarras, Chihin and Fala, all of them have unique personalities and voices, and the book really made every one of them stand out. It’s pretty interesting to see their attitude to Hallan change, from the moment Hilfy is forced to grudgingly take him onboard to the moment he truly becomes not only part of the crew, but a part of their little tight-knit family as well. Tiar is a conservative and doesn't initially welcome Hallan, but she is still considerate enough to remember about Hallan’s lost baggage and get him some personal stuff when he arrives on the ship. This little detail characterizes Tiar so well, because at her heart she is caring and motherly, and eventually, it doesn’t take long for Tiar to take Hallan under her wing. Tarras and her comradery with Hallan is easily one of my favourites because Tarras accepted Hallan right away and always stood by his side. Tarras is direct, blunt and straightforward, and while Hallan’s relationship with other crewmembers is more complicated, Tarras had always been his bro, clear and simple.
Hallan's relationship with Fala and Chihin is much more complex, and that's the part of the story that I enjoyed more than the main plotline, though it's not because the plot is weak, it's just that seeing Hallan coming to terms with his feelings and trying to manoeuvre his way out of the love triangle is way too entertaining. Besides, how many books are there featuring a love triangle between one guy and two girls? Fala is the youngest member of the crew of 'Chanur's Legacy', and she quickly comes to adore Hallan, being quite straightforward in displaying her affection – and while Hallan is attracted to her as well, her desperate attempts to flirt with him only add to Hallan's embarrassment and awkwardness, as he doesn't want to get in any trouble. Chihin, on the other hand, is one of the older crew members and even more conservative than Tiar, so she doesn't accept Hallan at once. It seems that she and Hallan cannot be more different, and they actually have to work to understand each other's views and respect each other, which certainly creates an interesting dynamic - until it grows into something more. The relationship between Hallan and Fala is sweet and light-hearted, but the sparks that fly between him and Chihin are so strong that one can easily get electrified. This creates a lot of tension between the characters, but that makes it even more heart-warming to see Fala make peace with Hallan and Chihin after their quarrel. Not to mention that Hallan's plotline in the end is resolved in an unusual, hilarious and pretty epic way – remember what I said about Hallan becoming part of the family? That wasn't a figure of speech.
And that was legitimately the best marriage proposal ever.
However, while 'Chanur's Legacy' is undoubtedly more light-hearted than the previous books of 'Chanur' series, it doesn't lose the intricacy of the plot that makes these stories so engaging, and the political intrigues in it are just as complex as before. In fact, they make the story more of a mystery, as Hilfy gets involved into political games between stsho, mahendosat and kif, and all the while she doesn’t know exactly what is going on, what significance the mysterious object she has to transport plays in all of this and, most importantly, whom she can really trust. And that’s not the only challenge Hilfy has to face – while the crew of ‘Sun Ascendant’ that formerly employed Hallan was happy enough to get rid of him, they didn’t miss a chance to undermine Chanur’s positions, as Sahern clan is a long-standing rival of Chanur. So not only Sahern crew abandoned Hallan when he needed their help the most and then refused to let him return, but once Hilfy gave him a berth on ‘Chanur’s Legacy’, they used the precedent to accuse Chanur of kidnapping and rape. The nerve of some people, I should say!
The stsho are in the center of this story's plot, and I really appreciated seeing more of these species, since they are not as well-explored as hani or kif or mahe, and their species are more than interesting. I mean, they have three genders and can change gender under stress, thus practically becoming another person in a very literal way, how can that be not interesting? In fact, it's the intricate dance of stsho politics that kicks the plot of 'Chanur's Legacy' in motion. Do not underestimate stsho: they may be physically weak, emotionally feeble, naturally pacifist and mentally fragile to the point they can actually die of stress, but they also hold very real power, as they are probably the richest species in the Compact, and when the stsho ambassador threatens to shut down all the trade with a certain station, all the officials start hopping at gtst word at once - though I suspect that things would’ve been different in a more dire situation. In fact, it really shows that the Compact has become a much more stable place when Hilfy's crew got shot at one of the stations - and police arrived, and the authorities apologized and at least promised to look into the incident. It's such a contrast with the previous books, where the crew was attacked or shot at during their stays on stations several times a book, and no one blinked on eye.
'Chanur's Legacy' really flips the usual species roles around, as this time it's mahendosat in the face of mahe agent Haisi that oppose Hilfy in her quest while kif act... well, not as heroes, but as anti-heroes to certain degree, and that's an interesting development compared to the first Chanur books, especially since it provides a solid ground for Hilfy's character development. Normally, I’m not prone to diagnosing characters, but it’s clear that Hilfy suffers from PTSD from the time she was captured and tortured by kif, and Haisi just keeps pressing all the right buttons to trigger it. So it makes me especially proud when Hilfy still keeps her head about and chooses the right side instead of letting her emotions rule her. She kicked PTSD's butt all right! Vikktakkht, the kif on the other side of the opposition between mahe and kif, subverts all the stereotypes about kif, as he rather noble and tolerant for a species that greet each other with a phrase ‘May you eat hearts and eyes of your enemies’. However, it all becomes clear when it’s revealed that he is actually Skkukuk, the kif that served together with Hilfy on ‘The Pride of Chanur’: he is more prone to giving people second chances, because he had been given one himself. And it becomes even more amusing once you realize that Vikktakkht intentionally hid his identity by using the fact that most hani cannot tell one kif from another.
All in all, ‘Chanur’s Legacy’ is a worthy addition to the series, and it was nice to revisit the world of Compact and see old and new characters of ‘Chanur’ saga again.
Hilfy Chanur is now the captain of her own ship, 'Chanur's Legacy', and she is far from the naive and innocent kid we met in the very first book of the series. It's clear that it was impossible for her not to change after everything she had gone through, including the war and her time as the kif's prisoner, but it was still sad to see Hilfy grow so bitter and hardened. Hilfy struggles so much throughout this story with both her past and her present – the burden of responsibility on her shoulders, the tangled mess of politics that her crew got dragged into, her failed marriage, her feelings for Tully and her separation from him, and all of that ultimately manifested into anger toward her aunt Pyanfar, whom Hilfy blames for the situation. But Hilfy's journey in this book also changes her, and as she tries to navigate her way in the deadly interspecies politics that she got involved in, Hilfy has to make hard decisions for the sake of her crew – and after being in Pyanfar's shoes herself, Hilfy was finally able to understand her aunt and the reasons of her actions and accept Tully's decision to go with ‘The Pride’ and not her. In the previous books I saw Hilfy change from a naïve, idealistic youth into a harsher and cynical person, and now I saw her actually grow wise and judicious – ironically, very much like Pyanfar. Hilfy wasn't always an easy character to follow, but I couldn't be more proud of the person she became at the end of the book.
Hallan Meras shares the role of protagonist in 'Chanur's Legacy', and in some way Hallan plays the same role that Hilfy did during the first books of the series, that of the newcomer to the ship and junior-most crewmember that has a lot to learn. By the time the story takes place, hani males are allowed into space, but they are still very uncommon there, and that makes Hallan, who had dreamed of space as long as he can remember, quite a rarity. But even though Hallan is met with hostility and prejudice on most stations and ships, he works hard to achieve his goals; he is overly enthusiastic, eager to see the world and very pleasant to read about. I had several theories regarding the way Hallan's story was going to develop – for example, I seriously suspected that Hallan was actually Chur's illegitimate son that she had abandoned as a babe, but that theory quickly fell apart when Hallan was sharing memories of his family. Hallan's journey wasn't what I expected it to be, but it was all the more enjoyable for it.
Hallan’s interactions with the crew of ‘Chanur’s Legacy’ and the different relationships he forms with them was definitely a highlight of the book for me. Hilfy, Tiar, Tarras, Chihin and Fala, all of them have unique personalities and voices, and the book really made every one of them stand out. It’s pretty interesting to see their attitude to Hallan change, from the moment Hilfy is forced to grudgingly take him onboard to the moment he truly becomes not only part of the crew, but a part of their little tight-knit family as well. Tiar is a conservative and doesn't initially welcome Hallan, but she is still considerate enough to remember about Hallan’s lost baggage and get him some personal stuff when he arrives on the ship. This little detail characterizes Tiar so well, because at her heart she is caring and motherly, and eventually, it doesn’t take long for Tiar to take Hallan under her wing. Tarras and her comradery with Hallan is easily one of my favourites because Tarras accepted Hallan right away and always stood by his side. Tarras is direct, blunt and straightforward, and while Hallan’s relationship with other crewmembers is more complicated, Tarras had always been his bro, clear and simple.
Hallan's relationship with Fala and Chihin is much more complex, and that's the part of the story that I enjoyed more than the main plotline, though it's not because the plot is weak, it's just that seeing Hallan coming to terms with his feelings and trying to manoeuvre his way out of the love triangle is way too entertaining. Besides, how many books are there featuring a love triangle between one guy and two girls? Fala is the youngest member of the crew of 'Chanur's Legacy', and she quickly comes to adore Hallan, being quite straightforward in displaying her affection – and while Hallan is attracted to her as well, her desperate attempts to flirt with him only add to Hallan's embarrassment and awkwardness, as he doesn't want to get in any trouble. Chihin, on the other hand, is one of the older crew members and even more conservative than Tiar, so she doesn't accept Hallan at once. It seems that she and Hallan cannot be more different, and they actually have to work to understand each other's views and respect each other, which certainly creates an interesting dynamic - until it grows into something more. The relationship between Hallan and Fala is sweet and light-hearted, but the sparks that fly between him and Chihin are so strong that one can easily get electrified. This creates a lot of tension between the characters, but that makes it even more heart-warming to see Fala make peace with Hallan and Chihin after their quarrel. Not to mention that Hallan's plotline in the end is resolved in an unusual, hilarious and pretty epic way – remember what I said about Hallan becoming part of the family? That wasn't a figure of speech.
‘Shut up. You are married.’
And that was legitimately the best marriage proposal ever.
However, while 'Chanur's Legacy' is undoubtedly more light-hearted than the previous books of 'Chanur' series, it doesn't lose the intricacy of the plot that makes these stories so engaging, and the political intrigues in it are just as complex as before. In fact, they make the story more of a mystery, as Hilfy gets involved into political games between stsho, mahendosat and kif, and all the while she doesn’t know exactly what is going on, what significance the mysterious object she has to transport plays in all of this and, most importantly, whom she can really trust. And that’s not the only challenge Hilfy has to face – while the crew of ‘Sun Ascendant’ that formerly employed Hallan was happy enough to get rid of him, they didn’t miss a chance to undermine Chanur’s positions, as Sahern clan is a long-standing rival of Chanur. So not only Sahern crew abandoned Hallan when he needed their help the most and then refused to let him return, but once Hilfy gave him a berth on ‘Chanur’s Legacy’, they used the precedent to accuse Chanur of kidnapping and rape. The nerve of some people, I should say!
The stsho are in the center of this story's plot, and I really appreciated seeing more of these species, since they are not as well-explored as hani or kif or mahe, and their species are more than interesting. I mean, they have three genders and can change gender under stress, thus practically becoming another person in a very literal way, how can that be not interesting? In fact, it's the intricate dance of stsho politics that kicks the plot of 'Chanur's Legacy' in motion. Do not underestimate stsho: they may be physically weak, emotionally feeble, naturally pacifist and mentally fragile to the point they can actually die of stress, but they also hold very real power, as they are probably the richest species in the Compact, and when the stsho ambassador threatens to shut down all the trade with a certain station, all the officials start hopping at gtst word at once - though I suspect that things would’ve been different in a more dire situation. In fact, it really shows that the Compact has become a much more stable place when Hilfy's crew got shot at one of the stations - and police arrived, and the authorities apologized and at least promised to look into the incident. It's such a contrast with the previous books, where the crew was attacked or shot at during their stays on stations several times a book, and no one blinked on eye.
'Chanur's Legacy' really flips the usual species roles around, as this time it's mahendosat in the face of mahe agent Haisi that oppose Hilfy in her quest while kif act... well, not as heroes, but as anti-heroes to certain degree, and that's an interesting development compared to the first Chanur books, especially since it provides a solid ground for Hilfy's character development. Normally, I’m not prone to diagnosing characters, but it’s clear that Hilfy suffers from PTSD from the time she was captured and tortured by kif, and Haisi just keeps pressing all the right buttons to trigger it. So it makes me especially proud when Hilfy still keeps her head about and chooses the right side instead of letting her emotions rule her. She kicked PTSD's butt all right! Vikktakkht, the kif on the other side of the opposition between mahe and kif, subverts all the stereotypes about kif, as he rather noble and tolerant for a species that greet each other with a phrase ‘May you eat hearts and eyes of your enemies’. However, it all becomes clear when it’s revealed that he is actually Skkukuk, the kif that served together with Hilfy on ‘The Pride of Chanur’: he is more prone to giving people second chances, because he had been given one himself. And it becomes even more amusing once you realize that Vikktakkht intentionally hid his identity by using the fact that most hani cannot tell one kif from another.
All in all, ‘Chanur’s Legacy’ is a worthy addition to the series, and it was nice to revisit the world of Compact and see old and new characters of ‘Chanur’ saga again.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 1, 2019
3.5 stars.
This is about Hilfy Chanur, the niece who became the head of Chanur. Now a trading ship captain in peace time, Hilfy has to content with upholding the Chanur name as well as ensuring her actions do not impact the peace pact her aunt Pyanfar made with the other races, especially when it appears there are factions who'd like nothing better to use her against her aunt.
I had to admit I thought Hilfy and Tully were close friends because of their captivity but I didn't particularly feel their romance in the previous books. Compared to Pyanfar, Hilfy does come across quite inexperienced in international politics even though she's the cultural expert on the Pride. I'd say this is almost like a "coming of age" type book.
This is about Hilfy Chanur, the niece who became the head of Chanur. Now a trading ship captain in peace time, Hilfy has to content with upholding the Chanur name as well as ensuring her actions do not impact the peace pact her aunt Pyanfar made with the other races, especially when it appears there are factions who'd like nothing better to use her against her aunt.
I had to admit I thought Hilfy and Tully were close friends because of their captivity but I didn't particularly feel their romance in the previous books. Compared to Pyanfar, Hilfy does come across quite inexperienced in international politics even though she's the cultural expert on the Pride. I'd say this is almost like a "coming of age" type book.
April 21, 2019
After the civilization-shaking events of the Chanur's Homecoming trilogy, this is sort of a return to the smaller-scale space opera of the original The Pride of Chanur. The time is some few years after the events of the Chanur trilogy. Protagonist-wise, the torch has been passed to Hilfy Chanur, late of the Pride of Chanur, now captain of her own new ship Chanur's Legacy, just trying to make a living hauling goods from station to station, but never quite able to escape her aunt Pyanfar Chanur's shadow. (Which, after the events of the previous trilogy, Aunt Pyanfar casts a wide, wide shadow indeed.)
So when, at Meetpoint Station, a stsho appears with a contract for delivery of an item that, when the contract is paid in full, might put the Legacy well and clear out of debt and into the black, Hilfy takes it, not without some reservation, and only to discover (quelle surprise!) that the job will not be nearly as easy as it was made out -- the stsho artifact they carry is accompanied by a stsho individual (towards whom great accommodations must be made); and the intended stsho recipient of the artifact seems to have lit out on a ship, determined to stay one or more jumps ahead of them. Oh, and there's also the hani male, Hallan Mearas, that they've taken on board after he was abandoned by his original ship on Meetpoint Station ...
More fast-paced, tightly-plotted adventure, this time with more than a soupçon of humor threaded through (primarily at the expense of the effete and extremely particular stsho).
So when, at Meetpoint Station, a stsho appears with a contract for delivery of an item that, when the contract is paid in full, might put the Legacy well and clear out of debt and into the black, Hilfy takes it, not without some reservation, and only to discover (quelle surprise!) that the job will not be nearly as easy as it was made out -- the stsho artifact they carry is accompanied by a stsho individual (towards whom great accommodations must be made); and the intended stsho recipient of the artifact seems to have lit out on a ship, determined to stay one or more jumps ahead of them. Oh, and there's also the hani male, Hallan Mearas, that they've taken on board after he was abandoned by his original ship on Meetpoint Station ...
More fast-paced, tightly-plotted adventure, this time with more than a soupçon of humor threaded through (primarily at the expense of the effete and extremely particular stsho).
August 22, 2012
The new audiobook is out and I very impressed. First, I am going to concentrate on the audiobook. I am not going to rehash the plot. Suffice it to say that Cherryh manages to write a wonderfully complicated but satisfying book giving Hilfy Chanur center stage. I have read a whole bunch of Foreigner books since I first read this book, I can see certain similar themes-- Hilfy was once protocol officer on her aunt's ship which has diplomatic overtones, but Cherryh stays true to her vision of the Hani and other aliens she created in this series.
Now to the audiobook-- The narrator Dina Pearlman had narrated a lot of audible books including the Weather Warden and Kris Longknife books but somehow I have never run into her until now. Her reading is measures-- not too fast, not to slow-- but never drags. She does a fabulous job with the something tongue twisting alien names and words. Her species/character delineation is very good. I was never in doubt as to who was speaking.
Very, very pleased although I would like Cherryh to add to this series.
Now to the audiobook-- The narrator Dina Pearlman had narrated a lot of audible books including the Weather Warden and Kris Longknife books but somehow I have never run into her until now. Her reading is measures-- not too fast, not to slow-- but never drags. She does a fabulous job with the something tongue twisting alien names and words. Her species/character delineation is very good. I was never in doubt as to who was speaking.
Very, very pleased although I would like Cherryh to add to this series.
September 12, 2020
This is the final book in the Compact Space series. "If you have a smart opponent, make him think himself to death, " is the advice Hilfy Chanur, merchant captain, was given by her illustrious aunt. Though she is tired of living in her aunt's shadow, she is beginning to understand her.
This is old-fashioned, multi-species SF, filled with both action and intrigue. I only wish there were more books featuring this universe!
This is old-fashioned, multi-species SF, filled with both action and intrigue. I only wish there were more books featuring this universe!
May 2, 2014
This one is a good finale. A little better than those leading up to it. I'm glad the audio became available as it made the difficulty of reading the unpronounceable various species names and languages easy. Dina Pearlman, the narrator did an excellent job throughout. I prefer the later Foreigner series, but this is a good read.
April 8, 2018
Ugh. I had to force myself to finish this. It has the same cross species politics, doublecrossing, hyperspace zipping around but I could never figure out what exactly was going on. I can usually appreciate the intricate politics that CJ Cherryh create but this was a slog.
August 23, 2020
10/10
This is the story of Hilfy Chanur, now captain of the ship Chanur’s Legacy, and her foray into high stakes trading and politics among the kif, mahendo’sat, and stsho (and t’ca) who inhabit Comoact space with the hani. Complicating her life further is the presence on her ship of a relatively inexperienced and male hani. Hilfy tries to use the lessons learned as crew under her legendary aunt Pyanfar while establishing her own reputation as captain and clan head. A wholly satisfying book and conclusion to the Chanur series.
This is the story of Hilfy Chanur, now captain of the ship Chanur’s Legacy, and her foray into high stakes trading and politics among the kif, mahendo’sat, and stsho (and t’ca) who inhabit Comoact space with the hani. Complicating her life further is the presence on her ship of a relatively inexperienced and male hani. Hilfy tries to use the lessons learned as crew under her legendary aunt Pyanfar while establishing her own reputation as captain and clan head. A wholly satisfying book and conclusion to the Chanur series.
July 2, 2024
A fun conclusion to the series. I’m sad to be leaving these characters but I had a good time while it lasted. I did enjoy the bit of romance which allowed for a change in tone and pace at times.
August 17, 2024
A good final voyage to compact space. Here we follow Hilfy instead of Pyanfar as she takes an irresistible deal that’s more than she bargained for.
The plot takes a while to get going as basically our heroes are transporting something that is important for some reason to some people. It really is only near the very end that we even see what the something is and why it’s important, so for a lot of the novel the stakes aren’t particularly investing. However, the novel makes up for it with possibly the most thrilling and suspenseful conclusion of the series.
While Cherryh does deliver another convoluted yet satisfying plot the main highlight here is the world building. The reader finally gets to see a trading crew actually do some trading for once! Also there is a lot of insight into the Stsho who were the least developed in the earlier books. Plus the book includes more exploration of sexism and gender roles like in the previous stories, and there is a little more exploration of the hyperspace “dreams.”
Definitely worth reading if you’ve made it this far in the series even though the plot is not as large scale as the previous trilogy.
The plot takes a while to get going as basically our heroes are transporting something that is important for some reason to some people. It really is only near the very end that we even see what the something is and why it’s important, so for a lot of the novel the stakes aren’t particularly investing. However, the novel makes up for it with possibly the most thrilling and suspenseful conclusion of the series.
While Cherryh does deliver another convoluted yet satisfying plot the main highlight here is the world building. The reader finally gets to see a trading crew actually do some trading for once! Also there is a lot of insight into the Stsho who were the least developed in the earlier books. Plus the book includes more exploration of sexism and gender roles like in the previous stories, and there is a little more exploration of the hyperspace “dreams.”
Definitely worth reading if you’ve made it this far in the series even though the plot is not as large scale as the previous trilogy.
November 11, 2009
One of my favorite sci-fi series. Cherryh creates an alliance of aliens that feels very odd, yet real and refreshingly, we humans are not the big players in the galaxy. In fact, we are a minor race in the big scheme of things and seen as fairly annoying by the other races.
In this series the focus is on the cat-like Chanur, a race of traders. The heroine is the niece of the main character from the original series. She's trying to establish herself and her ship, away from the reputation of her famous aunt. She also is dealing with having one of the few crews that isn't all female.
On top of all that stress, she then gets dragged into a bit of alien politics.
A great read that mixes the adventure of space travel with the realism that most of the problems come from having to deal with language barriers, politics and alien customs.
In this series the focus is on the cat-like Chanur, a race of traders. The heroine is the niece of the main character from the original series. She's trying to establish herself and her ship, away from the reputation of her famous aunt. She also is dealing with having one of the few crews that isn't all female.
On top of all that stress, she then gets dragged into a bit of alien politics.
A great read that mixes the adventure of space travel with the realism that most of the problems come from having to deal with language barriers, politics and alien customs.
February 16, 2020
I really enjoyed the humor involved in this final leg of the Chanur Saga. As the Compact grows and oxy-breathers deal more with methane folk, it gets a little crazy! And we find out even more about that peculiar race, the Shtsho
This particular tale focuses on Hilfy Chanur and how she captains her own merchant vessel, Chanur's Legacy, in the shadow of her famous and politically powerful aunt. Long time allies can no longer be trusted and old enemies may actually be the only ones you can trust.
And all the while, young, unmarried Hallan Meras, has to balance his desire to be a spacer and dealing with age-old prejudices about what it is to be Hani male. Or in Hilfy's case "Not Tully."
Great novel that balances so many different issues politically, socially and anthropologically.
This particular tale focuses on Hilfy Chanur and how she captains her own merchant vessel, Chanur's Legacy, in the shadow of her famous and politically powerful aunt. Long time allies can no longer be trusted and old enemies may actually be the only ones you can trust.
And all the while, young, unmarried Hallan Meras, has to balance his desire to be a spacer and dealing with age-old prejudices about what it is to be Hani male. Or in Hilfy's case "Not Tully."
Great novel that balances so many different issues politically, socially and anthropologically.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 1, 2010
C.J. Cherryh used her not insignificant writing talents to return us to the universe of hani and kif.
Hilfy Chanur is the main character in Chanur's Legacy. She discovers that captaining a tradeship in the political shadow of her famous Aunt Py is no easy job. When her ship contracts with the shto to convey an article of historical/cultural significance, her leadership is tested.
The story roars along at break neck speed with complications at every turn. The climax begins with a practical joke and concludes with a grand crescendo of the wedding march. This is a satisfying book on every level.
Hilfy Chanur is the main character in Chanur's Legacy. She discovers that captaining a tradeship in the political shadow of her famous Aunt Py is no easy job. When her ship contracts with the shto to convey an article of historical/cultural significance, her leadership is tested.
The story roars along at break neck speed with complications at every turn. The climax begins with a practical joke and concludes with a grand crescendo of the wedding march. This is a satisfying book on every level.
December 12, 2018
This remains the hardest series for me to rate. I stand by giving the first book the lowest rating even though I enjoyed it, since there is little to get out of this story until you have been with the characters a while. The meandering tone continues, with little attention given to a villain who could have been interesting. Nonetheless it is the funniest, pitting the tough Hani against Mahe with strange ambitions and Stsho who wander between hilarious and infuriating. “Tasteful” now feels like a dirty word after getting to know a culture who uses it to judge the value of all other beings.
June 15, 2021
Another book that I lost interest in. I'll be back. Maybe. At one point I loved this series but the politics is pretty dull here. Perhaps we've all had as much politics in the real world as we can stand and nothing in the fictional world can compare.
September 25, 2025
The last novel in the Chanur series follows Hilfy Chanur, now a captain of her own starship called Chanur's Legacy. Her Aunt Pyanfar is somewhere, she has no idea where, but Py haunts her, keeps her on her toes, and challenges her, even if it's really Hilfy challenging herself. She's young to have a captaincy, and she knows what people are saying about how she got it. But she's more concerned about being a successful trader and making money for the Chanur clan.
But life is never simple. The Stsho stationmaster at Meetpoint Station offers Hilfy an apparently easy job: transport a precious religious object to the Stsho Ambassador at Urtur Station for an eye-popping 1 million credits. Those around Hilfy caution that the offer is too good to be true. The job contract is convoluted. And then there's Hallan Meras, a young Hani male who was abandoned at Meetpoint by the ship he was on. The Stsho Stationmaster wants Hilfy to take him onto her ship and return him to the ship he came on. Hilfy senses that there's something far more dangerous behind both tasks but decides that the financial incentive is too great to pass up. And then there's Haisi, a Mahendo'sat who won't leave her alone. How does he fit into it all?
Things begin to unravel almost immediately. It's a good thing Hilfy has a strong, experienced crew, each one with a distinct personality. And it's a good thing Hilfy put in so much hard work studying the languages of the other species in their area of the galaxy. She must rely on her own talents and abilities, with support from her crew, and keep any threat toward her Aunt Py, now the most important personage in Compact Space, away from them and her Aunt.
A complicated story with a fairly straightforward plot, it's full of political intrigue and immersed in aliens. Cherryh has done a masterful job of world-building in this series, and creating memorable aliens who are not human and who have their own psychology, behavior, and customs. I'd always liked Hilfy in the previous four novels, and was excited that she had earned not only a captaincy but her own story. The action focuses on what a trader does primarily, and the threats that can hurt a trader--at least until the last quarter of the book when the action shifts to political threats and twists.
I enjoyed this novel! I'd recommend it to sci fi readers who are looking for something different with non-humanoid aliens. It helps if the first four novels in the series have been read but it isn't critical. I'm sad that this is the end of the Chanur series. I've really enjoyed spending time with the feline Hani.
But life is never simple. The Stsho stationmaster at Meetpoint Station offers Hilfy an apparently easy job: transport a precious religious object to the Stsho Ambassador at Urtur Station for an eye-popping 1 million credits. Those around Hilfy caution that the offer is too good to be true. The job contract is convoluted. And then there's Hallan Meras, a young Hani male who was abandoned at Meetpoint by the ship he was on. The Stsho Stationmaster wants Hilfy to take him onto her ship and return him to the ship he came on. Hilfy senses that there's something far more dangerous behind both tasks but decides that the financial incentive is too great to pass up. And then there's Haisi, a Mahendo'sat who won't leave her alone. How does he fit into it all?
Things begin to unravel almost immediately. It's a good thing Hilfy has a strong, experienced crew, each one with a distinct personality. And it's a good thing Hilfy put in so much hard work studying the languages of the other species in their area of the galaxy. She must rely on her own talents and abilities, with support from her crew, and keep any threat toward her Aunt Py, now the most important personage in Compact Space, away from them and her Aunt.
A complicated story with a fairly straightforward plot, it's full of political intrigue and immersed in aliens. Cherryh has done a masterful job of world-building in this series, and creating memorable aliens who are not human and who have their own psychology, behavior, and customs. I'd always liked Hilfy in the previous four novels, and was excited that she had earned not only a captaincy but her own story. The action focuses on what a trader does primarily, and the threats that can hurt a trader--at least until the last quarter of the book when the action shifts to political threats and twists.
I enjoyed this novel! I'd recommend it to sci fi readers who are looking for something different with non-humanoid aliens. It helps if the first four novels in the series have been read but it isn't critical. I'm sad that this is the end of the Chanur series. I've really enjoyed spending time with the feline Hani.
August 27, 2025
The "Chanur" series concluded naturally with "The Chanur Homecoming". This novel seems like a bit of a forced attempt to continue the series, but in a more charitable view, it is a kind of coda to it.
The protagonist is Hilfy Chanur, whom we met in previous novels as the young niece of Pyanfar, the captain of "The Pride". Now she commands her own ship, thrust into that role, along with the role of head of the clan, by her aunt for both political reasons and her unhealthy romantic interest in Tully, the human who elected to stay with Chanur after tumultuous events in previous novels.
The plot begins with the offer of a lucrative contract to transport a mysterious object of, probably, symbolic, religious, or perhaps just personal significance, from the Stsho governor on an important trading space station to another Stho dignitary. It looks too good, and, of course, it is, and all kinds of complications ensue.
A bit lighter in tone than other novels in the series, "Legacy" has elements of mystery, of quest, and, of course, a lot of political intrigue. Although many pages are spent on Hilfy's ruminations on the possible nature of the intrigue, the purpose of the mysterious object, actual motives of friends and adversaries etc, many details are left unclear at the end (to me, at least). The finale, as in some other novels in the series, especially "Homecoming", is rather abrupt and not quite convincing.
Some of the details of the previous story in the series, especially around the competition for the position of male "lord" of the Chanur clan, seem to be "revised" here, which annoys me. But, objectively, that does not detract from the story that much.
All in all, quite serviceable space opera.
The protagonist is Hilfy Chanur, whom we met in previous novels as the young niece of Pyanfar, the captain of "The Pride". Now she commands her own ship, thrust into that role, along with the role of head of the clan, by her aunt for both political reasons and her unhealthy romantic interest in Tully, the human who elected to stay with Chanur after tumultuous events in previous novels.
The plot begins with the offer of a lucrative contract to transport a mysterious object of, probably, symbolic, religious, or perhaps just personal significance, from the Stsho governor on an important trading space station to another Stho dignitary. It looks too good, and, of course, it is, and all kinds of complications ensue.
A bit lighter in tone than other novels in the series, "Legacy" has elements of mystery, of quest, and, of course, a lot of political intrigue. Although many pages are spent on Hilfy's ruminations on the possible nature of the intrigue, the purpose of the mysterious object, actual motives of friends and adversaries etc, many details are left unclear at the end (to me, at least). The finale, as in some other novels in the series, especially "Homecoming", is rather abrupt and not quite convincing.
Some of the details of the previous story in the series, especially around the competition for the position of male "lord" of the Chanur clan, seem to be "revised" here, which annoys me. But, objectively, that does not detract from the story that much.
All in all, quite serviceable space opera.
October 12, 2020
A fitting sequel and denouement to Cherryh's Chanur series, but as such you won't want to read this without having read the main series first.
This story takes place about eight years after the final thrilling events of Chanur's Homecoming, which saw an end to the war that had broken out among the races of the Compact--a resolution that worked to the favor of the race called the hani and most particularly to the freighter captain Pyanfar Chanur, who was elevated to a position of supremacy among all the races involved. Her niece, Hilfy Chanur, who had been a junior officer aboard Pyanfar's merchant ship Pride of Chanur, is now in command of her own vessel, Chanur's Legacy. With the proffer of a millon-credit contract, she finds herself and her crew caught up in stsho affairs, mahendo'sat politics, and kif opportunism.
While not short of the drama and danger that characterized Cherryh's earlier work in this series, the events and characters of Chanur's Legacy tend to be a little more light-hearted, and occasionally comical. There's an additional shock twist at the very end that will prove quite satisfying to readers of the previous books.
This story takes place about eight years after the final thrilling events of Chanur's Homecoming, which saw an end to the war that had broken out among the races of the Compact--a resolution that worked to the favor of the race called the hani and most particularly to the freighter captain Pyanfar Chanur, who was elevated to a position of supremacy among all the races involved. Her niece, Hilfy Chanur, who had been a junior officer aboard Pyanfar's merchant ship Pride of Chanur, is now in command of her own vessel, Chanur's Legacy. With the proffer of a millon-credit contract, she finds herself and her crew caught up in stsho affairs, mahendo'sat politics, and kif opportunism.
While not short of the drama and danger that characterized Cherryh's earlier work in this series, the events and characters of Chanur's Legacy tend to be a little more light-hearted, and occasionally comical. There's an additional shock twist at the very end that will prove quite satisfying to readers of the previous books.
December 5, 2022
Finished this series with much the same ambivalence I had all through. All of them have exciting moments, all of them have interesting features, not least the depiction of an alien species as the main POV, with humans very minor, little-understood characters. I never felt comfortable with the sometimes lengthy descriptions of the technical maneuvering, which often felt to me like something I *ought* to have understood but somehow just couldn't make sense of. I can skim over stuff like that, but when it goes on for pages, it begins to wear thin. Similarly, I didn't entirely follow a lot of the alien customs/attitudes stuff, which is pretty central to the whole series; I eventually just had to accept the events as they came, but it did rather distance me from the characters.
September 16, 2025
I finally completed Cherryh's Chanur series, which she leaves open for several sequels that were never written. The final book, Chanur's Legacy, gives us a glimpse (through her niece Hilfy, now a captain) of how Pyanfar Chanur would have been when younger. But it becomes clear that she has always been this fierce, crusty, cantankerous individual, a good and respected captain but someone I find hard to like. Speaking of the series in general, I love how Cherryh creates members of other species as living, breathing people you can almost see and hear: folks who are utterly alien yet with emotions and priorities you can understand and work with. As the Chanur series closes I wish again that she had allowed the Tully character to mature, learn Hani, tell more about humans, share what his people know. He has always seemed to me a colourless, almost-impotent figure, a resource that for whatever reason (for she is certainly not stupid) Pyanfar fails to benefit from.
August 25, 2017
Science fiction, mystery, money, and politics. What could be lovelier?
Join Hilfy Chanur and her crew as they chase across the systems in an effort to deliver a religious object - the delivery of which would be profitable enough to eliminate the debt on their ship. Unfortunately, the entity who was to receive it appears to be avoiding them, and mayhem seems to dog their footsteps.
Along the way, they pick up inconvenient passengers, a troublesome shadow, doubtful allies, and a male crew member who is likely to cause problems - men of their species being a rarity in space (and with good reason!).
Although not by any means a comedy (more of a political intrigue), I found the situations slyly humorous with a lighthearted and hopeful ending. Definitely a keeper!
Join Hilfy Chanur and her crew as they chase across the systems in an effort to deliver a religious object - the delivery of which would be profitable enough to eliminate the debt on their ship. Unfortunately, the entity who was to receive it appears to be avoiding them, and mayhem seems to dog their footsteps.
Along the way, they pick up inconvenient passengers, a troublesome shadow, doubtful allies, and a male crew member who is likely to cause problems - men of their species being a rarity in space (and with good reason!).
Although not by any means a comedy (more of a political intrigue), I found the situations slyly humorous with a lighthearted and hopeful ending. Definitely a keeper!
December 29, 2022
I was hesitant to return to this world because the next generation & Tully's absence felt like a losing combination. But! Hilfy is fantastic. The plot here is ridiculous, often in a charming ways: Hilfy is conscripted to make a diplomatic delivery that predictably goes to shit under the influence of the Stsho --who are a lot--and the ghostly figure of Pyanfar. Pyanfar's lingering impression, on Hilfy and the wider setting both, gives a meaningful sense of consequence to the previous books. Tully is here, in spirit, buried in Hilfy's memories and echoed in a new outsider to Han galactic culture that creates a delicious tension in the ship's social dynamics. This is fun: a separate-but-not sequel which is more fun and consumable than the core series.
March 12, 2021
The fifth and final book in the Chanur series
The Pride of Chanur by Cherryh is the first one. It is a stand alone novel. Then come a trilogy which more or less tell a similar story but in much more detail and triple the length. Finally we have Chanur’s Legacy, which stars Pyanafar’s niece - a junior crew woman and n the first 4 books, now a grown woman captain of her own spaceship.
Like all of Cherryh’s books, this is well-written with plot twists and character development. Hani men are supposedly to be mentally unstable and therefore unsuitable for working on a spaceship. Cherryh turns this issue backwards as a way of commenting on male supremacy in human culture.
The Pride of Chanur by Cherryh is the first one. It is a stand alone novel. Then come a trilogy which more or less tell a similar story but in much more detail and triple the length. Finally we have Chanur’s Legacy, which stars Pyanafar’s niece - a junior crew woman and n the first 4 books, now a grown woman captain of her own spaceship.
Like all of Cherryh’s books, this is well-written with plot twists and character development. Hani men are supposedly to be mentally unstable and therefore unsuitable for working on a spaceship. Cherryh turns this issue backwards as a way of commenting on male supremacy in human culture.
December 4, 2024
Still Good
While not up to the level of the Chanur 1 - 4 books of the series, I still enjoyed the story.
Hilfy Chanur’s likability was sort of uncertain through books 1 - 4, and in this book it suffered greatly until almost the end of the story wher I would say that, at best, it reached a “neutral “ level.
The introduction of Hallan Meras was interesting, but his extreme insecurity made his character far less effective & relatable than Na Khym’s in the previous books.
Overall, I think I really missed Pyanfar in this tale, but the story was about Chanur after all and still good.
While not up to the level of the Chanur 1 - 4 books of the series, I still enjoyed the story.
Hilfy Chanur’s likability was sort of uncertain through books 1 - 4, and in this book it suffered greatly until almost the end of the story wher I would say that, at best, it reached a “neutral “ level.
The introduction of Hallan Meras was interesting, but his extreme insecurity made his character far less effective & relatable than Na Khym’s in the previous books.
Overall, I think I really missed Pyanfar in this tale, but the story was about Chanur after all and still good.
June 21, 2019
A very interesting conclusion to the Chanur Cycle of tales, begining with what appeared to be a throwaway scene at the end of Chanur's Homecoming. Hilfy, now a captain in her own right, has to puzzle her way through the intrigues of the Compact races, Stsho, Mahendo'sat, Hani, and Kif, a markedly complex performance contact, and maintain the still fragile peace of her aunt, Pyanfar.
I wouldn't mind additional books in this series. I want to know more about interactions with the humans, and also to get to know more about the Legacy's crew.
I wouldn't mind additional books in this series. I want to know more about interactions with the humans, and also to get to know more about the Legacy's crew.
September 15, 2020
4.5 stars, Extremely dense and rapid dialogue like a fine gumshoe novel, which is a good thing. Politic heavy at all levels, and here again a good thing. I did appreciate many subtleties both in the writing and the plot but I had trouble understanding the implied meaning of a central (literal) piece of plot which I understand was part of the mystery. Perhaps as I read it fitfully over a couple of months I was often somewhat disconnected and it seemed a bit just deux ex machina without foreshadowing with the rapid ending.
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