Voices of Chaos

StarBridge #7

by A.C. Crispin

The Arrekhi, feline beings from a newly discovered planet, hide a vicious secret that could jeopardize their admittance into the interplanetary Cooperative League of Systems and unleash havoc and carnage across the planet. Original.

Genres: Science Fiction, Space Opera, Science Fiction Fantasy

316 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published March 1, 1998

About the author

Ann Carol Crispin (1950-2013) was an American science fiction writer, the author of over twenty published novels. She wrote professionally since 1983. She wrote several Star Trek and Star Wars novels, and created her own original science fiction series called Starbridge.

Crispin also served as Eastern Regional Director, and then Vice President, of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America. With Victoria Strauss, she founded Writer Beware, a "watchdog" group that is part of SFWA that warns aspiring writers about the dangers of scam agents, editors, and publishers. Writer Beware was founded in 1998, and has assisted law enforcement and civil authorities in tracking and shutting down writing scams.

Crispin, who also wrote a prequel providing the back story for the popular Pirates of the Caribbean movie series, died on September 6th, 2013 at the Hospice of Charles County in Waldorf, aged 63.

She was married to science fiction author Michael Capobianco.

Reviews

[David H. · Rating 4 out of 5]

At last I come to the end of my StarBridge journey that I began two weeks ago. Given the others I've read in this series, I didn't have high hopes, but I was very pleasant surprised here--I felt like it was a great return to the First Contact-type situations of the first three books, as opposed to the murder mysteries and alien invasions of the second three.

The two main characters are Khyriz, a prince of the Arrekhi (cat-like aliens), and Magdalena, a human who escaped to StarBridge Academy from an oppressive cult, though we get some scenes with others (namely, Zhikna, Khyriz's cousin, and Alexis, Mags's friend and colleague).

The setup was very interesting--the Arrekhi are a few years into the process of establishing relations with the rest of the Cooperative League of Systems, but they've got a secret they're hiding. Emerson & Crispin did a great job of setting up both the political intrigue situation with the Arrekhi and the slow-ish reveal of their secret, especially as we follow Magdalena and Alexis as they try deepen the diplomatic contacts. Things eventually escalate, but with pretty good pacing!

The romantic relationships in this book for once weren't annoying to me--one of them I thought was established far too quickly, but given that both characters were non-human and naive/innocent, I totally bought it, and the other relationship had the perfect amount of slow burn that really sold it to me. I will also add that this might have been the first multiple romance story in StarBridge, and the first time we see gay relationships on page (this is from the '90s after all, so giving it some credit here, especially for a series usually billed as aiming for young adults).

I did think the ending overall perhaps wrapped up too neatly, but honestly I was fine with that. Or rather it wasn't that it was too neat, but the attempt to add tension didn't fly for me, because there were telepaths who could easily confirm the plot point, so it rang slightly false to me.

I do wish that A.C. Crispin had been able to continue her vision of the StarBridge universe (she died from cancer a year after this book was reprinted in 2012); I really would've liked to have seen what other stories could've been told in this setting.

[AmbushPredator · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finally finished my re-read of the series, and the final novel feels like the hardest slog, though whether that's because it's actually longer than the others or because it just feels like it has more 'filler', I'm not sure.

A feline race finally join the canine Heyoon, the baboon-like Simiu and the serpentine Mizari. And they have a very, very dark secret. There's a lot more action in the closing stages than in the opening chapters, but it's an enjoyable read, if a little slow to get going.

[Darrell Benjamin · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Views of Difference

Learning from history vice repeating it. We are fortunate to be able to think, move as we do, build, and create. Those that have ideas and envision them, are not the ones that seem to profit the most. Profit from ideas seems to be 2-3 down from the originator. Doing your best at all times helps to help people and times together.

[Sandy Carmichael · Rating 4 out of 5]

The last in this series and as good as all the rest. Exporting in space with other cultures.

[Lavender · Rating 4 out of 5]

Last of this series. I liked the characters and the world building in these novels.

[Mai · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting, but not my favorite of the series. Still a good story.

[Andy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I first read this book when I was in high school. I found it at my local library. I am honestly surprised I picked it up and read back then. Because this is actually the last book in a series and I am always so careful about not reading books in a series out of order. Maybe I just wasn't paying attention that day. Who knows? But what I do remember was how much I loved the book. So when I ran across it again a couple of weeks ago I wanted to read it to see if it held up to my recollections.

I think it did. I enjoyed the main protagonist Magdalena. She is smart and capable and has a painful past that she has risen above to become a translator for Starbridge. I loved getting her pov on Arrekhi culture and the secret they are trying to hide. The book had some action but what I enjoyed the most was the characters interacting with each other. I am now planning to read the Starbridge novels from the beginning and see if I will enjoy the other stories just as much as I did this one.

Reread 2022: Over the last few years I have been reading the Starbridge series in order and I have greatly enjoyed doing so. There are some really good books in this series but I still think this one is my favorite. The plot is very well done and as always Crispin writes the different alien worlds to perfection. Plus I love Magdalena and Khyriz's relationship and how that plays out throughout the book. All in all one of my favorites.

[Charlotte · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this story much better than the previous book, but the horrible editing knocked a star off. Character and place names were frequently misspelled, incorrect or missing punctuation, the number 1 instead of the letter I...if I'd turned in a paper in college with these problems, I would have gotten an F.

[Michele Fenolietto · Rating 5 out of 5]

My goodness, was I sad that this series was out of print by the time I read this book! Probably one of the most enjoyable books I've ever read. It's not young adult, but I was a smart cookie and read it in the 8th grade and loved the heck out of it. I've been thinking about reading it again, even to fine-tune my own story craft.

[JoEllen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best one yet! What? It's the last book in the series? That's just wrong.