Status
Available
Call number
Series
Publication
DAW Books (New York, 1981). 1st edition, 1st printing. 432 pages. $2.75.
Description
The Hugo Award-winning classic sci-fi novel about interstellar war. The Beyond started with the Stations orbiting the stars nearest Earth. The Great Circle the interstellar freighters traveled was long, but not unmanageable, and the early Stations were emotionally and politically dependent on Mother Earth. The Earth Company which ran this immense operation reaped incalculable profits and influenced the affairs of nations. Then came Pell, the first station centered around a newly discovered living planet. The discovery of Pell's World forever altered the power balance of the Beyond. Earth was no longer the anchor which kept this vast empire from coming adrift, the one living mote in a sterile universe. But Pell was just the first living planet. Then came Cyteen, and later others, and a new and frighteningly different society grew in the farther reaches of space. The importance of Earth faded and the Company reaped ever smaller profits as the economic focus of space turned outward. But the powerful Earth Fleet was sitll a presence in the Beyond, and Pell Station was to become the last stronghold in a titanic struggle between the vast, dynamic forces of the rebel Union and those who defended Earth's last, desperate grasp for the stars.… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member dreamweaversunited
Boring, no relatable characters, very distant and unengaged narrator voice. Abandoned.
LibraryThing member wayspooled
This was one of the first serious science fiction novels I read. I loved it. It's not for rollicking adventure "only" sci/fi fans, it's a very thought provoking read. If paced storyline development isn't your thing, you won't like it, you'll get bored and unhappy. There is some action, it's just
Cherryh's big contributions to the genre are 1) showing realistically how mankind's cultural development probably will take place after we move off this planet and 2) the most interesting ever perspectives of any writer - of how alien cultures might see us.
The author has an asteroid, 77185 Cherryh, named after her. Referring to this honor, NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory writes of Cherryh: "She has challenged us to be worthy of the stars by imagining how mankind might grow to live among them.
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not an "action" science fiction. It is also the 1st of the 3 foundational novels (with Cyteen and Regenesis, in that order) of CJ Cherryh's Alliance/Union universe - which is the setting of many of her largely standalone sci/fi novels. Cherryh's Chanur books have a little more excitement if that's your need, while still being intellectually thought provoking. Cherryh's big contributions to the genre are 1) showing realistically how mankind's cultural development probably will take place after we move off this planet and 2) the most interesting ever perspectives of any writer - of how alien cultures might see us.
The author has an asteroid, 77185 Cherryh, named after her. Referring to this honor, NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory writes of Cherryh: "She has challenged us to be worthy of the stars by imagining how mankind might grow to live among them.
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LibraryThing member santhony
I selected this piece of science fiction by virtue of its having won the Hugo Award in 1982. The first of a series of books by C. J. Cherryh, much of the time is spent setting the stage and laying out the landscape for future works.
I’ve read hundreds of science fiction novels throughout the
The stage is a universe that has been colonized by Earth through a commercial enterprise referred to as the Company. Ultimately, the colonies grow disenchanted with the Company and form opposition which coalesces around an entity referred to as the Union. Through human engineering, the Union gains the upper hand in the far reaches of space and begins to encroach upon the Company’s holdings. To complicate matters, the Earth Fleet has essentially gone bandit and operates under little or no political control. Conflict, as the story begins, centers around the Company held space station and planetary colony at Pell. The indigenous inhabitants of the planet also play a central role.
There is very little “science” involved with the story and what there is can only be deemed lacking. For example, the early narrative refers to a period of 200 years, prior to faster than light travel, in which many space stations are founded in surrounding star systems. Really? Then, faster than light travel arrives onto the scene, and frequent references are made to “jumps” and “scans”. In other words, the author can’t be bothered by such details as the amount of time and the logistics required to travel to surrounding star systems at less than light speed, or the constraints involved with the “jumps”, other than the fact that it is potentially dangerous and makes the travelers nauseous and sluggish.
Bottom line, the book is sorely lacking when compared to many of its contemporaries with respect to the “science” aspect of science fiction. What we’re left with is the underlying story itself and frankly, it is not very good. Many times, I was left scratching my head after reading a paragraph, not comprehending what I’d read, especially when the author attempts to take the reader through the battles that erupt between Union and Fleet forces. The author has a problem using confusing and ambiguous pronouns, leaving the reader wondering who he/she is referring to. At other times, the writing presumes a knowledge or understanding of the subject matter which the reader has no reason to possess. For example, there are apparently, in the author’s mind, complicated issues involved with interstellar ships “jumping” into areas and the scans used to detect them, involving space/time. Of course, no explanation is attempted; instead the author uses terms and references with the assumption that the reader understands her concept of physics (which, if it matches her space travel conception, has no basis in reality).
In summary, it is simply not very good. I can only surmise that 1982 was a slow year for science fiction.
I’ve read hundreds of science fiction novels throughout the
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years, in virtually every genre imaginable. I’ve read the classic authors and many of the newer writers, with varying degrees of satisfaction. To be honest, I wasn’t terribly impressed in this instance, either with the quality of the “science” contained therein, or with the underlying story and writing quality itself.The stage is a universe that has been colonized by Earth through a commercial enterprise referred to as the Company. Ultimately, the colonies grow disenchanted with the Company and form opposition which coalesces around an entity referred to as the Union. Through human engineering, the Union gains the upper hand in the far reaches of space and begins to encroach upon the Company’s holdings. To complicate matters, the Earth Fleet has essentially gone bandit and operates under little or no political control. Conflict, as the story begins, centers around the Company held space station and planetary colony at Pell. The indigenous inhabitants of the planet also play a central role.
There is very little “science” involved with the story and what there is can only be deemed lacking. For example, the early narrative refers to a period of 200 years, prior to faster than light travel, in which many space stations are founded in surrounding star systems. Really? Then, faster than light travel arrives onto the scene, and frequent references are made to “jumps” and “scans”. In other words, the author can’t be bothered by such details as the amount of time and the logistics required to travel to surrounding star systems at less than light speed, or the constraints involved with the “jumps”, other than the fact that it is potentially dangerous and makes the travelers nauseous and sluggish.
Bottom line, the book is sorely lacking when compared to many of its contemporaries with respect to the “science” aspect of science fiction. What we’re left with is the underlying story itself and frankly, it is not very good. Many times, I was left scratching my head after reading a paragraph, not comprehending what I’d read, especially when the author attempts to take the reader through the battles that erupt between Union and Fleet forces. The author has a problem using confusing and ambiguous pronouns, leaving the reader wondering who he/she is referring to. At other times, the writing presumes a knowledge or understanding of the subject matter which the reader has no reason to possess. For example, there are apparently, in the author’s mind, complicated issues involved with interstellar ships “jumping” into areas and the scans used to detect them, involving space/time. Of course, no explanation is attempted; instead the author uses terms and references with the assumption that the reader understands her concept of physics (which, if it matches her space travel conception, has no basis in reality).
In summary, it is simply not very good. I can only surmise that 1982 was a slow year for science fiction.
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LibraryThing member wealhtheowwylfing
I got 76% through this and just can't bear to keep trying to read it. The basic premise is fantastic: the under-supported Earth Company Fleet battles the unending waves of Union's brainwashed clones. The Fleet is pushed further and further back, until at last the battle reaches the space station
I love this idea! It's like DS9 mashed up with Tolkein. But I found the execution so lacking that I couldn't enjoy a single chapter. First of all, Pell's native creatures, the hisa, talk like this: "'You safe come here. Love you. Bennett-man, he teach we dream human dreams; now you come we teach you hisa dreams. We love you.'" They think like retarded children's toys, dividing everyone up into good and bad, but they don't seem alien at all. They're basically a mash-up of adorable teddy bears with Native American stereotypes. Every time they're on the page, my brain revolted.
Second of all, a large proportion of the story concerns Josh, a Union soldier captured by the Fleet and eventually turned over the space station on Pell. Damon and Elena take him in and feel super-duper sorry for him. He's a fucking enemy soldier! On the very same station, at the very same time, that they're petting him and denouncing the Fleet for being mean to him, neutral civilians are being raped, brutalized and murdered. But somehow they don't merit nearly sympathy or help as the angelically beautiful Josh. This relates to my other big problem with the book: my sympathies lay completely and utterly with the Fleet, who are hard-ass underdogs fighting a losing war for no pay or respect. They are literally Pell's only defense against the Union armies. So every time Damon et al try to prevent the Fleet from taking food or supplies from the station, or sabotage the Fleet's technologies, I can only wonder at their selfish short-sightedness.
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orbiting Pell. Pell's station tries to remain neutral while both sides try to take it over. I love this idea! It's like DS9 mashed up with Tolkein. But I found the execution so lacking that I couldn't enjoy a single chapter. First of all, Pell's native creatures, the hisa, talk like this: "'You safe come here. Love you. Bennett-man, he teach we dream human dreams; now you come we teach you hisa dreams. We love you.'" They think like retarded children's toys, dividing everyone up into good and bad, but they don't seem alien at all. They're basically a mash-up of adorable teddy bears with Native American stereotypes. Every time they're on the page, my brain revolted.
Second of all, a large proportion of the story concerns Josh, a Union soldier captured by the Fleet and eventually turned over the space station on Pell. Damon and Elena take him in and feel super-duper sorry for him. He's a fucking enemy soldier! On the very same station, at the very same time, that they're petting him and denouncing the Fleet for being mean to him, neutral civilians are being raped, brutalized and murdered. But somehow they don't merit nearly sympathy or help as the angelically beautiful Josh. This relates to my other big problem with the book: my sympathies lay completely and utterly with the Fleet, who are hard-ass underdogs fighting a losing war for no pay or respect. They are literally Pell's only defense against the Union armies. So every time Damon et al try to prevent the Fleet from taking food or supplies from the station, or sabotage the Fleet's technologies, I can only wonder at their selfish short-sightedness.
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LibraryThing member dd-b
One of the very few books I didn't finish. This was boring, boring, boring. I liked Cherryh's first couple of books, but it's been all downhill since then (I stopped decades ago, who knows, might like her latest works).
LibraryThing member aarondesk
A great read. Various factions vie for control of a vital space station. The only drawback is that it starts a little slow. If you can get past the first half, the ending just sails by.
LibraryThing member TadAD
The Alliance-Union novels can be read in any order, since very few of them are actually tied together. If you want to read the stories in the order in which they occur, I believe this is the first after the much earlier Heavy Time and Hellburner.
This book deserves its Hugo and, in my opinion,
This book deserves its Hugo and, in my opinion,
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should have picked up the Nebula over Bishop's No Enemy But Time. It's a great place to start your introduction to a great universe. Show Less
LibraryThing member reading_fox
Not the book I remembered it being, but none the worse for that. I thought this was about a boy growing up with the kind-hearted Downers,as the only known sentient aliens are known, and his struggles to get permission to come into space. But actually it's not about that at all, even though the
This is written early in the Alliance Universe and set as Union is making it's big push for Control of the Beyond away from Earth Company and the rules and politics that aren't applicable any more. Pell Space Station has become the latest battleground, although neither side wants to endanger either the aliens or the civilian population. The Union are operating through the means of subversives whilst the Company are trying to control their Fleet, including the carrier Norway captains by Signy Malory, one of the few we ever hear more details about. The story itself jumps between a few characters the ruling Konstantins trying to do their best for the station and Downers and Lukas theie deputy who is ambitious for more than he's even been given credit for. The Downers themselves have a voice in the presence of Satin, who's ambitious to travel Up Above and see the Sun in Her Glory.
One of CJC's great talents is to represent everybody's actions as perfectly normal and self-centered as their characters allow, but at the same time to have these massive global stories rolling over and through their lives. DownBelow is rightly an award winner. It's both grand space opera, with the maneuverings of Fleets and Empire politics, and at exactly the same time, human centered and personal the real lives that are effected by such tides.
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Downers feature prominently. This is written early in the Alliance Universe and set as Union is making it's big push for Control of the Beyond away from Earth Company and the rules and politics that aren't applicable any more. Pell Space Station has become the latest battleground, although neither side wants to endanger either the aliens or the civilian population. The Union are operating through the means of subversives whilst the Company are trying to control their Fleet, including the carrier Norway captains by Signy Malory, one of the few we ever hear more details about. The story itself jumps between a few characters the ruling Konstantins trying to do their best for the station and Downers and Lukas theie deputy who is ambitious for more than he's even been given credit for. The Downers themselves have a voice in the presence of Satin, who's ambitious to travel Up Above and see the Sun in Her Glory.
One of CJC's great talents is to represent everybody's actions as perfectly normal and self-centered as their characters allow, but at the same time to have these massive global stories rolling over and through their lives. DownBelow is rightly an award winner. It's both grand space opera, with the maneuverings of Fleets and Empire politics, and at exactly the same time, human centered and personal the real lives that are effected by such tides.
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LibraryThing member clong
C.J. Cherryh's Downbelow Station is a celebrated novel, the 1982 Hugo winner. I would put it in the category of "good books that, with a few improvements, could have been truly superb." That sense that it didn't quite reach its potential ultimately left me a bit disappointed, especially with an
The characters are interesting, with few who are clearly good or clearly bad. My first area of disappointment had to with some surprising character twists at the end, especially the ultimate resolution of the Signy Mallory storyline (and her relationship with Josh), which didn't quite "click" for me. I wish the Cherryh had given us a bit more insight into what was going on in these characters' minds, so that the ending, while still a surprise, would have felt like an organic evolution the characters' acts, wills and motivations (no easy feat, admittedly).
The second disappointment for me was the aliens. The native inhabitants of the planet are reasonably interesting, but not strikingly nonhuman in the way that the most fascinating aliens are. They are a lot like wimpy humans with a twist, "little guys" who naturally enough the good people want to protect and the bad people want to exploit. These differing attitudes about how the aliens and their planet should be treated are a source of one of the important plot lines in the book, but again the conclusion of this storyline could have been more effective if the aliens {in their alien-ness) had some surprising impact on the resolution.
While it is set in the context of interstellar war, it's far from the militaristic style of say David Weber; the actual space battles are either skipped entirely or only described in cursory detail. I don't want to sound too negative . . . I recommend Downbelow Station to any science fiction fan.
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ending which seemed to come together a bit too easily. The strength of the book is a well-conceived plot that builds tension and moves to an effective climax. The characters are interesting, with few who are clearly good or clearly bad. My first area of disappointment had to with some surprising character twists at the end, especially the ultimate resolution of the Signy Mallory storyline (and her relationship with Josh), which didn't quite "click" for me. I wish the Cherryh had given us a bit more insight into what was going on in these characters' minds, so that the ending, while still a surprise, would have felt like an organic evolution the characters' acts, wills and motivations (no easy feat, admittedly).
The second disappointment for me was the aliens. The native inhabitants of the planet are reasonably interesting, but not strikingly nonhuman in the way that the most fascinating aliens are. They are a lot like wimpy humans with a twist, "little guys" who naturally enough the good people want to protect and the bad people want to exploit. These differing attitudes about how the aliens and their planet should be treated are a source of one of the important plot lines in the book, but again the conclusion of this storyline could have been more effective if the aliens {in their alien-ness) had some surprising impact on the resolution.
While it is set in the context of interstellar war, it's far from the militaristic style of say David Weber; the actual space battles are either skipped entirely or only described in cursory detail. I don't want to sound too negative . . . I recommend Downbelow Station to any science fiction fan.
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LibraryThing member ladycato
This Hugo-Award winning novel has a lot going for it, but its shares of issues, too.
First of all, it begins with a massive lump of exposition that tries to set up the political intrigues over centuries that lead up to the events of the books. Instead of helping, that introduction left me confused
Things improved greatly once the story got started. The cast of characters is wide and interesting. Each has a distinct voice, and I was surprised at how readily I could tell them apart. The politics, however, still left me confused for quite some time, as I wasn't sure who Mazian was or how he fit into things. There were some characters, like Alicia and Jon Lukas's son, who were barely there and I wondered why they were included at all.
The station of Pell and the world below are vivid and characters unto themselves. I became especially fond of the Downers, the native primate-like species of Downbelow.
The book ended up being interesting and coherent, but I'm not intrigued enough to read on in the series, nor am I sure about reading more of Cherryh's books. However, I'm glad this was selected by my book club, as I've been wanting to read more science fiction and Hugo winners.
First of all, it begins with a massive lump of exposition that tries to set up the political intrigues over centuries that lead up to the events of the books. Instead of helping, that introduction left me confused
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and flailing for quite a while. Plus, it was very dull to read.Things improved greatly once the story got started. The cast of characters is wide and interesting. Each has a distinct voice, and I was surprised at how readily I could tell them apart. The politics, however, still left me confused for quite some time, as I wasn't sure who Mazian was or how he fit into things. There were some characters, like Alicia and Jon Lukas's son, who were barely there and I wondered why they were included at all.
The station of Pell and the world below are vivid and characters unto themselves. I became especially fond of the Downers, the native primate-like species of Downbelow.
The book ended up being interesting and coherent, but I'm not intrigued enough to read on in the series, nor am I sure about reading more of Cherryh's books. However, I'm glad this was selected by my book club, as I've been wanting to read more science fiction and Hugo winners.
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LibraryThing member ladypembroke
Blah. I'm almost 200 pages in, and I care about exactly none of the characters. Okay, maybe I like Satin. But that is it. Rather disappointing, but I am just not willing to slog my way through a boring, tedious book when I have a huge To Read list sitting on my desk.
LibraryThing member FicusFan
Fabulous book. Wonderful setting that has a gritty reality to it. Interesting, real, complex characters, and a story that grabs you and won't let go. Wonderful aliens who are not just humans in funny suits. Lots of layers and shades of grey. Wonderful look at human nature, the uses and abuses of
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power, and the different approaches to dealing with absolute power. Though it is over 20 years old, it is not dated in the least. Show Less
LibraryThing member Cheryl_in_CC_NV
Every time I turn around this is recommended to me, or to 'everyone.' And every time I look at description and reviews, I think, no, it's not my kind of book. Well, finally I picked it up. And no, it's not my kind of book. Right on the jacket of this edition the prominent words are 'war' 'ambition'
There is such a thing as a rich, thoughtful, adult novel that isn't so heavy, so filled with war & politics, or dysfunction & abuse. I've read a few, and I'm always looking for more if you have recommendations.
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'conflict.' Inside are 'intrigue' 'allegiances.' I still tried to read it, but only got to page 27. I know that's not very far, but *I don't want to read this.* There is such a thing as a rich, thoughtful, adult novel that isn't so heavy, so filled with war & politics, or dysfunction & abuse. I've read a few, and I'm always looking for more if you have recommendations.
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LibraryThing member ScoLgo
This one started off really slow for me. After beginning with one of my least favorite things; an info-dump, it then took nearly a third of the book for me to connect with the characters. I persevered, slowly slogging my way through and then... I gradually came to realize that my difficulty with
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relating to the characters was due to the masterful way Cherryh was developing those characters and their various parts of the story. There is no doubt that Cherryh is a challenging author. She does not spoon-feed a plot to the reader. Rather, she intimates and alludes via dialog, slowly filling in the blanks until the focus shifts into clarity. The reason I had trouble was that Cherryh was playing with the good guy/bad guy setup. Upon first meeting, it was nearly impossible for me to tell who I was supposed to be rooting for and who to hiss at. At about the halfway point, plot and characters were settling into place quite nicely - and then she still surprised me with where things ended up. From beginning to end, this book went from a 2-star to a solid 4-star read for me. I don't know why I was doubting Cherryh's ability to bring me around... I should know better. Show Less
LibraryThing member Cataloger623
There are better longer reviews of this book in Goodreads read them if you want a detailed analysis of the book. The basic premise of the story is that Earth and trading company jointly started to explore i and commercially exploit the great beyond. Trade was done at larger space stations and
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research bases around mostly empty worlds. Finally earth like worlds were discovered with life on them. There was mass migration out of the solar system and colonies were set up. At first trade between Earth and the colonies prospered then the colonies became independent of Earth. Earth at first fought to to retain control. She sent fleets to force her will and control. Then she abandoned support of her fleets without calling them back.. The last Fleet effectively became an independent force fighting for its own survival relying on the now independent stations, who wanted to remain neutral in this war, for support while continuing fight the fleets of the colonies.The book is the story of how the fleet of Earth the colonies and the independent stations dealt with their new reality. The for focuses on the last independent station circling a planet named Pell. I enjoyed the book as a good summer read. The story has its fill of of spies double agents , aliens and refugees. What I did not like were the passages that dealt mostly with the aliens. Those passages were badly written and did not add to the movement of the story. Beyond that flaw this was good space opera. Show Less
LibraryThing member AMZoltai
The most lovable aliens I've ever met---horribly mistreated by humans...
LibraryThing member gilroy
Why does it feel like a lot of books I'm reading these days are mostly backstory that someone felt made a good book?
At least the fiest two thirds of this book felt more like backstory that didn't need to be within teh book. Then the shift of POV between the humans and the Hisa felt like it was
So not what I expected. And difficult to pull myself through with such disappointments. And very slow going, because the action and intrigue doesn't really kick into gear until the last third of the book. The build was slow, the ending was lacking.
Yeah, no.
At least the fiest two thirds of this book felt more like backstory that didn't need to be within teh book. Then the shift of POV between the humans and the Hisa felt like it was
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filler. Add to that, what does the title have to do with the book? It mostly dealt with the space station and the space war.So not what I expected. And difficult to pull myself through with such disappointments. And very slow going, because the action and intrigue doesn't really kick into gear until the last third of the book. The build was slow, the ending was lacking.
Yeah, no.
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LibraryThing member knownever
I could not get past the Jar Jar Binks-ish Hisa. Blathering on about love and being all primitive. I started reading it because I heard there was some spicy gendered role reversal, but it wasn't spicy enough because I promptly forgot I read the book as soon as it was done. Literally someone asked
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me if I'd read it and described the plot and I said, "No...I don't think I've read that one" when I, you know, had. Show Less
LibraryThing member TheDivineOomba
I took awhile for me to get through this book. Its dense, packed with a lot of happenings for a reader to keep track of. I had to reread the first few chapters a couple of times to keep track of who was who. But once into it, it was still dense, but full of a great and twisty plot, interesting
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characters, and an unexpected ending. Well worth the read. Show Less
LibraryThing member betula.alba
'Downbelow Station' is the first of many Cherryh novels taking place in the Earth Company/Union/Merchanter's Alliance universe, and a must read for anyone interested in the series. It gives the background to the 'company wars', and the birth of The Merchanter's Alliance and an independent Pell
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station. Some good characterizations, such as Signy Mallory of the Norway. The depiction of the friendly 'n fluffy alien hisa of Pell is somewhat silly however. The book is moderately paced till the last chapter or so, where it suddenly speeds up. This is where the writing changes from being mediocre to outstanding. Show Less
LibraryThing member Caragen87
This was CJ Cherryh first real Sci-Fi blockbuster. What happens on an independant Space Station caught between an interstellar War between Earth and her former Colonies. What separated this book from other Sci-Fi War stories was the focus on Politics. Politics and the way war erodes the rights of
I give it 3 stars because it's a dense, long read that was really suited more for Adults than for the young guys who were buying Sci-Fi at the time this was published. And at times, seem too long and following too many characters.
The Positive: Signy Mallory. That was one SCARY Fleet Captain. I'm just sorry that Cherryh never brought this character back in another full adventure in the Merchanter universe.
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the embattled. Politics, bare-knuckle threat diplomacy and what happens when your Military no longer acknowledges civilian Authority.I give it 3 stars because it's a dense, long read that was really suited more for Adults than for the young guys who were buying Sci-Fi at the time this was published. And at times, seem too long and following too many characters.
The Positive: Signy Mallory. That was one SCARY Fleet Captain. I'm just sorry that Cherryh never brought this character back in another full adventure in the Merchanter universe.
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LibraryThing member Darrol
Competition over Pell Station and the Downbelow planet between Earth supporting Mazian's Fleet and Union forces representing a new kind of humanity. Caught in the middle are the merchanter ships and the native non-human planet population. I cannot say I followed all the strategy elements, but the
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result is an more or less neutral Pell Station allied with the merchanters backed by a renegade captain that breaks off from Mazian's fleet (Union retaining docking rights). The non-natives are not the most interesting aliens in the literature--almost too sweet. But there role in sheltering humans on planet has some sparks of interest (there tunnel shelters). I enjoyed the Mallory character, the captain of the Norway that breaks away from Manian. Show Less
LibraryThing member abile
Prix Hugo en 1982 et nommé au Locus (déjà ça classe...)
J'y retrouve ce que j'aime chez Cherryh, cette capacité à me faire entrer en quelques pages dans un univers imaginaire, dans la tête de ses personnages. J'aime le rythme qu'elle donne, le travail de la langue (bien d'autres livre de
Celui-ci est l'un de mes favoris, histoire, univers, personnages, style...
To give you a head start, this novel won the Hugo price in 1982 and was named for the Locus.... Not bad hu?
This C.J.Cherryh book is one of my favorite, so easy to immerse in her universe in a few pages, to be in the head of her characters. I love the rhythm she fives, the work on the language -this one is light on the language.
Definitely one of my favorite as it has a perfect mix of story, universe, characters and style.
J'y retrouve ce que j'aime chez Cherryh, cette capacité à me faire entrer en quelques pages dans un univers imaginaire, dans la tête de ses personnages. J'aime le rythme qu'elle donne, le travail de la langue (bien d'autres livre de
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l'auteur ont un travail encore bien plus poussé).Celui-ci est l'un de mes favoris, histoire, univers, personnages, style...
To give you a head start, this novel won the Hugo price in 1982 and was named for the Locus.... Not bad hu?
This C.J.Cherryh book is one of my favorite, so easy to immerse in her universe in a few pages, to be in the head of her characters. I love the rhythm she fives, the work on the language -this one is light on the language.
Definitely one of my favorite as it has a perfect mix of story, universe, characters and style.
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LibraryThing member meersan
Scifi classic about a human space station and furry aliens caught between two equally unappealing sides in an interstellar war.
LibraryThing member anissaannalise
One of my favorite scifi novels of all time. Cherryh gives a vivid portrayal of the conflict, claustrophobia & chaos on the station as events play out. Also, I very much like how she writes strong female characters. They're not over-the-top substitutions for males & are instead wholly believable as
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women, flawed & all. Show Less
Awards
Hugo Award (Nominee — Novel — 1982)
Locus Award (Nominee — Science Fiction Novel — 1982)
Locus All-Time Best (Science Fiction Novel — 25 — 1998)
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
1981-02
Physical description
432 p.; 7 inches
ISBN
0879975946 / 9780879975944