Serpent's Reach

by C. J. Cherryh

Other authorsDavid B. Mattingly (Cover artist)

Paperback, 1980-03

Status

Available

Call number

PS3553.H358 S4

Series

Alliance-Union Universe (9)

Alliance-Union Universe: Publishing order (6)

Alliance-Union Universe: The Era of Rapprochement

Genres

Science Fiction

All Topics

Fiction

Publication

DAW Books (New York, 1980). 1st edition, 3rd printing. 287 pages. $2.50.

Description

From exoskeletons to neural implants, biomedical devices are no less than life-changing. Compact and constant power sources are necessary to keep these devices running efficiently. Edwar Romero's Powering Biomedical Devices reviews the background, current technologies, and possible future developments of these power sources, examining not only the types of biomedical power sources available (macro, mini, MEMS, and nano), but also what they power (such as prostheses, insulin pumps, and muscular and neural stimulators), and how they work (covering batteries, biofluids, kinetic and thermal energy, and telemetry). The book also looks at challenges such as energy generation efficiency, energy density, rectification, and energy storage and management. A final section on future trends rounds out the book. By briefly examining these key aspects, this book gives its readers a valuable overview of biomedical devices' power sources.… (more)

User reviews

LibraryThing member Black_samvara

I have a backup copy for when this disintegrates from excessive love. A young woman's entire 'clan/hive' is murdered and she pursues vengeance and justice as the remaining representative of a long lived people who act as negotiators with giant alien hives. I cannot do this story justice but

understand that I re-read it often and force it on people who sometimes forgive me.

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LibraryThing member Darrol

This book is an example of what I read science fiction for: good alien intelligence. In this case sentient hives. The odd thing--and somewhat disquieting--is the idea of a sentient species with only a handful of persons expressed in a handful of hives with many individual, but dependent, components.

LibraryThing member TadAD

We know it's set in the Alliance-Union universe because of the presence of the azi, but it seems to be well in the future of the rest of the novels and doesn't deal with that conflict at all.

LibraryThing member Anniik

I love CJ Cherryh, and have never read anything of hers that I didn't like. This book is no exception. While I found myself confused at times over what exactly was happening (especially as the war began - although this could be partially beause I'm dreadful at imagining any type of battle scene), I

found the premise of the book, and the Majat, utterly fascinating.

I also love anything Cherryh writes with the azi in it - they make you wonder what exactly it means to be human in the first place. This book is a well written, early work of Cherryh. Perhaps not as good as the Faded Sun trilogy, but definitely worth reading.

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LibraryThing member joeldinda

First and foremost: An interesting idea, well-executed. Well worth reading.

This is very early Cherryh, and she'd not fully mastered her craft. Though the aliens--and the strangely-alien humans, for that matter--are well-imagined, and brought to convincing life, Cherryh hadn't yet developed the

extreme character focus-‘intense internal third [person],’ she calls it--which drives her best books.

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LibraryThing member fuzzi

Raen is 15 when a power grab between ruling clans leaves her an outcast, alive but with nothing but her family name and a desire for revenge on those who have taken her home and family from her. But Raen is special, able to communicate with the Majat, members of a large insect-like species that

inhabit her world.

While I felt this story started very slowly, more so than previous reads by this author, it held my interest until the plot suddenly 'took off' and I was hopelessly hooked. Ms. Cherryh has a talent for creating worlds and characters that are believable and fascinating.

Not one of CJ Cherryh's best works, but enjoyable and satisfying.

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LibraryThing member sammii507

found the premise of the book, and the Majat, utterly fascinating. I also love anything Cherryh writes with the azi in it - they make you wonder what exactly it means to be human in the first place. This book is a well written, early work of Cherryh. Perhaps not as good as the Faded Sun trilogy, but definitely worth reading.

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LibraryThing member juniperSun

Good sci fi. avoids the standard (for the era) sex interest.
Ant-type people.
Noted during my 1980's attempt to read every book in my small town library.

LibraryThing member antiquary

This is the story of a young woman born into a family whos high status is due to its connecton with a 'hive" of insectoid aliens. Her family is destroyed and she ppeals to the alliance to gain revenge.

LibraryThing member Karlstar

A young woman is part of a clan on a planet on the outskirts of human space. The planet is also inhabited by an intelligent insect species and she and her clan are important go-betweens with the insect hives. She and her clan are caught in a vast conspiracy and she spends decades uncovering the

plot. The main character, Raen, is a good character and the setting is great. Unfortunately, there's just not enough shown of what's going on, so every action of hers feels mysterious and murky and at the end, it doesn't feel resolved. There are a lot of thought provoking concepts here though.

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