Rider at the Gate / C.J. Cherryh

Rider at the Gate

category: science fiction / fantasy, author:

C.J. Cherryh

book 1 of Nighthorse
original copyright 1995,
read in August 2011

Agamedes' opinion: 8 out of 10

Is there a clear distinction between "fantasy" and "science fiction"? No...

Rider at the Gate is science fiction. I say so, Wikipedia says so, our state library says so. The library has also categorised this book as fantasy -- and I agree.

The author has created a brand new world. A world in which animals -- all of the indigenous animals -- use telepathy. So far -- this is pure fantasy.

The world has been settled by... not a local tribe of dwarfs, not an invading group of orcs... but by non-telepathic humans. Humans from another planet. From another planet? Oh, okay... this book must be "science fiction"... But it's not.

The Chanur Saga / C.J. Cherryh

The Chanur Saga

(Chanur's Venture & The Kif Strike Back)

category: science fiction, author:

C.J. Cherryh

books 2 & 3 of The Chanur Saga
original copyright 1985 & 1986,
read in December 2010

Agamedes' opinion: 7 out of 10

Warning: This is not a novel!

What? Not a novel?! Why not?!

Chanur's Venture is one volume of a longer novel. Venture is not complete in itself; it has no real conclusion. The Pride of Chanur was a novel; it stood alone -- beginning, middle, climax, end. Yes, Venture follows closely on Pride -- and depends on Pride for its logic -- but Pride can be read, by itself, as a satisfactory novel.

Venture ends with a desperate cliffhanger. There is no conclusion.

No worries, I thought. I am, after all, reading a book of three volumes: Pride, Venture and Kif.

But blow me down! Even The Kif Strike Back does not end!

So if you want to know how the heroines get out of their ever-increasing difficulties... make sure that you have Chanur's Homecoming ready to hand. And perhaps, even Chanur's Legacy. Who knows how long Cherryh can stretch out this money-spinning franchise...

It really annoys me that writers and/or publishers can print what is really an incomplete story -- with no warning on the cover.

I have no trouble with The Pride of Chanur, a standalone book which leaves us wanting more. I have no trouble with Harry Potter where we knew -- right from the start -- that there would be seven books. And in any case, each of the seven is a complete adventure on its own.

I strongly object to an author and/or publisher who lies -- through omission -- to the reader. Here is a published novel, they say. And fail to tell us that the so-called "novel" is just the first instalment of a much longer story. If we -- the readers -- want to know how the heroines get out of the cliffhanging chaos -- we have to pay more. And... possibly... more again and again.

That said, the two books make for good reading. It's still hard to follow what's happening. Though the captain regularly takes several pages to explain the plot to the crew and to us. So it's not quite as confusing as Pride.

Good books. Good characters and character development. Lots of action. And even more, lots of complex fuge and subterfuge. Which the poor reader struggles with. Just as much as do most of the characters.

..o0o..

These reviews are provided by Agamedes Consulting. For an independent and thoughtful review of your processes, problems or documents, email nickleth at gmail dot com.

The Pride of Chanur / C.J. Cherryh

The Pride of Chanur

category: science fiction, author:

C.J. Cherryh

book 1 of Chanur
original copyright 1982,
read in December 2010

Agamedes' opinion: 7 out of 10

Aliens, aliens, aliens... The Compact is a loose arrangement of alien races willing to trade with each other. Now, the first human has entered Compact space.

From there, you expect the human to make friends, save lives, initiate new trade routes and, possibly, lead at least one alien race to victory. Well -- wrong!

One of the the alien races -- the hani -- provides the heroes. The sole human is a catalyst, a cause of much of the action, but with minimal involvement. Almost like a treasure which starts arguments, causes troubles, then is returned to its rightful owner.

The Pride of Chanur is a story of aliens, with one human catalyst. The hani have space travel and politics. And the politics are at least as important as the space travel. Not that this makes the book any less "science fiction" because the politics are, of course, alien :-)

Pride is an action-packed adventure, yet the main theme is the decisions made by the hero. With a growing theme of, the development of the Chanur family within the hani race. The hero recognises that the current hani approach to politics is, perhaps, not the best; this leads to a small shift in attitude, for the hero. (Strictly speaking, for the heroine. Major hani characters are female; the no-space rule for males is one of the problems recognised by the ... heroine.)

I wonder if the heroine's new understanding will spread to other hani, as the book series continues? Since I'm reading a three-in-one volume, I'll soon find out...

Back amongst the action -- and the politics -- this book can be hard to follow.

At many points I'm left wondering, What's happening? The action and interest continue on but the detail is confused. Perhaps Cherryh -- or her editor -- has also noticed this...

I've already read a chapter or three of the next book. In book one (Pride), all characters suffer physical effects from using the warp drive. In the second book, we are given a reasonable explanation as to why. I just hope that this extra clarity will extend to other aspects of the story!

But that's a minor quibble. The book has depth, breadth, good characters and an exciting plot. There is enough to keep any reader... any reader who likes the sort of book that I like... enjoyably entertained, right to the end.

With a solid and satisfactory ending. Though I still hope that the human will come back in book two, and possibly do something beyond being a catalyst.

Although, truth to tell, the hani are interesting enough. The Pride of Chanur is a story of unique people who have to deal with a strange alien. And that alien just happens to be a "human".

..o0o..

These reviews are provided by Agamedes Consulting. For an independent and thoughtful review of your processes, problems or documents, email nickleth at gmail dot com.