Destroyer

No one world-builds like Cherryh. In this installment we learn more about atevi politics, man-chi, and the dowager and her great-grandson, the heir to power. Can I just say, I LOVE the aiji-dowager. Old and infirm, she still pulls the strings and manipulates everyone in her quest for power, whether for herself or her great grandson, time will tell. What a great character. How does Cherryh keep track of all the complexities of her world? But she never puts a foot wrong. And Cajeiri the heir is coming along nicely. His ability to command man-chi is developing, but what sort of future leader will he be, steeped in human culture and space travel, without the instincts of his race? My guess is that, several books down the road, he will be show more the leader to unite both the atevi and the humans against the incursion of the alien kyo, but only time will tell.

The book does get a little slow in places, and there's a lot of introspection, but overall it's a great read. show less

Book seven in Cherryh's Foreigner series -- or the first book in the third Foreigner trilogy, if you prefer to number things that way -- about a population of humans sharing a planet with an alien species called the atevi. In this one, our protagonist, Bren Cameron, returns from a long voyage to discover that things have changed significantly while he was gone.

It's a good, solid entry in the series. Unlike some of them, it gets going pretty quickly, with some fairly exciting things happening right from the beginning. As usual with this series, the story takes its time from there, but it features some interestingly complex political situations and a bit of action by the end, and it left me very interested to see what was going to happen show more next. (Although not until I've had a little bit of a break, because too much of Cherryh's writing all at once makes my brain tired. Not as tired as the people in her books usually are, admittedly. But still.) And I'm also rather pleased by the fact that, even seven books in, we're still getting some interesting insights into the atevi and the way their minds work. show less

Ingrid Bengis wrote one of my all time favorite quotes: "Words are a form of action, capable of influencing change."

Words have started wars, and stopped them, caused murders and divorce, and created great saints and martyrs. Indeed, words are capable of influencing change.

From page 112 of C. J. Cherryh's "Destroyer", in reference to actions by the protagonist, a translator:

"He'd let his dictionary-making duties slip, thinking they didn't matter so much... But where was the clue to his problems? Lurking, as always, in the dictionary, right where he'd begun."

Insightful gems like this one abound in Cherryh's "Foreigner" series, one of the many reasons I treasure her novels. Currently, I'm reading the seventh of what is now nine books, show more stringing out the pleasure until the ninth book, "Deliverer", is released on January 4th. C. J. Cherryh wrote the Foreigner series in what is so far three sets of trilogies, each of which ends with a satisfying conclusion - however, fans keep asking for more, and Cherryh has delivered. show less

This book marks the start of the third sub-trilogy of the series and a very welcome return back to the Atevi Homeworld.

Now while I did enjoy the spacetravel and the intrigue with the new aliens and the mess with the other space-station, I really love the fact that we're returning to where my love of the series began.

We left with the world practically unified under Tabini, but when Bren returns to the system only to find that supplies from the world aren't getting to the space station and the main continent is in turmoil and Tabini is presumed dead, grandmother Ilisidi and Tabini's young son and Bren go harrowing off to find support in the mainland or at least some word as to Tabini's fate.

The Atevi can't lose space! Not like this! show more No!!!

This one is full of politics and poor Bren still trying to figure out the deep fundamental differences between the Atevi and the Human mindsets, becoming a mystery much greater than that and a full-out action novel later, still.

God, I love this series. It really has everything. Characters we're deeply invested in, absolutely gorgeous worldbuilding, and truly fantastic stories that are both very grounded and intricate.

This series is still going strong 10 books after this, too!!! :) I can't wait to get to them! show less

Destroyer (Foreigner # 7) (ISBN 0756402530)
With the first book in the third Foreigner Sequence, it's a return to the world of the Atevi, the Phoenix having overcome all obstacles, rescued the stranded humans of the Reunion Station and even made tentative peace with a new alien race. It should be a return in triumph.

Things have changed at home. The Western Association of the atevi is in a state of chaos. There are reports of rebellions. The station is low on supplies and now has to take on several thousand more rescued humans. And worst -- the worst of all -- Tabini aiji is reported dead by his usurper.

Into this chaotic, troubled land Bren, Ilisidi and Tabini's son and heir, must make their way across country to the dubious safety of an show more old, hidebound lord with no love of humans and their technology. And while he knows that their journey to Reunion and the contact with the kyo aliens vindicates everything that Tabini did to rush his people to the stars, Bren cannot help but feel that maybe he failed in his own true job -- that of the paidhi, who stood between the atevi and human technology that everyone feared would ruin their civilization if handed over too quickly.

But what could he have done differently?

This is another great book in the series, from the surprise fall of the Western Association through all the trouble Bren and his companions have to find safety and get news of a problem that might be following them in -- the new alien race that expects to find a stable, Atevi government with everything in hand.

There are times when I think Bren 'thinks' too much, but beyond that I very rarely even come up for air as I'm reading. Far too often, I've found it dawn before I put one of these books down and get a few hours sleep. The characters are wonderful, the plot exciting and world building exquisite. show less

we're back from space now. as much as romanticize about space, I much prefer a fracas with the Assassin's Guild over one with the Pilot's Guild. I find Guild Assassins much more interesting. I find non-warehouse-lifestyle culture much more interesting.

and I find planets much more interesting. they have trees.

Bren & co, having completed a strange but passably successful mission, return with potential problems in tow... to find actual and overwhelming problems at home. the government's collapsed, an ambitious fool is in charge, and nobody can find Tabini, or even knows if he is alive. lovely. well, it had to be something of cataclysmic proportions.

Destroyer (#7) is a counterpoint to Explorer (#6), much as the dynamic cornucopia of events show more in Explorer (#6) contrasted with the slow-paced pyschological intrigue of Defender (#5).

Explorer(#6) was very much Cameron-ci, Cameron-la, Cameron, Cameron, CAMeronnnnn... ah, to be a paidhi of quality! busy, confident Bren Cameron saving the universe and all. Destroyer (#7) pretty much turns that on its head as Bren comes to realize that he has indeed made some egregious mistakes in his thinking and now there is hell to pay (so, he hasn't gotten it, re:enculturation vs biological imperative, not nearly as well as he thought he had). before, the earth of the atevi relied on Bren and the Phoenix lot distrusted him greatly... now that's almost reversed. much of Bren staying out of the way and shutting up in this one, which means that we get more atevi. we get to see and realize more about Ragi culture than we have before, and we get to witness man'chi developing right before our eyes (while in the midst of witty politics and desperate cross-country transits, no less).

new antagonist: Tatiseigi. oh, we've met, but now we have to practically move in with the man, and hope that he doesn't poison anyone while we figure out what side he's really on.

Cajeiri starts growing up... tangibly. and in so maturing, he is not so subdued or quiet, even in the most impressive company of his overpowering great-grandmother or great-grand uncle. we get to really start understanding who he is.

and damnitall, Barb is back. she is such a pain. there's never been a more appropriately named character, I swear. will someone just toss her off the boat already? I do not trust her and I honestly do not care if she is only human--- that doesn't mean her every flaw should be overlooked. if she causes any more trouble, she'd better die of her own self-made doom, or I'm going to gripe about it even more lol.

and just for the record, I haven't ever been able to bring myself to trust Yolanda either.

some typos are very VERY infuriating. Mt. say-what? Edo??? I don't think so.

and the book ENDS when the story is nowhere NEAR done... bah. but at least it is continued in the next book, and doesn't just leave us hanging forever. show less

Two years in space, and everyone longs to be home... only to find that everything has changed.
Bren tries to heal a situation he views as his fault - and he also finds out what has happened to his family while he has been gone.

What is the worth of a diplomatic tour de force if there is no-one there to honour the treaties made?

A very good start to the third sequence.