The Alien Way

I have to warn you, this is not perfect. Some serious suspension of disbelief, on several aspects, is required. And some patience with slightly dated attitudes, and with long-windedness, is also required. However, the core ideas and world-building are absolutely superb and I highly recommend the book to all thoughtful SF fans.

Btw, the blurb gives a slightly false impression, and most of the covers are awful. The one I read, and the other with more-gorilla-than-bear and the blond man, aren't so bad.

I absolutely *love* that humans are called, by the aliens, 'Muffled People,' because of the clothes we wear that hamper our movements and senses. These are realio-trulio aliens and they're awesome.

ETA: My husband, who usually reads thrillers show more and adventures, did read this, and loved it. show less

The Alien Way is the old kind of SF in which you can hear the narrative cogs turning in service of an Interesting Idea. That said, it is quite interesting if you’re willing to look past a bit of smugness and inarticulateness both from the author and the main character. The Idea is an exploration of how a different species might evolve to develop a very different worldview / moral paradigm from humankind’s. I have a bit of a soft spot for old SF myself, maybe due to an over-susceptibility to nostalgia, but I didn’t feel like I wasted my time over this one.

I first read this in high school. An unusual take on the hoary "first contact" theme. Good, but not great.

Zoologist Jason Barchar is telepathically linked to Kator, an alien Ruml warrior planning to invade Earth. Barchar must understand the Ruml's honor-based, bear-like culture to prevent colonization.

Three Novellas each one placed in a different alien context. Quite interesting as an exercise.

La posibilidad del espionaje electrónico mediante detectores implantados en el cerebro de un general enemigo: tal es el tema sugerido por Dickson en esta novela, diez años antes de Watergate y las portentosas revelaciones sobre la CIA yanqui. tenemos aquí otra muestra de la capacidad prospectiva de los escritores de ciencia ficción.