The Kif Strike Back

First: I hate the cover. Too gory for the series in my opinion.

I’ve been enjoying this series so far but this is where it really grabbed me. The reader learns so much about the different species and gets more insight into what political schemes set this trilogy in motion. We especially see more of the Kif and see that maybe they aren’t the only species with dubious morals/loyalties. Plus many of the side characters such as Goldtooth and the Kif characters with 7 or more ks in their name get much more time in the spotlight.

This book still has the problem of being a tad over complex, but there are some explanatory segments that really clear things up. So if you’re not sure if you want to continue because the plot is too nebulous, show more I’d say keep going and it will get more comprehensible.

Pyanfar and crew are really in a pickle here. Trapped in a desperate spot not knowing where to turn or who to trust. Classic space thriller stuff I tell you what. show less

Sadly inconclusive, as a middle book must be, but "The Kif Strike Back" is pretty much the best-composed of the Chanur books so far: it goes somewhere and does something without losing the reader along the way. This is still mostly conniving-shooting-running by frustrated and frustrating characters, but there is more development at hand for major characters and clearer motivations for the various (and more numerous) sides involved.

I have to admit I'm bouncing hard off these. I don't want to bounce, either, especially since Cherryh writes some of the smartest ongoing SF series out there. I think it's mostly the Chanur and the weird aliens in this sociopolitical mess, the discordant dialogue, the whiny hume, and the fact that the payoff doesn't quite match the amount of work it obviously requires to follow the plot... not even mentioning the names.

Wow. I must sound like I hated this.

The reality is a bit stranger. I did like some of the payoffs and twists. I did like some of the intrigues and I appreciated even if I didn't go ga-ga over the fairly deep world-and-culture building when it came to the Chanur or any of the four main races.

In fact, if it had a slightly show more slower pace with a different hook, I would have probably luxuriated in getting to know all the players better. I've loved exactly that kind of tack from this author.

As it is here, it feels simultaneously thin and rushed even when a lot of thought was put into so many of the smaller elements. Since this is the second time I've attempted the read and I'm having exactly the same issues as the first time, I seriously think it's a personal issue. :)

Fortunately, I still love the majority of her works, so I'm just writing off this series as an "it's me, not you" kind of thing. :) show less

La historia de ‘La venganza de Chanur’ (The Kif Strike Back, 1985) continúa exactamente donde se quedó el anterior libro, ‘La aventura de Chanur’, con Hilfy y Tully en manos de los kif. La capitana Pyanfar Chanur y su tripulación no lo tendrán nada fácil para intentar liberar a sus amigos, y para lidiar con los tejemanejes políticos al más alto nivel. Y es que se está jugando el futuro del Pacto. Mahendo’sat, Stsho, Kif y Hani están implicados. Unos ven una oportunidad de ampliar el comercio con la nueva raza, los humanos, y otros ven un peligro en ellos. Además, están los respiradores de metano, cuyos intereses nadie entiende, pero que pueden suponer un grave peligro.

Tras el último volumen, la trama prometía show more mucho. Teníamos a los protagonistas divididos en dos frentes, y parecía que la acción iba a transcurrir por unos derroteros que al final no han cumplido mis expectativas. Me gustaba lo de llevar la voz narrativa a dos bandas, no solo con Pyanfar, mostrarnos otros puntos de vista. Pero al final no ha sido así, para mi decepción. En mi opinión, la historia avanza con excesiva lentitud. Cherryh dedica demasiadas páginas a la aproximación y atraque de las naves, intentando crear una tensión que no funciona. Le falta momentos épicos por los cuatro costados. La historia no se pone realmente emocionante hasta la últimas páginas. Casi toda la novela es un toma y daca político. El personaje de Pyanfar sigue tiendo fuerza, así como algunas de sus tripulantes. Pero Tully está totalmente desdibujado. Esperemos que en el último volumen suba un poco el nivel, ya que este me ha parecido un tanto flojo. show less

8/10
The double-dealing and plots within plots are a bit mind-boggling, and the various species of Compact space are truly alien, but this middle book in the Chanur series is a high tension page-turner.

Best to read this book immediately after Chanur's Venture and immediately before Chanur's Homecoming, as the three books are conceptually a single novel with some concessions to marketing realities. (It even ends with a little author's essay discussing those marketing realities.)

Classic Cherryh: Stuff keeps happening, and eventually it almost begins to make sense. All the nonstop action and political intrigue that marks CJ's best work. I'm still not entirely happy with the treatment the author's giving Tully, who used to be a convincing character but now mostly keeps repeating "Friend." Hopefully in Homecoming he'll return to earlier form.

On the other hand, Hilfy's growing up in all sorts of ways, and that's interesting.

This short show more review has also been published on a dabbler's journal. show less

A classic science fiction story, primarily about the feline crew of a spaceship and their human allies/captive. Humans are a weak race in this universe, but have somewhat of an ally in the Hani, both pitted against the somewhat reptilian Kif. Cherryh does an excellent job of writing this from an alien perspective, and blending the two races, though sometimes a bit too much. This has sort of the feel of Babylon 5 - many races, a lot of chaos, and its never quite sure who is on what side.