His Conquering Sword

More epic SF about the Jaran (nomadic horse people on the planet Rhui) and the technologically advanced Earthlings (who are trying to infiltrate Rhuian culture without revealing their own off-planet identities) and the inscrutably alien Chapelli (against whom the Earthlings are rebelling and of whom the Jaran remain officially ignorant).

It's a big meaty book about culture clashes on lots of different levels, and it's as good as the previous two books (Jaran and An Earthly Crown). My favorite subplot was about the Jaran prince and the Earthling actress that he spontaneously marries. Neither has any idea of what the marriage entails, and they just can't communicate on a fundamental level, and disaster is clearly waiting in the show more wings...yet they just keep obstinately plugging along, unable and unwilling to perceive separation as the most merciful course. It's alternately sweet and wrenching; their concluding scene has all the external trappings of a fairy-tale ending and the internal dynamic of a hard punch to the gut. show less

Still love this series. I think it's an interesting mix of post-colonial critique, traditional folk tale, and political drama.
One thing I was thinking about while reading is that there's not a lot of struggle in this one. There is one very sad main thing that happens, but other than that I mostly just enjoy reading because of the characters.

Book 3 of the Jaran series. The consequences of intermixing with the native people of the planet Rhui are having wider and wider consequences and Elliott continues to make it interesting. If you started out liking the first one, you'll probably still like it. Things must resolve in Book 4 so I can hardly wait to get started. Look to the final book for a summing up. ****

Jaran #3