Visitor (Foreigner Book 17)

This five star rating is, I think, one of the most fairly, most justifiably given rankings of any product, song, or book that I have ever seen. I've given other things five star ratings, but never have I felt that one SO deserves them as this womans works do.This is the 17th book of a series that is labeled in sets of three ... 1,2,3 ... 4,5,6 ... 7,8,9 ... etc. I have NO idea how far this series is supposed to go ... I never would have thought that it would have gone THIS far ... and it's not done yet!I've got to warn you here ... finish one of this authors "series"--and there ARE a goodly number of them--and you will never again, not as long as you live, be completely satisfied with the quality of the work of an author other than this woman. Her story lines are believable, the characters are realistic, well defined and developed, and ones that you can easily come to care about.When she writes regarding alien life forms, she defines what is and what is not human by writing about these aliens. Most of her books have very strong female protagonists and most of her books have an extreme political bent. NOT to cast an aspersion here ... just saying her books are realistic, regarding the behavior and requirements of life forms, in the extreme.She is not effusive in her descriptions of sexual behaviors (R. A. Heinlein really got a bit strange in his old age), the violence, while present, is not overbearing, the suspense is never soul numbing, and the solutions to the problems of her characters are not always some fantastic Deus Ex Machina, but often enough, simple ordinary solutions that reflect reality ... which helps her novels be SO believable.I have NEVER read another book that has made me think SO analytically about the behavior and motivations of characters than this woman's books do. And I feel--after having read nearly 80 (that's right ... I said nearly EIGHTY) of her books--that her writing skills are superior to any of the SciFi/Fantasy writers of the last 50 years ... Robert Heinlein, Isaac Asimov, Larry Niven, Jerry Pournelle, Taylor Anderson, Greg Bear, Alistair Reynolds, S. M. Stirling, David Weber, Arthur C. Clarke ... I truly don't think a single one of these authors hold a candle to this woman's imagination. I just CANNOT emphasize strongly enough how fascinating I find this authors books.How does one feel after having eaten peanut butter all of ones life and then suddenly being fed a nice rare London Broil? Finish one of her series ... and your life will never ... will NEVER ... be the same again. How can anyone read anything SO thought provoking and then be satisfied with anything less? Read any of her series: Chanur, Rider at the Gate, Foreigner (this book is the 17th), Fortress, Heavy Time, Alliance/Union, Russalka, Cyteen ... or any of her stand alone novels or any of her other series (this is NOT a complete list) ... and join the ranks of the intellectually spoiled ...You will NOT be sorry.

This volume continues the story of Bren Cameron as he works through the visit (which concludes here) of the Kyo. Some parts of it go as planned -- for example, linguistic research. Other parts don't, quite, but disaster is averted. And a surprise is revealed.Well, not so much a surprise as a confirmation.But, as always, it is so well written that it is a smooth and, in place, gripping read.

Rediscovered this series when I was moving paperbacks and found the first 12. Reread them and started buying the ones that I didn't have. My habit has been to skip the slow political discussions and proselytizing. I found myself reading more of the dry parts in this episode then ever before. It did keep my interest but my goodness... it... is.... sloooooow. If it were any slower it'd be stopped. I do, however, still recommend it.. even though the editing in this volume could have been a lot better

Visitor is the 17th book in CJ Cherryh’s Foreigner series. As such it is not the easiest book to get into. There is a great deal of explication in the early pages, and at times too many reminders for the dedicated fan, although I suspect just a bare bones description of the story so far for a person who just wants to read an interesting science fiction novel of alien and human intrigue. This book foreshadows some of the most thought-provoking understandings of what it means to be human, that are likely to come in the next two books in the series. In Defender (#6) and Explorer (#7) we were introduced to the existence of the Reunion Station and its human inhabitants, seeded from the crew of Phoenix and then abandoned after the station had been attacked by a technologically advanced race, the kyo. Through Bren Cameron’s efforts as an interpreter, the Reunioner-humans are rescued and returned to the Alpha Station circling the Earth of the atevi. During the rescue, Bren and his Assassins Guild aishid free a kyo prisoner held for years on Reunion Station. This prisoner, Prakuyo an Tep, establishes the basis of better relations with Bren, the aiji-dowager Ilisidi, and the aiji-heir Cajeiri. As the kyo and Phoenix part, Prakuyo states that the kyo will visit the atevi homeworld, no date specified.Once Phoenix returns to the atevi homeworld, politics draws Bren, Ilisidi, and Cajeiri plus their various aishid down to the planet leaving the mess with the Reunioner-humans, Mospheirin-based humans, and Phoenix-based ship-humans on Alpha Station.A year after Phoenix’ return to Alpha, the kyo have turned up in the heavens above the atevi-homeworld and Bren, along with Ilisidi and Cajeiri have returned to AlphaStation to meet the kyo, convince them of the stability and peaceful intentions of the atevi-dominated planet, and prevent them from landing on the planet. Nothing ever goes as planned. In Tracker (#16) most of the internal stationer and ship-human problems have been relieved, and the atevi government is returning to stability, but the friction between the Reunioners and the rest of the humans on ship and station continue to simmer.Now (in Visitor #17) Bren, Ilisidi, and Cajeiri once more combine forces to form a contact team with the kyo which includes Prakuyo an Tep, Manuanu an Matu and Hakuut an Ti. Over teacakes (lots and lots of teacakes) a dictionary is created and a treaty is forged, but not without a few plot twists. Some of the plot twists are apparent, others are truly unforeseen. Information coming from Reunion Stationmaster Braddock and Irene’s mother forces a revision of who’s really to blame for the kyo’s attack on Reunion. Bren’s handling and decision about the kyo’s prisoner Cullen and where he came from will surely figure in books to come. Bren’s conscience, which has been under increasing pressure from all the decisions he has made for the atevi good is leading to a crisis of human inclination vs atevi (and human) necessity. Cajeiri draws his human companions closer; Ilisidi is growing more fragile; and Bren’s romantic involvement with Jago has grown as comfortable as old shoes, and as little mentioned. This book is not the best place for a new reader to pick up the series, although there is enough introductory and clarifying info to make it understandable. (I recommend entry at Peacemaker #15, especially Lord Geigi’s History of the Aishidi’tat starting at about page 343.)

If you like science fiction this series and this book is a great read

Ich hatte ja schon zum letzten Band angemerkt, dass der Serie der Schritt weg von reinen "Inner-Atevi"-Themen weg guttut, da sich hierdurch neue erzählerische Möglichkeiten auftun. In "Visitor" geht es um den langerwarteten Besuch der Kyo (aus der zweiten Triologie), welche sich ein Bild von den Atevi und Menschen auf der Atevi-Heimatwelt machen wollen. Im Buch gibt es tatsächlich keine einzige Actionszene, sondern es wird die Begegnung zwischen Atevi, Menschen und Kyo geschildert mit all den Tücken, die eine solche Begegnung zwischen fremden Zivilisationen mit sich bringt. Der Fokus liegt extrem auf Bren, was aber durchaus positiv ist (auf Cajeiri könnte ich nach wie vor gut verzichten, er spielt aber auch keine signifikante Rolle). Am Ende wird dann noch ein echter Kracher gezündet und man darf gespannt sein, ob dieser nach dem aktuellen Zyklus noch weiterverfolgt wird. Mit etwas mehr "Mut" hätte man die Story hier auch in eine neue reizvolle Richtung für Bren drücken können, ggf. sogar ungewollt.Außerdem wird in "Visitor" noch die Lösung der Reunion-Menschen-Problematik angedacht, welche wohl dann im Folgeband das Thema sein wird. Insgesamt aber Klasse.Ein Wunsch am Ende wäre aber mal wieder mehr Charakterentwicklung in Richtung Jago/Banichi und Co. zu sehen.

For me this is the best novel in the sequence. The tension in the last fifty pages in tremendous. This might be the end of the story, with only a denouement volume to tie up some loose ends. But for me, it could just go on and on.

Another excellent book in the Foreigner sequence. Inbound Kyo and all the tensions that event brings. The last three chapters made the whole book worthwhile.... no peeking! I can't wait for the next book to come out to find out what happens next

I have read this series from the beginning and I love how it is unfolding. I had an idea where it was going and I think it is a perfect place for the further understanding of how we relate to each other. Language is a barrier to most of us yet there is more to language than simple words and logic. C J you are doing a wonderful job of bringing understanding to your characters and in the long run opening up your readers to more possibilities of how to communicate. I learn something new every time I read and I love your books, they are the greatest enjoyment to read. I love the suspense the humor and the simple joy of getting to know others. I can't wait for the next one. By the way I own most of your books and have enjoyed every one of them..Keep on writing!