Customer Reviews

Destroyer (Foreigner 7)

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Just when you thought everything is settled, peace in space and at home achieved, the spaceship Phoenix returns back to the world of the Atevi after a very successful mission to retrieve all the human stationers from a formerly hostile alien territory to find all that seemed stable and secure on the homeworld and in orbit on the decaying human-built ancient space station has devolved into near anarchy and verging into inter-species war in the Phoenix's multi-year absence...

I got the chance to read an Advance Readers Copy of this novel and enjoyed it as much as I've enjoyed some of the other books in the first two trilogies about the Human Bren Cameron and his adventures amongst the sometimes very opaque society of the Atevi society. If you enjoyed the last series that took the Human Paidhi Bren and his Atevi staff and acquaintences to space and beyond, you'll enjoy this new book as well. WARNING! There is no chance that anybody who hasn't read the last six books will be able to follow or enjoy "Destroyer." I envy those who are just starting out on this series, please do read "Foreigner" and it's two sequals (which in my opinion has been the best books the author has written in the last ten years).

My one disappointment is that the relationship between Bren, Banichi and Jago seems to have lost some of the attention/excitement given to it in the previous books (particularily between Bren and Jago). The one special nature of these books is the gradual illumination of the non-human nature of the Atevi and it's odd interaction/struggle with human nature as we and the author understand it. The evolving relationship between Bren and Jago was the highpoint of the first three books and I miss that.

It is a misfortune to almost all planned trilogies is that as an opening book, there is often a lot of setup for the the resolution in the final book. Despite that proviso, action does occur, the plot does move forward. I also found the internal monolog of our hero Bren at times a bit wearisome at times (I note that the author has written quite a few books with these tremendously introspective males in the past decade or so where it seems entire chapters are composed solely of the thoughts of the hero and with little or no exterior action...Not to say I didn't enjoy the change of a more intellectual SF/Fantasy, Ms. Cherry).

On the whole, a good start to a new trilogy about a favorite set of characters of mine.

Okay, I can't believe I'm the first reviewer here... Cherryh, although highly prolific is also a fine writer, and this book came as a pleasant surprise. Just when we thought Bren Cameron was ready to come 'home' (a highly conflicted term for Mr. Cameron, who has become more comfortable with the hostile aliens his human compatriots share a planet with than he has with other humans) and settle into a competent, productive middle age with his atevi companions, Cherryh has taken Cameron's home and thrown it into chaos. Tabini, whom Cameron serves, has been deposed by the more volatile political elements of the atevi, just as an even more volatile (and threatening) alien presence promises to arrive in the solar system and set up negotiations. To make matters worse, Cameron (realizing that hindsight is 20-20) sees much of the progress that he himself instigated in order to keep the atevi in charge of their own homeworld as part of the cause of the overthrow. Cameron and his companions (including his atevi lover, Jago) are pitched into a desperate and confused race to find Tabini and to negotiate with the most anti-human of the atevi factions. I admit, that although I loved the first five of these books, I found that six and seven lagged a little--too much of the action aboard the space station was inside of Bren's head, and he seemed to be becoming a little self-important. This book, however, put the excitement back in the series--there were macheiti chases, battles, covert operations--all the good action stuff that Cherryh writes so cleanly. There was also the lovely, low-key personal stuff that I personally like to read between the lines--example, Bren and Jago's largely unspoken relationship has a few fine moments here--including Jago's unspoken threat to have Bren's ex-girlfriend assassinated and Bren's almost petulant longing to have a few private moments simply to talk to Jago when circumstances make that quite impossible. All in all, this book revived my excitement in the series, and although I'm still waiting (14 years of waiting, my friends) for the fifth Morgaine and Vanye book, this one went a long way towards making that wait bearable.

Yes! my all time favorite series is back with a new adventure. I was so sad when the second trilogy in the Foreigner series came to an end. Happy days are here again, but not for Bren and company. Just when he thought he could finally take that vacation he's always wanted our hero is in for a big surprise. As usual Cherryh did an outstanding job in describing (at length) the complex emotions and thoughts our loveable Bren experiences. My only real complaint is that this first visit back to the atevi homeworld ended so abruptly! It took me all of a minute to finish the book and it left me feeling slightly cheated. But, all is not lost my friends - there are two more books left to read. I just hope it doesn't take an eternity for them to become available.

It has always astounded me to see how a whole new universe can be created in the mind of a good science fiction writer. And then within the universe there are people and stories that hang together and make sense. (Although I suspect that if we ever do meed an alien race they will be so different from us that it exceeds any understanding.)

C.J. Cherryh is one of those writers that can create a universe and make it believable. And the Foreigner series is one of the best. There have been six previous novels in the series, and you should start with the first and build up to this one. The books in the series are organized into three trilogies: Foreigner, Invader, Inheritor; then Precursor, Defender, Explorer, and now Destroyer with two additional titles to come. Fortunately, all of these titles are available from Amazon.

Destroyer begins with the ship Phoenix returned to Alpha Station to find things in a mess: civil war, threats of invasion, all the sorts of things that make up a good novel. And a very good novel it is.

Buy it, put it on a shelf, order the others in the series and keep in your mind that this one is waiting for you.

Destroyer (2005) is the seventh novel in the Foreigner series and the first book in the third trilogy, following Explorer. In the previous volume, Bren Cameron and his associates travel to Reunion Station on the Phoenix. There they find an alien ship observing the system, an alien hostage aboard the station, and the Pilot's Guild refusing to answer simple questions.

The humans and atevi aboard the Phoenix begin to communicate with the aliens, rescue the hostage, and force the Pilot's Guild to evacuate the station. The aliens are not very friendly at first, but Prakuyo An Tep, the rescued hostage, and the Dowager-ji establish a working arrangement with the kyo. Leaving Reunion Station in the hands of the aliens, the Phoenix departs for Alpha Station with over 4000 stationer refugees.

In this novel, the Phoenix returns to find that the aishidi'tat of the Western Association has been fractured by the Kadigidi and Taisigini Associations and that Murini has declared himself as the aiji; they cite technological disruptions as the reason for the coup. Tabini-aiji escaped the initial attack, was last reported at the Taiben estate, and is presumed to be still alive on the mainland. Two of the shuttles are down on the planet, but the third is docked at Alpha Station.

The aiji-dowager Ilisidi and the paidhi Bren Cameron decide to return to the planet on the only accessible shuttle, landing at the Jackson airport on Mospheira Island rather that on the mainland. There they are met by President Shawn Tyers and provided with all information available to the Mospheirans. Bren also meets his brother Toby and reluctantly accepts the offer of his boat to cross the straits to the mainland.

The reduced party, including the aiji-heir Cajeiri, lands on the North Shore, acquires a truck from an allied association, and drives to the train station. Sneaking aboard the night freight, they travel to the Sidonin mail stop, steal a bus, and take backroads to Taiben. From there they ride mecheiti to the Atageini estate of Lord Tatiseigi, Cajeiri's great-uncle.

This novel continues the story of the atevi rise to technological parity with the Mospheirans and the disruptions that inevitably occur. Murini proclaims his commitment to conservative concerns, but really is only giving lip service to the traditional life. He is the son of the former traitor Direiso, but had claimed to have no knowledge of his father's plots and gained shelter with Lord Tatiseigi. At that time, Bren had plead for his life as an innocent bystander. Now, of course, Murini's life will be forfeit if Tabini regains leadership of the Western Association.

Lord Tatiseigi, however, is a true preservationist, reluctant to accept even such technology as electric lights. Moreover, the Kadigidi lands adjoin his estate and they have not been the best of neighbors. Of course, Tati-ji is also feuding with the Taibeni, who are also his neighbors, over a hundred year old disagreement.

As the son of the Ragi aiji Tabini and the Atageini lady consort Damiri, Cajeiri is heir-apparent of the Western Association and the best hope of Lord Tatiseigi to gain power. Of course, Tati-ji will have to deal with Cajeiri's man'chi, which has already extended to the Taiben association. He is definitely following in Tabini-aiji's footsteps.

The Assassins Guild is stymied by this disruption of the Western Association. Someone has killed the Guildmaster and the Guild Assembly is stalling. Bren has sent a brief report to the Assembly about the voyage in hopes that the Guild will provide safe conduct to the meeting, but the letter has not yet had time to reach the Guild.

Other reviewers have compared the atevi to the Japanese, but I suspect that the kyo are much more like Shogunate Japan. The atevi are more like the Imperial Chinese, even to having a powerful dowager empress. In both cases, these natives have successfully resisted foreign pressures and maintain their own cultures despite outside influences. In fact, the purpose of the padhii is to allow technological advances with minimal effect on the traditional culture; unfortunately, minimal is *not* zero effect and disruptions do occur. Hence this trilogy.

Highly recommended for Cherryh fans and for anyone else who enjoys tales of humans living with aliens, adapting to their ways and offering technological assistance.

-Arthur W. Jordin

The Atevi send the spaceship Phoenix to Reunion Station where the inhabitants encountered the sentient space faring Kyo who planned to blow up the facility because it was in territory they considered theirs. Deploying diplomacy, interpreter and Human-Atevi advisor Bren Cameron convinces the Kyo to allow the four thousand inhabitants to peacefully leave and then the space station would belong to the Kyo. Now they are days away from home and both human and Atevi are looking forward to enjoying the little luxuries found on their planet.

They come back to a world that is in the middle of a civil war and onboard the Phoenix is the dowager and the heir. No one knows where the ruler and his wife are and many think they are dead. Bren and his staff, the dowager and her staff, and the heir shuttle down to the planet where they travel through enemy territory to find the heir's great uncle. They hope to enlist his aid in returning the former ruler on his heir to power, but a traitor alerts the rebels who plan to kidnap or kill them.

Nobody is better than C.J. Cherryh when it comes to writing an in depth exploration of an alien society. Relations between humans and Atevi are in jeopardy many of the native race believes humanity has too much influence and technology that disturbs the conservative elements of their society. Bren blames himself for pushing the space program and other technological advances on the leader who trusts him and he is desperate to undo the damage he has done. DESTROYER is a wondrous work starring two sentient races struggling to co-exist peacefully.

Harriet Klausner

New to the series? First, if you don't like epic serial novels stay away from the entire Foreigner Universe series. If you do like them C. J.Cherryh typically writes them in trilogies so you can get some closure in your life lifetime (Think Robert Jordan's series that we've all been reading for 20 years and still no end in sight) yet the trilogies let you continue the saga.

The Foreigner Universe series builds a complete world and alien society and allows you get-into the complex society with its castes, very different mindset, and way of thinking. Destroyer starts the 3rd trilogy, if this is your first step into the series I strongly suggest you skip this book and go back to the first book FOREIGNER and start from there. To start now would leave you bewildered. Okay, so much for newbie warnings.

For CJC fans, it is more of the fantastically complex Atevi society and thinking. I'd actually give it 4.5 Stars because Bren's thoughts and insecurities seem to repeat themselves a bit much - mainly because we know him well already. The book starts with Bren and the ever-imposing dowager matriarch Ilisidi and her grandson returning from a two-year space journey ... yes a space journey and we all know how the Grand Dowager feels about the encroachment of technology. I'll leave you to discover the full why they are in space but an alien race that is hostile is looming in the background ... which I assume we'll be getting into their mind in Pretender, et al.. Meanwhile back at the ranch as they say things have gone to hell while they are gone and civil war amongst the clans is about to break out.

Ilisidi, her grandson, Bren and their personal bodyguards must sneak back onto the continent and ... No I won't give it away. But it has the twists and turns of Atevi logic that makes sense if you've read the prior books with all the powerful competing clan interests involved. So it's about as easy to predict as the Presidential primary season in the US as alliances ebb and flow. Atevi Honor, Tradition, Personal Fealties, and the impact of human technology are adding to the strains.



It's hard to write in detail without spoiling the plots, but if you love the intricacies of the Atevi mind and culture then you'll find this a great continuation and you'll not be disappointed. You will get to see the Dowager's Atevi Lordling grandson coming of age and gain insight as to how the complexities of Atevi fealty and loyalty are developed and built and it is fascinating to observe.

Can't be more specific with ruining it. If you've read the previous books Charge On. If you haven't I'd strongly advise you not unless you're the type that has only read Return of the King from LOTR or Chapter House Dune from the Dune series and enjoyed it

I've read all C. J. Cherryh's "Foreigner" series to date. I also highly recommend her earlier "Chanur" series and even earlier Cyteen and Tripoint universe novels.

First, I like Foreigner because the human hero, Bren, finds himself ambassador to an alien culture which is MORE POWERFUL than his native human home. His profession is to "think alien", and his struggle and success to do so are instructive. I don't know where Cherryh finds her inspiration, but in my own mind I think of the Atavi as a kind of a Imperial-Chinese or Machiavellian-Viennese Empire that WON, and the human colony on the planet as a kind of Western Empire that became stranded and has had to operate from a position of weakness rather than strength. So Bren, the human hero, has to learn and think "Atavi", helping the current ruler and his consort and family sustain dominancy, while dealing with two other human factions with competing agendas.

One thing that comes clear in the series, to me at least, is that different human factions can be JUST as alien to each other as to a "true" alien society. So the principles Bren must establish and follow as translator/ambassador are a text for relating between different human as well as alien societies.

What keeps me coming back are Bren's succeeding despite ever-new obstacles and challenges, and the forging of respect and regard between members of different alien races thinking in wildly different cultures and mindsets. One feels a great deal of affection for the Atavi key players as this remarkable series unfolds.

Any new Cherryh book is cause for celebration, doubly so with a return to the world of the Foreigner series. If you haven't read them all, please do... You will be lost if you start here. The character development is way too good to miss. A wonderful exploration of politics, self doubt, honor ,loyalty, and justice. Ms. Cherryh is simply the best writer of this kind of book, and my favorite period. Please hurry the next installment!

Slow moving? That review was written by idiots. In 30 years of reading science fiction, I have to say that there has never been such a whirlwind of writing as C. J. Cherryh. She is utterly brilliant, to the point that I often suggest that people start with her early work and read up, lest they be overwhelmed. You may need to read a book two or three times to catch everythign that she is saying. There is no book by this author not worth reading. The only thing close is 40,00 in Gehenna, which is more purely sociological than will appeal to some readers.