Customer Reviews

Hidden in Sight (Web Shifters #3)

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

HIDDEN is a space opera of the best kind. While stand-alone, the book continues the evolution of Esen from the previous Webshifter novels. Esen, a very young shifter by her race's standards, and her human friend Paul, live in careful disguise to avoid the attention of the curious and the hostile. However, when they are suddenly assailed by hidden enemies, it's clear that their anonimity is no protection, and their subsequent quest to survive and counter their opponents allows the plot to explore both the exotic but fascinating aliens, and Esen's own maturing character.

The author populates her worlds with appealing aliens: they are truly not humans, but are nonetheless three-dimensional despite enormous biological and cultural diversity. The humor is well-woven into the plot, and provides a welcome relief from the tension and danger. And last, and most important, Esen herself, impulsive, well-intentioned, making mistakes and redeeming herself and those around her--a perfect combination of vulnerability and strength.

A delightful coming-of-age story for a three-hundred-year-old adolescent blue blob.

Hidden in Sight is the third novel in the Web Shifters series, following Changing Vision. In the previous volume, Janet Chase has exposed her predatory intentions and has fled Minas XII. Her co-conspirator, Inspector Logan, is unwise enough to come to Minas XII and learns not to betray a Herd of Ganthor. Rudy Lefebvre has left the Russell III and is contemplating a new future. Project Leader Kearn has been slipped a tip by the Esen Monster and is horrified, confused and gratified. The Kraal have not learned the secret of Web-being flight. Esen has met a new Group of friends and she resumes her life with Paul on Minas XII.

In this novel, Picco's Moon has been invaded by someone who is mining Ersh's mountain and killing Tumblers. The disappearance of a Tumbler is reported and this information is forwarded to data collection equipment at Cameron & Ki Exports. Paul and Esen book passage to Picco's Moon on the Largas ship, Vegas Lass, but another passenger, Hom Wolla, has disappeared in the Dump, delaying the departure. Paul goes to the Dump to fetch the passenger, but doesn't return or communicate in two hours, so Esen goes after both of them. When she enters the bar, a Herd of Ganthor enters behind her and another Herd is before her with a drugged youngster who has been stolen from the other herd; the negotiations between the Herds escalates into a firefight. Then heavily armed and armored troopers enter the bar searching for something and both Herds turn against the newcomers. Esen loses sight of Paul and Wolla, but manages to escape through the lava tunnels to relative safety just before the firefight blows off the roof.

Esen flees to the safety of her home and finds a crater instead; someone has blown up her house. She then flees to the greenhouse over their warehouse and finds Joel Largas there. Paul also appears, but is followed by heavily armed and armored troops. When they fire at Paul, Esen shifts to her Web-form, dumping energy in an explosion. The troopers are gone and Paul is dazed, but otherwise fine. Joel, however, has just met his worst nightmare, a Web-being like Death, and has gone into shock. Paul and Esen sedate him and take him home, then book passage on the first starship leaving Minas XII. Esen has shifted to her Oieta form, something like a giant shrimp, and Paul is also disguised as an Oieta, but has a reaction to the fluid within the suit and removes it. Esen, however, has another problem with her suit: an excess of aldehydes has caused her Oieta-self to become intoxicated, literally poisoned, but still a blissful experience; in other words, Esen is spaced out.

After Paul adjusts her suit controls, the voyage passes quickly and uneventfully. They arrive on Prumbinat and take a Busfish out to the underwater resort. There they learn that the attacks were designed to flush them out and separate them from their allies and they discover the identity of the instigator of these attacks.

Paul Lefebvre is eavesdropping on Michael Cristoffen, assistant to Project Leader Kearn, and witnesses an attack on the Human by Zoltan Duda, a member of Paul's Group, which is reflected back on the attacker by a Kraal anti-assassin shield, killing Duda. Rudy is certain that the death is intentional and so does Project Leader Kearn when he learns of it. Both are also convinced that Cristoffen is receiving guidance from a Kraal source.

This novel is as fast paced as the previous two, but is still mostly about the evolving relationship between Paul and Esen. It has some of the same minor themes, including the Tumbler tendancy to compose, by committee, 500 page messages that no one understands. I am almost certain that the Rand species, a communal intelligence, is a joke and maybe the Cin communal intelligence is another. There is also more about the architectural philosophy of Mixs.

Recommended for Czerneda fans and anyone who enjoys zany adventures with likable persons within a SF setting.

-Arthur W. Jordin

Since I discovered her books a year ago, Julie Czerneda has never disappointed me. I simply love everything she writes! Her books have great stories and even greater characters. One just can't help but fall in love with them. In Hidden in Sight, we reunite with my own favorite character, wonderful Esen-alit-Quar, "Esen for short, Es in a hurry". I won't try to give you a summary of the story (as many others seem to enjoy doing), instead I'll only tell you to treat yourself and read this book (ideally starting with the first of the trilogy, Beholder's Eye, followed by Changing Vision). I can assure you you will enjoy it. It's great SF, with a heart... And the strangest aliens you'll ever see!

This author is simply beyond words- If at all possible, Czerneda just gets better & better with each book she writes. In the third of this series, we get to return to the universe where our favorite alien Esen resides and get to see our little blue blob grow up- and get one hell of a great story to boot. Esen-alit-quar is simply one of the most beautifully written characters I have ever come across, a being so different & unique but so vulnerable, sweet and good that she personifies the phrase "never judge a book by it's cover." You never lose sight of her being an alien, but she is so endearingly "human" that you cannot help but love her. It is characters like this that make me still read Sci-fi. I only wish all authors had one ounce of the skill that Czerneda has in her craftsmanship. If you can only get one book, definitely get this one. The story & the character will become a part of you.

The first book of the Webshifters series was a pleasant surprise while I was finishing up with Grad school. Meeting Esen turned me into a fan of Julie's work, and I have not been disappointed yet.

Hidden took my breath away, again. Julie Czerneda has a knack for improving from one book to the next, and considering how good the first book in the series was, WOW.

A couple of unexpected twists made me stop, re-read and re-read again, wide-eyed and surprised.

I lost a lot of sleep reading Hidden, but I don't regret a minute of it.

Brava, Julie, Brava!

This is the final book in 'The Webshifter Trilogy' and what a disappointment it is. Although the trilogy was never going to be a heavyweight of literature, the first two books did at least provide enough of a story to keep the interest going and provide a good light sci-fi read.
Esen is a shape shifter but no one outside of her small 'web' of shifters must know this. In book one Esen becomes 'orphaned' after the other 5 members of her web are killed leaving her the only one of her kind left. The first and second book tell the story of Esen and the fight she has to survive and yet keep her true identity secret from all but the one friend she has made in the whole universe.
Unfortunately book three is yet more of the same and is repetitive. It's not that it's a terrible book or badly written...more that it feels like the author has run out of steam somewhat. If you have read the other 2 books you may want to read this purely to tie up a couple of loose ends but be warned, it isn't nearly as good as the others.

It seems to me that one often sees a slip in series books, as the original inspiration for the series can't support the fan's hopes for more. An author continues in the series not because there is more story to be told but because there are more books to be sold. Thankfully, for fans of Czerneda and the Web series, this was not the case in Hidden in Sight.

Hidden in Sight is a wonderful third book that not only maintained the depth of character and attention to detail of the first two but, to my mind, expanded the story and characters to new levels. I hate spoilers in reviews and won't have any here, but it's difficult to avoid because of how much I enjoyed the additional characterization of a couple in particular. I'll just say that I'm not talking about Esen or Paul, though the continuation of their relationship and characterization is well handled and moves along wonderfully in this third book of the Web series. And there are new aliens! I [have a weakness] for alien cultures -- when done by someone who handles them with the depth of detail and careful consideration that Czerneda obviously always does.

It's a five star book. Buy it, and if you haven't read the earlier ones, buy them as well. They are all wonderful and this one my favorite so far. I can only hope there are more of the Web series, because they just keep getting better. Write faster, Ms. Czerneda. Write faster.

Hidden in Sight was one of those books that I picked up to read at 8pm one night, put it down at midnight only because I had to go to work the next day. I read it every spare moment I could through the day until I finished it that night. Just like I did with Beholders Eye and Changing Vision. The story of Essen and Paul is just as riveting and enjoyable as the first two and the new characters just add to the depth of the novel.
Do yourself a favor and read Hidden in Sight. I agree with the other reviewers you should also read Beholders Eye and Changing Vision to give you background. Actually, just read anything that Julie Czerneda has written you won't be disappointed.

A suspenseful conclusion to the saga of Esen, one of the most fully-realized extraterrestrial characters in SF! Czerneda has a real gift for writing about aliens -- and about humans, for that matter!

One word of warning: If you haven't read Beholder's Eye and Changing Vision, the first two books in this series, read them first. This book can stand on its own but you'll enjoy it more in its proper sequence.

This is a good book, but the constant changing of names and back-and-forth writing style can be very confusing at times.