Precursor (Foreigner 4) [Hardcover]

C. J. Cherryh (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 1, 1999

One of science fiction's most highly respected writers, C.J. Cherryh impressed critics and fans alike with the Foreigner trilogy--the epic story of a lost human colony struggling to survive on the world of the alien atevi.

Now, in Precursor, both human and atevi return to space to rebuild and rearm the ancient human space station and starship, and make a dsperate bid to defend their planet against alien attack.

"A large new Cherryh novel is always welcome." --Chicago Sun-Times

Praise for the Foreigner series:

"Cherryh's gift for conjuring believable alien cultures is in full force here." --Publishers Weekly

"A seriously probing, thoughtful, intelligent piece of work." --Kirkus Reviews

"Close-grained and carefully constructed...a book that will stick in the mind."

--Locus

"An incisive study-in-contrast of what it means to be human..."--Library Journal

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

C.J. Cherryh creates thought-provoking stories of cultures in collision featuring well-drawn characters and plenty of intrigue. Precursor directly follows Inheritor in the Foreigner series (which includes Foreigner and Invader). The series introduces the atevi, aliens with a culture based on loyalty, legal assassination, and inborn mathematical gifts.

Two hundred years ago humans crash-landed on the atevi homeworld. The two races are nearly incompatible; peace is maintained by limiting contact to a single human diplomat, the paidhi. His name is Bren Cameron.

In the first trilogy, the starship Phoenix (the same ship that brought the human colonists) returned, fleeing alien attack in another sector. The Phoenix asked both atevi and human communities to help reopen the orbital station and rearm the ship. Bren coordinated an atevi shuttle-building program and trained the Phoenix representative, Jase Graham, in living on a planet and dealing with aliens. Now he faces family crises while ensuring that the atevi remain equal partners in the space effort. He must deal with the very different culture of the Phoenix crew and the alien space station environment while maintaining cooperation with the colonists and representing atevi interests.

Precursor ends abruptly. Are the aliens coming? Will the Phoenix crew, colonists, and atevi be able to protect their system together? Will Bren be able to retain any of his humanity? If you enjoy stories that make you think about how space travel and contact with aliens would really play out, treat yourself to this meaty SF series. --Nona Vero

From Publishers Weekly

In the fourth volume in her widely praised Foreigner series (Inheritor, etc.) Cherryh sends diplomat and translator Bren Cameron into space to conduct a tense three-sided negotiation among the Pilot's Guild on the recently returned human starship Phoenix, the ateviAthe planet's indigenous sentient species, whom Bren now servesAand the Mospheirans, the human colonists whom the starship long ago abandoned in the atevi's world. Although there are beings of good will on all three sides, xenophobia, cultural preconceptions, factionalism and old animosities roil the situation, as do deteriorating conditions on the long-abandoned space station where the negotiators meet. Worse, a presumably hostile third intelligent species is lurking in the galactic neighborhood and may be in the process of tracking down the Phoenix. Making things even more difficult for Bren is his complicated relationship with his mother, who is driving him to distractionAvia electronic mailAwith her insistence that he reestablish a relationship with his recently injured former girlfriend and with her refusal to take seriously the danger she's in at the hands of Mospheirin factions hostile to Bren's mission. The novel features well-developed characters, Cherryh's trademark sophisticated political negotiations and strong prose. Of particular note is the author's ongoing exploration of the atevi, one of the more fascinating alien cultures ever imagined. Taken as a whole, this series, which promises to consist of six volumes when complete, represents mainstream SF at its very best. (Nov.)
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 438 pages
• Publisher: DAW Hardcover; First Edition edition (November 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0886778360
• ISBN-13: 978-0886778361
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.3 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (38 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #681,541 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I've written sf and fantasy for publication since 1975...but I've written a lot longer than that. I have a background in Mediterranean archaeology, Latin, Greek, that sort of thing; my hobbies are travel, photography, planetary geology, physics, pond-building for koi...I run a marine tank, can plumb most anything, and I figure-skate.

I believe in the future: I'm an optimist for good reason---I've studied a lot of history, in which, yes, there is climate change, and our species has been through it. We've never faced it fully armed with what we now know, and if we play our cards right, we'll use it as a technological springboard and carry on in very interesting ways.

I also believe a writer owes a reader a book that has more than general despair to spread about: I write about clever, determined people who don't put up with situations, not for long, anyway: people who find solutions inspire me.

My personal websites and blog: http://www.cherryh.com
http://www.cherryh.com/WaveWithoutAShore
http://www.closed-circle.net

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

38 of 39 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Return to the Earth of the atevi - at last!, December 7, 1999

By 

Martina Luise Pachali (Munich, Germany) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Precursor (Foreigner 4) (Hardcover)

The books of the "Foreigner" series aren't the usual kind of books where things happen and keep going until the end, and then stop. It's a world where you go to and live, for a while. You get a ride with Bren Cameron, the human ambassador/translator to the atevi, the species native to the world; you look at the world solely through his eyes and observe a wealth of culture, politics and personal relationships from his point of view. Being Bren Cameron among atevi absorbs you to the point of forgetting to get off the bus. The culture you're immersed into absorbs you to the point of avoiding even numbers as infelicitous for some time after finishing the book. To me, what actually happened in "Precursor" was comparatively unimportant as opposed to just getting to *be there* again. And of course, I was glad to find everyone I'd known from the former books alive and well.- The plot is flawlessly thought out and masterfully executed: the flow of time and action feels entirely natural and adds to your feeling of being at home in that world. Bren Cameron goes to the space station, together with "his" atevi, and solves a bunch of glitches and one major problem, vaccilating between experienced routine, inspired self-assurance, profound doubts and major new insights, just as we all do, just as we know him. In the process, there are all those little things that deeply touch our souls: like giving fruit candy to the *Phoenix*'s crew used only to bland rations, like Sabiso, the shy, young woman who comes along to serve Jago, like the two junior translators from Mospheira who are along for the trip and get their first wide-eyed experience of real atevi. And then there's that one big thing we learn about our favorite atevi, that doesn't change a thing, doesn't do anything for the plot, but so deeply startles and surprises us that it colours all three of the earlier books in retrospect and made me go back for the first one again the moment I finished "Precursor", to live through it all again knowing that... Oh yes, and of course the electronic archive of the whole of human literature and history is released to the Moshphei' and the atevi alike (happens early enough in the book that I don't think telling it constitutes a spoiler). One so looks forward to the first production of "Macbeth" by an atevi machimi troupe! And, ever since I regard the antics of our present-day political and military leaders with a new misgiving among all the customary ones: "How embarassing that the atevi get to read *this* in the archives!" Just think of all the collateral damage done in the small wars we had this year, with their apalling lack of biichi-gi, the atevi principle of political finesse and style in doing just the minimum of harm needed to effect one's aims: they're going to think we humans are utter barbarians.- Many things I have been asking myself on and off since the first three books have been answered in "Precusor"; and I look forward to the two other books that are announced to follow. There are still so many questions I'd like to see answered, and so many things I look forward to see - through Bren Camerons eyes. To whoever hasn't read these books yet, I can only warmly recommend: visit this world! It one of the most believable and most engaging ever to come out of the great stream of creativity that is Science Fiction.

35 of 37 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Satisfying Action, Long Awaited, November 18, 1999

By 

Susan Shwartz (Forest Hills, NY United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Precursor (Foreigner 4) (Hardcover)

Since discovering C.J. Cherryh's novels about the -atevi-, I've waited several years for PRECURSOR, and I'm delighted to say it was worth the wait.

Cherryh has a gift for combining breathless and sinister power politics and intricate plotting with a dry, unexpected wit that blindsides you and makes even readers familiar with her tactics laugh out loud. I count myself experienced in the ways of CJ's aliens, but this time, she startled me but good. (The people on the E train are USED to people letting out whoops of glee during rush hour, right? Oh well, they'll get over it.)

To borrow -atevi- speech constructions, I can only say that one will prove indecorously impatient for the next installment.

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Another triumph for Cherryh, December 10, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Precursor (Foreigner 4) (Hardcover)

What is there to say? I have been waiting for this book for months, ever since it was announced and have been eagerly contacting my bookstore to find out when it was going to arrive. The wait was worth it, even though now I am waiting for the next in the series to appear. Cherryh just seems to get better and better and involves her reader completely in her universe. After finishing the book I found myself starting all my sentences with "one" and looking for felicitious numbers. How Bren Cameron has matured. Now so much more than just an interpreter and capable of taking on the responsibilities expected of him. So much more confidence in his dealings even if there are family problems to distract him. If you have enjoyed the first three books in this series you will enjoy this. I am now once more going to have to start at the beginning and reread books one two and three!