Customer Reviews

Silent Dances (Starbridge, Book 2)

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

 

 

While the first in the StarBridge series seemed a bit confrontational about a female lead character, this second work appears to have found a very comfortable place for the main character (Tesa) to exist.

It's a scenario that seems to have been created perfectly for the main character, yet doesn't come off as being contrived. A.C. Crispin then wastes no space drawing you into an environment where Tesa fits beautifully.

Her Indian heritage being played off of the avian aliens is fascinating. The ping-ponging of traditional imagery against these new alien species is really well done. It is obvious that quite a bit of research was put into this area, and it certainly shines through.

This facet would have been enough for me in and of itself. Yet the fact that one of the avian species has a voice that shatters human eardrums, making the deaf Tesa a perfect candidate for diplomacy, adds another richly meaningful layer to an already terrific story.

There seems to be a more feminine approach to the storytelling. It appeared more focused on the characters, emotions, and goals than "traditional" SciFi. It took me a bit of getting used to, but once that transition was made, it had a refreshingly different (and deeper) impact on my involvement with the story.

i (obviously) highly recommend this book. While the approach may take a little getting used to, it's definitely worth it in the end.

"Deaf since birth, Tesa is the perfect ambassador to the alien Grus-whose sonic cries can shatter human ears..."

A young starbridge interruptor is brought into the middle of a first contact, that has gone horribly wrong. Between the planet's 2 inhabitants trying to kill each other, and her own people waiting to betray her, Tesa must prove the intelligence of the crane like Grus, or watch them be destoryed.

I'd say it compares with Janet Kagans work (which is quite a compliment!)

I really enjoy novels about first contact, and after reading the first Starbridge, I collected the whole series. This one, however, was a disappointment. Political correctness in fiction just doesn't age well. When I learned that the main character was deaf with a capital D, and wanted to remain that way, I ceased to identify with her. She is also a Native American, and while I have am generally fascinated and sympathetic with that culture, I said to myself "uh-oh--a double Token!" I guessed that the plot was going to be a variant of 'Dances With Wolves", and I was right.

Some of the plot points just didn't make sense. Why would an alien bird pair allow Tesa (an "alien" to them) to raise their chick? Tesa speaks in sign language. Tell me how avians with wings are able to do likewise? Oh yeah, there are also some evil human poachers/would-be settlers who want to see the aliens go extinct, surprise surprise.

One of the other reviewers noted that this book was written from a 'feminine' sensibility, more attuned to emotions than SF generally is. I don't have anything against feelings, but I could have done with less preaching and more interesting writing. Instead of having the avians be just like the Sioux or Pawnee, how about some originality and speculation about how life might evolve on a planet with 3 suns? There are several intelligent alien species on this planet, how do they evolve and interact?

I really like well-written "speculative astrobiology" about what life could be like on an alien planet, but that's a genre almost as hard to find as the planets themselves.