Nor Crystal Tears (Hardcover)

by Alan Dean Foster (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Recounts the history of the relationship between humans and the insect-like Thranx, as seen through the eyes of a young agricultural expert--and a Thranx--named Ryo. Originally in paperback.

From the Inside Flap
Before Man and insectlike Thranx had become allies, when the reptilian AAnn were just occasional raiders of Thranx colony worlds, one young Thranx agricultural expert lived a life of quiet desperation.
A dreamer in a world of sensible, stable beings, Ryo buried himself in his work -- reclaiming marshland from a tenacious jungle -- until he came across a letter describing a relative's encounter with horrid, two-legged, soft-skinned space-going beasts . . . --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 240 pages
• Publisher: Severn House Publishers (February 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0727845640
• ISBN-13: 978-0727845641
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.7 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #2,851,909 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars First Alan Dean Foster I read... still a favorite, August 5, 2001

By	Zed - See all my reviews

This review is from: Nor Crystal Tears (Paperback)

I read this when it first came out... ages ago. It was my first Alan Dean Foster novel and got me hooked. I still have the book, and while the cover is a bit tattered, I still read it every few years.

The main character in this novel is an alien and we get to learn and experience his world through his eyes. It's only later in the book do we get to encounter the real aliens, humans, and what transpires when these two very different races meet and try to understand each other. A great read, with great perspective and characters.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A good first contact and a good place to start., March 7, 2005

By	Hunter Guillory "Tasrill" (Starkville, MS) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Nor Crystal Tears (Mass Market Paperback)

More than ten years after first reading it and having read many other first contact books this one is still my favorite. While doing first contact from an aliens view has been done more realisticly, such as the The Chanur Saga, none has done it quite as fun. Foster has an ability to capture both seriousness and fun in his writing and this book in no exception. This book is a good jumping off point for potential Fosterites and a great book for long time fans.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A look at first contact from the other side, August 9, 2004

By	Andrew W. Johns "ResQgeek" (Alexandria, VA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Nor Crystal Tears (Paperback)

This is a very creative first contact story. Told from the alien point-of-view, it illustrates the dangers that prejudice and fear create when alien species first meet.

Foster does a good job of describing a insectoid civilization, and provides great insight into the traits of such a species. It is especially interesting to note the relative relationship of mammals on this world, and the attitudes towards them. This sets the stage for the potential conflict when contact with Earth's humans.

This book holds a mirror up to our own prejudices and attitudes and serves as a cautionary tale about making quick judgements when encountering new cultures. It is all too easy for misunderstandings to create enemies, when patience might lead to understanding and friendship.