Rating: 
Summary: Interesting Twist
Review: Normally, alien contact stories deal with aliens that are much more advanced, or much less advanced. In a certain sense of consideration, the Tendu are both.While the author is advancing and has a certain political sensibility, this does not detract from the story in any meaningful way. Overall, the interactions between the races - at least Juna and the Tendu - are fairly interesting. The others humans, as portrayed, are a bit too shallow and stereotypical to be truly interesting, and the story probably been better off without the last pages that describe the politics and maneuvering that accompany alien contact. There are several interesting ideas that are left undeveloped, but that's not a bad thing. They would have distracted from the main focus of the story. Overall, the book is well worth reading, with the caveat that it is very obviously leftist and pro-environmental. A modern version of _The sheep look up_ in a sense. Which isn't necessarily a bad thing, but worth noting. It will be interesting to see how the book ages, as the political sensibilities that shaped it change. Check back in a dozen or two years.
Rating:
Summary: Hollow yet true
Review: Simple language and simplistic characters allow Thompson
to let her ideas about aliens stand free on the page. The
book has an entertaining plot, with humor and sadness, but
it rings hollow. The true reason why this book is good is because she anticipates the future so well. A woman trapped on a strange planet with aliens she can't understand, and what is
she thinking about? Protocol. Her depiction of a rule bound, yet well meaning human society
is truly believable and entertaining.
Rating: 
Summary: Highly well developed alien culture, and then some
Review: The author does an excellent job developing the language, culture and ecosystem of the Tendu. I also felt quite comfortable with Juna, the human character who was stranded on the planet with the Tendu. I was utterly fascinated by the linguistic precept that the Tendu use 'skin speach'. Also, the stratification of the culture by chronological development was intriguing. When a friend recommended that I read this book, I was kind of dubious by the description. I'm not really into alien encounter stuff or make-me-think about ecology stuff. That said, I bought three copies of this book. One as a gift for my brother. One to loan out to other people, and one to keep in the house for myself! This one goes to the desert island with me.
Rating:
Summary: AWESOME!!!
Review: This book was excellent! I couldn't put it down; I finished reading it in four days. I was left with that feeling of wanting the book to go on, to know what happened next, just wanting more. I found myself thinking of the characters often and making comparisons to my own life. I especially liked the eating habits of the Tendu. Fresh fruits and meats, no waste. I recommend this book to everyone! :-)
Rating:
Summary: I LOVED THIS STORY
Review: this is one of the best sf books I have read in awhile. I enjoyed that is was told through both the human and the aliens. This book made me mad, sad, and very happy. It hits all your emotions. Wonderfully written and highly recommended.
Rating:
Summary: Great story about VERY unusual aliens!
Review: This is one of the best SF books I have read in many years. Having the story told from the viewpoints of both Juna and the aliens was very different. It was fascinating to see the same things from totally different points of view, especially at the beginning before Juna realizes how intelligent the Tendu really are. I thought that the communication by colors and symbols was also very unique and well thought out. The amazing variety of the planet and the forest were very believable and the descriptions evocative - I want to go there! I highly recommend this book!
Rating:
Summary: Excellent First Contact Novel
Review: This was a great first contact novel. It was especially good since a Human becomes an inadvertant ambassador for our race, and is reliant on making her relationship work for her survival. I was really glad the next book in the series was available as soon as I finished this book, so I could continue to read on. I can't wait for the 3rd book.
Rating:
Summary: Best read since "Ender's Game"
Review: This was the first book I've read since I read "Ender's Game" in '93, that kept me enthralled, and was literally a "I could NOT put it down" book. FUlly developed characters, a realm that was foreign, alien and very believable, a culture that was fleshed out and diverse, incredibly 3-dimensional. The setting was entirely enthralling and enveloping, I was *there* as I read. I was able to empathize with the characters, truly seeming to feel as they did. I understood their thoughts and feelings, motivations and misgivings, etc. I've already lent my copy out, and shall do so again and again..
Rating:
Summary: Well-done first contact story
Review: This was Thomson's first novel--she's since published at least one other, Virtual Girl--but it is one of those rare ones that are full of power. I was skeptical--this was my top choice on my Alexandria Digital Literature recommendation list, but only when I sorted using "Daring" as an option. When I finally got the book through ILL, I despaired. It was nearly 400 pages. That's a lot of words to invest in an untried author. But AlexLit's recommendations have been pretty solid, so I took the book with me to Texas for the holiday season. It is a first contact science fiction story, but one in which the human gets stranded on a planet, changed through the biotechnology of the aliens into something neither human nor alien, and then has to act as a mediator between humans and the aliens who saved her life. Although I can't think of another story with this plot, it does not feel all that unique. Thomson's treatment of it is, though. Her alien world is based on concepts taken from our own rainforests and her aliens use organic means where humans use mechanical means. The latter is not as clear cut as it may seem, for Thomsom's milieu is far enough into the future that her mechanical computer "flows" rather than clicks, indicating a level of nanotechnology. Once I got into the book--about 50 to 60 pages in--the characters took hold and propelled me through it. Thomson's point-of-view switches are clearly indicated, most taking place at chapter breaks, and her aliens come across as truly alien, rather than humans in fur. And I really haven't mentioned one of the central conceits of the book, and that is the aliens' form of communication--through color and vision totally, with no sound. There's a lot here, and the ending, while sentimental, is not maudlin.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent
Review: Unfortunately, I can't say much that hasn't been said already. This one seems to be a sleeper. I agree with all the positive reviews and recommend it to any SF lover.
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