Defender

Rating:
Summary: I like Defender
Review: Hmmm, my 1st review, just a few words to say I like Defender, don't be put off by other more negative reviews.

I think that Defender develops Bren's character and the detail allows us to get even more into their world.

I agree with other reviewers that there is not a clear cut driver or denouement as there was in previous books in the series, but I did not find this a negative.

I think that Defender consolidates nicely the stories in the previous books and leaves the stage set for a fantastic finale to this series, which I will miss very much indeed.

Rating:
Summary: 3-star book in a 5-star series
Review: I am a long-time science fiction reader - now in my sixtys, I started reading science fiction (and fantasy) as a pre-teen. I started with Williams, Heinlein, Asimov, and Clark, and have almost completely been a fan of "thud and blunder" space opera (Hamilton) and "rivets" hard science fiction (the aforementioned "big three").

The Foreigner Universe series has caused the completion of my acceptance of sociological s.f., as well as my previously enjoyed types.

I won't try to analyze the books; that has already been done quite well, but I MUST recommend this series to those of you who haven't tried this category of s.f. before. You may not find it an easy read, but if you stick with it, I believe you will be well rewarded.

Rating:
Summary: Hooked in spite of myself.
Review: I am a long-time science fiction reader - now in my sixtys, I started reading science fiction (and fantasy) as a pre-teen. I started with Williams, Heinlein, Asimov, and Clark, and have almost completely been a fan of "thud and blunder" space opera (Hamilton) and "rivets" hard science fiction (the aforementioned "big three").

The Foreigner Universe series has caused the completion of my acceptance of sociological s.f., as well as my previously enjoyed types.

I won't try to analyze the books; that has already been done quite well, but I MUST recommend this series to those of you who haven't tried this category of s.f. before. You may not find it an easy read, but if you stick with it, I believe you will be well rewarded.

Rating:
Summary: Wait for the paperback
Review: I gave this book 2 stars just because I love this series. However he book alone was not the author's best work. OK, to be honest it is the worst I have ever read from her. The book seemed unfinished and hasty. You could probably skip this one all together and just buy bok #6.

Rating:
Summary: What happened?
Review: I love Cherryh's books. Hunter of Worlds is still one of my favorites, along with the Mri sagas. I've re-read Foreigner so many times that the binding is wearing loose. (...) Now, after a long wait, and eagerly pre-ordering from Amazon so I would get it as soon as possible, I received Defender. I read it in two days (had to go to work--it arrived on a weekday) and was incredibly disappointed. The human-atevi interface complexities, the growing depth of atevi and human characters revealed in the first three books, the warm humor and stern duty of Jago and Banichi, the wry tyranny of Ilisidi, the intrigues of Tabini and the delicious missteps of a human amid the atevi and their subsequent confoundment at times with a human to whom they owe manchi, are all missing. This book reads like a rough draft instead of the highly polished work Cherryh usually brings, especially to this series of dearly beloved characters.

Rating:
Summary: Not much progress on the story but good book.
Review: I love this series of books. It has been a frustrating long wait for this book to finally come out. Now we're probably looking at 2 years until the next episode - arrrrh! This book has a nice surprise in it and we suspect the Atevi of assinateing captain Ramirez. You'll enjoy the book. I just wish Cherryh would write faster.

Rating:
Summary: As usual...
Review: I ripped open the box, tore off the plastic and sat down to read - right through until the last chapter and the next day as it happened. Haven't done that for a long, long time and didn't mean to! But C. J. Cherryh has done it to me again. Her plot lines simply grab me and pull me downhill. There's no stopping or turning back. I'm not sure how long I have to wait for part two, but it will be too long.

Rating:
Summary: The weakest book in a very strong series
Review: I somewhat agree with Terry Cholar's review, although I wouldn't call myself "disappointed". Just "not as thrilled as I expected to be."

There was a feeling of "marking time while setting up the next book". Also, the richness of characterization that I loved from the earlier books was also diminished. Jago, Banichi and Cenedi could have been pretty much any generic Atevi Guild members.

If one were actually to list the significant events in the book (which I won't for the sake of those who haven't read it yet), it would be a pretty short list. That said, what little that does occur takes place in the same rich network of intrigue and totally believable clash of cultures that make me love this series.

Readers of the first 4 books will probably enjoy Defender. But it may not live up to the expectations caused by the quality of the prior books and many months of waiting for Defender's publication. I can't wait for book 6!

Rating:
Summary: Disappointed.
Review: I think the plot in this 300-page book should have been turned into a much condensed portion of another book. The whole premise - that one of the captains could have kept an important secret from his crew (OK, that I can accept with no problem, given what we've seen of the crew dynamics), the atevi in general - the aiji knows, (OK-Tabini has a lot of power), Bren(a lot of the book is Bren feeling surprised, left out etc.) and the human population - but with the president and other parts of the government knowing? - for 3 years? I don't think so. And this plot twist(the aiji and human president knowing and Bren not) seems totally unnecessary to get the characters where they end up.

I've read most of Ms. Cherryhs' books and I've enjoyed all the books in the Foreigner series up till now, but I spent most of the book 'waiting for the payoff' which never really materialized (I can't be more specific without giving away more than I already have). Maybe my expectations were too high, but it really feels to me as if she was contracted for 3 books, but maybe only had story for 2, so we got this. Sorry.

Rating:
Summary: Raising the stakes!
Review: I'm an avid fan of C.J.'s work, especially this series. DEFENDER is not a standalone book, which makes it difficult to review on its own. It's the hiatus between storms, the bridge to what will happen in EXPLORER, and such moments necessarily aren't as satisfying as the final book of any trilogy.
This being said, I wasn't at all disappointed. DEFENDER moves us forward several years, to a time when significant changes have occurred: the birth of the heir, the settling of the station, the tightening of bonds between the economies, and the highly significant and logical development of several more beings who can communicate with both species. There is a feeling of settling accounts on the planet, so that the focus of the characters, and readers, now turns to space.
I can't wait to see where C.J. takes us in EXPLORER. I do feel confident this series will come to stand as one of the great achievements of science fiction. Well done and highly recommended!