Rating: 
Summary: Delightful characters in an edge-of-your seat adventure!
Review: I must start out by saying that if you haven't read the first book of this series, entitled "Beholder's Eye" then you should do so now. This is a wonderful book series by a very talented author. "Changing Vision" continues the story of Esen-Alit-Quar as she tries to adapt to her life among humans and other aliens. At her side is her human friend Paul Ragem. Together, the two try to establish a life for themselves...one that will keep Esen's true identity a secret. Unfortunately for Esen, there are those that still hunt for her and her kind--and one of those is none other than the very determined Lionel Kearn. By the end of the story, it is hard to determine who has learned more about themselves and those around them--Esen, or her assorted enemies. It is an understatement to say that the story is full of surprises and plot twists. It is a thoroughly enjoyable read, and one that I recommend highly. Ms. Czerneda writes the most delightful characters in print today. Humor, wit, and adventure abound throughout each of her books. Don't stop until you've read all her works, including "A Thousand Words for Stranger" and "Ties of Power." She is a gem of a writer and I hope to enjoy her writing for years to come.
Rating:
Summary: Fun, Intruiging, and Exciting!
Review: Man o man Czerneda keeps getting better and better. This story is everything a person could want in a sequel and more. There's more mystery, drama, even more humor! The story started a bit slow if your a new reader but Czerneda explained everything without being too boring and when the story heated up, boy did it ever. I just can't wait for the sequel!! Gimme more!
Rating:
Summary: Fun, Intruiging, and Exciting!
Review: Man o man Czerneda keeps getting better and better. This story is everything a person could want in a sequel and more. There's more mystery, drama, even more humor! The story started a bit slow if your a new reader but Czerneda explained everything without being too boring and when the story heated up, boy did it ever. I just can't wait for the sequel!! Gimme more!
Rating: 
Summary: Enjoyable sequel to Beholders Eye
Review: The main protagonist of this book is Esen Alit-Quar, the long-lived shapeshifter Web being. With her human partner Paul Ragem, she deals with old and new enemies and allies, complications of building interspecies alliances, the threat of interplanetary war and planet-busting weapons. Esen's adventures shifting into the identity of alien beings are particularly interesting, from the hive-centered Panacians, the herd-oriented Ganthor, the party-loving Iftsen, and the newly contacted Fenedans. This book was an enjoyable sequel to Beholder's Eye.
Rating:
Summary: An excellent sequel to "Beholder's Eye" - hooray!
Review: This book begins 50 years after Czerneda's fine story "Beholder's Eye" ended. We now find Paul Ragem and Esen-alit-Quar living as partners of the trading company "Cameron & Ki" on the fringe planet Minas XII. Their comfortable and amusing life is interrupted when Paul takes the reluctant Es on a "vacation" trip. We continue to meet wonderfully detailed alien cultures and to follow the amusing escapades of the hapless shape changing Es as she continues her dedication to understanding and protecting all sentient lives. The fact that Paul shares the same goals is complicated by the desire of each to protect the other from the inevitable tribulations of their complicated life together. I felt that this book started out slower than "Beholder's Eye" but came to no less satisfying a conclusion. In each case, Czerneda has demonstrated her considerable skill at portraying remarkably different beings and cultures in a way that makes them comfortably familiar, intriguing and exciting to us. Her plots are absorbing and her writing is eminently readable. I'm decidedly looking forward to the next installment of Web Shifters!
Rating:
Summary: An excellent sequel to "Beholder's Eye" - hooray!
Review: This book begins 50 years after Czerneda's fine story "Beholder's Eye" ended. We now find Paul Ragem and Esen-alit-Quar living as partners of the trading company "Cameron & Ki" on the fringe planet Minas XII. Their comfortable and amusing life is interrupted when Paul takes the reluctant Es on a "vacation" trip. We continue to meet wonderfully detailed alien cultures and to follow the amusing escapades of the hapless shape changing Es as she continues her dedication to understanding and protecting all sentient lives. The fact that Paul shares the same goals is complicated by the desire of each to protect the other from the inevitable tribulations of their complicated life together. I felt that this book started out slower than "Beholder's Eye" but came to no less satisfying a conclusion. In each case, Czerneda has demonstrated her considerable skill at portraying remarkably different beings and cultures in a way that makes them comfortably familiar, intriguing and exciting to us. Her plots are absorbing and her writing is eminently readable. I'm decidedly looking forward to the next installment of Web Shifters!
Rating:
Summary: Great story. Read it 4 times now.
Review: This has become one of my favorite bedtime stories that I have read several times. I loved the story, and it's nice to have a story I like that since I know how it goes, I can put down and go to sleep.
Rating:
Summary: Some of the best alien cultures ever depicted in SF.
Review: While I liked the predecessor to this book, I found this one hard to read. On a gross level, the various pieces of a good story were there. There were interesting characters, well developed background and a well-developed plot. Unfortunately, this book tends to be somewhat disjointed, with what I find to be unnecessary amounts of tension in the various threads that make it up. Items that could be resolved are dragged out in excruciating detail as the various characters viewpoints don't permit the obvious resolution. Which is ok, since most problems in life aren't easily solvable, but some of the items could be left unresolved, instead of contortions being made to wrap everything up neatly, despite the fact that a neat wrap-up isn't really possible. The last disappointment was in the villians. I tend to find narrow-minded fanatics as villians a bit of a disservice. Creating a compelling villian that is interesting enough to be plausible while not dominating the scene is difficult in the best of times. Somehow the quality of the opposition didn't seem to rate effort the victories required. Or, didn't seem to merit the victories. Villians overcome by an obvious and silly fatal flaw just aren't good villians. That being said, the book is still worth reading. It's just not a book that excites me.
Rating:
Summary: Acceptable
Review: While I liked the predecessor to this book, I found this one hard to read. On a gross level, the various pieces of a good story were there. There were interesting characters, well developed background and a well-developed plot. Unfortunately, this book tends to be somewhat disjointed, with what I find to be unnecessary amounts of tension in the various threads that make it up. Items that could be resolved are dragged out in excruciating detail as the various characters viewpoints don't permit the obvious resolution. Which is ok, since most problems in life aren't easily solvable, but some of the items could be left unresolved, instead of contortions being made to wrap everything up neatly, despite the fact that a neat wrap-up isn't really possible. The last disappointment was in the villians. I tend to find narrow-minded fanatics as villians a bit of a disservice. Creating a compelling villian that is interesting enough to be plausible while not dominating the scene is difficult in the best of times. Somehow the quality of the opposition didn't seem to rate effort the victories required. Or, didn't seem to merit the victories. Villians overcome by an obvious and silly fatal flaw just aren't good villians. That being said, the book is still worth reading. It's just not a book that excites me.
Rating:
Summary: Entertaining, humorous, at times touching space opera
Review: _Changing Vision_ is the sequel to _Beholder's Eye_. Esen, a unique and reclusive shape-shifter and Paul, her only friend, take a rare vacation, as a number political intrigues take shape. Avoiding capture while simultaneously preventing a war keeps Esen and Paul busy. With enough rivalry to fill a Regency Romance, and enough adventures to rival classical space operas, the plot keeps moving through a plethora of twists, while the reader is tempted to laugh at Esen, and frequently with Esen. Despite occasionally convoluted misunderstandings, this is an enjoyable, fast, touching and funny sequel to charming novel, full of trademark exotic and attractive aliens.
| 
