The Demon Breed

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Summary: This is very good indeed !!
Review: 'The Demon Breed' and 'The Witches of Karres are the only two books I've read from 'James Schmitz'. With both books I couldn't stop reading. Normally I only have this when I read 'Jack Vance'. This is very good stuff for addicted readers who like fast story writing with good intelligent humor in it. I see there are not a lot of people who have read this book, otherwise this review page would be filled with remarks from fans. It was by coincedence that I've got to read this book (in Dutch, I'm from Holland, so that's the reason for the mistakes in writing in this review). The book 'The Witches of Karres' is from 1969. My father gave it to me when I started to read sf-books. Like 'The Demon Breed' I've read this book over and over again. And still love it!

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Summary: The forgotten James Schmitz heroine
Review: Nile Etland is another of James Schmitz' strong female characters, every bit as engaging as Telzey Amberdon (The Universe Against Her, The Lion Game, The Telzey Toy), Trigger Argee (A Tale of Two Clocks, or Legacy), and young Goth (Witches of Karres). Readers of his diamondwood grove (short) story will also cherish the comprehensive ecosystem he's woven for this tale.

Unfortunately, with the current competing tides of sensational occult fantasy and sensational fundamentalism, this title probably puts off potential readers of quality science fiction. (I believe the story was originally titled The Tuvela when a version of it was serialized in one of the older SF mags--Astounding? or SF&F?.)

One of the many things that Schmitz does well is to leave one's mind full of interesting ideas and challenging debates. What about those entertaining mutant otters that we get to see so little of, will they be given citizenship? Is humankind really innately dangerous? What sort of government would humanity need among the stars?

For those who enjoyed the complex and naturally hazardous ecosystem, you might also enjoy two of Alan Dean Foster's works: Midworld, and Sentenced to Prism. (Foster is a print chameleon, with several styles and subgenres to his credit, so I can't blanket-recommend his work. But these two are fascinatingly creative ecosystem-based stories.)

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Summary: Alien invasion on a water world in the hub
Review: This is one of Schmitz's Tales of the Hub, with a character first introduced in Analog in a story called Trouble Tide. Dr. Nile Etland, a futuistic version of a limnologist, lives and works on a watery world that has been secretly invaded by an alien fleet hiding in the depths, and on one of the strange floating islands of that world. Nile Etland is a Schmitz heroine, and the aliens are evicted rather forcefully, with an assist from Nile. The ecology of the world is a major factor in the story, as is the quest for immortality. Quite a good read. Lots of action, interesting ideas, and a likable main character, with a sudden and useful switch of viewpoint at the end.