Rating: 
Summary: a bitter disappointment
Review: Boring.
This is one of the very few books that I couldn't finish. After 250 pages, I couldn't care less about the protagonists, and the book started to repeat itself.
This book is definitely in the tradition of Star Wars and Star Trek, and not at all in the tradition of Asimov and Card. If you like the former, you will probably enjoy this book. If you like the latter, you are better off trying something else.
Rating: 
Summary: Strong, interesting, and completely unique characters
Review: Czerneda has produced a great first novel. The writing is clear and well-structured. Sira and Morgan, the main characters, are strong, and end up becoming people you would want to get to know better. Supporting characters provide variety, comic relief, and are the product of a truly imaginative mind. Loved Huido!! Czerneda has a great gift for description, and makes you feel like you are really in one of her unique settings. This book definitely leaves you wanting more.
Rating: 
Summary: A strong debut
Review: Czerneda's first novel is designed rather cleverly. It's written primarily in the first person by Sira, who at the beginning is trying to escape pursuers with no knowledge of who she is, who is chasing her, or why. Sira finds Jason Morgan, an interstellar trader who helps her escape, and they travel in Morgan's ship, trying to stay one step ahead of enemies and learn the secret of Sira's indentity.
As the story proceeds, the main characters inevitably fall in love, although Morgan is human and Sira is a member of the Clan, a mysterious group with human appearance and psychic powers. It is never made clear whether the Clan is descended from humans by some sort of genetic manipulation/breeding program or is entirely distinct, but it is very clear that the Clan regards humans, and the many other sentient species who populate the Trade Pact universe, as roughly equivalent to lice.
An interesting twist is that Sira goes from desperately trying to learn what her real identity is to having deep reservations about learning her own secrets. There are clues suggesting that Sira's earlier personality may have been a very dubious character. Recovering her memories might mean the de facto death of Sira's current identity, yet failing to do so might leave her helpless against the enemies chasing her for reasons she can't understand.
The story and characters are good, the writing somewhat unpolished. At some key points I was unable to understand clearly what was going on. I think Czerneda has the potential to write really terrific SF; this book, although quite good, doesn't fulfill it.
This is the first volume of a trilogy. While it leaves some questions about the Clan open for the sequels, it finishes up its main story lines enough to stand on its own.
Rating:
Summary: Great story, original book
Review: Finally--a book that has created a complete universe that is both original and interesting. This book, the first in a series, has a pretty good plot line but the most fascinating parts of it deal with the character development and the exploration of the universe that Czerneda has created.
Rating: 
Summary: I liked it....
Review: For the most part, I enjoyed this book. It did have a few "slow" parts, but I liked the alien world the author created and the characters in the book. The characters were easy to get to know and were likeable. I thought the storyline was original (at least for me), and I enjoyed that aspect of it as well. I must admit, I rushed through the ending by skipping a few pages, but that's because I wanted to see if the ending was what I was hoping for. It was.
Rating:
Summary: I.m unimpressed.
Review: I bought this book from Amazon on the strength of the reviews, and the comparisons of Czernada with Nicola Griffith, Carole Ives Gidman, and other female sci-fi authors whom I admire. I can't figure out what those enthusiastic reviewers were talking about regarding this book. I found the book confusing and overly technological. Halfway through I stopped caring about the fate of the main character, or even feeling the need to have all the mysteries resolved. Far from being written in the feminist sci-fi spirit of Griffith or Gidman, A Thousand Words For Starnger seemed like an imitation of all the bad, techie sci-fi that's on the market. The instituations and people populating Czernada's universe were hopelessly hard to follow. Unless you feel like spending hours puzzling over an unclear, uninvolving book, I'd pass on this one.
Rating:
Summary: Wonderful entertwining characters give a marvelous ride!
Review: I checked this book out of the library because someone recommended it to me, and I could not put it down! I'm one of those ones who just has to stay up and finish it! I finished it in one night, and I can't wait to read the second one! Sira is a wonderfully rich, complex character, and I love how Ms. Czerneda treats her so fully! The interplay between her and Morgan is completely priceless, and I loved every minute! I spent the whole book hoping with all my heart that she and Morgan would finally end up together, and I was giddy with joy at the end! Thank you, Ms. Czerneda for a wonderful, joyous read!!
Rating:
Summary: Great Setup
Review: I first encountered Czerneda's writing through "IN THE COMPANY OF OTHERS". In that respect I have to assume I am swimming against the tide. I knew before reading "A THOUSAND WORDS FOR STRANGER" that she has a great talent for creating a rich background, a believable universe of interesting people. It coloured my reading of this book though: At the end I felt that the plot took a back-seat to the world building and I was left with a strong yearning to read the next trade-pact book. All-in-all, a double-edged sword.I was off balance from the start of the book. My own mistake for reading so late at night I guess, but the connection between main characters drew me in as somehow not being right. In that respect I was able to sympathize with the more secondary Clan members. Im not sure if that's an artifact of the late night reading or deliberate intent, but Kudos to Czerneda for weaving a story that made it possible. It's a tried and true plot: connections between aliens, outrage from all around, amnesiac, etc. Czerneda handled matters in a far superior manner to the likes of Lisanne Norman in her "Sholan Alliance" novels though!
Rating:
Summary: Interesting but I'd hoped for more.
Review: I found that this book didn't live up to my expectations. I relished the character of Morgan and hoped that he would prove to be more than he eventually was. Great potential but a ho-hum finish. Sira was interesting, but in an author imposed fog most of the time, and I felt that none of the other characters were particularly sympathetic or compelling. The concept of the M'hir was new to me and I liked the idea of the Clan that could exist in both the M'hir and our Earthly domain, but the ability to travel through space to a remembered spot is not new or well done. I stayed with the story, waiting for a surprising or exciting finale and felt let down.
Rating:
Summary: Muddled ending, read the sequel
Review: I found the book interesting it that I wanted to find out what was going on, but the ending was unclear and exactly what was going on was confusing. Something to do with the reproducing cycle of Sira. It does make you want to read the sequel if just to figure out what was going on it this book. Which I suppose a first book in a series should do. Overall, I give it a average rating. Not a book I'd read over and over again.
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