An Alien Light

Rating:
Summary: Good Thoughtful Science Fiction
Review: Good Science Fiction book. Second book of Nancy Kress' I have read (Brain Rose in 1992?) and both have been thoughtful and to have contained fully explored themes. In this book an alien race confines a community of ship wrecked humans to study them. The humans have been stranded on the planet so long they have reverted back to a roughly medieval lifestyle. The purpose of the experiment is to allow the aliens to better understand humans so they can defeat them in an on-going war they are having with Earth. Both the primitive human community and the alien culture are fully developed in the book. Philosophical questions are asked and answered through the story. A largely successful effort to write about human behavior from the standpoint of an outside observer. What makes us strong, what makes us weak, and what makes us dangerous. Well written both from an idea stand point and a story line stand point. Kress is a concise and economical writer who develops characters pretty well.

Rating:
Summary: Good Thoughtful Science Fiction
Review: Good Science Fiction book. Second book of Nancy Kress' I have read (Brain Rose in 1992?) and both have been thoughtful and to have contained fully explored themes. In this book an alien race confines a community of ship wrecked humans to study them. The humans have been stranded on the planet so long they have reverted back to a roughly medieval lifestyle. The purpose of the experiment is to allow the aliens to better understand humans so they can defeat them in an on-going war they are having with Earth. Both the primitive human community and the alien culture are fully developed in the book. Philosophical questions are asked and answered through the story. A largely successful effort to write about human behavior from the standpoint of an outside observer. What makes us strong, what makes us weak, and what makes us dangerous. Well written both from an idea stand point and a story line stand point. Kress is a concise and economical writer who develops characters pretty well.

Rating:
Summary: A book to read more than once
Review: I really enjoyed this book. While not quite as immediately riveting, such as the case with Beggars in Spain, this book gradually drew me in. After reading it a second time, I found an even richer story. I think I've read this book four times now over the past six years and have enjoyed it each time. I find it amazing how Nancy Kress is able to create these true to life characters in situations that she creates and makes real.

Rating:
Summary: A book to read more than once
Review: I really enjoyed this book. While not quite as immediately riveting, such as the case with Beggars in Spain, this book gradually drew me in. After reading it a second time, I found an even richer story. I think I've read this book four times now over the past six years and have enjoyed it each time. I find it amazing how Nancy Kress is able to create these true to life characters in situations that she creates and makes real.