Dirge

Rating:
Summary: More Thranx, less Pitar please
Review: Dirge is Book 2 of the Founding of the Commonwealth (thus the sequel to Phylogenesis). Dirge picks up pretty much where Phylogenesis leaves off, humans and Thranx trying to figure out how to work together to grow their civilizations. I guess Foster wanted to emphasize what a big step it was for the early members of the commonweath to overcome the innate horror one would feel in the presence of the Thranx (who we remember look like big, nice smelling, bugs). In order to empasize the point Foster introduces the Pitar. Humanlike aliens who are by all accounts visually perfect to humans. The humans obsession with the Pitar threatens to delay to continuation of human/Thranx cooperation until as expected it is revealed the the Pitar are evil misanthropes who wish to destroy all life they meet (isn't that always the case?). Needless to say the Thranx help us commit genocide against the Pitar and all ends well. Overall this book was fine, but I wanted to learn more about humans and Thranx and the distraction of the Pitar meant this book really didn't fit into the founding theme. You might want to skip it unless there is another book in the founding series.

Rating:
Summary: More Thranx, less Pitar please
Review: Dirge is Book 2 of the Founding of the Commonwealth (thus the sequel to Phylogenesis). Dirge picks up pretty much where Phylogenesis leaves off, humans and Thranx trying to figure out how to work together to grow their civilizations. I guess Foster wanted to emphasize what a big step it was for the early members of the commonweath to overcome the innate horror one would feel in the presence of the Thranx (who we remember look like big, nice smelling, bugs). In order to empasize the point Foster introduces the Pitar. Humanlike aliens who are by all accounts visually perfect to humans. The humans obsession with the Pitar threatens to delay to continuation of human/Thranx cooperation until as expected it is revealed the the Pitar are evil misanthropes who wish to destroy all life they meet (isn't that always the case?). Needless to say the Thranx help us commit genocide against the Pitar and all ends well. Overall this book was fine, but I wanted to learn more about humans and Thranx and the distraction of the Pitar meant this book really didn't fit into the founding theme. You might want to skip it unless there is another book in the founding series.

Rating:
Summary: Nothing New - But Fun To Read
Review: For those who have been pay attention the Commonwealth books for years, we all knew who the bad guys were here, who the good guys were, and how it ends. Unlike Phylogenisis, the major plot points here had all been referenced to in the orginial books (though as historical asides). Nevertheless, filling in the details was fun. And how many of you noticed that Mallory and Tse combine to form Tse-Mallory. Where's Bran to tell the story when you need him? A good read, and an important book in the Commonwealth history -- but not as much new and surprising information as Foster usually provides.

Rating:
Summary: A solid tale, well-told.
Review: Foster is the essential SF author, with imagination to spare and an easy-to-read, naturalistic, *visual* writing style that blends in perfect harmony with the richly woven tapestry of his tales.

If you have never had the opportunity to experience the universe of joyous wonders and breathtaking marvels contained in an Alan Dean Foster novel, then this Humanx Commonwealth series is an excellent introduction to the ADF experience. Once you're hooked, you'll come back for more... ;-)

Rating:
Summary: The Founding: Book Two
Review: It has been twenty years since the chance meeting of street thug Cheelo Montoya and Thranx poet Desvendapur revealed the bug colony hidden deep within the Amazon Basin, and not much has changed. Contact between the species is still proceeding at a far too reluctant pace for some. Sadly, that pace is further hindered by the arrival of the Pitar, a species of alien that embodies all that humankind aspire to on a physical level (i.e. a planet inhabited by Playgirl and Playboy centerfolds). However the Thranx are rather suspicious of these newly arrived and friendly, yet very secretive, aliens and fear that the humans may pay a price for their blind confidence. And pay the humans do, when 600,000 settlers are wiped out in a brutal surprise attack that has left no trace of the aggressors.

ADF's second chapter in the Founding Trilogy is a tight, brisk read. The fallout from the events of the first book is still being dealt with and the Big Picture lessons that humanity needs to learn about its own arrogance and addiction to visually pleasing lifeforms is well delivered, albeit with a heavy hand (600,000!?!). Some reviews mention the rather abbreviated ending, but this book is the second act in a three act play and, while this particular chapter's story could be expanded into a series of its own (yeah, I thought it was THAT good), in this telling it serves only as an important step in the trail that leads to the Founding. Recommended.

Rating:
Summary: Not Foster's best, but very enjoyable!
Review: This book did not have all the action or grandness of a usual Foster book. It was still a good read though and I think he is setting up some really good stuff for the sequel.

If you are an avid Humanx commonwealth reader though (as I am) this is a 'must read'

-Dashro

Rating:
Summary: Not believable.. but enjoyable
Review: This seems to be another victim of Foster's ever accellerating pace of production. Sure the storyline is predictable, we were told what would happen in "The End of the Matter". Sure the basic premise of the book is a thin comic book storyline used in "The End of the Matter" to explain how Humans and Thranx got together. However, Foster managed to both make the fill narrative both more interesting, and at the same time less inventive.

The storyline which Foster weaves through the events described in "The End of the Matter" is both fun and well written. The improbable lone survivor of a brutal attack must prove humanity's new allies are really its worst enemies... but how when they seem to have so meticulously covered their tracks?

Perhaps not as well written as some of his earlier books, but very good. However, he never really fills out the plotline mentioned in "The End of the Matter" adequately enough to dispell the feeling that the entire story is just a fairy tale. Humans discover another race of "sexy" humans? There have been less likely plotlines in the annals of science fiction, but such an unlikely occurence requires a bit more support than given in this book.

I also agree that the denouement of the story was abrupt and seemed a bit unfinished. This aspect of the book seems strikingly similar to the abrupt pacing and ending of the latest Flinx novel Reunion.

Still, a good read. Any fan of the Commonwealth series will certainly be pleased.

Rating:
Summary: turning point in the commonwealth
Review: Twists and Turns....Makes the whole of the Commonwealth make sense. If you are a Flinx or just a Foster Commonwealth fan this book is a must.

Rating:
Summary: turning point in the commonwealth
Review: Twists and Turns....Makes the whole of the Commonwealth make sense. If you are a Flinx or just a Foster Commonwealth fan this book is a must.

Rating:
Summary: Background info...is a good thing!
Review: when i read this book i already knew who the bad guys were, having read the entire Flinx&Pip series repeatedly, but that did not alter the fact that this was a very enjoyable, if predictable, read. It is certainly not the best of the commonwealth history books, i would proffer "Nor Crystal Tears" as the best pre-history, but it does fill in blanks in the commonwealth storyline. Dirge also sees the forming of the future major religion of the commonwealth. The story is an interesting mix of horror and triumph. overall a good read