Rating: 
Summary: VERY good book
Review: This book is one of my favorites. It is SO good,
I wish there were many more books available by this author
instead of only 1 or 2. It is one of the few books I know
in a sub-genre of SF I think of as 'linguistic' fiction.
Not only does this book introduce an interesting
universe very unlike your run-of-the-mill galactic empire,
but a whole host of unusual concepts and new ways of
looking at the world as well as inter-personal relationships.
Rating:
Summary: VERY good book
Review: This book is one of my favorites. It is SO good, I wish there were many more books available by this author instead of only 1 or 2. It is one of the few books I know in a sub-genre of SF I think of as 'linguistic' fiction. Not only does this book introduce an interesting universe very unlike your run-of-the-mill galactic empire, but a whole host of unusual concepts and new ways of looking at the world as well as inter-personal relationships. This is a welcome new edition of an old favorite long out of print from the original publisher.
Rating:
Summary: The Most Intriguing Book I have ever Read!
Review: This book is one of the most amazing books! I have never seen an author go that far in depth in language and customs of humans or aliens ever! A Hellspark, taught in the ways of language... the body language and nuances of aliens around the world, with an intelligent computer, must make a severe descision... but unbeknownst to them, they chose the right one. To make a Judgement of murder which will prolong the work of the Scientists. I hope everyone that reads this book understands the changes that this author has introduced to Science Fiction!
Rating:
Summary: The Most Intriguing Book I have ever Read!
Review: This book is one of the most amazing books! I have never seen an author go that far in depth in language and customs of humans or aliens ever! A Hellspark, taught in the ways of language... the body language and nuances of aliens around the world, with an intelligent computer, must make a severe descision... but unbeknownst to them, they chose the right one. To make a Judgement of murder which will prolong the work of the Scientists. I hope everyone that reads this book understands the changes that this author has introduced to Science Fiction!
Rating:
Summary: A must read for anyone in the communication field.
Review: This book is wonderful for the simple fact that it actually makes one think. Kinesthetics is something that most of us react to without thought. Well, Janet Kagan is going to make us THINK about it. I lent this book to a psychologist friend of mine and almost didn't get it back because the communication aspect was so fascinating to her. Not content with that, Ms. Kagan also wrote an incredibly well written and interesting story with likeable characters. Please write more...please!
Rating:
Summary: GREAT story & GREAT characters make a masterpiece.
Review: This is one of my top 10 SF reads, bar none. I thought it wouldn't work "out loud," but after 30 minutes of reading this to my ladyfolks she kept me reading for hours. We loved Tocohol & Maggy and expect that they could show up anywhere, any time. And the murder-mystery colides with first-contact over AI story featuring emsemble cast... Uh, the story is out of an imagination I might claim didn't exist, but then who wrote Mirabile?
Rating: 
Summary: I do believe this is a publishing first...!
Review: When Kevin Murphy called to ask me how I wanted Tocohl to look on the cover of the Meisha Merlin edition of Hellspark, I said I had no strong feelings but one special request...Would he please please let her wear her spectacles? Bless him, he did. I opened my box of author's copies and my jaw dropped. I realized I'd never seen a heroine wearing glasses before in my life. Thanks, Kevin! (By the way, Kevin's too shy to brag so I will--he ALSO did the cover for The Rolling Stones' latest album!) Fans of Uhura's Song, please note--this edition of Hellspark contains afterwords to Hellspark AND to Uhura's Song and the combined Additional Reading List for both. Much thanks to the editor of the Star Trek series for granting us permission to include it here. So Meisha Merlin gave me two heart's desires.... I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent science fiction
Review: When the multi-planet survey team arrived on the newly discovered world of Lassti, small golden-furred creatures shriek at them. Physicist Oloitokitok tries to communicate with the natives in order to determine their intelligence. Interstellar economics is at stake depending on what the survey team decides about the native Sprookjes. If they are intelligent beings, developers will have to leave the planet alone. However, before a final conclusion is drawn, someone kills Oloitokitok. HELLSPARK Tocohl Susomom is enjoying her vacation when she gets involved in an incident. She soon realizes that she has been conned. After three years of failing to understand the language of the Sprookjes, they need to use her extraordinary communication skills of a Hellspark to interpret the native language of the Sprookjes. Her predecessor was murdered, but no one knows if the culprit is a developer, a Sprookjes, or a team member? Tocohl knows that she must be extremely cautious even as she decides whether the natives are intelligent or not. HELLSPARK is a reprint of a fantastic 1980's science fiction novel. The complex story line is difficult to read, but worth the time needed to fully comprehend this exciting story line. What complicates the plot also makes the novel great as Janet Kagan makes all the various species seem genuine with unique characteristics. Readers believe that Lassti exists with a thriving native population and that the Multi-Galactic Enterprises is struggling with its survey on the planet. This is a great tale that includes an intergalactic mystery that enhances an intriguing tale.
Rating:
Summary: One of the best
Review: While I make no judgement as to greatness, since I consider my own perceptions in that range to be flawed, I do not hesitate to label this as one of the most enjoyable books I have ever read. And the other two prime contenders for that place are also by Janet Kagan. Simply the most enjoyable author I have ever read - and I've been reading for 15 years, at an average of at least a book a week. My only regret (I refuse to use the word "complaint") is that she has not written more. Wonderful stories, wonderful work!
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