Rating: 
Summary: Imparts that sense of wonder that all SF aspires to.
Review: This is one of the best science fiction novels written since the 1950s. The premise is brutally simple, and utterly plausible. The time is the near future. Earth has been conquered by an alien race that immediately relegates human beings to the status of owned "cattle." At first all hope is lost. Humans have no rights, no aspirations, and the superiority of the alien "Aalaag" invaders is overwhelming.Eventually a human underground takes root. But it happens in a way that will surprise the reader because it completely avoids the ordinary banality of the usual "underground resistance" type of novel. The ending will startle and surprise. Dickson's prose is excellent, at times he is poetic and moving. This novel probably features some of Dickson's best writing. I suppose the thing I liked best about this novel is that it imparts to the reader a sense of both plausibility and wonder to which all good SF aspires, but that only the best attains. This book reads like something that could happen. There is nothing about this story that involves the need for any suspension of the reader's critical facilities. The aliens in this novel seem real. They don't do anything to humans that humans don't do to other, apparently inferior (by human standards) species. It makes you think. This novel is a "must read" for anyone who enjoys good science fiction, or would like to.
Rating:
Summary: Imparts that sense of wonder that all SF aspires to.
Review: This is one of the best science fiction novels written since the 1950s. The premise is brutally simple, and utterly plausible. The time is the near future. Earth has been conquered by an alien race that immediately relegates human beings to the status of owned "cattle." At first all hope is lost. Humans have no rights, no aspirations, and the superiority of the alien "Aalaag" invaders is overwhelming. Eventually a human underground takes root. But it happens in a way that will surprise the reader because it completely avoids the ordinary banality of the usual "underground resistance" type of novel. The ending will startle and surprise. Dickson's prose is excellent, at times he is poetic and moving. This novel probably features some of Dickson's best writing. I suppose the thing I liked best about this novel is that it imparts to the reader a sense of both plausibility and wonder to which all good SF aspires, but that only the best attains. This book reads like something that could happen. There is nothing about this story that involves the need for any suspension of the reader's critical facilities. The aliens in this novel seem real. They don't do anything to humans that humans don't do to other, apparently inferior (by human standards) species. It makes you think. This novel is a "must read" for anyone who enjoys good science fiction, or would like to.
Rating:
Summary: fantastic book-i loved it
Review: this was a outstanding book ,i was so into it,i really cared about the characters and i never was sure how it was going to end.this is one of my favorite books ever.Im going to keep this one a long time
Rating:
Summary: One of my all-time favorites
Review: Wherever you can find it, this book is definitely worth the effort to pick up. A human linguist is a rather unusual choice to be the hero of a book, and the difference makes this book a standout. Shane's character is well developed and generally all-around great. Read it!
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