Alan Dean Foster is the author of many SF adventures, the Spellsinger fantasy series and a number of film and TV tie-ins - including the hugely popular Alien novelizations.
Concluding the story begun in A Call to Arms and The False Mirror , Foster chronicles a centuries-long war among alien races: the Weave versus the Amplitur and its allies. The latter wish to subsume intelligent species to the Purpose, an arguably despotic regime under Amplitur rule; the Weave, a collection of alien races, opposes this notion. The tide turns when the Weave discover the planet Earth and the savage, martially skilled human race. The humans' savagery becomes the deciding factor, and the war eventually ends with the Amplitur's surrender. Of main interest here is the way humans are perceived by aliens, as seen through the eyes of Lalelelang, a Wais scholar, who is unique among her people in displaying an interest in, and later a tolerance for being in the presence of humans. Lalelelang's scholarly intensity leads her to some remarkable discoveries of secrets held by several species, including humans. As usual, Foster's aliens are either B-movie monster types or variations on Earth animals (the Wais are in essence large birds). The novel does a good job of breaking down stereotypes about how races behave--though Foster tends to maintain a view of humans as savages. While unevenly paced, this is generally a worthwhile read. (Apr.)
As the galactic war between the Weave and the Amplitur reaches its final stage, a young scholar fascinated with the study of the war-loving human race overcomes her own species' aversion to violence in order to acquire first-hand knowledge of her subject--and finds herself inextricably involved with the creatures who both repel and attract her. Although this conclusion to Foster's epic series of galactic war and intrigue seems both arbitrary and abrupt, it features an engaging and unlikely protagonist whose dedication and charm transcend the almost perfunctory plot. Recommended for libraries needing to fill out the series.
 |
Ask a Question About this Product More... |
|
