This Alien Shore
Just finished this book by C.S. Friedman and I think I might have to reread it to decide if I like it. Oh, I certainly don't dislike it. C.S. Friedman understands what 'alien' means more than most science fiction writers or otherwise. She can convey 'strangeness' or 'otherness' quickly and convincingly. It's just that while The Madness Season was a quick paced, high concept romp with a reasonably likeable main character, This Alien Shore is a labyrinthine space opera mystery with nearly a Song of Fire and Ice level crush of characters in a 500 page stand-alone story. Not only are there red herring plot lines, but red herring characters. I would argue that the nominal main character is in fact a red herring herself. Plotlines intersect in a seemingly meaningful way and turn out not to be related. I'm still not sure whether this is a sloppily plotted mess or a complex political drama, and my uncertainty is probably due a. to the fact that I found the nominal main character rather passive and bland and b. I couldn't remember who half the cast were. Characters who received a chapter might turn out to be pivotal 300 pages on, characters who initially seemed pivotal turned out to be of no consequence.
So. I might try reading it again. My favorite character was the researcher Masada, partly because I could remember his name, motives, and purpose. I loved the theme - the setting and psychology was fascinating. I just couldn't quite figure out what the real story was supposed to be.
So. I might try reading it again. My favorite character was the researcher Masada, partly because I could remember his name, motives, and purpose. I loved the theme - the setting and psychology was fascinating. I just couldn't quite figure out what the real story was supposed to be.