Deceiver [Mass Market Paperback]

First you must understand - I love CJ Cherryh's anthropological approach to SciFi.
I think the Foreigner series should be considered a classic. I have reread each
of the books more than twice (like 3 or 4 times, straight from Book 1).

For me, this is one of the best in this series. There isn't the
amount of self-doubt by Bren, which was wearing a little thin. Instead there was
a lot more action, beautifully written - and many statements that made me stop and
think about what the characters were saying, or even laugh.

I adored it and read it straight through. Only one complaint - now it is done and
although I will read it again in a few months, I have to wait for the completion of Bren's
negotiation in the Marid.

Personally, I hope this series doesn't end with a 12th book - it really can't, can it?
I am looking forward to seeing what happens when Cajeiri (who has become positively
fascinating!) becomes Aji.... and when the Kyo arrive.... and when Ilisidi dies....and when Bren must retire. There are too many story lines I want to see completed - and that is FAR from normal when a series has this many books in it. CJ Cherryh has done the impossible by keeping the excitment alive and the series strong for so long. Long may this continue!!

You should judge any book as a stand-alone work, and by that measure "Deceiver" is probably perplexing. It is the eleventh volume in an audacious collection that tells the story of a small, stranded human colony on a very foreign world. While the humans can breathe the air, much of the native flora and fauna is toxic. Even more troubling, the planet is already populated by a physically larger, more powerful, and very intelligent race, the Atevi. And for -- so far -- eleven novels, author C.J. Cherryh takes the reader on a complex, wild ride through war, revolution, corruption, intrigue, accommodation, misunderstanding, reconciliation, culture clash, and a great many other themes. Taken as a whole, the series is one of the finest works of literature in the past 25 years.

In short, you can't really understand "Deceiver" without reading the ten previous novels. By itself, it is about a human regional lord, but he is the alien, and lord over entirely Atevi inhabitants of his small realm. His power as a lord is provided entirely through the natives, and is subject to the very complex overlapping loyalties of those natives. As a human, he has almost no power at all; his task is to figure out how best to be a regional lord of the Atevi, and to keep their conflicting needs, desires and loyalties from erupting into a planetary war.

On the other hand, if you read "Deceiver" as being the latest chapter in a very, very long novel, rather than as a stand-alone work, it is a gem: a transitional chapter taking the main character, Bren Cameron, from being a vital, but peripheral member of the court of the ruling Aiji (in essence, planetary ruler) and turning him into a human who can, for the first time, take an independent role in the politics of the planet. It is a big, fat, juicy stage setting for the twelfth novel, and like any fan of Cherryh's intensely intimate third-person narrative style, I felt "Deceiver" was around 500 pages too short. As readers, we don't know what happens next, but we do know that it will change the world. And we want that twelfth novel NOW.

Oh, yeah: in addition to the lost humans, now with their independent island colony separated by treaty from the planet's natives, and the Atevi superpower that dominates the rest of the planet, the story has an off-stage component. The entire human-Atevi civilization is under threat from two alien species, one a powerful, possible ally against a second, even more powerful and decidedly malignant race. Add in the complex, very un-human Atevi language, and you have a tapestry vaster than "Lord of the Rings."

Did I mention that I want the twelfth volume right now? While you wait for that, read "Deceiver," plus its prequels: Foreigner, Invader, Inheritor, Precursor, Defender, Explorer, Destroyer, Pretender, Deliverer, and Conspirator.

We sat down after dinner to catch up on what has happened in the last year, but as usual, they kept me up *waaayyy* past my bedtime until we finished telling tales about 3 o'clock. I was surprised and delighted to see Lord Geigi again. Cajeiri is growing up, as all kids must, but I am very impressed with his increasing thoughtfulness and intelligence, as well as his talent for mischief. Except for increasing physical frailty, Ilisidi has not changed a bit; she certainly held her own in a fight with Tabini. (I am still amazed that they so far forgot themselves as to quarrel so forcefully in our presence.) Bren's estate was so peaceful and beautiful and relaxing that the excitement and fear occasioned by the necissity of the sea rescue and then the home invasion attack was a rude surprise, (if somewhat expected nevertheless.) One hopes the attempted peace with our new clan allies is successful, even though the central government will have a fit - a matter I look forward to hearing more about on our next visit. It was nice to see Toby and Barb again. Well, Toby anyway. If someone have to run afoul of old enemies, at least it was Barb. Speaking of old enemies, the Marid, their new leader seems quite intriguing, and his meeting with Bren was has me eager to hear more about this atevi leader. From Bren's description of him, I think that even Tabini is going to have his hands full trying to finesse this fellow; though Cajeiri's take on him would be fascinating. As for Banichi, Jago, Tano, and Algini -- no reunion is complete without their dependable protection and care. So very good to see everyone again and I am REALLY looking forward to the next visit -- I just hope it will be soon. I am not fond of cliffhangers.

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