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Illegal Alien
 
 

Illegal Alien (Hardcover)

by Robert Sawyer (Author)
3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (22 customer reviews)

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Product Description

From Amazon.com

Aliens, Tosoks, have finally made contact with Earth, but there are only seven of them, and they've arrived in a disabled spaceship. The Tosoks are intelligent and surprisingly easy to communicate with, and are happy to tour Earth and see what humans have to offer. But during a stop in Los Angeles, one of the human scientists traveling with the Tosoks is gruesomely murdered, and all evidence points to the alien Hask. The Los Angeles Police Department is determined to indict Hask for the crime, even though the aliens have little concept of laws or crime as we understand them. The only thing the U.S. government can do is secretly procure the services of Dale Rice, a leading civil rights lawyer, and hope he can clear Hask of the charges. But as the trial progresses, evidence indicates a cover-up by one or more of the aliens. Humanity's survival--not just Hask's fate--might hinge on the jury's verdict.


From Kirkus Reviews

Aliens-on-trial, from the author of Frameshift (p. 424), etc. When a spaceship containing nonhumanoid aliens splashes down in the Atlantic, the President's science advisor, Frank Nobilio, and astronomer Clete Calhoun are sent to make contact. The Tosok (four eyes, two mouths, one arm in front, another in back) hibernated through the 211-year voyage, but their ship was damaged entering the solar system and they need help with repairs. Then, however, Clete's body is found butchered in the dorm where the aliens are being housed. A Tosok, Hask, is arrested and charged, so Frank hires top civil-rights lawyer Dale Rice to defend him. During the trial it emerges that one of the aliens, Seltar, supposedly killed in the accident that damaged the ship, is still alive; not only that, but she's helping Hask (he did kill Clete, but only by accident) to save humanity from the other Tosok--whose paranoid orders are to wipe out Earth with the particle-beam weapon that Hask and Frank somehow must disable. A consistently plotted if not always persuasively motivated yarn, with ingeniously constructed aliens in a fairly routine courtroom melodrama. -- Copyright ©1997, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

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Customer Reviews

22 Reviews
5 star:
 (7)
4 star:
 (6)
3 star:
 (4)
2 star:
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Average Customer Review
3.6 out of 5 stars (22 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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2.0 out of 5 stars Mediocre at best, Oct 29 2003
By A Customer
This review is from: Illegal Alien (Paperback)
This book is social commentary thinly disguised as science-fiction/mystery. There's nothing wrong with that per se; combining sci-fi with social-political views goes back at least to H.G. Wells, to a lesser extent to Jules Verne, and for all I know even before that. There's a catch, though: the sci-fi story must be good enough to stand on its own, without the political trappings. Such was the case with "War of the Worlds", "The Time Machine", etc. Such is not the case with "Illegal Alien". The reader is subjected to a steady stream of the author's liberal political and social views, along with a wearying succession of pop culture references. In short, if you're a left-wing kind of person -- to the extent that you'll put up with a mediocre sci-fi yarn just to get your dose of liberal politics -- then this may be the book for you. All others, steer clear. And maybe re-acquaint yourself with a real writer like Wells.
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4.0 out of 5 stars Quest for truth and justice, Jul 31 2002
By Kathleen Stetka (Montreal, QC) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Illegal Alien (Paperback)
The characters were developed quite well. So well that I was saddened when one of the main ones died, so early in the story aswell. But, if it wasn't for his death, there would be no story. I saw light in the concept of treating alien lifeforms like humans by giving them a fair trial. But, why would any human give an alien a fair trial over a human death- especially if aliens landed on earth and the next day someone was mutilated and it was obvious that the technology used in the murder wasn't human. Perhaps instead of simply taking direct action, the alien was put on trial to avoid war and complete chaos? I always appreciate the theological debates. Of course, the underlying motive of the aliens was the search for meaning. Although, the actions of these beings seemed to demonstrate otherwise.
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4.0 out of 5 stars Just discovered one of the best, Jul 26 2002
This review is from: Illegal Alien (Paperback)
With this book, bought while waiting in an airport, expecting nothing, I discovered a man that at once became one of my favorite authors. Sawyer is so creative, se sensible, so well informed and so human, he brings SF at a level that I must admit, as a trekkie, even Star Trek never reached. The evasion is absolute, the likeliness is as real as can be. Logic and emotions meet peacefully.
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Most recent customer reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Two genres collide wonderfully
If you're reading this review, you probably like science-fiction. But do you like mystery and court room drama too? Then you will very much enjoy "Illegal Alien. Read more
Published on Nov 13 2001 by Jeffrey J. Lyons

3.0 out of 5 stars Aliens and Murder Trials...
This is likely the Sawyer book that I enjoyed the least. Now, by that, I don't mean I didn't like it. Read more
Published on Jul 13 2001 by Jonathan Burgoine

3.0 out of 5 stars David Coliadis' report
This book was ok but I don't think it had enough action in it but the courtroom sequences were very detailed about the evidence they found and that was the only part I liked... Read more
Published on Mar 22 2001 by david coliadis

5.0 out of 5 stars Darwin's Dangerous Idea strikes again!
Daniel Dennett called evolution Darwin's Dangerous Idea. He describes it as a 'universal acid', eroding the fabric of traditional habits. Read more
Published on Jan 21 2001 by Stephen A. Haines

5.0 out of 5 stars A great book that's going to make a great movie.
I saw on Robt. Sawyer's web site that a movie version of ILLEGAL ALIEN is in the works. I'm thrilled about this. Read more
Published on Oct 20 2000 by David Ingals

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent mix of courtroom drama with science fiction
Take one part legal thriller, one part science fiction first contact with extraterrestrials, and one part murder mystery, and you've got Robert Sawyer's "Illegal Alien. Read more
Published on Jul 16 2000 by Robert James

5.0 out of 5 stars Another SF/mystery mix from Sawyer, and 1st rate it is too
I liked Sawyer's GOLDEN FLEECE a lot and I liked this one too. He seems to be a specialist at the sci-fi/mystery crossover, and does it better than anyone since {and maybe... Read more
Published on Nov 17 1999

5.0 out of 5 stars Best SF/legal book ever. Period.
Met Sawyer in Melbourne at the World Science Fiction Convention. Liked his wit on panels, so bought two of his books, and loved both. Read more
Published on Sep 10 1999

4.0 out of 5 stars A Great Sci-Fi Book With A Grisham Twist
Grisham meets Asimov in this Sci-Fi courtroom drama. A great success for Sawyer.
Published on Aug 24 1999

2.0 out of 5 stars Trashy - but cute and fun trashy
Johnnie Cochran meets ET. A dime store novel that is fun and light, if not kind of dumb. If you can suspend belief and just take it for worth, you'll like it. Read more
Published on May 22 1999

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