Web Shifters #2 Changing Vision (Paperback)

So, why does it mostly leave me cold, when I otherwise like Ms. Czerneda's writing? I'm not sure. I really like Paul and Esen -- their development here makes sense, is well thought out, and it's an enjoyable relationship all the way around. And I felt sorry for Largas, Kearn, and most of the other characters that Paul and Esen are unfortunately forced to outfox during this book.

Still, this book is not as strong as the first (granted, the first was exceptional). It's a good novel, but it's not up to the standard of "Beholder's Eye" or "A Thousand Words for Stranger." I'm not sure what's up with that; it seems that Ms. Czerneda gets a really good concept, writes a book about it, then writes a few sequels because the concept isn't exhausted. Nothing wrong with that, but the quality dips consistently in follow-up books -- and especially here moreso than in the Trade Pact universe setup.

Of course, when your first book is one of my top twenty all time books, it's pretty hard to live up to that standard, too. ;-) Revisiting this review, I realized something; I hold Ms. Czerneda, along with a few other favorite writers like eluki bes shahar (also known as Rosemary Edghill), Mercedes Lackey, Sharon Lee and Steve Miller, and Lois McMaster Bujold, to a higher standard than others.

With some other writer, I might give this a higher rating; my original rating was three stars (wanting to give it three and a half, but not knowing that I could say so here). For another writer writing the very same book, I'd probably give it four or four and a half, which is why the newly adjusted rating.

Esen is extremely interesting, and I like to see her interact with others. She's written well; she's an innocent child _and_ a Stranger in a Strange Land, all in one. And I like Paul, who's interesting, flawed, and an overall meaty character.

But there's just something about this book that nags at me, that says it should have been better than it is. Probably the fact that the first was so outstanding; no matter how well written this book is, and it is very well done, it can't compare with the originality of the first because that's where I met the vast majority of these characters.

But that's not Ms. Czerneda's fault; she wrote an interesting world and wanted to play some more. This is a good book, and as such, I've adjusted the rating accordingly, to a four star effort.

Barb Caffrey

Oh, and yes, I'd definitely recommend this series to anyone. It's very well done. (Even though I hate Skalet, mind you.)

In this novel, fifty years have passed since these events. Paul has become Web-kin to Esen and they are now using the names Paul Cameron and Esolesy Ki. They have started a small business, Cameron & Ki Exports, on Minas XII and have close business and personal ties with Largas Freight. Their company is having a small party for employees and business associates, and a few of Meony-ro's friends, to celebrate their fiftieth anniversity. They are called out of the party to attend to a dying Ganthor mercenary whose Herd has been abandoned by their employer; Esen shifts to her Ganthor form and convinces the Ganthor to join their small Herd, thereby easing his dying.

Later that evening, the staff surprises Esen with a gift: tickets to the Panacia Hiveworld, D'Dsel. Since Esen hasn't gone offworld since her arrival, Paul thinks a vacation will be good for her, but Esen hates surprises and doesn't want to go. After returning home, they exchange gifts: Esen gives Paul a medallion with the company logo containing a small piece of Web-form in cyro storage and Paul gives her a holoshow containing vids of 110 different humans.

The next morning, they meet with Captain Janet Chase, who is chasing Paul, to learn about the boarding of her ship by Tly inspectors and the confiscation of her cargo. Paul also asks about the contents of the courier pouch, which the Tly have taken, but only after Chase had transferred the contents to another case, which she gives to Paul. Chase also has news of a new sentient species, the Feneden, which have come to D'Dsel to negotiate a trade agreement. Esen does not like Chase, who has tried to break up the Cameron & Ki partnership, but is pointly polite in the meeting until Chase tries to kiss Paul, whereupon one of Esen's large Lishcyn feet strikes a table leg and spills hot pyati with cream all over Paul and Chase.

Esen flees this fiasco to their private greenhouse over the warehouse. While sulking there, Joel Largas arrives to putter around with the plants and gives Esen a figurative shoulder to cry on and some paternal advice. He also spoils Paul's surprise: they are leaving for D'Dsel that night on the Galactic Goddess. Esen hates surprises ... and the stupid hat that everyone on the tour has to wear. Nevertheless, they are off to Panacia and Esen hopes that they will meet the Feneden, for she hasn't encountered an unknown sentient species in seventy-four standard years.

As usual, things don't work out quite as simply as Esen wishes. They encounter Rudy Lefebvre, Captain of the Russell III and Paul's cousin, who is hunting evidence of Paul's innocence of aiding the Esen Monster. Project Leader Kearn is also on the Russell III and he is looking for the Esen Monster itself and finds kindred souls in the Feneden. Tly Inspector Logan is on the the Black Watch and he is looking for a superweapon to use against Inhaven. Somehow, the common factor in all these ships and persons is the need to find Esen.

This novel continues the bureacratic theme with Quebit manuals: when Quebits were first discovered, linguists spend a lifetime translating a sewage system installation manual. Moreover, there is even more about architects on D'Dsel.

This novel introduces Esen's Human-self to Paul. While too small and weak for most purposes, it makes an admirable ghost, with a few dashes of a red juice for blood, to use against the superstitious Tly.

Recommended for Czerneda fans and anyone who enjoys zany adventures with likeable people in a SF setting.