Protector (Foreigner)
Protector (Foreigner) book cover

Protector (Foreigner)

Hardcover – April 2, 2013

Price
$16.90
Format
Hardcover
Pages
384
Publisher
DAW
Publication Date
ISBN-13
978-0756407988
Dimensions
6.34 x 1.28 x 9.33 inches
Weight
1.26 pounds

Description

Praise for the Foreigner series:“C.J. Cherryh's splendid Foreigner series remains at the top of my must-keep-up reading list after two decades." — Locus "This is the kind of anthropological SF of which [Cherryh] is an acknowledged master. " — Booklist " A seriously probing, thoughtful, intelligent piece of work , with more insight in half a dozen pages than most authors manage in half a thousand." — Kirkus Reviews “One of the best long-running SF series in existence...Cherryh remains one of the most talented writers in the field ." — Publishers Weekly “This is one of the best science fiction series currently running ….by this point, the series has turned into a complicated set of thrillers involving political and factional turmoil, as well as a close and detailed examination of the troubled interactions between human and alien cultures.” —Strange Horizonsxa0"My favorite science fiction series is C. J. Cherryh's Foreigner Universe . Cherryh deftly balances alien psychology and human vanities in a character caught between being human and part of an alien race." — Denver Post “Cherryh plays her strongest suit in this exploration of human/alien contact, producing an incisive study-in-contrast of what it means to be human in a world where trust is nonexistent.” — Library Journal "A large new novel from C.J. Cherryh is always welcome. When it marks her return to the anthropological SF in which she has made such a name, it is a double pleasure. The ensuing story is not short on action, but stronger (like much of Cherryh's work) on world-building, exotic aliens, and characterization. Well up to Cherryh's usual high standard. " — The Chicago Sun-Times “[Cherryh] avoids any kind of slump with a quick-moving and immediately engaging plotline , and by balancing satisfying resolutions with plenty of promises and ominous portents that are sure to keep readers’ appetites whetted.” — RT Reviews “These are thinking man’s reads with rich characters and worlds and fascinating interactions that stretch out over many generations.” —SFFWorld“Cherryh's forte is her handling of cross-cultural conflicts , which she does by tying her narrative to those things her point-of-view character would know, think, and feel.”—SFRevuxa0"The Foreigner series is about as good as it gets ...so finely and densely wrought that you may end up dreaming of sable-skinned giants with gold eyes, and the silver spun delicacy of interstellar politics." —SF Site C. J. Cherryh planned to write since the age of ten. When she was older, she learned to use a typewriter while triple-majoring in Classics, Latin, and Greek. With more than seventy books to her credit, and the winner of three Hugo Awards, she is one of the most prolific and highly respected authors in the science fiction field. Cherryh was recently named a Damon Knight Memorial Grand Master by the Science Fiction Writers of America. She lives in Washington state. She can be found at cherryh.com.

Features & Highlights

  • The fourteenth novel in Cherryh’s
  • Foreigner
  • space opera series, a groundbreaking tale of first contact and its consequences…
  • Civil war on the world of the
  • atevi
  • is finally over. Bren Cameron, brilliant human diplomat allied with the dominant Western Association, has finally returned to the capital from the southern coast, where he negotiated a daring redistribution of the
  • atevi
  • legislature. Now, Bren is settling back into the capital, in the home he knew prior to the war—but life at the
  • atevi
  • court is never easy. Tabini-aiji, head of the Western Association and Bren's ally, has promised his son, Cajeiri, that he can have the young human children he knew from his voyage on the world's space station sent down to the planet for a birthday celebration. But there's far a darker business going on in the background—a major split compromising the Assassins' Guild, which furnishes security and law enforcement to the whole continent. Tabini's consort's own father has been barred from court, and may be involved in a new conspiracy against him. Tabini wants Bren to take charge of Cajeiri, and see him and his young guests to safety, all while keeping the security problem a state secret. Can Bren protect Cajeiri and the unsuspecting human children who are to be guests in an
  • atevi
  • household that is on the brink of political explosion?The long-running
  • Foreigner
  • series can also be enjoyed by more casual genre readers in sub-trilogy installments.
  • Protector
  • is the 14th
  • Foreigner
  • novel, and the 2nd book in the fifth subtrilogy.

Customer Reviews

Rating Breakdown

★★★★★
60%
(498)
★★★★
25%
(208)
★★★
15%
(125)
★★
7%
(58)
-7%
(-59)

Most Helpful Reviews

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average installment in beloved series

I have been reading (and re-reading) the Foreigner series for 19 years. Of course I bought the book - and read it in 1 day. Why? Because the characters are like old friends (to quote a reviewer of a previous installment).

That said - what is with all atevi displays of emotion? I kept having flashbacks to poor old stiff-faced Wilson paidhi. If only he could have witnessed the many pages of smiling atevi. A "furious" Guild member? A "stammering" Lord?

I thoroughly enjoy watching Cajeiri grow up. I appreciate the renewed acquaintance with his human "friends."
I'm bored, bored with Murini's tale, even though I heard Cherryh speak once about her deep interest in politics.
I'm still waiting for the aliens to show up and bring something new to the plot.

If you are a fan - read it. If you are new to the series, start with #1.
26 people found this helpful
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Steps Up Her Game

Fourteen books into the Foreigner cycle and Cherryh continues not only to hold our interest but to step up the quality of the writing and the intensity of the action. That says something not just about her command of the art of writing but her willingness to work at improving it. I had felt for a long time that the details of combat and action were not her strong points as an author. In the last two books, she has really stepped up that aspect of her storytelling. She will never be Tom Kratman, David Drake or one of the other military writers. But, I certainly think that she is now not writing around combat or having it take place offstage. It adds to the range and impact of the stories that she tells. And, someone who can make the (boring) details of politics and the intricate details of diplomacy not only readable and interesting but essential to the story line has talent.

This book is the story of Cajeiri's 9th birthday celebration, his guests from the space station and how this intersects the continuing cleanup of Murini's failed attempt to take control of the atevi government. A secret history going back to the first human landing on the planet is uncovered. To disclose the what and the why would be unfair to the future readers of this book. Read it to find out what is going on and how it bears on the current and future activities. And rest assured that there will be future activities. The next trilogy should see the end of the cleanup, the firming of Tabini's hold on ruling and the return of the Kyo. There are hints of that throughout Protector. Interesting times will continue for Bren Cameron, paidhi-aiji.

One final note for those who grumped about the story ending too quickly; note the page count of Protector versus the last two to four books. It is 375 pages long which is one of the longest in the last two trilogies. The others range from 330 to 370 pages long. I feel that is a measure of the wealth of detail, the richness of this story and the intensity of the action in Protector. This book is highly recommended.
8 people found this helpful
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CJ Cherryh is really milking this series now

I have read and enjoyed every book in this series ans always look forward to the next one when I finish the current book much too soon. My complaint with this book, and the one that immediately preceded it, is that very little happens. I feel like the author is really banking on us buying every sequel she writes ad infinitum. Now I have to wait however many years for the next installment and I am guessing very little of the plot will be advanced in that one. If you are a fan of the series, this is still a must read. If you have not read the previous books, don't even try. It would be like just reading the middle part of a very very long novel.
5 people found this helpful
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Below par

Slow and uninteresting. I found a real lack of focus on any of the characters. Even their personal interactions were not fleshed out. Where is Jago? Barely mentioned. Even the Grandmother is silent. Let's move on from the children and the monkey, please.
3 people found this helpful
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the series is too drawn out

I love CJ Cherryh, or maybe I just love her old stuff. The Foreigner series is interesting and she knows how to world-build, BUT - each book seems to be too long at saying/doing nothing. Talk nap-time. All really interesting things happen within 7 pages or so and usually at the end. And the end, well, each book never really wraps up enough of the plots/storylines/can this be finished yet vague inuendos. I've noticed a new trend with authors in general, and I feel it's a bad one, of keeping the reader only half satisfied with a book so that the reader will buy the next book written if only to find out conclusions that should have been provided in the previous book. More or less the literary equivalent to a TV soap opera that you can tune into 10, 15, 20 years later and the same storyline is going on with no closure. (Wait! Do they still have soap operas or did they die off so no one would notice the similarity that I just pointed out???? !!! The publishing companies have taken over!) Will I buy more CJ Cherry? Yes. I have everything she's ever written except for the Superman stuff. And hey, maybe the old CJ will snap back and show them how it's really done.
2 people found this helpful
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Wonderful continuation of the series.

'Protector' keeps the story going with all the internal tension and superb pacing that is Cherryh's hallmark. Cajeiri's POV is more prominent and this is a delightful insight into the rapid evolution of a young mind.
For fans of the series it seems that we are getting close to the endgame. The leaders of the Shadow Guild (of Assassins) are revealed and some of the history of the Guild and the ashid'tat (congress) also.
Bren Cameron's commitment to his responsibilities and the realities of his life as the ultimate outsider are also forcefully stated; a revelation in itself. He seems to have resolved his loyalties finally.
All in all, a very satisfying read. Can't wait for the next one.
Ian
2 people found this helpful
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Move the story along

This volume did not have the edge of the others. I hope she gets back on track. Just a bit too cutesy with Boji saving the day.
2 people found this helpful
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C. J. Cherryh never lets me down

She is such a wonderful writer! I just recently reread all the Chanur books and am now considering doing the same here: 14 books that invite us into a whole new world. This latest volume is wonderful and I so look forward to the next book. If you haven't read any of these books, go to the library and treat yourself. No matter where you enter this universe, I think you will find enough to be intrigued and then be inspired to hunt down and devour ALL. I promise you, the trip will be worth it.
2 people found this helpful
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I love this world!

I wait for her new book every year and never have I been disappointed. The more She puts the young atevi into the book the more you get to have a feeling for what goes on in their culture. love it. The Armored defense suits are a cool advancement for the story as well.
2 people found this helpful
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Foreigner #14 Protector

Another wonderful addition to the Atevi universe. I am glad to see that Caturi has gotten to connect with his human friends again. As always, I can hardly wait for the next book to continue the riveting inter-relationships among the atevi groups and human groups. The entire series is highly recommended for those who want complex, living relationships among characters.
2 people found this helpful