What do you think?
Rate this book
Heyoka Blackeagle #1
Black on Black
Rescued from a slave market by a human trader and raised as his son, one question has haunted Heyoka Blackeagle through the years: who — and what — is he? He feels human, indeed he feels like a somewhat alienated member of his father's tribe. So what if he is seven feet tall, furry, and equipped with retractable claws?
Human is as human does … Right?
Human is as human does … Right?
352 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1999
5 people are currently reading
324 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
June 17, 2014
This book caught my interest from the first page and I had trouble putting it down. I was up past my bedtime last night because I couldn’t go to sleep until I had finished the book.
The story centers around Heyoka Blackeagle, an alien from the hrinnti species. He was stolen from his people as a child and raised among humans, so he knows next to nothing about his own people. He’s a Sergeant, fighting alongside humans against a destructive alien enemy. During a recent battle, an incident occurred that led him to go back to his home planet to learn more about his origins. The story begins with him landing on his home planet, trying and failing to recognize anything familiar about it.
The hrinnti species is very animal-like in terms of their appearance and many of their mannerisms – probably closest to a dog if I were looking for something to compare it to. But not the cuddly, friendly, eager-to-please sort of dog! The vast majority of the book is spent in the perspective of various hrinnti characters. They have different motives than humans, a different social structure, different mannerisms and behaviors, and just a different way of seeing themselves and their lives. I enjoyed reading about an alien culture from the perspective of the aliens. Fortunately the author was human, so the characters are still pretty easy to understand if you happen to be a human reader.
I was surprised this book didn’t have a higher average rating -- I’m pretty stingy with five-star ratings but I enjoyed this book that much. I read a couple reviews in which people expressed disappointment that Mitsu, the human female traveling with Heyoka, didn’t play a larger role in the story. I can understand those comments to some extent, because I too had the impression at the beginning that she would be a more important character. But I think maybe that was the point. She was the alien – the interloper on a world where she didn’t fit in. This book was about the hrinn, not the humans. Mitsu did in fact play a major role, however unwittingly, in changing the course of at least one hrinn’s life.
The characters were interesting and many of them were very likeable. Heyoka was a particularly interesting character because he knew nothing of his own species’ culture, and many of their ways and attitudes seemed foreign and even barbaric to him. And yet he shared a lot of similarities with them also. The reader learns about his race along with him. There are a lot of character names to keep straight, but I had surprisingly little trouble with keeping track of who was who. In retrospect, I think the author unobtrusively worked in small details to help remind the reader exactly which character they were reading about after a perspective change. The story itself also seemed really interesting to me. I was always anxious to see what would happen next.
This book has a sequel, Stars Over Stars, but it stands completely on its own. Everything was wrapped up without any major loose ends. If there’s any one thing I felt was left unexplained, it would be the motives behind what happened on the Hrinnti homeworld when Heyoka was a child. Since some of the characters still seem to be wondering the same thing, I’m hoping that might be answered in the sequel.
The story centers around Heyoka Blackeagle, an alien from the hrinnti species. He was stolen from his people as a child and raised among humans, so he knows next to nothing about his own people. He’s a Sergeant, fighting alongside humans against a destructive alien enemy. During a recent battle, an incident occurred that led him to go back to his home planet to learn more about his origins. The story begins with him landing on his home planet, trying and failing to recognize anything familiar about it.
The hrinnti species is very animal-like in terms of their appearance and many of their mannerisms – probably closest to a dog if I were looking for something to compare it to. But not the cuddly, friendly, eager-to-please sort of dog! The vast majority of the book is spent in the perspective of various hrinnti characters. They have different motives than humans, a different social structure, different mannerisms and behaviors, and just a different way of seeing themselves and their lives. I enjoyed reading about an alien culture from the perspective of the aliens. Fortunately the author was human, so the characters are still pretty easy to understand if you happen to be a human reader.
I was surprised this book didn’t have a higher average rating -- I’m pretty stingy with five-star ratings but I enjoyed this book that much. I read a couple reviews in which people expressed disappointment that Mitsu, the human female traveling with Heyoka, didn’t play a larger role in the story. I can understand those comments to some extent, because I too had the impression at the beginning that she would be a more important character. But I think maybe that was the point. She was the alien – the interloper on a world where she didn’t fit in. This book was about the hrinn, not the humans. Mitsu did in fact play a major role, however unwittingly, in changing the course of at least one hrinn’s life.
The characters were interesting and many of them were very likeable. Heyoka was a particularly interesting character because he knew nothing of his own species’ culture, and many of their ways and attitudes seemed foreign and even barbaric to him. And yet he shared a lot of similarities with them also. The reader learns about his race along with him. There are a lot of character names to keep straight, but I had surprisingly little trouble with keeping track of who was who. In retrospect, I think the author unobtrusively worked in small details to help remind the reader exactly which character they were reading about after a perspective change. The story itself also seemed really interesting to me. I was always anxious to see what would happen next.
This book has a sequel, Stars Over Stars, but it stands completely on its own. Everything was wrapped up without any major loose ends. If there’s any one thing I felt was left unexplained, it would be the motives behind what happened on the Hrinnti homeworld when Heyoka was a child. Since some of the characters still seem to be wondering the same thing, I’m hoping that might be answered in the sequel.
August 15, 2011
I'm so happy I have discovered K.D. Wentwort and her book "Black on Black". Fantastic book, very well written and very enjoyable. Lots of interesting, deep characters, a very well developed alien society, different points of view, even from the antagonists. This book is full of fun surprises and didn't turn out the way I thought it would. The middle is a little slow as all of the political intrigue (for lack of a better term) is set up, but this too is fun to read. The science wasn't as scant as many other space operas, but not super thick like a hard SF novel. I also loved being able to look into the thoughts of all the different characters and we see their musings unfolded. I really liked Mitsu's thoughts towards the end of the book. Can't say enough good things about this book. One of the best SF books I have read (and that's mostly what I read). I've started reading the sequel and will report back soon. Find this book at Baen's free library and enjoy!
October 13, 2011
Heyoka Blackeagle is a seven-foot-tall hairy being with retractable claws. He is also the only member of the Hrinnti race to ever leave their home planet. Rescued from a slave market and raised by a human, he is now a soldier. He returns to his home planet seeking his roots, and he quickly gains enemies. As if that isn't enough, murderous aliens then invade. Things get very exciting.
March 14, 2011
A good, clean sci-fi read. Wentworth does a nice job of creating two distinctly non-human alien species without making them totally impossible to understand as characters. The female sidekick / damsel-in-distress could have used more character development, but there you have it.
Read
August 16, 2021I got about halfway through and lost interest.
August 31, 2012
Finished. Meh. My first impression ("lots of keymash fantasy words that run together") stands. I probably would have loved this as a teen, but I've kind of fallen out of the fantasy habit. This is sci-fi in aspiration only: the setting, the attempt at a study of what it means to be human vs. alien.
I hate when people try to construct a purposely inhuman alien civilization and then make stereotypical decisions about things like clothing and cephalization. "Indelible scent" was a start, but my first instinct is that it wouldn't work---doesn't anything that smells have to be volatile? (I have to do more research on this.) I do like that hrinn didn't distinguish between human and flek, as far as "bad-smelling aliens" goes.
There are quite a few female characters who get a hand in their own fates, but one of the supposed two main characters, Mitsu, doesn't get to do one single, solitary useful thing. She's basically a plot device, and it's annoying that we're supposed to care about her. Every time the scene shifted, I found myself hoping it wouldn't be back to her.
One last persnickety thing: the way non-native speakers failed to understand speech didn't feel right. It was like a machine translator failing for random words, where my own experience is that you can usually pick out basic vocabulary but aren't sure about the tense/declension, or alternately you can understand the grammatical context but don't know the meaning of the word. If it was supposed to be an artifact of the artificial way Heyoka and Mitsu learned the language, it would have been nice to expand on that.
So for my own reasons I didn't find this book very interesting, but that's not to say other people wouldn't.
I hate when people try to construct a purposely inhuman alien civilization and then make stereotypical decisions about things like clothing and cephalization. "Indelible scent" was a start, but my first instinct is that it wouldn't work---doesn't anything that smells have to be volatile? (I have to do more research on this.) I do like that hrinn didn't distinguish between human and flek, as far as "bad-smelling aliens" goes.
There are quite a few female characters who get a hand in their own fates, but one of the supposed two main characters, Mitsu, doesn't get to do one single, solitary useful thing. She's basically a plot device, and it's annoying that we're supposed to care about her. Every time the scene shifted, I found myself hoping it wouldn't be back to her.
One last persnickety thing: the way non-native speakers failed to understand speech didn't feel right. It was like a machine translator failing for random words, where my own experience is that you can usually pick out basic vocabulary but aren't sure about the tense/declension, or alternately you can understand the grammatical context but don't know the meaning of the word. If it was supposed to be an artifact of the artificial way Heyoka and Mitsu learned the language, it would have been nice to expand on that.
So for my own reasons I didn't find this book very interesting, but that's not to say other people wouldn't.
December 17, 2024
4.5 stars
Some of the best xenofiction I've ever read. Nature verses nurture: Blackeagle was taken from his home world as a toddler and raised by humans, he now returns to learn more about his people. Decades old secrets may hide more than he expected. The Hrinnti race was well thought out and interesting. Grounding the blue shift ability in science was a smart move. However, it seems that all Hrinnti speak the same language which doesn't make sense, especially considering their social structure.
Some of the best xenofiction I've ever read. Nature verses nurture: Blackeagle was taken from his home world as a toddler and raised by humans, he now returns to learn more about his people. Decades old secrets may hide more than he expected. The Hrinnti race was well thought out and interesting. Grounding the blue shift ability in science was a smart move. However, it seems that all Hrinnti speak the same language which doesn't make sense, especially considering their social structure.
January 6, 2008
Frankly,
He Preferred Humans
Rescued from a slave market by a human trader and raised as his son, one question has haunted Heyoka Blackeagle through the years: who — and what — is he? He feels human, indeed he feels like a somewhat alienated member of his father's tribe. So what if he is seven feet tall, furry, and equipped with retractable claws?
Human is as human does....Right?
Published 2/1/1999
SKU: 0671577883
Ebook Price: $4.00
Baen Free Library Book
He Preferred Humans
Rescued from a slave market by a human trader and raised as his son, one question has haunted Heyoka Blackeagle through the years: who — and what — is he? He feels human, indeed he feels like a somewhat alienated member of his father's tribe. So what if he is seven feet tall, furry, and equipped with retractable claws?
Human is as human does....Right?
Published 2/1/1999
SKU: 0671577883
Ebook Price: $4.00
Baen Free Library Book
November 22, 2008
I really ejoyed this book. It's about a space ranger and his human partner. He isn't human but fights along side them. He decides to hunt out his own people and he finds them. Giant dog like beasts that are sort of primative. He ends up discovering how savage his people can be, but unites them to fight a great threat to his very people, even others on other planets. It was very action packed. A great story! I truely enjoyed it.
October 21, 2012
Very reminiscent of Andre Norton in her SF days, before Witch World when she moved almost completely into fantasy. That doesn't necessarily mean great fiction - but I loved those novels...
June 30, 2011
While interesting I read this too recently after David Weber's books in the War God's Own trilogy. It therefore became a dull, dry, desperate excuse for a story. I think I might try the next book, but I'm not sure yet.
September 11, 2013
I read this novel several years ago and have never been able to get it out of my mind. The characters, especially the non humans, are written so well, their foreign customs are extremely believable. There is rich world building throughout this novel, and yet it still has a swift and sure pace. A fantastic novel, I thoroughly enjoyed reading it, and the successor.
July 9, 2012
Space opera, might loosely be termed Tarzan in reverse. The central premise is an alien creature raised among humans who returns to his native planet to reclaim his roots, but finds himself and his fellows in the midst of galactic conflict. A pretty good read.
November 1, 2010
This was a pleasant surprise, easy to get into and to read. But light/fluffy otherwise.
Want to read
November 21, 2008TBR
July 10, 2012
Enjoyed this book.
September 9, 2014
Fun, funny enjoyable read. A quick read and well written. I look forward to reading the second book in the series.
November 23, 2014
Reminded me of Andre Norton, e.g. The Beast Master, only not quite as gripping. Still pretty good though.
March 24, 2016
Transports to a different world and a different species. Good Job!!
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews