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Stardoc #5
Eternity Row
Aboard the star vessel Sunlace, Dr. Cherijo Torin and her husband have found refuge from the Hsktskt, the League, and her half-mad creator. Now they intend to find Cherijo's foster mother--and the truth behind the subliminal messages she left in Cherijo's brain.
But first they have some promises to keep--promises that put them in the middle of an interstellar war. Everything Cherijo ever fought for is put on the line--including her solemn oath to protect life.
Beginning in Stardoc--a novel hailed as one of the best science fiction books of the year by Science Fiction Chronicle--S. L. Viehl's smart, savvy surgeon, Cherijo Torin, has ventured across the universe in and out of danger and love, driven by two great forces--her sworn duty to heal the sick and her constant fear of the demented man who created her.
But first they have some promises to keep--promises that put them in the middle of an interstellar war. Everything Cherijo ever fought for is put on the line--including her solemn oath to protect life.
Beginning in Stardoc--a novel hailed as one of the best science fiction books of the year by Science Fiction Chronicle--S. L. Viehl's smart, savvy surgeon, Cherijo Torin, has ventured across the universe in and out of danger and love, driven by two great forces--her sworn duty to heal the sick and her constant fear of the demented man who created her.
416 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2002
About the author
S.L. Viehl
31 books225 followersAlso see Lynn Viehl, Gena Hale, Jessica Hall and Rebecca Kelly.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
September 29, 2010
This is the fifth book in the Stardoc series and I have read all of them in order.
They are character driven--if you do not like the main character, Dr. Cherrijo Torin--stop read after book one. She is very central to the action in this novel and others.
I do enjoy the series, myself. There are a lot of intersting alines; some real challenges for Dr. Cherrijo and her family and friends. She does run into two very intersting cultures--each with an unusual medical problem in this novel.
There are light, escapist science fiction. Fun to read, but not a lot of depth. Recommended for any SF fan who wants to try something a bit different; and of course, for fans of the series.
They are character driven--if you do not like the main character, Dr. Cherrijo Torin--stop read after book one. She is very central to the action in this novel and others.
I do enjoy the series, myself. There are a lot of intersting alines; some real challenges for Dr. Cherrijo and her family and friends. She does run into two very intersting cultures--each with an unusual medical problem in this novel.
There are light, escapist science fiction. Fun to read, but not a lot of depth. Recommended for any SF fan who wants to try something a bit different; and of course, for fans of the series.
July 31, 2019
The first three books of this series were fun. The fourth was less interesting, but had an intriguing twist at the end. But this one, just doesn't seem to be holding my attention at all. I keep getting distracted from it by television, by other books, by chores. Chores, for Pete's sake! I finally just gave up on it.
July 15, 2026
"Rude, ungracious, unpolished, discourteous, and impolite Terran female. I know. You've told me. Frequently." -p. 259, Eternity Row, SL Viehl
Lol
I feel like SLV was giving it back to me, just a tad. Did she know that many would find her MFC a bit off-putting? That StarDocs continued treatment of her husband as some large man baby that she needed to constantly correct would get old? That yelling and stomping around huge alien ships and demanding her own ways despite cultural differences would be cringe? That her arrogance and temper tantrums would wear down the reader? Perhaps.
That's why I was pleasantly surprised by this book. Perhaps my favorite since the first or second novel, we have a decent story. A lot of cool characters. New Squilyp aliens (which I really enjoyed) and new planets and worlds.
The entire "Maggie" alien storyline took an unexpected and rather eye-rolling turn. I didn't exactly find that story believable but maybe that's the point. We are left on a cliff hanger and , like StarDoc, don't quite believe what we're being told. I could have done without the entire "superior race space seeds the universe" angle but I'm willing to see where this goes.
I enjoyed the toddler...she brings a freshness to the novels that the others lacked. Although, conveniently trotted in and out at the whim of the author, the child is still cute and the storyline is an added mystery. I think we'll eventually find out that Marel has special powers of her own.
The worm planet gave me the heeby-jeebies in the best way....it felt a lot closer to her first novel where we were exploring new planets and contacting new alien species. The Jorenian subplot is always getting in the way along with what feels like forced confrontations to push the plot forward in an unnecessary manner. Oh well. At least the Blue People still worship the ground our MFC walks on and will absolutely always be available for increasingly sticky situations and bring about the most lucky of situations....;)
Ilona and Dhreen continue to be side plot characters that either drag the story or muddy the waters. I still have a slight soft spot for Dhreen, however, and looked forward to his people and his planet. I wasn't disappointed. Eternity Row was rather creative of the author and I give full stars for that alone.
The medical aspect of the novels is back in full force and even though it was way more confusing to understand...we were not disappointed and our faithful StarDoc was able to cure everyone, again.
The Bartermen....they're like the Jawa people from StarWars. And I really get a kick out of them. They'd trade their Grandma for a good food synthesizer and I bet they already have 😆
I'll read the next bc....at least SLV kept her weird fetishes in the dungeon of her mind, this time.
P.s. Shout-out to the slime molds (not unlike the Tribbles from Star Trek) for becoming MedSurges new helpers.
P.s.s. I wasn't a fan of the odd "Parent Fight" that MFC and MMC had early on in the novel over the safety of their daughter. That felt childish. As if StarDoc couldn't see the rationality of the situation. The smartest person in the room continues to be the worst when it comes to seeing how Duncan protects her and her daughter and her continued hypocrisy on violence (when she feels absolutely fine with using it against her husband and anyone who makes her mad) leaves me dissatisfied with her character development. The Hsktskt and The League being brought into the ship AT THE SAME TIME was dumb and not a mistake a capable commander of a Jorenian warship would make....it was a quick plot device to bring us into a confrontation between the two main lovers. There are other ways to show growth and conflict in marriage without making illogical plot choices. Still kinda enjoyed it, not gonna lie... Hsktskt remind me of the famous fight scene between Ctp. Kirk and The Gorn. Always amuses me 😁
Lol
I feel like SLV was giving it back to me, just a tad. Did she know that many would find her MFC a bit off-putting? That StarDocs continued treatment of her husband as some large man baby that she needed to constantly correct would get old? That yelling and stomping around huge alien ships and demanding her own ways despite cultural differences would be cringe? That her arrogance and temper tantrums would wear down the reader? Perhaps.
That's why I was pleasantly surprised by this book. Perhaps my favorite since the first or second novel, we have a decent story. A lot of cool characters. New Squilyp aliens (which I really enjoyed) and new planets and worlds.
The entire "Maggie" alien storyline took an unexpected and rather eye-rolling turn. I didn't exactly find that story believable but maybe that's the point. We are left on a cliff hanger and , like StarDoc, don't quite believe what we're being told. I could have done without the entire "superior race space seeds the universe" angle but I'm willing to see where this goes.
I enjoyed the toddler...she brings a freshness to the novels that the others lacked. Although, conveniently trotted in and out at the whim of the author, the child is still cute and the storyline is an added mystery. I think we'll eventually find out that Marel has special powers of her own.
The worm planet gave me the heeby-jeebies in the best way....it felt a lot closer to her first novel where we were exploring new planets and contacting new alien species. The Jorenian subplot is always getting in the way along with what feels like forced confrontations to push the plot forward in an unnecessary manner. Oh well. At least the Blue People still worship the ground our MFC walks on and will absolutely always be available for increasingly sticky situations and bring about the most lucky of situations....;)
Ilona and Dhreen continue to be side plot characters that either drag the story or muddy the waters. I still have a slight soft spot for Dhreen, however, and looked forward to his people and his planet. I wasn't disappointed. Eternity Row was rather creative of the author and I give full stars for that alone.
The medical aspect of the novels is back in full force and even though it was way more confusing to understand...we were not disappointed and our faithful StarDoc was able to cure everyone, again.
The Bartermen....they're like the Jawa people from StarWars. And I really get a kick out of them. They'd trade their Grandma for a good food synthesizer and I bet they already have 😆
I'll read the next bc....at least SLV kept her weird fetishes in the dungeon of her mind, this time.
P.s. Shout-out to the slime molds (not unlike the Tribbles from Star Trek) for becoming MedSurges new helpers.
P.s.s. I wasn't a fan of the odd "Parent Fight" that MFC and MMC had early on in the novel over the safety of their daughter. That felt childish. As if StarDoc couldn't see the rationality of the situation. The smartest person in the room continues to be the worst when it comes to seeing how Duncan protects her and her daughter and her continued hypocrisy on violence (when she feels absolutely fine with using it against her husband and anyone who makes her mad) leaves me dissatisfied with her character development. The Hsktskt and The League being brought into the ship AT THE SAME TIME was dumb and not a mistake a capable commander of a Jorenian warship would make....it was a quick plot device to bring us into a confrontation between the two main lovers. There are other ways to show growth and conflict in marriage without making illogical plot choices. Still kinda enjoyed it, not gonna lie... Hsktskt remind me of the famous fight scene between Ctp. Kirk and The Gorn. Always amuses me 😁
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 25, 2020
Eternity row is the fifth StarDoc novel. After Cherijo finally managed to escape from Earth and get away from her narcissistic creator she finds herself back on the Sunlace with her adoptive people at the end of the last book. The vaguely hinted at secret she was hiding throughout the book turns out to be the child she miscarried surviving in an artificial womb and they are greeting by her when they arrive since it's been about a year. She didn't tell anyone, including her husband about the baby because she wasn't sure it would survive so it's a happy surprise to all of them.
This book opens on her trying to balance being a mother to an exceptional child and her duties as a doctor. And to make things more difficult seems to be taking after her mother in a lot of ways and there are some mysterious things that keep happening with the little girl that make it clear she has powers even beyond her mother's . But the main thread of the book involves the ongoing attempts to catch her, by the League, and the growing hostilities between the League and the Hsktskt faction. Both want Cherijo for their own use so she's caught in the middle.
This story seems to have a theme of family commitments. She promised to visit the home world of her foster mother for answer, and has also promised to bring her half-human friend Hawk to the world his father came from so they can meet, and then they are off to Dhreen's home world. Even though her friendship with him was badly damaged by his betrayal and she no longer trusts him she has still agreed to go to his home planet and help with a mysterious illness they have which keeps them from having children. Once there though she finds out that things were even worse than he'd hinted. In fact they are unbelievably bad, on top of that she runs into some old enemies, the Bartermen as her past comes back to bite her. The Bartermen have had a grudge against her ever since the first book and they immediately take the opportunity to make her a slave, but they still need her medical skills to deal with the plague of eternity that's infested Dhreen's planet.
There's a lot of coincidences in this book and at times it strains the belief, even for sci-fi. Hawk's father's home world coincidentally becomes very important to solving the problem on Dhreen's home world--and visa versa. Her sentient cat friend alunthri just happens to resemble a local god-creature and is able to save them from trouble with the locals. And then coincidentally the planet her foster mother insisted she go to (from beyond the grave) for all the answers to her origin, just happens to be nearby both planets so it's a nice straight shot from one to the next. I love it when my errands line up like that too, but this is a huge universe so it seems fairly unlikely that all these things end up matching up.
I really enjoyed this book though I admit it was painful to see Dhreen as a bad guy, and to watch their once great friendship be so cold. And it was frustrating that she wouldn't even let him explain his betrayal, but seeing the secret he'd been hiding from everyone did help quite a bit to mend things and they are in better shape when they leave there and go get her foster mother Maggie's secret. Except of course, it's never that easy.
I would have given this book a three just because it was straining the imagination, but the new aliens we encounter were just so much fun and I got really invested in the mystery of Dhreen's home world. It was heart wrenching and definitely worth 4 stars.
This book opens on her trying to balance being a mother to an exceptional child and her duties as a doctor. And to make things more difficult seems to be taking after her mother in a lot of ways and there are some mysterious things that keep happening with the little girl that make it clear she has powers even beyond her mother's . But the main thread of the book involves the ongoing attempts to catch her, by the League, and the growing hostilities between the League and the Hsktskt faction. Both want Cherijo for their own use so she's caught in the middle.
This story seems to have a theme of family commitments. She promised to visit the home world of her foster mother for answer, and has also promised to bring her half-human friend Hawk to the world his father came from so they can meet, and then they are off to Dhreen's home world. Even though her friendship with him was badly damaged by his betrayal and she no longer trusts him she has still agreed to go to his home planet and help with a mysterious illness they have which keeps them from having children. Once there though she finds out that things were even worse than he'd hinted. In fact they are unbelievably bad, on top of that she runs into some old enemies, the Bartermen as her past comes back to bite her. The Bartermen have had a grudge against her ever since the first book and they immediately take the opportunity to make her a slave, but they still need her medical skills to deal with the plague of eternity that's infested Dhreen's planet.
There's a lot of coincidences in this book and at times it strains the belief, even for sci-fi. Hawk's father's home world coincidentally becomes very important to solving the problem on Dhreen's home world--and visa versa. Her sentient cat friend alunthri just happens to resemble a local god-creature and is able to save them from trouble with the locals. And then coincidentally the planet her foster mother insisted she go to (from beyond the grave) for all the answers to her origin, just happens to be nearby both planets so it's a nice straight shot from one to the next. I love it when my errands line up like that too, but this is a huge universe so it seems fairly unlikely that all these things end up matching up.
I really enjoyed this book though I admit it was painful to see Dhreen as a bad guy, and to watch their once great friendship be so cold. And it was frustrating that she wouldn't even let him explain his betrayal, but seeing the secret he'd been hiding from everyone did help quite a bit to mend things and they are in better shape when they leave there and go get her foster mother Maggie's secret. Except of course, it's never that easy.
I would have given this book a three just because it was straining the imagination, but the new aliens we encounter were just so much fun and I got really invested in the mystery of Dhreen's home world. It was heart wrenching and definitely worth 4 stars.
June 18, 2026
Very satisfying. Another entertaining series of planet-stops by the Galaxy’s most conflicted disciple of Hippocrates.
I love the novel’s retro space opera vibe and how story threads are coming together. The weapons are impossible of course and the medical jargon flies thick and fast. Please put everything that you know about physics and biology in your checked baggage – you will not need any of it during the flight! Just let the craziness of Buck Rogers-style battles, bizarre cultures and human-alien progeny etc flow over you.
Cherijo, Duncan, and her escape-artist of a child, are now outward-bound from Earth on the Sunlace. Two companions who shared the experiences of ‘Shockball’ will leave the ship at planned stopovers and further, Cherijo hopes to learn more about her mysterious ‘mother.’ OMG, what an itinerary!
And there are more installments yet.
I love the novel’s retro space opera vibe and how story threads are coming together. The weapons are impossible of course and the medical jargon flies thick and fast. Please put everything that you know about physics and biology in your checked baggage – you will not need any of it during the flight! Just let the craziness of Buck Rogers-style battles, bizarre cultures and human-alien progeny etc flow over you.
Cherijo, Duncan, and her escape-artist of a child, are now outward-bound from Earth on the Sunlace. Two companions who shared the experiences of ‘Shockball’ will leave the ship at planned stopovers and further, Cherijo hopes to learn more about her mysterious ‘mother.’ OMG, what an itinerary!
And there are more installments yet.
August 31, 2017
Got bored and moved on to another book. I usually like S.L. Viehl's work, but for me the "Star Doc" series is done.
September 13, 2018
Good book. How can all the bad things happen to the same person is a boring theme throughout the Stardoc novels I have read so far.
May 11, 2011
These just get trashier and trashier as the series goes on. Why do I keep reading? I don't know - they just haven't reached my limit of 'wow, I can't stand this'. I think that speaks really poorly for all the books I *have* discarded for poor writing, story, etc. S.L. Veihl isn't actually a particularly bad writer - she just needs to get over the Fanfic plotlines.
It's been clear since the first couple of pages that they're going to make the daughter be able to teleport. This is a little disappointing, and her constant appearances are a really, really amateur plot device. (Even most of the Pern PBeM'ers I played with would have kicked someone who did that out of a group...)
So many things could have been done to make this book more compelling, but it isn't.
It's been clear since the first couple of pages that they're going to make the daughter be able to teleport. This is a little disappointing, and her constant appearances are a really, really amateur plot device. (Even most of the Pern PBeM'ers I played with would have kicked someone who did that out of a group...)
So many things could have been done to make this book more compelling, but it isn't.
August 16, 2011
For some stupid reason, I keep thinking this series is going to go downhill and it hasn't. I'm on book #5 and it's still great. Cherijo is on the Jorenian ship with her husband and daughter, who I think has super abilities but I'm not for certain. She and Duncan are working through their marriage expectations but everything's on a much grander scale, not leaving the toilet seat up or picking up his socks, but her jumping off a shuttle without thinking about him and their daughter and her being forced to be a counselor on another world which forces Duncan into a death match with the ship's captain. I guess I should stop my complaining. I just ordered the next book from the library. If you like sci-fi romance with lots of action and a sassy doctor, this series is for you.
May 26, 2015
The latest (5th) instalment in the "Stardoc" series. As always, Cherijo Grey Veil is thrust into a nearly impossible situation, and this time, it's the spirit of her god-mother (alien?) that's leading her on the chase.
Though I still can't hop aboard the "I Love Duncan" wagon (he's a really frustrating character for me; he has a nearly pathological inability to express any sort of normal emotional reaction - and he's Cherijo's husband, so you spend a lot of time with him), the story itself is, as always, strong.
Though I still can't hop aboard the "I Love Duncan" wagon (he's a really frustrating character for me; he has a nearly pathological inability to express any sort of normal emotional reaction - and he's Cherijo's husband, so you spend a lot of time with him), the story itself is, as always, strong.
July 11, 2016
Brilliant. There's a lot going on in this one, but the author does a most excellent job of pulling it all together - while still leaving a few tantalizing bits for the next book. As always, love Cherijo. I've forgiven Reever for being a toad earlier in the series. Marel is an interesting character, even if I did have some trouble translating her dialogue. I can't wait to see what happens to these three in the next book.
September 30, 2010
I kept trying to like and read Viehl further books in the Stardoc series. This one I completely didn't like, not that the story wasn't a good attempt at sci-fi, but...constantly being forced to read the heroine's minor child's very broken and strangely spelled words totally put me off. It was a struggle even when skipping past those annoying parts.
July 12, 2011
Better then the previous couple of books, more medical, less creepy stuff. I enjoyed a lot of the interactions, and finding out more things about the characters. A bit irritating with the child's speak, and them not paying more attention to what the kid could do, but enjoying the other relationships and everyone working together.
Read
March 24, 2014These books are addicting. I absolutely loved it and couldn't put it down, as was the case for the precious four books. I loved the worlds and the characters, especially Cherijo.
She may be new favorite fictional doctor. (And I love Who, House, and Doolittle.)
I work at Penguin though that didn't influence my comments.
She may be new favorite fictional doctor. (And I love Who, House, and Doolittle.)
I work at Penguin though that didn't influence my comments.
September 13, 2012
And another great book in the Stardoc series. I really enjoyed riding along with Cherijo as she discovered more about herself and her origins. I am glad that I was able to read this book immediately after the previous one. Looking forward to much more in this series.
January 12, 2012
Book five of an ever expanding series of pulp science fiction space opera.
If you want deep philosophical concepts that make you think, look elsewhere. If you want a fairly well written space opera with well developed characters and lots of action, you have come to the right place.
If you want deep philosophical concepts that make you think, look elsewhere. If you want a fairly well written space opera with well developed characters and lots of action, you have come to the right place.
October 20, 2014
If you've read the rest of the serie, third and fourth books are the ones to be looking forward to.
Fifth book is ok, but it's trying to set up for more, following books.
While the idea is nice and fun, I think it's been extended a little bit too far and will stop reading here.
Fifth book is ok, but it's trying to set up for more, following books.
While the idea is nice and fun, I think it's been extended a little bit too far and will stop reading here.
January 4, 2016
Well wow! A lot happened, wars/conflict, mama-drama, kittens, postal-bride, Hawks fanatic home world, Dhreen's drug using home word, Maggie's tale, the cure, Bartermen/slavery, and relationships drama between Cherijo and Reever!!! A lot really!! :)
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August 16, 2008Eternity Row:: A Stardoc Novel (Stardoc) by S. L. Viehl (2002)
July 25, 2009
The big reveal was a little on the boring side, but some excellent new complications and characters were added to keep the old story telling engine chugging along.
July 15, 2010
At this point, you either love the series or can't stand to not finish it.
November 8, 2010
Love. Travel. Aliens. Trials and tribulations. A few revelations. More mysteries. And a cute kid ans lots of cats.
I like the medical stuff, it's used well as a reality-based sci-fi element.
I like the medical stuff, it's used well as a reality-based sci-fi element.
June 11, 2011
So I started this book and am completely confused. Did I get lost somewhere in between the last book and this one? Grr.
April 20, 2011
its ok...
December 7, 2015
I love the idea of this series and have re-read these books multiple times. I cannot believe that these books don't have a higher rating on them!! Such a great read and wonderful world building!
January 9, 2017
Another good part of the series. Inventive.
May 30, 2007
StarDoc #5
June 16, 2012
I love this series, lots of different aliens and medical puzzles, and an occasional battle.
July 8, 2015
It's okay. A fun space opera. Nothing I'd keep.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews