From the Bookshelf of Conlangs! Constructed languages in literature…

The Wound That Has No Healing (The Termite Queen, #2)

Lorinda J. Taylor

Why we're reading this: This book includes the language of the Shshi, a species of intelligent, extraterrestrial termites.
[close] This book includes the language of the Shshi, a species of intelligent, extraterrestrial termites.

Find A Copy At

Libraries

Group Discussions About This Book

No group discussions for this book yet.

What Members Thought

Jul 02, 2013 Adam Walker rated it really liked it

Shelves: sci-fi

The Termite Queen (vol. 1) and The Wound That Has No Healing (vol. 2) really are one long novel in two volumes. Volume one has a logical conclusion, but the story is far from over till the end of volume two. Each of the two volumes contains two parts.

Personally I found volume 2 more satisfying, because I found the aliens, the "termites", more interesting than the humans. The Shshi are strange, as aliens should be, but relatable -- they plot against each other and have their customs and rituals a The Termite Queen (vol. 1) and The Wound That Has No Healing (vol. 2) really are one long novel in two volumes. Volume one has a logical conclusion, but the story is far from over till the end of volume two. Each of the two volumes contains two parts.

Personally I found volume 2 more satisfying, because I found the aliens, the "termites", more interesting than the humans. The Shshi are strange, as aliens should be, but relatable -- they plot against each other and have their customs and rituals and ways of doing things. Several of the Shshi are really fun characters, the scheming chamberlain, the child-like queen, the clever seer. Several of the warriors are especially complex as they are caught between duty and conscience trying to decide where their loyalties lie as the leadership of the termite city fractures.

Unfortunately, much of the story revolves around a romantic relationship that never worked for me. I am not a big fan or romance, but I don't mind a well balanced romance in the plot of my sci-fi novels at all. Some of my favorites have romantic sub-plots. But the guy in this romance just gave me the creeps. If a woman I knew started getting involved with a guy like Griffen, I'd feel duty bound to try to steer her clear of him. The guy read as a stalker/control freak. I would be seriously concerned about abuse later in the relationship. But Our Heroine falls for him...and her mother encourages it. I cringed. This didn't work for me.

But back to the things I liked, because creepy guy aside, I really did like this book (with one further quibble I'll mention later). Languages. I love languages. I invent languages as a hobby. And the Shshi language in this book is incredible. Not only is it alien, using a non-verbal modality (radio waves!), but the version we see in the text is actually an invented language that Our Heroine invents during the course of the book as in interface between the humans, who can't detect radio waves, and the Shshi who can't detect our languages.

The only other annoyance I had with this book was the way Ms. Taylor dealt with religion. I know sci-fi is full of haters, but the condescension got a bit thick at times. On earth religion has been almost entirely done away with -- for the good of society donchyaknow. but the aliens have religions (some of which might even have something to them!) and that's okay for them, especially the more primitive termites. But any mention of Christianity is universally negative and often pretext for a little anti-Christian sermonizing. I would have enjoyed the story more without that, but hey, it's still a great tale and well told.

All grouchiness aside, I recommend this book. ...more

1 like · Like · see review

Jan 20, 2014 Lorinda Taylor rated it it was amazing · (Review from the author)

Group Home Bookshelf Discussions

Photos Videos

Send invite Members Polls