June 2023 THEMED Hellspark by Kagan

[Teresa, Plan B is in Effect]

The June 2023 Themed Pick is Hellspark by Janet Kagan. Please use this thread to post questions, comments, and reviews, at any time.

The theme is Unusual Flora and Fauna.

Official description:
Murder, mystery, and interstellar intrigue! Lassti, a newly discovered planet, is the center of political intrigue. Recently the planet survey team’s physicist was found dead. Was he killed? If so, by who? One of his fellow surveyors? Or by one of the birdlike natives of Lassti? This is, if they are intelligent at all, which is proving hard to tell. Into this mix arrives Tocohl, a Hellspark trader who just wanted to have a vacation. After being attacked, rescuing a young woman, and going before a judge, Tocohl has learned all she ever wanted to know about being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Now she is seeking answers to mysteries that could save a world.

Hellspark, in particular, is one of our very favorite novels in any genre. All of Janet’s excellencies are apparent as she explores the interfaces of culture, language, intelligence, and what it means to be human. If you have not read Hellspark, you must do so immediately. It's that good.”—Sharon Lee and Steve Miller, coauthors of the best-selling Liaden Universe® series.

[Teresa, Plan B is in Effect]

I’ll be rereading this book in June. I’ve read it several times. It’s very good.

We have discussed Hellspark before several years ago. If you want to read the comments from back then see this link https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

[Audrey]

I started my reread. This is one of those books that I know is going to be great from the very first chapter. It doesn't disappoint.

[Betsy]

I finished my reread. I've read this book probably twenty times, but I still have trouble putting it down so I can go to bed at my normal time. It's not that I don't remember it, it's that I enjoy it so much that I don't want to stop reading even for a little while. For many years, this was my go-to book when I needed a lift. I'm not sure why, but it just makes me feel good. On the broadest level, of course, good triumphs over evil and that's always positive. But it's the way it is accomplished. With absolute integrity, and impressive creativity. I like to think this is what the future could be like. Plus I just really like most of the characters.

[Betsy]

Worldbuilding is one of the things I particularly enjoy about science fiction. If an author can create a complex world that I can imagine living in, it really increases my appreciation of the book. But even with good worldbuilding, many future stories are limited to a single culture.

One of the things I enjoy a lot about this book is the different cultures the author imagines. Not just humans vs. the Sprookjes, but even among the humans. It seems to me very likely that in a future universe with many different worlds settled by humans, a variety of cultures would develop. Although interstellar trade may tend to homogenize culture, I suspect that it would be somewhat removed from the everyday life of the ordinary people on the planets so that it wouldn't affect their culture too much.

[Audrey]

Finished! This book was even better the second time around.

I liked that the Hellspark traders were able to adapt so well to a wide variety of languages and cultures, even to the point of resolving misunderstandings between individual survey members stemming from those differences. The polished toenail incident comes quickly to mind.

[Teresa, Plan B is in Effect]

I adore the bit about toenail polish!

[Teresa, Plan B is in Effect]

I’ve started my reread. This is the sixth time I’ve read Hellspark I think, possibly more. The author does a good job of giving just enough of the world at a time that it’s intriguing and not overwhelming. Right now I’m at the part where Tocohl is trying to explain proxemics and kinesics. I’ve lived in multiple countries, and known people from even more cultures. I didn’t have words for it when I was younger but YES two people talking from cultures with completely different social distances will either end up with one being extremely uncomfortable or will find themselves moving completely across a large room as they unconsciously try to adjust the distance between.

[Teresa, Plan B is in Effect]

On this reread I noticed a minor comment early in the book warning to be careful when telling lies because the lie might make it come true, or words to that effect. I’ve now read enough of the book this time to remember some details and I think there are THREE lies told that become truth, if not more.

[Teresa, Plan B is in Effect]

Finished my reread. Happy sigh.