Suggestions for first C. J. Cherryh book?

[Random]

So, I've finally decided to correct the fact that I have never read a book by C. J. Cherryh. Anyone have any suggestions for a first go?

[Stefan, Group Founder + Moderator (Retired)]

Mmm. That is a TOUGH decision. My first thought would be one of these options:

1. the first Chanur book.
2. Foreigner
3. something in her Alliance/Union/Merchanter universe. But which one?

I have around 40 of her books on my shelves, and I'm having a tough time deciding what to suggest. Let me give it some more thought. :)

[Random]

I've considered Foreigner but just looking at the size of that series exhausts me. :) Is this a series I'd want to power my way through or something I can pick back up at a later time without going nuts?

I've also considered Fortress in the Eye of Time but I think I might want to start with her SF first.

[Jim]

I've read close to 30 of Ms. Cherryh's novels and the choice for me is easy. Go back a few years and get a copy of The Faded Sun Kesrith. It is a fairly short read by today's standards but still displays her prodigious talent for world building and character development. In this one, there are two alien races, the Mri and the Regul who have a complicated and dysfunctional relationship. Add a human protagonist, Sten Duncan who attempts to help sort things out and you have a mix of action and intrigue that is hard to beat. Just the first few pages describing the Mri (a warrior race) sword catching game is enough to draw the reader in completely.

And if you like this one, the two follow-up novels, The Faded Sun Shon'Jir and The Faded Sun Kutath are worthy reads as well. And also relatively economical in their telling.

Some of her earliest work is still some of her best. See this web site for further info and to find sources for purchase. Just click on the titles.

http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/c/c...

[Snail in Danger (Sid)]

Downbelow Station if you don't mind long books that will ask you to do some thinking would be my recommendation for the Alliance/Universe book to start with. But if you don't want to jump right into the deep end of the universe, then Finity's End is probably a good bet as an introduction. Cyteen is my favorite book from that universe, but it's not a good introduction for most people. Better to read Downbelow Station first, IMO. If Downbelow Station is the deep end, then Cyteen is the high diving board, to extent the metaphor a bit. :)

[Shel, Moderator]

I haven't read much Cherryh, but I'd like to read more. My first was Cuckoo's Egg, which is a standalone and is a good example of her writing style and themes. When you finish it, if you like it well enough to go on and read more of her work, then you do, and if it's not your style then at least you're not left hanging knowing that more happens in the story in the rest of the series.

Edit: apparently it's part of her larger universe, but this particular plotline is not connected to the rest. Someone else correct me if I'm wrong, because I haven't read the others in this series.

[Snail in Danger (Sid)]

Yeah, Cuckoo's Egg is part of the Alliance/Union universe, but the connection is tenuous. IIRC that's in the far future.

[Jim]

Cuckoo's Egg is nominally a part of the "Age of Exploration" trio which also includes Port Eternity and Voyager In Night. But, for all intents and purposes it's a stand-alone and a good one at that.

[Kathi, Moderator & Book Lover]

I have yet to read any of her SF, although I have several on my shelf. However, I've read her fantasy series that starts with "Fortress in the Eye of Time" and enjoyed it.

[Snail in Danger (Sid)]

Forgot to add - IMO the Foreigner books are reasonably quick, light reads. The series is long but the books aren't slogs. (I strongly prefer the Alliance/Union books, though.)

[Carolyn]

I really loved the Chanur books, so I highly recommend them. The Union/Alliance books are also good, I've only read a couple of those though, so I still have a ways to go.

book:The Faded Sun Trilogy|57042] looks right up my alley, so I'll be reading those next, thanks for that!

[Laz]

Stefan wrote: "Mmm. That is a TOUGH decision. My first thought would be one of these options:

1. the first Chanur book.
2. Foreigner
3. something in her Alliance/Union/Merchanter universe. But which one?
"

Chanur is really a space opera of unusual quality.
Foreigner is more about inter-species relations with lots of political intrigue.

Downbelow Station is the place to start with the Alliance/Union stories.

Cyteen is more intellectual and philosophical - very little actually "happens", but it's also one of her best works.

[Sandra]

To me, Cyteen is one of her most tense and suspense filled books, but not one to start reading her with, I suppose.

[Jolie]

I really enjoyed the Fortress books I got hold of:

[Sandra]

I love that series, too!

[Shel, Moderator]

I just finished The Faded Sun Trilogy and was absolutely wowed! :)

[Jim]

Shel wrote: "I just finished The Faded Sun Trilogy and was absolutely wowed! :)"

Cool! The Chanur Saga or Downbelow Station might be good choices for moving on.

[Jolie]

NMC wrote: "Jolie, did you read the first one to start off the series? Fortress in the Eye of Time"

Pretty sure I did. My memory is a mess due to some swelling in the brain I had in my 20's, so I can forget small things like books I've read pretty easily. XD

[Shel, Moderator]

Jim wrote: "Shel wrote: "I just finished The Faded Sun Trilogy and was absolutely wowed! :)"

Cool! The Chanur Saga or Downbelow Station might be good choices for moving on."

I've already read and enjoyed Chanur :) I think next I come back to Cherryh I'm going to continue with the Foreigner series - loved the first book when we read it last year.

I have to say I did not enjoy her fantasy as much as I've liked her SF - read the Morgaine Saga some time ago and it didn't really move me much.

[Marty]

To me if there are swords and arrows it is fantasy even if it has wormholes. I guess because to me if there are swords, it is the same as magic to me, a pretty reliable sign I won't enjoy it. That's what I am looking for in a label; a guide as to what I might enjoy.

[Lindsey]

This thread caught my eye, as I was just wondering about this tonight, having read this post which has an interesting list of sf authors I've heard of but not read. And I can see the consensus here was just to start anywhere and figure it out as you go along. ;-) Glad to see so many enthusiastic recommendations!

[Sandra]

Lindsey wrote: "This thread caught my eye, as I was just wondering about this tonight, having read this post which has an interesting list of sf authors I've heard of but not read. And I can see the consensus her..."

I've loved almost everything she's written, but my favorites are the Foreigner series, the Fortress series, Cyteen, and Cuckoo's Egg.

[Lindsey]

Sandra aka Sleo wrote: "I've loved almost everything she's written, but my favorites are the Foreigner series, the Fortress series, Cyteen, and Cuckoo's Egg. "

I'm thinking Foreigner is where I'll start. Not only is the series readily available as ebooks, the ratings seem to go up as the series progresses.

[Jim]

If you want to take a side trip from the Foreigner universe, I could honestly recommend the Finisterre duo, Rider At The Gate and Cloud's Rider as well as the pair in the Gene Wars duo, Hammerfall and Forge of Heaven. A bit less palace intrigue without giving up the typical Cherryh "Who's the real villain?" elements.

[Laz]

And it you want straight-up adventure, go with Heavytime and Rimrunners.

[[deleted user]]

I know this is an old thread - but I just wanted to say that I have not read C. J. Cherryh yet either. I've seen her name a lot, and I know that she has good ratings. Right now I have a lot of Sci-Fi, so I am looking to add some good Fantasy books to my reading list. Some of my favorite Fantasy authors are Zelazny and DeLint - based on those authors, do you think that C. J. Cherryh would be an author that I would like? Thanks!

[Rachel]

Yes! Someone mentioned Rider at the Gate! My spouse and I still talk about that book.

[[deleted user]]

Thanks for the recommendation. I just read the plot summary and it makes me think of something Cormac McCarthy might have written, but in a space/fantasy setting.