C.J. Cherryh

[Addy]

Among the over 60 books she wrote, which ones do you recommend? I have a chance to buy the following for a good price:

The Chanur Saga (three first books in the series)
The Faded Sun (3 first)
Downbelow Station
Merchanter's Luck
Forge of Heaven
Hammerfall
Well of Shiuan
Wave Without a Shore
Port Eternity
Hunter of Worlds
Hellburner
The Tree of Swords and Jewels
Brothers of Earth

Or maybe I should exercize some restraint, since I already used up all my book money this month.

 

[chrispenycate]

I loved the Chanur universe, but basically you have to read the three of them, and while you can read Forge of Heaven alone, it really does prefer to follow Hammerfall.
Downbelow station goes well as a stand alone, if you don't know if you're going to like them or not, as does Wave without a shore or Merchanter's luck.

Restraint? You really think I'm going to recommend restrain? But the fact I really liked several of these books (and that's really liked; the gritty, none too perfect environment gives a reality to some of the scenes more convincing than a lot of supposed non-fiction) does not guarantee you will, and buying the lot of them on trust would be foolish.
However, if it's a one-off offer, perhaps it's folly to be wise...

 

[Addy]

I'm really really tempted to buy this, but I think I'm going to force myself to pass. I've never read any of Cherryh's books, so I don't know if I'll like them. And plunging into a 15-book deal without having at least an idea of what it's like is folly.

Anyway, if anyone else wants it, the link is here.

 

[Teresa Edgerton]

There are some wonderful books in there.

The Faded Sun books are the complete series. In addition to the ones that Chris mentioned as working as stand-alones Hunter of Worlds, Brothers of Earth, and Port Eternity actually are stand-alones.

 

[Snowdog]

Well Of Shiuan is the second book of a trilogy. You really need to read Gate Of Ivrel first. They are part of the Chronicles Of Morgaine. I thought the whole trilogy was excellent.

 

[Connavar]

There are some wonderful books in there.

The Faded Sun books are the complete series. In addition to the ones that Chris mentioned as working as stand-alones Hunter of Worlds, Brothers of Earth, and Port Eternity actually are stand-alones.

My bookstore has alot books of her. I always wondered this man/women was any good cause i couldnt miss her since her books are close to my fav SF authors. Cause of her name i never knew if she was a man or not....


Faded Sun is it one of her more famous works? Looking for something good of hers to try.

 

[Addy]

And guess what, I took the time to check how much the auction closed at, and the 15 books sold for the amazing amount of $4.99 plus shipping.

Damn!

 

[Pyan]

Well, " he who hesitates is lost"....
If you get a chance to buy the Chanur books again, do so - I'm on my second copy of them all, due to them falling apart from re-reading....

 

[Addy]

Well, " he who hesitates is lost"....
If you get a chance to buy the Chanur books again, do so - I'm on my second copy of them all, due to them falling apart from re-reading....

Yeah, if I didn't have to pay something like $40 for shipping on those books, I'd never have hesitated. I'll certainly read the Chanur series in the future. Contrary to what many people say, ebay sometimes is a good choice for second-hand books.

 

[The Wanderer]

I am about to read 'Downbelow Station' the Daw books edition, it's bout 500 pages, so it will take me a while

let me know if I'm on the right track?

without Spoilers, of course

 

[Addy]

I heard great things about that particular book. Hope you enjoy it. Make sure you post a review here.

 

[Pyan]

I am about to read 'Downbelow Station'

Lucky fellow! - I wish I could read it for the first time ...... again!
Signe Mallory is one of my all-time favourite SF characters.....

 

[Timewalker]

Reading C.J. Cherryh is a wonderful treat. Of course, it depends on whether you enjoy her SF or her fantasy (I don't particularly care for her fantasy novels).

Downbelow Station was the first Cherryh novel I ever read (and got her to autograph). It's a good introduction to the Union/Alliance/Merchanters universe, and works well as a standalone story.

Hellburner is the second of a two-part set of novels dealing with asteroid mining in the Union/Alliance series. The first novel is Heavy Time, and they're both excellent.

Of the Union/Alliance novels, I enjoy the Cyteen trilogy (also available as one volume), Rimrunners, Tripoint, and Finity's End the most.

C.J. Cherryh also created the shared-world anthology series (loosely connected to the Union/Alliance series) Merovingen Nights. She wrote the initial novel, Angel With the Sword, and all the rest of the books in the series were connected short stories by various authors (but are mostly so well-linked up that they read like novels).

I have three favorite Cherryh characters: Bet Yeager of Rimrunners, Ariane EmoryPR of Cyteen, and Altair Jones of the Merovingen Nights series. These are all strong, capable women, and excellent role models as to what women can accomplish.

So don't hesitate at all about C.J. Cherryh novels. They're excellent.

Oh, and I just noticed that a new novel, Alliance Space, is scheduled to come out next year. It's been a long time since her last Union/Alliance book, and I can't wait!

 

[murphy]

And guess what, I took the time to check how much the auction closed at, and the 15 books sold for the amazing amount of $4.99 plus shipping.

Damn!

I was thinking that when I looked at the listing.

Yeah, if I didn't have to pay something like $40 for shipping on those books, I'd never have hesitated. I'll certainly read the Chanur series in the future. Contrary to what many people say, ebay sometimes is a good choice for second-hand books.

I also wondered what the shipping would cost you.

Reading C.J. Cherryh is a wonderful treat. Of course, it depends on whether you enjoy her SF or her fantasy (I don't particularly care for her fantasy novels).

Downbelow Station was the first Cherryh novel I ever read (and got her to autograph). It's a good introduction to the Union/Alliance/Merchanters universe, and works well as a standalone story.

Hellburner is the second of a two-part set of novels dealing with asteroid mining in the Union/Alliance series. The first novel is Heavy Time, and they're both excellent.

Of the Union/Alliance novels, I enjoy the Cyteen trilogy (also available as one volume), Rimrunners, Tripoint, and Finity's End the most.

C.J. Cherryh also created the shared-world anthology series (loosely connected to the Union/Alliance series) Merovingen Nights. She wrote the initial novel, Angel With the Sword, and all the rest of the books in the series were connected short stories by various authors (but are mostly so well-linked up that they read like novels).

I have three favorite Cherryh characters: Bet Yeager of Rimrunners, Ariane EmoryPR of Cyteen, and Altair Jones of the Merovingen Nights series. These are all strong, capable women, and excellent role models as to what women can accomplish.

So don't hesitate at all about C.J. Cherryh novels. They're excellent.

Oh, and I just noticed that a new novel, Alliance Space, is scheduled to come out next year. It's been a long time since her last Union/Alliance book, and I can't wait!

I have all of her books, but one. There was a fantasy she wrote I could never get into (can't even remember the name of the book). But the Merovingen Nights series was one of the best shared world series I had ever read.

I've been looking for a new book from her lately. She ususually comes out with something in the fall, but this year she didn't. Will watch for the Alliance book.


I'd recommend the Chanur books, Downbelow Station, or the Faded Sun trilogy to start. For fantasy, The Fortress series is very good. Start with Fortress in the Eye of Time.

 

[Pyan]

Oh, and I just noticed that a new novel, Alliance Space, is scheduled to come out next year. It's been a long time since her last Union/Alliance book, and I can't wait!

Nor me - fourth of March, apparently, simultaneous release in the UK and US.

Alliance Space: Merchanter's Luck/40, 000 in Gehenna: Amazon.co.uk: C. J. Cherryh: 9780756404949: Books

But I'm wondering just how short it's going to be - £4.45/$8.99 is remarkably cheap these days, not to say an odd sort of price for a UK book.......

 

[clovis-man]

I have read Cherryh works for years. All have much to recommend them. Strong characters, interesting plot lines and a good flow to her narratives. The trouble is that (1) she is so damned prolific. (2) She is also very serious about her craft. The first issue gives a new reader difficult choices in where to begin. the second issue provides some difficult choices in that she is uncompromising in her style and each work or series of works can be quite different in their approach to the subject at hand.

The Cyteen series is a much more challenging read, for example, than the Chanur series. The Fortress series and the Foreigner series are, again not only different from each other, but different from all her other works. Sometimes you catch a break. Hunter of Worlds, Cuckoo's Egg and some others are stand-alones and rewarding in and of themselves without a tremendous cerebral committment.

I have found over the years that her earlier work is much more user friendly and can prepare you for the challenges of her more mature output.

I would suggest either the Faded Sun series or the Chanur series as good points of departure and to give you a well informed idea of how much farther you want to go in exploring her work.

Too bad you missed out on the big batch of paperbacks, but there are some collections in both the Faded Sun and Chanur series in paperback on half.com that may get you started without a huge outlay of capital. I'd provide the links, but I'm too much of a newbie to be allowed to do that yet.

Maybe if you send me a PM.


Regards,

Jim

 

[Addy]

Too bad you missed out on the big batch of paperbacks, but there are some collections in both the Faded Sun and Chanur series in paperback on half.com that may get you started without a huge outlay of capital. I'd provide the links, but I'm too much of a newbie to be allowed to do that yet.

Thanks for the suggestion, Jim. Being a cheapstake, I'm already familiar with half.com, but they don't ship to Brazil, so that's pretty much out for me. I've taken notes on all C.J. books recommended here, and I'll make sure to pick a few up in the near future.

 

[murphy]

I have read Cherryh works for years. All have much to recommend them. Strong characters, interesting plot lines and a good flow to her narratives. The trouble is that (1) she is so damned prolific. (2) She is also very serious about her craft. The first issue gives a new reader difficult choices in where to begin. the second issue provides some difficult choices in that she is uncompromising in her style and each work or series of works can be quite different in their approach to the subject at hand.

The Cyteen series is a much more challenging read, for example, than the Chanur series. The Fortress series and the Foreigner series are, again not only different from each other, but different from all her other works. Sometimes you catch a break. Hunter of Worlds, Cuckoo's Egg and some others are stand-alones and rewarding in and of themselves without a tremendous cerebral committment.

I have found over the years that her earlier work is much more user friendly and can prepare you for the challenges of her more mature output.

I would suggest either the Faded Sun series or the Chanur series as good points of departure and to give you a well informed idea of how much farther you want to go in exploring her work.

Too bad you missed out on the big batch of paperbacks, but there are some collections in both the Faded Sun and Chanur series in paperback on half.com that may get you started without a huge outlay of capital. I'd provide the links, but I'm too much of a newbie to be allowed to do that yet.

Maybe if you send me a PM.


Regards,

Jim

Another Cherryh fan. Yay. I agree on the choice of where to start.

By the way, only 3 more posts and you can link.

 

[clovis-man]

I should probably qualify my regard for Ms. Cherryh. I really did enjoy most of her earlier work (Faded Sun, Chanur, Downbelow Station, etc.) better than some of her later efforts. That said, nothing is hard & fast and I have quite enjoyed some of her more recent novels such as Hammerfall. I also like the Foreigner stories because the characters are so interesting. But I struggled with Cyteen, thought Heavy Time was overdone and considered the Fortress tales somewhat pretentious. Sometimes I feel that she takes herself much too seriously. Not much humor in any of her stories, intentional or otherwise.

But I should hasten to add that I still consider her one of the best SF (and fantasy) writers of her generation. Her dedication to story lines is highly commendable. She never goes for the easy solution to a plot problem, which is a good thing. And her heroes and heroines are never too heroic (which can be good or bad, depending on how you look at it). Personally, I sometimes despair of their ever being able to get out of any sticky situation!!!

But that's all just grist for the mill. She's still one of the greats, IMHO.

Regards,

Jim

 

[Razorback]

I haven’t read as much of her work, yet, as many of the other posters, but I’m a big fan of the Alliance-Union books. I started with Downbelow Station and the Cyteen books because they won Hugo awards. I figured that was a good place to sample her work. I loved both and have since read, and enjoyed, several others from this universe. I’m looking forward to reading more of her work. I have several waiting in the TBR pile. So many books for a slow reader like me.