Cuckoo's Egg Pb

by C. J. Cherryh

Paperback, 1989

Status

Available

Call number

813

Publication

Mandarin (1989), Edition: New Edition, Paperback, 320 pages

Description

Cuckoo's Egg is a novel by science fiction and fantasy author C. J. Cherryh, set in her Alliance-Union universe. It was nominated for the Hugo Award and longlisted the Locus Award for Best Novel. It was later included, along with Cherryh's novel Serpent's Reach, in the 2005 omnibus volume The Deep Beyond. The audiobook introduces the alien Shonunin race, and the plot of the novel concerns a male Shonun raising a human boy. They named him Thorn. They told him he was of their people, although he was so different. He was ugly in their eyes, strange, sleek-skinned instead of furred, clawless, different. Yet he was of their power class: judge-warriors, the elite, the fighters, the defenders. Thorn knew that his difference was somehow very important--but not important enough to prevent murderous conspiracies against him, against his protector, against his caste, and perhaps against the peace of the world. But when the crunch came, when Thorn finally learned what his true role in life was to be, that the future of two worlds might hinge on him, then he had to stand alone to justify his very existence.… (more)

User reviews

LibraryThing member purplereadinggiraffe

This is an excellent book, exploring an alien mindset - something that C.J. Cherryh excels at. It is somewhat a cross between The Paladin and The Faded Sun (in that if you liked those you will find similar themes to like in this one). The center of the book is the relationship between the tough and

wise alien and the human child he is raising and training to be much like him. There are some very neat ideas in this book about abrupt justice - sort of like "be careful what you wish for" - as a part of the role this alien master fills in his world. It is chock full of marvelous imagery and ideas, as well as excellent character development, and the gradual unfolding of the answers to why this human child is there at all. I would love to see more of this world and their meeting with more humans someday.

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LibraryThing member fuzzi

Note to Self: never pick up a CJ Cherryh book, that is close to being finished, near bedtime...

This is a reread, at least I think it is, but aside from a positive feeling when I saw the cover, I have NO recollection of any of the plot or characters. I still have a positive feeling, but now I can

elaborate WHY.

Thorn is different: smooth skinned, immobile ears, and in other physical attributes, but the respected warrior Duun raises him from infancy, with patience, and affection. As Thorn grows, he is taught a Way, the Way of the Hatani, the warrior-judging class, despite his appearance, despite his obviously not being the same species as those around him. Dunn has his reasons to raise Thorn in this manner, reasons that eventually will come to light when Thorn grows old enough to be seen as a threat to some, a danger to those who would not hesitate to use assassination against him.

Excellent story, well-developed characters, and a twisted plot that does not reveal itself fully until the final pages. Highly recommended.

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LibraryThing member turtlesleap

I like science fiction that postulates some fundamental difference in the world we experience and then explores how we, as humans, might react to that difference. Cherryh's novel postulates a different world; a different species, as experienced by a single human child growing to manhood. The story

is compelling and the author wisely withholds an explanation of how the situation came to be until the end of the book. Very nicely done.

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LibraryThing member bookwren

This is one I re-read every several years. Cherryh is an incredible alien and world-creator. Scifi at its best as it teaches us about us.

LibraryThing member shevek

Minor, but good. Cherryh's technique of leaving much of the setting implied works especially well in this one... for me, at any rate. People who don't enjoy reconstructing the setting from the author's hints might not agree.

LibraryThing member Black_samvara

I'd class this as a Young Adult novel but works well for any age, great story.

LibraryThing member salimbol

Bleak, intelligent, fascinating. Cherry does 'human alone in an alien world' better than anyone.

LibraryThing member ScoLgo

As the best stories do, this one begins in darkness and sheds filaments of light in tiny fragments. Piece by piece, the puzzle slides into place. In many ways, I empathized with Thorn's situation because, as the reader, I felt as though Cherryh was in the role of Dunn and I was Thorn - constantly

wondering what was really going on and confused about where we were going. The prose can be bit difficult at times but the payoff is well worth the journey. Excellent, excellent story-telling and wonderfully rendered characters.

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