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Some Advice Requested ...; .. about teenage girls and Cherryh books
Topic Started: Feb 14 2007, 12:25 AM (1,928 Views)
Neco the Nightwraith
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I don't see anything wrong with reading Foreinger at that age. I was in the sixth grade (11 yo) when I first read Foreinger, and political intrigue or not I still loved it. And I loved it enough to go back again and again to read and understand it further as I got older.

So try Foreigner with your daughter. And tell your spouse to give it another try. I too was bit put off by the beginning chapters, but I slogged through them until it got interesting (much like I'm doing with Cyteen).
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Aja Jin
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starexplorer,Feb 15 2007
11:06 PM
Oops!


:lol: I guess this means I have no lascivious reading in store when I tackle the Chanur books.

no, despite the potential :lol: , not much there

wonder if Tully like to have his back scratched ? :otQ:
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starexplorer
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Sounds like the series (or at least the first one) approaches some Platonic ideal. :innocent

On my list; I feel like Atlas holding on my back a world of books to read.
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Kokipy

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The Chanur books are so fast paced and intricate and compelling that you don't miss the absence of sex. You'll see, Star-ji. And they are not young adult fiction, either. For the Hani, sex occurs only at specified times and places, and the places do not include star ships, at least, not until later in the series.
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Sabina
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Neco the Nightwraith,Feb 16 2007
06:23 PM
So try Foreigner with your daughter. And tell your spouse to give it another try. I too was bit put off by the beginning chapters, but I slogged through them until it got interesting (much like I'm doing with Cyteen).

I usually suggest starting with Inavder, no two starting parts at the beginning, but a hooking fast-paced story that'll make you appreciate the first two parts of Foreigner all the more.
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starexplorer
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Thanks, Koki-ji. I'm sure I can go without literary sex for a while if the story is otherwise compelling! :lol:
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Kokipy

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"I'm sure I can go without literary sex for a while if the story is otherwise compelling! " :lol:
One is certainly not surprised at this disclosure. I know you have lots in your to read pile but am eager for you to winnow it down to the point where you meet Pyanfar, my hero.
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starexplorer
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Not surprised? How nice to be known; my reputation apparently preceeds me. I don't think i can winnow, but I will see what I can do to move your hero's story up in the queue! I would like to meet her (her, right?).
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Sherbs
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If you wanted something quite short and self-contained there's also Angel With A Sword.
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Theta9
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Sherbs,Feb 18 2007
08:51 PM
If you wanted something quite short and self-contained there's also Angel With A Sword.

I thought Angel was pretty much just a set-up for the Merovingen Nights series of shared-world books. (I've finally managed to collect all of those, BTW ... took me forever to find the 4th and 5th)
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Sherbs
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It probably was, however I've never seen or read the Merovingen Nights stories but I still enjoyed AWAS as a stand-alone story.
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Surtac
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Yes, Angel With The Sword is another candidate I should have thought of.

:invert

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rosebladeaureliuskcir
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All interesting possibilities, though I've found Chanur to be interesting-but-not-fascinating and the A/U universe annoying (though I enjoyed Hellburner...not so much Merchanter, though), Morgaine's saga to be something of a slog at times, and Paladin, though a good adventure, requires some careful cultural consideration. The sexuality (seemingly a topic of concern) of Cherryh's works is rarely the focus, more of an incidental, and precious few details. The tasteful fade-to-black, as it were. I'm of the philosophy that if they're old enough to hear it in songs & see it on TV, they're old enough to read as much as they see and hear in other places--and if they understand without explanation, TALK NOW--you're running out of chances fast.

Of course, that aspect depends entirely upon the parent's protective tendencies...and the assumption that by 7th grade (appx. age 12) they haven't heard most of it from peers at school anyway--and don't try to sell me the parochial schools have innocent students! As one comedian said, "I decided to have THE TALK with my son when he was 13. Thirty minutes later, I had pen and paper and was taking notes...I didn't know you could DO that!"

There is another tactic, Surtac-ji. Hand her one of the later Foreigner series books and then getting the back-story becomes important, so Foreigner, featuring "mostly clueless Bren" is less of a chore (from the young teen viewpoint, at least). I did this because I found Precursor (or was it Defender?) first, and then had to track down the rest. Ilisidi is also a strong female with a deeply influential place in the series, Damiri is no slouch, and Jago is definitely not your standard femme fatale. If the strong female lead is a consideration, these three have no little appeal.

If you're looking for other series/authors, too, I've got dozens of names to choose from. Just drop me a line and I'll send you the inventory...But a non-Cherryh novel that my niece is enjoying is The Decoy Princess--some politics, an interesting theory or three, a little clean romance, lots of adventure, and a very unusual young lady as the main character. Now, if I could only remember the author...

R.A.
Machimi Writer who should be working...but isn't.
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Chomiji
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I believe Cho Girl's first CJC was The Pride of Chanur at 13. I also gave her Merchanter's Luck and The Paladin at about that age.

We have addressed the sex issues in short little exchanges along the lines of "What do you think would happen if someone acted like that nowadays, where we live?" (Cho Girl thinks for a minute, frowns, and says "Not a good idea!")

A girl of 13 who attends public school almost anywhere in the Western world knows the mechanics of sex - reminders of the realities vs. the fictional situations should be all that's necessary for a child with a good relationship with her folks. At this point, either she's behaving herself or she's not, and the influence of an interesting book is unlikely to tip the balance one way or the other.

- Cho
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Ron
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She might enjoy an easy read for her intro .Perhaps Brothers of Earth.I read this when it was new and started my own children with it.
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