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Foreigner Series; Favorite Moments (beware spoilers!)
Topic Started: Feb 5 2008, 08:21 PM (6,199 Views)
Surtac
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Are there any other SF books by cherryh.gif where any of the protagonists have a personal relationship of any extent?

Morgaine and Vanye in Exiles Gate would also count, surely?

Remember that the Morgaine books are firmly grounded in Union space in the backstory. :atwink

:invert
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pence

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and now that I've finished re reading them oh dear, oh dear I have to WAIT for a new one. :Arrgh: :Arrgh: :Arrgh:
Its a tribute to our author that we can have such discussions.
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Chia

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Kel Julian,Feb 14 2008
10:24 PM
I view this as a good series into which Illisidi and Cajeiri breathed a special burst of life. Both are outstanding characters, developed and portrayed with exceptional skill. Most authors just can't do this like CJ.

I think what makes these characters so exceptional is that it creates a multi-generational cast, where all generations contribute and not just in stereotypical ways. Normally the elders are advisors while the youngsters go out and do the running about. Instead in the Foreigner universe all ages are running about!
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Arcadia
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I think that Ilisidi steals the show any time she is onstage, even though we don't see the story from her point of view. It is charming to see the story from Cajeiri's point of view, although jarring to me the first time it happened. I quickly welcomed the times.
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Kel Julian
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Chia,Feb 14 2008
06:03 PM
I think what makes these characters so exceptional is that it creates a multi-generational cast, where all generations contribute and not just in stereotypical ways. Normally the elders are advisors while the youngsters go out and do the running about. Instead in the Foreigner universe all ages are running about!

I agree about the way generations are portrayed and integrated into the plot. The introduction of Cajeiri created a lot of anticipation. We got a foretaste of it with Bren's letters from atevi children, asking children's questions of wonder and need for reassurance. But with Cajeiri, we got to see a single young ateva fully developed--and developing. Ilisidi is such a spicy character that she creates anticipation any time she's in a scene. I may go back and re-read the earlier books at some point, because I am not sure I really got most of it. I do know that my attention really dialed in when Ilisidi and Cajeiri showed up.
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Gent
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I admit to being worried about Cajeiri. Just when they tried to build in some distance between him and Bren - what happens? Uncle Bren to the rescue, gun-a-blazing with robots from the heavens stomping around the countryside.

Forget all the human television - this kid's life beats any sci-fi he may to which he may have been exposed!
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Zen
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I always liked the Breakfast scene in Inheritor.

And of course the dancing and green pizza.
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Arianne_Luinithil
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:lol: green pizza! I remember that one of the associates here once attempted to recreate a version of it, with moderate success. Have there been any more attempts, nadiin?

Gent nadi: One agrees. Surely growing up and living in a spaceship beats anything else hollow to one born and mostly bred on the ground. Cajeiri's adventures could make a nice multi-part machimi for tweens. :P

What happened in Deliverer definitely undid all the good (whatever might have been established) from Bren and Cajeiri's separation, certainly. If they had wanted to teach Cajeiri some caution in dealing with humans and behaviour as befits a prince of the Ragi atevi and heir to the leadership of the aishidi'tat, that's all shot with Bren's rescue effort. As is witnessed in the minuscule leaks of Foreigner #10's plot, as far as they go. :atwink One hopes that Sk8er-ji has further news on that score.
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marjoryt

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I very much agree about the plants and the green pizza.

I also like the idea showing Tom and Jerry cartoons and Godzilla.

My husband liked Sidi-Ji's poisoning of the ship captain - Bren knows and can't do a thing about it.
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Agari

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About love: Iīm really fond of Pyanfar and Khym in the Chanur books. Middelaged, hardnosed and just wonderful.
Favourite moments starring Bren and co - thereīs so many! Those I can think of at this moment you have already mention, naadin, thanks for the happy reminders! I havenīt counted them but Iīm sure its a fortunate number......

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magicdomino

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Cajeiri's curiosity about the human custom of shaving, when they were on the bus to Shejidan.

One quite admires Bren's patience dealing with an eight-year-old on a long bus trip. :lol:
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Bansu
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Ah, it's late here but before wandering off to a warm bed I am compelled to share some treasured moments (and trends) of my favorite science fiction series.

I have always greatly enjoyed the exchanges, positive and negative, between The Paidhi and the Lord of the Atageini. Perhaps a bit strangely it's one of my favorite relationships in the books! Bren's cool demeanor and staunch command of the moral high ground is always the best medicine for that opinionated old scoundrel's rude outbursts. There was a particularly delightful confrontation at a Bujavid gathering back in the first set (I beg the late hour, I shall have to look up which book another time) and then another when Bren and his security arrive at the Atageini hall (in the third set- it's late! It ended with -er I think) for the first time and are snubbed- delicious wordplay and one-up-man-ship! Despite his prickliness I find many of Tatiseigi's 's feelings understandable- sometimes the old ways, certainly the good ones like traditional arts and respect for nature, should be protected. When Bren finally received sincere approval from the reprobate at the elevator its felt hard earned and most appropriate

It occurs that Atageini Hall and Tatiseigi rather remind one of Toad Hall and it's master, particularly as they defended the place against those unpleasant and weasle-ish neighbors followed by tearing around the pretty countryside in 'antique' cars! These books are among my favorites, it was good to get planet-side again, to get dirty and uncomfortable in the woods after years in the antiseptic confines of the ship (a period that while intellectually stimulating had a distressing lack of steamy Bren and Jago intimate encounters = MUST HAVES!)

Emotional cross pollination is another fun thing to see happening. The Atevi around Bren are beginning to be able to feel at a version of some human emotions- they sincerely do 'like' Bren and not just for his wholesome good taste. Isn't it also possible that Bren is feeling something like 'manchi' for Tabini as he throws himself between the Aiji and a bullet? Something interesting is developing as these diverse people experiment with methods for future humans and atevi to interact safely.

What lovely, lovely books... I shall have to read them all again soon -that will be the third time!

Bansu :atevi
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Vetch
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pence,Feb 14 2008
09:18 PM
Are there any other SF books by  :cherryh:  where any of the protagonists have  a personal relationship of any extent?


There are also Chihin and Halan in Chanur's Legacy and something like... couples in Heavy Time, and I am not sure, isn't there something in Tripoint, too?

And let's not forget Jik and Vetch in Chanur's... what? Not? Awww.


(P.S. Enjoyed your post a lot, Bansu. Didn't answer, coz have not read much of the Foreigners.)
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Chanor-ji

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Ack-k-k-k!!!! I have so many favorites!

Quote:
 
Another favourite scene to add to the growing list: Damiri's insistence on surveying the damage in the Atageini apartment after the failed attempt on the paidhi, and the argument between her and Tabini. One especially had to try not to bust a vessel from laughing so hard at "Heir, heir, heir, of course the heir! Any moment, nai-ji, perhaps tonight, nai-ji..." 


Oh, yeah! Good one! Especially when Tabini follows it up by telling Bren not to let Damiri bully him into using her bed becuase it's so hard and uncomfortable!

Three (of many) scenes in Pretender: Jago explaining to Bren of how the Paidhi's security had not allowed him to be ensconsed in an impossible to defend room. The image of the train rolling through the night, Tabini's banner flying high and proud. Algini(?) telling Bren that he -- Bren -- was the single constant in the entire situation because everyone knew that Bren would never abandon Tabini.

Book 9 when Bren is trapped between the two elderly cousins. "More tea!"

Resa wrote:
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I am a HUGE Ilisidi fan, and would love more info on her relationship with the ever proper Cenedi.


I would, too, plus I strongly suspect that Cendedi's sense of propriety has been horribly corrupted by close association with the Paidhi and the Paidhi's security -- not to mention Ilisidi herself who has a really, really wicked sense of humor.

Also book 2 near the end when Ilisidi shows up with the mecheiti and she and Tabini get into an argument.

I'm going to quit now; otherwise I will spend the whole day dredging up these little tidbits.



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Gent
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I also loved the moment when upon returning to the planet and finding the Aiji, Bren realizes that Cajeiri has slipped away. Without thinking, he and Ilsidi dispatch their security to find the boy and keep him away from the airplane. :lol:

Bren suddenly realizes with dismay that the Aiji is watching this with interest.
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