I finished the book late last night, and find I like this one very well. It is about atevi clan politics, but that is not what I focus on. I think it is really about something else. In book 4, the one where Bren goes up to the station for the 1st time, he meets with the ship captains and reassures them about reaching an agreement. He does that by figuring out what the real concerns are that motivate the captains. He tells them there would be a special area set up where only ship law would run. And another special area where Mospheiran law would run. And atevi would run the rest. And they immediately become cooperative.
Bren does the same thing in this book with his various meetings with 2 lords and an almost-lord. I think this is one of the things that is at the heart of Cherryh's work. Empathy is about figuring out what the other person is feeling, figuring out what their issues are, what they are afraid of, and addressing those worries and fears directly. It immediately puts people at ease and reassures them. I think it is the mechanism which allows Bren to be a mini-aiji. People agree with him and follow his lead because he demonstrates that he understands them and takes their issues as valid..

And yes, Ilisidi's advance planning and deep understanding of the total situation becomes clear. Also Tabini's out-maneuvering her. And Cajeiri's growing maturity. And Damiri's understanding that if she and Tabini accepted a contract marriage, Ajuri would have an opportunity to plant her Ajuri offspring in the aijinate. A marriage would mean the children would be brought up by Tabini and Damiri, not by her relaives. (the childrens' manchi would be to their parents, not to Ajuri.)

But there is another major element in this story which I especially like. It is something that appears in many of her other books. Don't hear the words somebody says, look at the total situation, read the events, to understand what is going on. An example: 2 navy ships, one positions itself just behind a Dojisigi ship, uncovers its cannon in the bow, turns on the lights. Doesn't do anything. But the message is screamingly clear.  She does that in several places in this story, and I absolutely love it. Read what lies behind what is happening. Don't stop with the top layer of the event, look at what lies beneath, at the larger message. (A similar one is when Toby parks his boat in the straight, near a navy ship. The message is: the navy is watching what happens to Bren and to Toby, and harm to either will produce an immediately aggressive and violent response. Don't threaten. Just make clear that the option and the means is available,)

And one more element that occurs in all her books. Everybody has to get something out of a negotiation. One side doesn't win all the goodies, everybody has to benefit. I keep thinking this is a deliberate message to modern America and our political dysfunction.

Last edited by lynxlacelady (9/14/2020 6:57 pm)

Regarding Ilisidi, I do wonder if CJ is preparing to write her out of the story. But there is another issue with Ilisidi. In the last book and this one there are several references to her poisoning of Bren. Up til book 20 we were never sure if it was deliberate or accidental. Now all sorts of people clearly think it was deliberate. And Cajeiri for the first time criticizes granny, at least in his own mind, for this treatment of Bren. Granny's pique at being shut out of the Atageini and Ajuri solutions does not present her in the best light. And she is constantly asking Bren, did you do this or that.  So, Ilisidi's flaws are coming to light in a way that hasn't occurred before. And Tabini, with Geigi's help, out maneuvering her (the high speed train and the lander) is just delicious. But I keep wondering, where is this all going?

One more thing. This book contains many fragments of story lines that may be developed in the future. I take this as CJ not having run out of ideas. She has the seeds of several more books sown throughout this story. I find this mightily reassuring.

Last edited by lynxlacelady (9/15/2020 9:33 pm)

I am astonished that I did not realize this had arrived. Have now rectified my omission, and am tickled pink to have this to read on upcoming vacation.

I always felt that it was obvious that the Dowager poisoned Bren on purpose. The mistake was that she poisoned him too much. She wanted to make him sick. Not almost kill him. She did the same thing on the ship. It was never an accident. 

Normally, One would slurp down a new Foreigner novel like a slushie on a summer day.  But this one was devoured a few chapters at a time.  Which led to the unfortunate coincidence of the RBG news right before I finished the novel, increasing my worries about Ilisidi.  I Quite Enjoyed this one.  And found it....Educational.