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Title: Stardoc II: Beyond Varallan (Stardoc (Paperback)) by S. L. Viehl ISBN: 0-451-45793-5 Publisher: Roc Pub. Date: 10 July, 2000 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $6.99 |
Average Customer Rating: 4.18 (33 reviews)
Rating: 4
Summary: viehl does it again...
Comment: Everything StarDoc had, this first sequel has more. More non-stop, page-turning action. More thought-provoking ethical issues. More terrible adversity to be overcome. More colourful characters. More reasons to love Cherijo despite more moments of complete irrationality. More of Reever's compelling weirdness. More of everything that made the first book such a wonderful read.
There are, unfortunately, more of the flaws as well as the strengths. More impossibly bad luck for the heroine. More vaguely iffy science. More homogenous alien cultures. More plot twists that seem forced. More violence. More sex-related violence. If these things bothered you in the first book, I suggest putting this on your list of books-to-read-eventually-but-there's-no-rush. If, however, like me, you were so caught up in the action and fabulous characters of StarDoc that you barely registered the flaws, then you probably don't need to be told to hurry up and read this one.
So the science is only so-so. You can't expect hard science from space opera. Besides which, this book, like its predecessor, rides not on the science, but the characters. Cherijo is one of the most thoroughly likeable heroines I've come across. She's strong, noble and brave, but not annoyingly so. Certainly, as we see more in this book than in the first, she is not without flaws. Sometimes irrational, completely tactless, and with a decided lack of insight as to the natures of her relationships with some of the other characters. In this way, she is real. She's like your tough-talking friend, who, behind the loud mouth, is the most loyal and trustworthy person you know.
Reever is still strange, still unknowing of how to behave like a human, and, I'll admit it, I really like him. It's hard not to, as it becomes increasingly obvious that Cherijo has feelings for him, though she cannot, or will not, see that. The Chakacat Alunthri is back and as appealing to cat lovers as ever. Rogan makes his appearance and still harbours a vicious, illogical hatred toward Cherijo. New characters, including several Jorenians and the grumpy doctor Squilyp, are every bit as entertaining as those left behind on K-2.
Yes, the ending is the worst kind of cliffhanger, the kind that not only leaves you wondering what's going to happen, but also asking, 'what happened?' If you give in to the urge to read this book as fast as you can, it will take some thought to piece together the events that lead to the final, shocking (unless, like me, you made the mistake of reading the back of the next book before finishing this one) betrayal, but, looking back, the pieces were all there. At first, I was horrified, heartbroken even, by the ending, but the truth is, the more you think about it, the more it makes sense, and maybe, just maybe, isn't as bad as it seems. Be prepared to be left hanging.
Rating: 5
Summary: Did I mention that you should BUY this book!
Comment: Dr. Cherijo Torin had come to terms with finding out she was a clone of her "father". She learned to adjust to the fact that her Jorenian lifemate, Kao Torin, was dead. She was even doing well as a Healer among her adopted Jorenian race on the ship Sunlace. But the ship had been sabotaged and the Jorenian Warriors were out for blood! The culprit would be found and the right of ClanKill would take place! This meant the guilty one would be disemboweled (while he still breathed) by Jorenian claws. The Jorenians had many different decorations made out of the entails before the body was displayed as a warning to others not to hurt anyone of the Clans! Since Cherijo had been the Chosen of Kao, she was now of Clan Torin. Thus, any harm to her meant death by ALL of the Clans.
Reeves from Kevarzangia Two (book one) returned as well. So he is among the fighting when Dr. Grey Veil and the League (and bounty hunters and merchs, etc) come with weapons blazing!
***** This book is just as WONDERFUL as book one was! It has several surprises and twists to keep the reader off center. I especially recommend it to all the Honor Harrington fans out there! Cherijo's story is a masterpiece and S.L. Viehl will (if not already) become a huge name in Sci-Fi/Fantasy circles!
Rating: 4
Summary: I'm Enjoying it.
Comment: I don't often get the opportunity to read good science fiction, where the characters are well-developed, consistent, and evolving. It is additionally interesting to now follow the main character out of a planet-bound environment and on to a starship- from a Deep Space 9 environment and on to moving Enterprise space ship. It provides more room for the author to develop plot twists and character growth.
I particularly like this series because it focuses on a female- a group that often gets short-shrift in the genre. She is mysterious, powerful in her own right, but also acting and thinking in a feminine manner. This is not simply a book written by a male author where the heroine is female in body only, going out and courageously kicking alien butt, acting and thinking in everyway like a man. It is good to get into her head, as the book is all written from her perspective, as the author considers how this genetically engineered woman might respond to different developments. And this Veihl does very well.
At one point, for a good portion of the book, I started to be disappointed with Veihl. The characters she had so well portrayed in the first book, and in the beginning of the second, seemed to not be following their previous descriptions. They lacked credibility. It seemed that Veihl lost her touch. But stick with it- the explanation is convincing, when it finally comes.
Unfortunately, there is less thematic philosophical development in this book, compared with the series originator. I was hoping for more exploration of the ethical ideas involved in Dr. Grey's decision to clone, and the ramifications of slavery and ownership. Perhaps it is something that will be seen in the next book.
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Title: Shockball: A Stardoc Novel (Stardoc (Paperback)) by S. L. Viehl ISBN: 0451458559 Publisher: Roc Pub. Date: 07 November, 2001 List Price(USD): $6.99 |
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Title: Stardoc: A Novel (Stardoc (Paperback)) by S. L. Viehl ISBN: 0451457730 Publisher: Roc Pub. Date: 01 January, 2000 List Price(USD): $6.99 |
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Title: Eternity Row (Stardoc (Paperback)) by S. L. Viehl ISBN: 0451458915 Publisher: Roc Pub. Date: 03 September, 2002 List Price(USD): $6.99 |
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Title: Blade Dancer by S. L. Viehl ISBN: 0451459261 Publisher: Roc Pub. Date: 05 August, 2003 List Price(USD): $22.95 |
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Title: Alien Taste (Roc Science Fiction) by Wen Spencer ISBN: 0451458370 Publisher: Roc Pub. Date: 10 July, 2001 List Price(USD): $6.50 |
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