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Title: The Color of Distance by Amy Thomson ISBN: 0-441-00632-9 Publisher: Ace Books Pub. Date: 01 July, 1999 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $6.50 |
Average Customer Rating: 4.54 (28 reviews)
Rating: 4
Summary: Very imaginative first contact story.
Comment: Amy Thomson has created an amazingly complete and complex alien culture in "The Color of Distance." The story is about Juna, a human explorer inadvertently stranded on an alien planet. She is rescued by the Tendu, a sentient race that adopts and cares for her until the humans will return and take her back to earth. Most of the plot is about Juna and the Tendu mutually discovering the fascinating differences between their two cultures. By far the most impressive part of the novel is Thomson's vivid description of the Tendu people and planet. She has skillfully created a complete cultural matrix that is very different from our own but that nevertheless makes sense in its own right. Particularly interesting was Juna's gradual discovery of the Tendu life cycle. That alone makes the book worth reading.
Even though I was impressed with that part of the book, I don't think the book is much more than a fun, entertaining read. There are no great themes here, and Thomson barely brushes upon the moral dilemmas inherent in the mutual discovery of other cultures. For a truly brilliant handling of that theme, read "The Sparrow" by Mary Doria Russell. My other complaint about "The Color of Distance" is that the ending was very cursory and little more than a set up for the sequel. Despite that, this is a fun read.
Rating: 3
Summary: OK, but not what I was expecting
Comment: I hate false advertising. I went into this book expecting (justifiably, from various reviews and blurbs) a story about a woman who faces the terrifying prospect of "total assimilation" into an alien species.
Not. Juna's desertion on the alien planet isn't even permanent, only a 4 year period between when her ship leaves and when the next one is scheduled to return. She is never completely assimilated into the native Tendu culture, only enough to survive in the harsh environment, and she always remains an outsider. The Tendu are barely even alien, aside from their physical appearance (the Tendu talk with their skin, flashing colors and patterns on their own bodies, hence the reference in the title).
That said, it is a good story, and Juna's transformation, while never separating her entirely from humanity, is intriguing. The Tendu as a whole aren't particularly likable, but that's OK - are aliens really supposed to be charming? There's a lot of description - of the ecology, of the Tendu, of their culture, etc - but it's interesting stuff, nonetheless, although the "alien" jungles sound more like the Amazon rainforest on acid than anything truly unique.
Lighter fare than most first contact stories, OK but not particularly thought-provoking.
Rating: 5
Summary: Brilliant linguistic and first contact novel
Comment: What a fantastic first contact novel. The alien culture was truly alien--not just some projection of some aspect of current Earth cultures as is the case in almost every book about aliens I've ever read. Amy has truly created a race distinct from humans and based on a realistic interaction with the environment based on sound evolutionary principles. And to top it off, a completely unique and wonderful linguistic system--what a joy! Additionally, the book was , in my opinion, amoral. It did not take sides and mark any practice as "evil" or "good," though it did realistically show how people in each race (human or tendu) may interpret various practices that way. It was wonderfully refreshing. The many interesting twists on first contact were also appreciated--the human turned alien, the alien tendu turning the tables on the arrogant humans (who assumed they had to protect the tendu from them), the hero's realism (she wasn't a superhero but did manage to persevere), etc. Thank you. Can't wait to go read the sequel.
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Title: Storyteller by Amy Thomson ISBN: 0441010946 Publisher: Ace Books Pub. Date: 02 December, 2003 List Price(USD): $14.00 |
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Title: Through Alien Eyes by Amy Thomson ISBN: 0441007392 Publisher: Ace Books Pub. Date: 05 June, 2000 List Price(USD): $6.50 |
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Title: Shogun by JAMES CLAVELL ISBN: 0440178002 Publisher: Dell Pub. Date: 01 September, 1986 List Price(USD): $7.99 |
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Title: Virtual Girl (Ace Science Fiction) by Amy Thomson ISBN: 0441865003 Publisher: Ace Books Pub. Date: 01 August, 1993 List Price(USD): $4.99 |
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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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