The Foreigner series (Sequence 1) is a truly wonderful and absorbing trilogy that should appeal to sci-fi fans and "non-sci-fi-fans" alike. It's a simple premise of "humans meet aliens", but it's so much more about the political intrigue, social dynamics and linguistic "tar-pits" that you could ALMOST forget you're reading about another species on another planet. In fact, in parts of the first book, you could ALMOST imagine we're talking about Native Americans in the Far West during the expansionist days of the early USA.

The writing is brilliant. I read Sequence 1 (yes, in the old days of paperback books - lol) and then LISTENED to Sequence 2, falling in love with the series all over again. I am now LISTENING to Sequence 1 again and limit my comments here to Sequence 1. The trilogy is carefully and beautifully thought out. The alien culture and language are described in fair detail, and the relations between the characters are even more interesting to me now, having Listened to Sequence 2: the bonds of trust aren't yet in place, the cross-cultural and cross-linguistic understandings are much more rudimentary. This author knew where she was going and where she was starting from. Keeping a story line and its context solid across so many books is quite a feat. And as if the books didn't fit into several genres already, you could also take them as a mystery series because there are riddles to unravel and several false leads before you get there: EVERYONE is suspect at one point or another.

Last comment: Daniel Thomas May has a VERY pleasant reading voice to listen to and he reads over the alien words and names fluidly and with no hesitation. I can EASILY listen to these books for many, many hours at a time.

Actually, this book takes place mostly 150 years after first contact. But there is still a cultural divide that makes working together almost, but not quite, impossible. This book does a great job of speculating about a language and a culture that is — dare I say it? — foreign to our own.

At times I was very frustrated with this book for the exact same reasons the main character was. At no point did I think that things were happening that didn't make sense. It was well constructed and was an interesting way in exploring a foreign culture. I look forward to reading the sequel.

dan brown

the performance was not bad he had no story to work with

hope some one likes it we need more writers

I give up... I got over halfway, but I cannot finish this book. It is one of the most boring plot lines I have ever read. The main character is so childish and whiny, I just can't take it anymore. I know negative reviews generally don't get good clout here, but I have to be honest and warn off potential listeners to this waste of time.

This is not the right way to go about writing a story. There are reasons that we have rules about good writing. Why is it that an established author is allowed to break them, while beginning writers are chastised and told to "go rewrite"? This is unfair. We should be just as hard on big-name authors when they goof-up as we are on new writers.

The general rule is this: The protagonist of the story needs to ACT, not REACT. He needs to have a clear goal. The main character of this book is totally passive, and I have no idea what he wants to do. Everything happens TO him, because he is completely under the charge and authority of the alien Atevi. He cannot venture outside the boundaries they give him, and he cannot get any information that they do not deign to let trickle down to him. This results in endless pages of monologues about wondering what is going on. Well guess what? WE DON'T KNOW EITHER! All he does is ask where his guards are, and whine about not getting his mail. Finally I reached the point at which I couldn't stand it anymore. Seriously, what's the big deal about MAIL? Someone is trying to kill the guy!

I was reminded a lot in this book about how foreigners feel in Asian cultures, where concepts that Western culture take for granted can be construed as offensive or unintelligible. Maybe Cherryh used that as inspiration to create a similar situation between humans and aliens - and the Atevi do feel alien. Just not interesting.

It can be good to try something unconventional, and the plot and world that is developed here certainly qualifies. But it just doesn't work. I cannot believe Cherryh could build a nearly 15-book franchise out of such a weak, uninteresting plot line. I can only assume it must appeal to fans of her other work. However, this is the second Cherryh novel I have tried and failed to complete, so I have to conclude that her writing is not for me.

Excellent. Complete with politics and the character of Bren Cameron is very good indeed. His gift for understanding the aliens is beautifully done. Can't wait for the next book.

Like the way he deal with the dowager. Very smart and witty. Enjoyed the repartee.

Will want some more books on the foreigner series.

Old book, I consider to be classics. C. J. Cherryh is a master,creates a universe of political intrigues placed on an alien planet.
Bipolar world in a state of cold war AKA cold peace for 200 years.
The world of mathematically irrational beings(atevi), who use numeroogy in every moment of their life, even language is not just spoken, but calculated for the propper form.
And all of political comunication are made through just one man "paidhi" translator the only human who is allowed to leave human reservation and converse with atevi.
Great narration it's worth listening!!!!

Yes, the audio version allowed me to just sink into the story whereas reading it had distractions such as varied lighting, eyes that got tired, etc. The audio version went around all that.

How very credible the scenario was...thinking about what would happen if stranded space travelers were forced to land on a planet that already had its own population and cultures and what would happen when the two very different peoples made contact.

The reader brought the background motivations of emotion or lack thereof, to the forefront in the characters as they walked through the story.

Imagine if this were you.....

I love this series and have read it via hard copy but I'm enjoying a far richer experience in hearing the stories told...I must be a good Celt after alll, we all love good tales told well and this series satisfies that trait.

A friend of mine has been telling me to read C. J. Cherryh for years. I started one a long time ago, got a couple chapters in and dropped it (forgot which title). However, this one actually was very good book and I enjoyed it immensely. I think I will start reading some other of his works.

Yes to Daniel Thomas May, probably not from C.J. Cherryh, and definitely not anything in the rest of this series.

Maybe, but not this series.

The Dowager, the only character that seemed to HAVE any character.

The first 3/4ths of the book.

She really hypes how "different" the aliens are from humans, but in reality this book reads more like a person just visiting a different culture. The aliens are way too human-like, and the Ambassador is a fool altogether. Nothing happens in the majority of the book, and when it does it is underwhelming. I finished it only because I refuse to NOT finish a story once begun, but I won't be getting any of the rest of the series. The performance was well executed, Daniel Thomas May did a good job with bad material.

Definitely among my top five series. I began this series about a decade ago...I just never believed I'd get lucky enough to have it available in audio!

Loved the language/cultural differences between alien and human...the concept of having an assassins guild to solve personal/political disputes...and of course, the "wild ride" action of these characters from every area of this beautiful planet to the far reaches of space.

That would have to be the diminutive all powerful grandmother aiji Illisidi, racing her beloved mecheitti war horse monsters all about the mountains of molguri. Her character as portrayed by Daniel Thomas May was exactly as I remembered her from reading this series.

Oh yes! Listening to the first chapter and realizing that Daniel Thomas May was the perfect narrator to bring this great series to life!

Heavy praise for Daniel Thomas May in his ability to bring each of these characters to life. Foreign words/phrases were handled with expert fluidity, and i always knew which character was speaking. This series doesn't use "cliffhangers" to get you to read the next book...but if you love this first book as much as i did, you just won't be able to resist listening to the rest.