The Faded Sun Trilogy

By: C. J. Cherryh

Narrated by: Paul Woodson

Length: 30 hrs and 30 mins

Publisher's Summary

All three books in C. J. Cherryh's epic The Faded Sun trilogy - Kesrith, Shon'jir, and Kutath - collected in one volume.

They were the mri-tall, secretive, bound by honor and the rigid dictates of their society. For aeons, this golden-skinned, golden-eyed race had provided the universe mercenary soldiers of almost unimaginable ability.

But now the mri have faced an enemy unlike any other - an enemy whose only way of war is widespread destruction. These "humans" are mass fighters, creatures of the herb, and the mri have been slaughtered like animals. Now, in the aftermath of war, the mri face extinction.

It will be up to three individuals to save whatever remains of this devastated race: a warrior - one of the last survivors of his kind; a priestess of this honorable people; and a lone human - a man sworn to aid the enemy of his own kind. Can they retrace the galaxy-wide path of this nomadic race back through millennia to reclaim the ancient world that first gave them life?

©2000 C. J. Cherryh; The Faded Sun: Kesrith copyright 1978 by C. J. Cherryh; The Faded Sun: Shon'jir copyright 1978 by C. J. Cherryh; The Faded Sun: Kutath copyright 1979 by C. J. Cherryh (P)2018 Tantor

Very intriguing, very original..No Spoilers.

This is the first series I've read (heard) where I can say it's strengths were also it's weeknesses. The interactions between the 3 races is the meat and potatos of these books. The insight and development of such diverse ways of thinking (indevidual and societal) is superbly delivered. Multiple times I was stunned to the point of pausing the book and reflecting on what connections the different races made regarding another race's way of thought. Very intriguing. The concept of how lying (verbalizing untruths) being anathama to the Regal due to the their idetic memory and way of passing facts and knowledge onto their next generation is intelligent, fascinating and thought provoking. My only quam with the story is: the author went so extensively into the aliens' customs and thought processes, I felt bogged down and lost in places. Almost like too much of a good thing. Not the worst criticism I suppose. Also, the narration seemed very slow. But that was easily remidied by moving the speed to X1.10. Great read if you're looking for something off the beaten "Space Opera/Alien Sci-Fi" path.

Classic

Have read the book twice and just finished the satisfaction of listening to with an outstanding performance. This story is classic storytelling: memorable and strong characters, exploring new lands and new cultures, growth of all characters and satisfying storyline. One of my top five stories!

always check with the author

this is a superb story complex rich phenomenal death. It's CJ cherryh at her finest. when our daughter was born 27 years ago my late husband wanted to name or Malein. I had the opportunity to meet Miss Cherryh at a science fiction convention Atlanta. ..Have a picture of her holding the baby :-) and we asked her the correct pronunciation of the name " Meh-lay-in".

NOT "Meleen" or "Melain"

its worth while to the listeners who know the books and who find it important to discover the author's intent and preference of the pronunciation of the names that create. This particular name Cherryh had thought original but a friend who had been studying ancient languages told her that it actually was a real name and that it meant do as you intend. Which suits the character very well and also siuits my daughter very well.

An old favorite perfectly narrated.

Wonderful to reenter these worlds and hear CJ Cherryh's beautiful prose narrated so well. The experience was even better than I hoped and I was very very hopeful. I will treasure this.

An Earlier Work From a Grand Master

A stranger in a strange land epic about the last of a people turning homeward.

Worldbuilder

CJ Cherryh is a master at building worlds, society and culture that is so different, foreign and believable. Characters have depth and nuance.

favourite book now available

I've always loved this omnibus and had a couple paperback copies I would read time and again. this audiobook version is just as good as if I read it myself. I'll almost certainly be listening to this one again and again.

at last! -- but trouble for ipods

It's interesting to see in this early trilogy the first appearance of themes and tropes that are familiar from Cherryh's later work.

I dinged the overall rating because it's not enough to download in enhanced mode to listen to this on an ipod. Round about chapter 59 (about 2 hours from the end of the 3rd book), there's a long squeal, then nothing. It will play via iTunes on a mac, and will play in the audible app on an iphone, but there seems to be no way to get it to finish on an ipod. Plan accordingly :-)

an oldie but a goodie

i read these in my teens and loved them. Listening to tbem in my fifties was like the first time. you cant beat the depth of character C J Cherryh brings to all her work

Finally!

This is my favorite C.J. Cherryh book and it's finally in audio, I'm excited! Thanks. thanks.