Beholder's Eye - Review

Title:  Beholder’s Eye

Author:  Julie E. Czerneda

Series:  Web Shifters #1

Synopsis:  “Esen is the baby of the family.  Only 500 years old, she’s impulsive and inexperienced, but determined to prove herself.  And her first assignment, to study the Human inhabitants of Kraos without being detected, seems so easy it’s almost insulting.

     “Esen herself isn’t Human – she’s a shapechanger, whose species has more in common with an exceptionally large amoeba than with anything we’d think of as sapient.  And of course she mucks the job up royally, going from observer to passionate defender of an endangered offworld Human who suddenly, without her quite realizing how, becomes her colleague.

     “Her family is furious, and their ruling Elder decides it’s time for Esen to grow up – to learn just why the family keeps itself hidden.  For the galaxy is a far more dangerous place than she’s ever imagined – and the danger is about to find them.”

Review:  Beholder’s Eye is the first book in one of my favorite series from one of my favorite authors.  I always tell readers, especially readers that don’t care for science fiction, that this is not a science fiction story.  Sure, there are science fiction elements.  It takes place in space, on spaceships, and on different planets.  There are spaceships, space stations, humans, and aliens.  The author has put a lot of effort into world building, character building and developing different cultures.  But at its heart, Beholder’s Eye is a story about people and family.

*****CAUTION: SPOILERS AHEAD*****

     

     Beholder’s Eye speaks to me about family, both birth/blood relatives and the family we choose.  Esen’s “birth” family is Ersh, Ansky, Mixs,Skalet and Lesy.  Even before she loses them all we see that while their relationships with each other are important, most of them have chosen to surround themselves with other families.  Mixs spends most of her time on the Panacian Hiveworld; Lesy with her artist’s colony; Ansky with the Articans; and Skalet with the Kraal.  Ersh, by the very nature of being oldest, has lived a very long time.  We don’t know a whole lot about her life before she gave birth to the other members of her web.  However none of them have become so attached to their chosen web that they revealed themselves to them.  That is something which is for blood relations only.  Until Esen.  Throughout the story we see Esen starting to build her own web.  She becomes quickly attached to Ragem and even reveals herself to save his life, something which none of her siblings would have ever done.  By the end of the book her family is gone and all that is left is Esen and Ragem, and the start of her new web. 

      Even though Esen and her family are not human, this speaks to me of human nature.  Most of us have a family; even if it’s not blood.  They are the people who raised us.  The people who taught us the embarrassing things like how to use a fork, how to use a toilet, and how to behave in social situations.  When we are older the relationships with those people are still important, but they begin to change.  We begin to surround ourselves with people we choose as our family.  As we become adults we create our own web of spouses, offspring and friends.  I call mine my tribe.  My tribe consists of my husband, my cats and our friends. 

     At the very end of Beholder’s Eye we discover that in human years Esen is not even ten years old.  She has just started creating her own web and we look forward to joining her in future installments in this series.

*****Join us Tuesday September 11^th at 8pm EST on BookGirl’s BookNook Facebook Page for a Live discussion of Beholder’s Eye*****

Publisher:   DAW Books

If you like this book you may want to read:

Changing Vision (Web Shifters #2) by Julie E. Czerneda

All Systems Red (The Murderbot Diaries #1) by Martha Wells

Powers That Be (Petaybee #1) by Anne McCaffrey & Elizabeth Ann Scarborough

Stardoc (Stardoc #1) by S. L. Viehl

Web Shifter Countdown & Readalong

 

      I found out a few weeks ago that Julie E. Czerneda has a new book coming out.  This new book, called Search Image, is part of new series set in the same world as her Web Shifters series and features the same main characters.  The Web Shifters series was one of my first forays into science fiction, and has been one of my favorites since I picked up a copy of Beholder's Eye in 1999.  I was scrolling through NetGalley looking for books to request for review (even though I'm so far behind that it's going to take years to catch up) when I saw it.  What it was didn't register at first.  I thought the cover looked interesting.  Then I noticed it was by Julie E Czerneda and anything by her is an automatic read for me.  So I requested it, and continued on.  I still didn't really realize that this new book required a jumping up and down level of excitement.  It wasn't until I was approved for the e-arc and was adding it to my blog planner that I realized it was a new Web Shifters novel.  My heart started to race.  I squealed loudly.  I jumped up and down. Now that I think about it, I really should bake some cookies for my downstairs neighbor.



     I was home alone, so I immediately texted SuperSteve and told him my exciting news.  He was happy for me; but, having not read the books, he doesn't really understand.  I decided that I wanted to do something to help build up the anticipation for other readers. So I've decided to do a quick readalong of the Web Shifters series leading up to the release of Search Image on October 2nd.  Thankfully they are fairly quick reads, so I think that those of us who read a lot can make this work.  So, whether you have read the Web Shifters series before or not, please join me each Tuesday on BookGirl's BookNook Facebook Page for a discussion of the Web Shifters series including the novella The Only Thing to Fear which was released September 4th (we will discuss the new novel Search Image on Saturday October 6th to allow everyone a chance to at least buy and start reading it), schedule posted below.  I haven't decided what format the discussion will take, but am leaning toward a combination of LIVE videos and a discussion post.  Let me know if you have other ideas for the best way to have a book discussion on the internet.  The timing of the discussions are to be determined as they will have to be based on my work schedule.  The schedule of the discussions is posted below and I will update the times as I get my schedule for each week, I will also post a review of each book on the Tuesday it is to be discussed and that post will also let you know what time we will be having the discussion.  I hope to see many of you there!

Tuesday September 11, 2018: Beholder's Eye, Web Shifters #1; discussion at 8pm EST



Tuesday September 18, 2018: Changing Vision, Web Shifters #2; discussion at 8pm EST



Tuesday September 25, 2018: Hidden in Sight, Web Shifters #3; discussion at 8pm EST



Tuesday October 2, 2018: The Only Thing to Fear, Web Shifter Novella; discussion at 8pm EST



Saturday October 6, 2018: Search Image, Web Shifter's Library #1; discussion at 2pm EST 

All discussions will be on BookGirl's BookNook Facebook page.

Readalong - Novels of the Change 3.1

Cover art by: Jonathan Barkat; Photoshop credit: Stephen Fischer

     

We are now halfway through the final novel in the Nantucket series, which is the third novel in our Novels of the Change reread/ readalong.  In this post we will be discussing chapters 1-14 of On the Oceans of Eternity.  If you missed it here’s a the post with the description of the readalong project.

   

 So far On the Oceans of Eternity has been less fighting and more about the exploration and rebuilding that I enjoy.  Alice Hong and her evil Dark Sisterhood are now experimenting with germ warfare, which I find fascinating and horrifying all at the same time.  Swindapa and Marian are still the best couple with the most adorable family.  I found the descriptions of historically famous cities mesmerizing.  I still find myself wishing we could know more about how things are developing on the island of Nantucket.  But there are so many story lines and different characters that we can’t see everything.  I still find myself getting occasionally confused trying to follow the different storylines, but I find them interesting enough that I don’t mind.

Discussion Question: (If you are reading along and want to join the discussion feel free to answer these questions, or pose your own questions, in the comments.)

Now that we are almost done with the Nantucket series how are you hoping things are going to end? 

** Join us  next week for a discussion of chapters 14-end of On the Oceans of Eternity, and remember to find out when the next discussion will be posted and for more regular updates on BookGirlR’s reading progress follow us on twitter @bookgirlr **

Readalong - Novels of the Change 2.1

Cover art by: Johnathan Barkat Photoshop Credit: Stephen Fischer

     After a bit of a break we have finally finished Against the Tide of Years.  In this post we will be discussing the entire book, as opposed to half like we did with Island in the Sea of Time which means we are now 2/15 of the way through our Novels of the Change reread/ readalong (although there is a new novel coming out in September 2016 which will change our goal to 16; here’s the link to the new book on Amazon) If you missed the previous discussions you can find them here (1.1) and here (1.2); and the description of the project here.   

    I did not enjoy Against the Tide of Years as much as I loved Island in the Sea of Time.  Part of what I loved about Island in the Sea of Time was the description of how the Islanders adapted to being in the past.  Against the Tide of Years starts 8 years later and by now the Islanders have pretty much figured out how to survive and are exploring their world.  I did feel that this second novel in the series spreads itself way too thin.  There are multiple story lines going on.  Many groups of people are doing different things.  It did get a bit confusing at times.  I also feel that this novel was all about war, war and more war.  We did not get to see into the characters lives nearly as much as we did in Island in the Sea of Time.  It’s still interesting, seeing the characters developing their fledgling nation.

Marian and Swindapa’s family is adorable.  They are by far my favorite characters.  Alice Hong is the most evil character in the entire novel.  Seriously, she frightens me.  I’m still greatly enjoying the historical aspect of these novels.  Reading about historical events and wondering what changes will occur because of the Islanders, and Walkers, influence is fascinating.

Discussion Questions: (If you are reading along and want to join the discussion feel free to answer these questions, or pose your own questions, in the comments.)

BookGirlR revealed her favorite (and the scariest) characters .  Who are your favorite characters from this novel and why?

What was your favorite part of Against the Tide of Years?  Why?

As we move ahead into the final novel of the Nantucket series what are you hoping to see happen? 

** Join us Saturday  7/23 for a discussion of chapters 1-14 of On the Oceans of Eternity, and remember for more regular updates on BookGirlR’s reading progress follow us on twitter @bookgirlr **

Readalong - Novels of the Change 1.1

Cover art by: Jonathan Barkat; Photoshop credit: Stephen Fischer

Well, it's the end of week 1 of our Novels of the Change reread/ readalong (If you missed the original announcement this is what we will be doing: Introduction to Readalong.  This is our first discussion post; we will be discussing chapters 1-15 of Island in the Sea of Time.

     I love visiting historical places.  I like the feel of a place that has been steeped in time.  The opening pages of Island in the Sea of Time, when the island of Nantucket is described, gave me that same feeling.    "The collapse of the whaling industry during the Civil War era had frozen Nantucket in time, down to the huge American elms along Main Street and the cobblestone alleys"..."a place where Longfellow and  Whittier would have felt at home and Melville would have taken a few minutes to notice the differences" (9 & 10), the description really gave me a feel for the feeling of history that must permeate the island.  I feel that this is probably the perfect setting for an island that is thrown back in time, way far back in time to 1250BC. because they have the museums, and antique shops,  and the old, well-insulated houses.

     It would be scary to be suddenly relocated to another time.  I know that probably sounds like an understatement, but I rewrote that sentence several times and that's the only way it sounds right.  Simply put, it would be scary.  I would be scared! I empathize with the people in the novel who turn to the church to tell them what to do.  I would be looking for someone to give me direction too.  Part of what is so scary is the overwhelming sense of responsibility.  They are more advanced than all the other people that they are coming in contact with.  How far is too far?  How much is too much?  Should they share technology?  Should they avoid contact with the natives and try not to disrupt how things develop?  All the moral issues of time travel come into play the minute they step foot off of the island of Nantucket. 

     After Walker's group of dissenters steals their ships and leaves the island all of those decisions are taken away from the group left on Nantucket.  Now they have to prepare to defend themselves against an inevitable attack from their own people.  So far I have found the encounter with the Jaguar People to be the most brutal part of Island in the Sea of Time.  I was on the edge of my seat and had to read it fast.  There was cannibalism, murder, rape, bestiality... It made me feel a little sick it was all so brutal.  At the end of chapter 15 we are left with the knowledge that a deadly disease has been introduced into the native population.  What result that will have we aren't sure, but it won't be good.

    One thing that has always impressed me with S.M. Stirling's novels are his strong female characters.  The scientist who discovers that they have been thrown back in time during The Event is a woman, Doreen Rosenthal.  Captain Marian Alston of the Coast Guard ship Eagle, which was thrown back in time with the island of Nantucket is an awesome strong character and I love the fact that she is a lesbian and her relationship with Swindapa  of the Earth Folk, who is also a wonderful strong character.  All of the later novels in The Novels of the Change are also full of strong, well represented female characters.  Thank you Mr. Stirling, I truly appreciate the accurate representation of women in your novels. 

Discussion Questions: (If you are reading along and want to join the discussion feel free to answer these questions, or pose your own questions in the comments)

Since this is our first discussion post if you are planning to read along with BookGirlR please introduce yourself in the comments and tell us if this is your first time reading The Novels of the Change or if you are rereading.

BookGirlR thinks the island of Nantucket is a pretty good place to be if you have to be thrown back in time.  Do you agree?  Disagree?  Why?  Can you think of another place that would be as good or better?

Would you be scared to be thrown back in time?  What would your greatest struggle be?

*** I found that the reading progressed much faster than I had thought it would.  I had assumed that I would be reading about half of a novel per week (because I am also still reading my other novels for review), but I actually read about two-thirds of Island in the Sea of Time this week.  Maybe it's because I'm rereading the novels, having read them before I am able to read them a bit faster this time?  Or maybe it's because I had some insomnia problems this week and spent some extra time reading in bed in the middle of the night.  Whatever the reason, we will be discussing chapters 16-end next Sunday.***