I finished reading Nor Crystal Tears, by Alan Dean Foster, last night.

I must say I was unexpectedly delighted by this novel. It’s a first contact novel, told from the viewpoint of the alien. The protagonist, Ryo, is of the insectoid Thranx species, and is one of the most engaging characters I’ve read in quite a while (other than those in the Hyperion Cantos).

I’m not going to write too much here. I want to avoid spoilers, and frankly I’m too lazy to type that much. Foster does a masterful job of introducing the reader to the Thranxs species, civilization, and culture. The Thranx are alien enough to be truly different, but still possible to relate to.

A great novel. I’ll be reading more in the Humanx setting.

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