This novel is set in the far future of the aftermath of the Company Wars. The Serpents Reach is a small section of space that is centered on one planet intially where a alien life form is found that is ant like in nature but possessing intelligence. Only one group of humans are allowed to interact with them and they form the Kontrin Company to interact and eventually trade with the aliens, called majat. The Kontrin become the de facto rulers of the Serpents Reach and the story is about 800 years after the intial discovery and centers around a young Kontrin called Raen. There is plenty of political intrigue and assaination as well as out right attacks. The main plot is about Raen and how she handles her immediate family being killed and plotting her revenge. This is a fast paced story and alittle unlike C.J Cherryh usual pattern of everything told threw the main character. This time we hear of events from other characters as the plot advances which quickens the authors normal face pace. This is an intriguing blend of alien civ, human intrigue and treachery, as well as some major consequences for people and aliens over reaching their desires. It is a stand alone story that I think is one of the best stories C.J. Cherryh has written because of the tight story line, sympathetic characters, and wonderfully inventive world. Highly recommended.
I read lots of sci-fi in my Lost Youth, but fell away from it once I went to university. I discovered Cherryh in grad school--- took "Serpent's Reach" home one random Friday night...and was enthralled. Here was sci-fi that was austere, cold, well-crafted, with characters that had depth and intelligence and plots that weren't (allowing for aliens and interstellar travel) just silly or trivial. Cherryh wrote about what happens to human societies interacting with the truly alien, about politics in an alien key."Serpent's Reach" is a key early Cherryh, and, to my mind, one of her very, very best. The aliens in the novel are probably the best insect-creatures in sci-fi, and their human trading partners/allies are ever so subtly other-than-human in their ways of thinking and plotting and playing at politics, wealth, and war. "Serpent's Reach" has been a favourite of mine for half my life now--- and one of the very few sci-fi novels I'd like to see filmed...and one with a captivating and darkly brilliant and remorseless heroine. (Though...live action or anime for the film? Hard to say...)
What do You think about Serpent's Reach (1985)?
I love CJ Cherryh, and have never read anything of hers that I didn't like. This book is no exception. While I found myself confused at times over what exactly was happening (especially as the war began - although this could be partially beause I'm dreadful at imagining any type of battle scene), I found the premise of the book, and the Majat, utterly fascinating. I also love anything Cherryh writes with the azi in it - they make you wonder what exactly it means to be human in the first place. This book is a well written, early work of Cherryh. Perhaps not as good as the Faded Sun trilogy, but definitely worth reading.
—Annii
This is a mini-epic of the far future. Serpent's Reach, a section of space, has been isolated from human-colonized space for 700 years. The insect-like majat are native to this region. They have permitted an elite population of descendants of the original explorers to remain, and treated so that they are nearly immortal. There is also a controlled population of genetically modified humans. The majat trade with human worlds through a single planetary spaceport.The book begins with the assassination of one branch of the descendants -- all except a 15 year old girl. She vows revenge, but also uncovers a deeper, broader change taking place within the majat.The story is very complicated, and at times I had to go back and make sure I was following the right leads. There are some small details that went unresolved, in my mind at least, but it was a good read.
—Kevin
