The Candle Of Distant Earth (2006) - Plot & Excerpts
Interrupted by a variety of cultures and customs, our reluctant hero heads ever homeward. Escaped from alien slavers, three-tailed Niyyuu escort human Marcus Walker, speech-augmented mutt George, cephalopod Sque, and gigantic Tuuqalian poet Braouk. When their three ships appear over Hyff, Ussakk the Astronomer fears Iollth marauders have returned, and joins the welcoming committee - rodent-sized, peaceful, "kind of cuddly .. except for the guns they are carrying" p 29. Hyffians convince the visitors to train military and supply weapon samples and plans. Of course Iollth invade before Marcus gets away. Hyff is novel, other species funnier when introduced earlier in series - re-rate higher for satisfactory tying off every single end, keeping each speaker distinct. I like Foster's universe and would read more. "Big blue blot, floating out in space, so far" rambles Walker in Tuuqalian style saga p 149, and helps celebrate the northern harvest. "Each of us gets to stand up .. for our entire species" and prove their "civilization" p 140. Sque's fellows are even more snobbish and unsociable than she is, causing humor and danger. She terms "real goodbye" as "uneconomical frivolities" p249. George's sarcasm "I do so miss the comforting caress of wet, slimy tentacles", she takes "at face value" p 249. (view spoiler)[ Reinforced by Iollth ships, they proceed to reinstate Braouk and Sque. Their fleet grows. Finally Walker realizes, as George did long ago, that his universe is too large, he can never go home. (hide spoiler)]
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