An Alien Light

On the distant world of Qom, two distinct human cultures have emerged over many centuries. Delysians are traders; they think and act with a bargain in mind. Jelites are warriors; they think and act with the honor of a warrior, and the battle, in mind. Now a mysterious city has appeared, seemingly overnight, on the veld between the two cities of Delysia and Jela. This city is like no other: it has walls made of an impossible material which can't quite be touched and seems to talk at irregular intervals. Those who control this city present the offer that if people will live in this city for a year, they will be richly rewarded with priceless jewels, astonishing weaponry, and remarkable knowledge of the world around them. Six hundred enter what comes to be known as the city of R'Frow, but those who are admitted within these inconceivable walls will not exit them again the same person; no one who enters the city of R'Frow will ever be the same. Nancy Kress's An Alien Light presents an interesting character study of people from cultures who have a history of conflict with each other suddenly in a situation where they are forced to get along. (A comparable analogy might be a large group of Israelis and Palestinians suddenly finding themselves trapped in a city the size of an aircraft carrier in the middle of the ocean with no way off...would the two groups annihilate each other or learn to coexist?) Add into the mix the peculiar alien Ged, who navigate around their environment with three eyes and interact with each other using the smell of pheromones and what you wind up with is an artfully drawn narrative...despite some flaws. The most interesting plot device in the story had to be the Ged's struggle to understand how humans could be so violent to themselves and others and still manage to not blast themselves into extinction long before they produced something as advanced as a stardrive. Of course what the Ged don't see, but which the author makes completely apparent, is the violence (however benign) with which they are subjecting their six hundred human participants to within the walls of R'Frow. And yet, at least one of the Ged, Grax, genuinely begins to feel, in his own way, for the charges under his tutelage. Despite a story that has a lot to say about the human condition under a squeezing, suffocating kind of pressure, I found Kress's character development lacking. Perhaps this was, at least in part, due to the fact that the characters did not end up where I wanted them to...but still, I would have liked to have seen a fuller interaction/interplay between several of the primary personae. An Alien Light is an interesting psychological drama, that despite some flaws, is worth reading. I am looking forward to picking up more of this author's work in the future.

This is the first book I read authored by Nancy Kress (1948) and I look forward to read more from her pen! "An Alien Light" (1988) is a very interesting sci-fi novel with keenly defined characters and powerful argument. The story is as follows: in far future humankind has expanded thru the universe and collided with intelligent alien species. The Geds are loosing the war and desperately try to investigate these annoying humans. They choose Qom a god-forgotten planet, inhabited by humans, to establish their city-laboratory-experimental-place. They lure humans to enter R'Frow and stay there while Geds observe them and try to draw conclusions. Qom is populated by two confronting communities: Jelites, with a military structure similar to ancient Sparta and Delysians a mainly commercial group with similarities to ancient Phoenicia. The author sagaciously let loose the antagonistic humans in a closed environment supervised by aliens delivering a griping story. The novel has an almost rushed ending that do not invalidate its merits, as no loose strings are left, nevertheless I was expecting something more elaborated. All in all "An Alien Light" is an enjoyable sci-fi novel, with a last warning: it is oriented to adult public. Reviewed by Max Yofre.

The Ged have come to Qom. The Ged, after warring with humans in space, can't figure out how such a volatile species could ever have achieved the ability to travel in space. The Ged are different, evolved over centuries upon centuries of communion and cooperation. They don't ... they can't ... understand the unpredictable nature of human beings. On Qom, two factions constantly war with each other, Jela and Delysia. Each city holds unique traits to their citizens and has little tolerance for their foes. Yet when the Ged open the walled city of R'Frow to any citizen, Jelite or Delysian, promising riches to the traders and weapons to the warriors, the two factions find themselves encaged together inside R'Frow. Inside R'Frow, they find that the Ged have changed their circadian cycles. Ayrys, a Delysian glassblower, Jehane, a Jelite warrior, Dehar, an ostracized Jelite warrior-priest, and SuSu, a Jelite prostitute, all find themselves part of the Ged plans to "observe" humans and why they've developed the capacity for interstellar flight. Kress has built a believable world with Qom, intriguing with its alien cycles and the adaptation of the humans that live there. Plant life flourishes, and Jelite and Delysian both know the treacheries of the landscape. Archaic customs of each faction both hinder and help them through their experience with the Ged, and in the end their answer lies within their very own planet. 'An Alien Light' is a compelling story of an alien species observing humans. The aliens are really alien, and the humans are all too representative of how humans interact with each other. This is a very thoughtful "hard" Sci-Fi, with plausible scenarios through modern science stretched into the imagination of a masterful story-teller. I highly recommend this book. Enjoy!

I happened upon this book at a thrift store, never having read or even heard of Nancy Kress. Strong story, rich characters, complex plot, both emotionally and intellectually satisfying. The action is page-turning, but what shines above all is the skill with which she weaves the patterns of human behavior and ever shifting alliances fueled by the struggle between blind obedience to honor, rational thinking, and human emotions. Kress shows insights into physical and sexual power that are timeless. I think this is as good an example as any I have read of novels using science fiction as a tool to reveal and explore our human nature. One of the more thought provoking and entertaining novels of any genre I have had the pleasure of reading. Some sections of strong language, adult situations, and profound themes make this an unsuitable novel for immature readers.

I really enjoyed this book. While not quite as immediately riveting, such as the case with Beggars in Spain, this book gradually drew me in. After reading it a second time, I found an even richer story. I think I've read this book four times now over the past six years and have enjoyed it each time. I find it amazing how Nancy Kress is able to create these true to life characters in situations that she creates and makes real.