Fire in the Sky

This story starts with an impenetrable morass of alien words and phrases, without any exposition, that makes you want to send the book back in disgust. If you can plow through it though, the tale blossoms into a rousing adventure of danger, fast action, sacrifice, and heroism. The continuing alienness makes it a difficult read throughout, but it is worth the effort.

After her last exciting adventure, Shadith has settled down on University to finally study music as she had planned. She has found this to be enjoyable, but the absence of any danger in her life has left her bored and looking for a way out. Aslan offers an irrisistable chance to be a part of an academic envoy to Beluchad, where she is to foster trust and communication between the interdependant native species and the offworlder trade companies with her harping and singing. She quickly gets sucked into taking sides in the trade war that errupts between the Yakara an the Chave that has jepordized the existence of the native culture.Jo Clayton has always amazed me with the characters and worlds she creates. This book is no exception. I felt the same wonder as Shadow when she heard the Eolt sing. The references to past events and characters ties this story into the overarching context of Shadow's adventures. Shadow's ability to laugh at herself, and Jo Clayton's ability to spin that tale without getting preachy is what brings me back again and again to this particular character. I find it easy to relate to Shadow and frequently live through her eyes. I can't wait to read the next one.