Starbridge 2: Silent

While the first in the StarBridge series seemed a bit confrontational about a female lead character, this second work appears to have found a very comfortable place for the main character (Tesa) to exist.It's a scenario that seems to have been created perfectly for the main character, yet doesn't come off as being contrived. A.C. Crispin then wastes no space drawing you into an environment where Tesa fits beautifully.Her Indian heritage being played off of the avian aliens is fascinating. The ping-ponging of traditional imagery against these new alien species is really well done. It is obvious that quite a bit of research was put into this area, and it certainly shines through.This facet would have been enough for me in and of itself. Yet the fact that one of the avian species has a voice that shatters human eardrums, making the deaf Tesa a perfect candidate for diplomacy, adds another richly meaningful layer to an already terrific story.There seems to be a more feminine approach to the storytelling. It appeared more focused on the characters, emotions, and goals than "traditional" SciFi. It took me a bit of getting used to, but once that transition was made, it had a refreshingly different (and deeper) impact on my involvement with the story.i (obviously) highly recommend this book. While the approach may take a little getting used to, it's definitely worth it in the end.

"Deaf since birth, Tesa is the perfect ambassador to the alien Grus-whose sonic cries can shatter human ears..."A young starbridge interruptor is brought into the middle of a first contact, that has gone horribly wrong. Between the planet's 2 inhabitants trying to kill each other, and her own people waiting to betray her, Tesa must prove the intelligence of the crane like Grus, or watch them be destoryed. I'd say it compares with Janet Kagans work (which is quite a compliment!)