Member-only story

The Ships of Merior: The Wars of Light and Shadow

Pablo Neruda

·2.2k Followers· Follow

Published in The Ships Of Merior (The Wars Of Light And Shadow 2)

4 min read

54 View Claps

6 Respond

Save

Listen

The Ships of Merior is a science fantasy novel by C.J. Cherryh. It is the first book in the Foreigner series, and was published in 1994. The story follows Bren Cameron, a human who is sent to the planet Merior as an envoy to the atevi, an alien race.

Bren Cameron is a linguist and anthropologist who is sent to Merior to learn the atevi language and culture. He is the only human on the planet, and he must rely on his wits and his knowledge of the atevi to survive.

The atevi are a technologically advanced race, but they are also very isolationist. They have no interest in contact with other races, and they view Bren as a threat. Bren must overcome the atevi's prejudice and learn to communicate with them.

The Ships of Merior (The Wars of Light and Shadow 2)

The Ships of Merior (The Wars of Light and Shadow, Book 2)

by Janny Wurts

4.3 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	3191 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	660 pages

As Bren learns more about the atevi, he begins to realize that they are not as different from humans as he thought. They have their own culture, their own beliefs, and their own way of life. Bren begins to respect the atevi, and he comes to see them as friends.

However, not all of the atevi are friendly. There is a faction of atevi who believe that Bren is a threat to their way of life. They want to kill Bren and destroy the human ship that brought him to Merior.

Bren must find a way to stop the rogue atevi before they can carry out their plans. He must also find a way to convince the atevi that humans are not a threat.

Bren Cameron: A human linguist and anthropologist who is sent to Merior as an envoy to the atevi.
Atevi: An alien race that is technologically advanced but also very isolationist.
Simeon: An atevi who becomes Bren's friend and mentor.
Ilisidi: An atevi who is the leader of the rogue faction that wants to kill Bren.

The Ships of Merior explores several themes, including:

Communication: Bren must learn to communicate with the atevi in order to survive. He must also learn to understand their culture and their way of thinking.
Isolationism: The atevi are very isolationist, and they view Bren as a threat. Bren must find a way to overcome their prejudice and convince them that humans are not a threat.
Friendship: Bren and Simeon become friends despite their differences. Their friendship shows that communication and understanding can bridge even the greatest gaps.

The Ships of Merior was well-received by critics. Publishers Weekly called it "a complex and rewarding work of science fiction." The New York Times Book Review said that "Cherryh's world-building is superb."

The Ships of Merior won the Hugo Award for Best Novel in 1995.

The Ships of Merior is a classic science fantasy novel that explores the themes of communication, isolationism, and friendship. It is a well-written and thought-provoking novel that will stay with you long after you finish reading it.

The Ships of Merior (The Wars of Light and Shadow, Book 2)

by Janny Wurts

4.3 out of 5