Great book. I loved the quiet domesticity of an old woman choosing to live by herself. I liked how she rediscovered herself away from society's recriminations. The garments she chose to make and wear, choosing her own pacing and activities. Then the aliens show up, and I also liked very much how they get to know each other, bonding over the common need to get away from the rain. I found the alien society very attractive, and I loved how they showed respect for old women. The ending is also satisfying. Overall, I'm very happy to read about an old woman as the protagonist and her ending up in a position of authority. ( )

Book club pick :)

What a great story this is… The best thing about the book is Ofelia, of course. I love the author for choosing the kind of person that is too often, too easily and unthinkingly dismissed, in so many societies (and not only in sci-fi books) – an elderly woman.

Ofelia, who has so many memories of grief and violence, who is used to surviving around people who walk all over her. Yet, there she is, finding new kinds of strength, a new inner voice, finding herself and freedom.

The writing has a flow that invites you along, and you immerse yourself in the story. I found myself caring more and more for Ofelia after just a few pages.

The aliens were wonderfully written – at first unknown and terrifying, and then hardly alien at all (to Ofelia, that is). I loved the scene where they made music together for the first time; I loved the process of learning about each other and forging a relationship, touches of humour, and the aliens’ POV.

I found the first contact team to be obnoxious and arrogant – grotesquely, perhaps, but not unbelievably so. Actually, I had to put the book away from time to time to calm down. Ofelia and her friends were wonderful in their courage and determination.

“It was impossible, it was all impossible, and she might as well get on with it. Impossible things didn’t get done by sitting around in the shade playing with children.”

The ending is lovely. ( )

This book was recommended on a list of science fiction with non-standard protagonists. Unfortunately having an old woman as the protagonist was the only interesting aspect. A huge amount of time is spent on dull scenes explaining how an alien can say a word or operate a light switch. Every scene that isn't that kind of thing consists of the main character being 'disrespected' by every other human character. I'm guessing the author didn't mean to introduce 'unreliable narrator' vibes, but when literally not a single character is described positively by the protagonist you've got to assume that the protagonist is the one with the issue. This dynamic isn't explored in an interesting way, but instead laid out as a thin age discrimination polemic. ( )

This is a type of science fiction that would appeal to people who don't normally read scifi. It takes place in the future, on an unknown planet that had been colonized by some big bad corporation that was only interested in profits. The colonists more or less worked for the corporation, and when the corporation decided to abandon the colony, they just pulled everyone off, forcing them to leave their homes from the past decade or so, with no choice of what next.

But the main thrust of this book is not science or technology, it's the interaction between people, especially those who are not human, but perhaps more human than us in many ways. Certainly more humane.

The main character is a 70 year old woman who has a mind of her own, and follows her conscience finally instead of the established norm. She decided not to leave, but unfortunately didn't really have that choice, so she had to do it secretly, always afraid she'd be discovered. The important parts happen after she is finally discovered. ( )

I am a big fan of fantasy and science fiction novels especially if they are long and have several books in the series. I really enjoy a series of books that I can immerse myself in and I first picked up an Elizabeth Moon novel because it was long and part of a multi-novel series. I continue to read her books because I find them engrossing and highly enjoyable. ( )