[Michael R. Hicks]

Well I finally got through Chapter 23. Please note it is NOT because I'm not enjoying the book. Simply that I'm not having the time I'd like to read. But I've been doing a chapter (at least) per night.

I suffer the same problem - I love reading (and writing), but for some reason the last few months have hardly had any time to just curl up with my Kindle and read! Hmph!

So, Fr. Hernandez. . . .the disconnect with him seems to be that he started out as a pacifist but gets all het up about Reza. At first it seemed incongruous but on the other hand, he was hoping for a Messiah type -- and I would expect, had a very specific picture in mind. Peacemaker type, lion and lamb to lie down, turn the other cheek, swords into plowshares and all that. But Reza is patently NOT that type so the only alternative is to see him as the Anti-Chirst, as it were, and to destroy him. I was impressed that Reza was able to win him over and hope to see more philosophical discussion between the two. . .the government is not wise in keeping them apart because Fr. Hernandez may be the one who could get Reza talking about his belief system. Or not, he's still got a problem with not seeing men as all the way worthy.

Actually, that's a very good point about it not being smart for them to have separated Hernandez, from Reza. Unfortunately, with someone like Dr. Rabat in charge...

Jodi. . .I like. . . .strong character. . . .that Nicole is her roommate: kind of a 'duh'; figured she'd have to show up sometime otherwise why dwell on their relationship on Hallmark.

Yeah, the beginning of the book - particularly the time on Hallmark - was actually the toughest part to write. I went back and forth on that quite a bit. I know to some it seems like a disjointed piece of the story at first, but it sets up the relationship between Reza and Nicole as something much more than friends (although not lovers) - and she plays a very critical role in the story later (even beyond being Reza's friend once he returns "home" from the Empire).

I expect Reza will be somewhat indoctrinated into the Marines, but I expect that to an almost equal extent, the Marines will be indoctrinated into his "Way". . . . .and I expect he'll have Eustus ending up as one of the best and strongest Marines because he'll treat him -- to an extent -- the way EZ treated him.

I think Reza simply tolerates the Marine training - after all he's been through, it's a cakewalk! And I think yes, Eustus winds up benefitting from the relationship - even if Reza doesn't beat him like Esah-Zhurah first did to Reza...

Gotta get rid of that sadistic Captain though.

You'll be seeing lots more of him, unfortunately!

 

[Betsy the Quilter]

Instead of being in the book klub, I was reading the book!!! I'm done but now I have some tim efor the book klub, so I'm joining this program already in progress.

Chapter 17

What are your first impressions of Jodi? Jodi is one of my favorite characters in the book. Tough, takes no cr** off of anyone, good at what she does. What's not to like?

Father Hernandez? Not sure I trusted him....

Were you surprised at the way Reza first approached Jodi? Why do you think he singled her out over all of the others in Rutan at the time? As others have pointed out, she was a woman warrior and that was the kind of person he was used to dealing with.

Now that we know why the Kreelans prefer hand-to-hand combat, do you find it surprising that the humans who have been fighting them for so long have never figured it out? Were you surprised at the way Reza fought and killed all of the Kreelans on Rutan? (1) I don't think the humans have thougt much about the reasons behind it, they've been so busy trying not to be decimated... (2)It's so contrary to human thinking, I'm not surprised that the humans haven't figured it out. As for Reza, he gave up everything to defend his birth people; according to the code of honor he was raised with, it was his only option.

Chapter 18

Were you surprised to learn that the Confederation was considering a "deep scan" of Reza that would have left him a vegetable? What would you have done with Reza at this point? No, not suprised, it's the typical response of a bureaucracy to steamroller over something it doesn't understand, especially someone who could be considered an "enemy combatant." Not sure what I would have done, but I don't think I would have risked permanent damage to such an important resource.

Chapter 19

Did you find it rather ironic that the villagers who were so against bloodshed were getting worked up enough to rush out of the town and take on the Marines who had protected them, just to get to Reza? I'm afraid that I think that for many people, their belief systems are very shallow, and in time of crisis, they revert to their worst natures....

Which side would you have been on in Rutan, fighting with the Marines to try to defeat the Kreelans, or remaining the village, standing fast in your belief that war and bloodshed are not the answer? I don't know...I like to think I would be firm with my beliefs but I'm not sure....I guess if it were the difference between life and death I would trash my beliefs.

Do you see any similarity between Father Hernandez' doubt in Reza's beliefs and the Empress' and Tesh-Dar's "experiment" to see whether humans had souls? Very normal psychology to think your belief system is the right one and has all the answers. Hadn't thought to compare them, good question!

Why is it so hard for Jodi and Father Hernandez to believe that Reza is homesick for the place he lived for so many years? In their minds, it is an awful place filled with enemy creatures. They no more think the Kreelans have souls than the Kreelans do about humans...

Chapter 20

What do you think your first impression of Reza would have been, if you were Commodore Sinclaire?

What were your first thoughts when you realized that Nicole was Jodi's commander and the person that she loved? Not unexpected by that time.

Did you have any thoughts/ideas on what might happen when Reza and Nicole see each other again for the first time? They had both moved on by that time; I thought there might be some awkwardness though.

Chapter 22

What do you think of Reza's re-introduction into human civilization so far? Do you think he's being treated well, considering where he came from? What would you have done differently, if anything?

I think he's being treated very well, and given some leeway, for instance, the hair...

Chapter 23

Okay, who cheered when Reza knocked Thorella off the bridge? All of us!

Do you think the Ancient Ones are still watching over Reza? Do you think they have always been, and perhaps that's what Tesh Dar sensed in him? Didn't Tesh Dar have the memories of all who came before her? I think she knew someone was out there who would answer the prophecy, and her previous encounter with Reza when he was very young marked him in her mind.

Mike, this is just a fantastic book!!! All of you who've finished should march your little fingers over to Amazon and leave some reviews!!!! I did!

Betsy

 

[Michael R. Hicks]

Instead of being in the book klub, I was reading the book!!! I'm done but now I have some tim efor the book klub, so I'm joining this program already in progress.

Yaay!

Were you surprised at the way Reza first approached Jodi? Why do you think he singled her out over all of the others in Rutan at the time? As others have pointed out, she was a woman warrior and that was the kind of person he was used to dealing with.

Don't know if I'd mentioned this earlier, but when I was writing the book - and even as many times as I've read through it during editing - I never thought of why Reza showed up with Jodi. But this makes perfect sense...

Now that we know why the Kreelans prefer hand-to-hand combat, do you find it surprising that the humans who have been fighting them for so long have never figured it out? Were you surprised at the way Reza fought and killed all of the Kreelans on Rutan? (1) I don't think the humans have thougt much about the reasons behind it, they've been so busy trying not to be decimated... (2)It's so contrary to human thinking, I'm not surprised that the humans haven't figured it out. As for Reza, he gave up everything to defend his birth people; according to the code of honor he was raised with, it was his only option.

I suspect the humans have given it a great deal of thought, but what conclusions could they possibly come to, knowing absolutely nothing about their enemy's motivations or true capabilities? There was no communication, no understanding of the enemy's motivations - nothing except for seemingly endless, bloody combat...

Did you find it rather ironic that the villagers who were so against bloodshed were getting worked up enough to rush out of the town and take on the Marines who had protected them, just to get to Reza? I'm afraid that I think that for many people, their belief systems are very shallow, and in time of crisis, they revert to their worst natures....

I heartily agree - I think this is, alas, all too common even in "advanced" societies such as our own.

Why is it so hard for Jodi and Father Hernandez to believe that Reza is homesick for the place he lived for so many years? In their minds, it is an awful place filled with enemy creatures. They no more think the Kreelans have souls than the Kreelans do about humans...

Ha! Good point!

Okay, who cheered when Reza knocked Thorella off the bridge? All of us!

The big scumball... Grrr...

Do you think the Ancient Ones are still watching over Reza? Do you think they have always been, and perhaps that's what Tesh Dar sensed in him? Didn't Tesh Dar have the memories of all who came before her? I think she knew someone was out there who would answer the prophecy, and her previous encounter with Reza when he was very young marked him in her mind.

Well, Tesh-Dar seems to have an extraordinary sense for the Ancient Ones, but it's the living Empress who embodies the spirits of all who came before her since the First Empress. But the Ancient Ones are left in a bit of mystery, perhaps to be explored in a later book...

Mike, this is just a fantastic book!!! All of you who've finished should march your little fingers over to Amazon and leave some reviews!!!! I did!

Thanks so much, Betsy, both for the kind comments and the review! Reviews are *always* welcome, and they're a big element in how well books do on Amazon, particularly from small/self-press publishers (like me!).