10 Space Empires That Actually Make Economic Sense

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My favorites:

#1: Vorkosigan series by Lois McMaster Bujold

#4: Downbelow Station by C.J. Cherryh

#5: Firefly

I love it when authors work out the economics, etc. for their universes. Makes their work more credible.

'Driven mad by crowding and uncertainty': Downbelow Station by C. J. Cherryh

'Driven mad by crowding and uncertainty'; Downbelow Station by c.J. Cherryh

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I couldn't get into Foreigner the first time I read it either, but I tried it again several years later, and now it's my favorite series. The first one can be a bit tough to get through—it feels like you fell into the middle of the story rather than started at the beginning—but the story really comes together in the following books. I love how Cherryh portrays her characters and the cultural and personal ramifications of interacting with an alien culture. She's one of my favorite authors, although I know her style isn't for everyone. How did the rest of your reading group like Downbelow Station?

the faded sun: kesrith (1978, cover art by gino d’achille)

Love this series so much!

I really can’t tell if I actually love sailing/starship stories or if I just love Temeraire and Star Trek. I’ve been enjoying Honor Harrington so far, but I’m only partway into one book and I’m having problems keeping track of the characters.

On the sailing front, I’d also rather have a modern...

Another series to check out, if you like "meeting alien cultures" type of stories, is C.J. Cherryh's Foreigner series. She does that aspect so well! It might take a little time to get into—it feels a bit like you are dropping into the middle of the story at first—but if you persevere, it is a wonderful read. Foreigner is definitely in my top three, as far as series go.

I’m the Art Director for the CJ Cherryh Foreigner audio movie project. This is an illustration I did of a Mecheiti, one of the mounts the Atevi use to ride.

This was done after consulting directly with CJ on how the animals looked.

https://www.facebook.com/CJCherryhMovieInAudio

I finished CJ Cherryh’s Protector today. It’s the latest in her Foreigner series. I can’t recommend that series enough. I was discussing it with a friend and we decided it was like if you crossed James Bond with aliens and Downton Abbey.

It’s all distinctions of language and dinner parties and...

Love, love , love this series too. I have reread the entire series several times. When a new book comes out, I'm through it in a day or two, and then I reread it slowly to make sure I didn't miss any of the nuances. I'm loving the addition of Machigi to the series.

When asked what my favorite book is I usually respond that I don’t have one or that I love too many books to pick one. This is a partial lie. I just usually come up blank and feel like I need to give some sort of answer at least.

The book above, The Faded Sun Trilogy by C.J. Cherryh, is an omnibus, three books in one. So really I still haven’t picked one book, but three. If pressed I still could pick one of the three, but that’s another post for another time. As you can see the book is much loved. It’s been through much, but so have I.

It became my most beloved book during a dark time in my life. In fact it help me through that time period in my life. While I read a few pages today I began to realize why it’s the one book I read over and over again above all other books that I love and own. I can and have compared myself and life to one of the main characters.

There are two main characters though the book takes on many pov’s. Both mains were born and grew up in a time of planetary war and were raised as warriors. Though only the human character actually got to participate in the newly won war. The human, Stan Duncan, is a military specialist and used to working alone up to the beginning of the story where the reader is introduced to him as an assistant to a diplomat selected to govern the outer border planet Kesrith, previously under the rule of the newly defeated enemies, the Regul. Kesrith happens to also be inhabited by the Mri, the mercenary like race that fought for the Regul in the Regul/Human war.

In the omnibus Duncan has to make several very tough choices, a few of which cause him to go through some very intense changes, mostly mind, and spirit. Irrevocable changes.

During my dark time I felt like I was right there with Duncan going through much the same choices and changes. Ones that would/have make/made it so that I can’t go back to the person I once was. But too, like Duncan, the core of me is still there.

I loved this book as well. C.J Cherryh does cultural/societal/personal intersection/clash/interaction better than anyone. She always makes me consider things I never would have thought of otherwise.