C. J. Cherryh

Easton Press C. J. Cherryh books

Downbelow Station - Masterpieces of Science Fiction - 1986

Rusalka - Signed First Edition of Science Fiction - 1989

Chernevog - Signed First Editions of Science Fiction - 1990

Heavy Time - Signed First Editions of Science Fiction - 1991

Rider at the Gate - Signed First Editions of Science Fiction - 1995

Cloud's Rider - Signed First Editions of Science Fiction - 1996

Conspirator - Signed First Editions of Science Fiction - 2009 

Author C. J. Cherryh

C. J. Cherryh, whose full name is Carolyn Janice Cherry, is an acclaimed American writer known for her prolific contributions to science fiction and fantasy. Born on September 1, 1942, in St. Louis, Missouri, Cherryh has become a prominent figure in speculative fiction, earning numerous awards and accolades for her imaginative storytelling and world-building. Cherryh's journey into the realm of literature began at a young age, fueled by her passion for storytelling and a fascination with different cultures. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Latin from the University of Oklahoma in 1964 and later obtained a Master's degree in Classics from Johns Hopkins University. Her academic background in ancient languages and history would later influence the depth and complexity of her fictional worlds.

In 1976, Cherryh published her first novel, Gate of Ivrel, which marked the beginning of her prolific career in science fiction and fantasy. One of her most renowned series is the Alliance-Union Universe, which includes the Downbelow Station and Cyteen series, among others. This expansive universe explores intricate political, social, and cultural dynamics across different planets and species. Her writing is characterized by meticulous attention to detail, strong character development, and exploration of complex interpersonal relationships. Cherryh's ability to create immersive and believable worlds has garnered her a dedicated readership. Cherryh has received several prestigious awards for her contributions to speculative fiction, including the Hugo, Locus, and John W. Campbell Awards. Her novel Cyteen (1988) won the Hugo Award for Best Novel, showcasing her ability to blend thought-provoking themes with compelling storytelling.

Beyond her Alliance-Union Universe, Cherryh has delved into various subgenres, from high fantasy in the Morgaine series to standalone works like The Paladin and Foreigner series, which explores the interactions between humans and an alien species known as the atevi.

C. J. Cherryh's Foreigner series

Foreigner is set in a complex and intricate universe and explores themes of interstellar politics, cultural clashes, and the challenges of diplomacy. The first novel in the series, titled Foreigner, was published in 1994. The Foreigner series is centered around the character Bren Cameron, a human diplomat/translator, who is part of the Atevi world, inhabited by an alien species known as the Atevi. The Atevi are a humanoid species with their own distinct culture, language, and societal structures. The humans in this universe are descendants of a lost colony, and the Atevi are the dominant inhabitants. Bren Cameron's role is to navigate the complex relationships between the human colony and the Atevi, serving as an intermediary and translator. The series explores the challenges and intricacies of diplomacy, as well as the cultural clashes and misunderstandings that arise between the two species.

The Foreigner series delves into political intrigue, power struggles, and the delicate balance between maintaining peace and avoiding conflict. Over the course of the series, readers witness the evolution of relationships between humans and Atevi and the impact of Bren Cameron's diplomatic efforts on the larger political landscape. The Foreigner series consists of multiple novels that C. J. Cherryh continues to expand on the narrative with subsequent books.

 

As a prolific and influential writer, C. J. Cherryh has left an enduring mark on the world of speculative fiction. Her dedication to crafting rich and diverse worlds, coupled with her insightful exploration of human nature and societal structures, has solidified her status as one of the leading voices in the genre.

Downbelow Station - The Company Wars Book 1

A legend among sci-fi readers, C. J. Cherryh's Union Alliance novels, while separate and complete in themselves, are part of a much larger tapestry a future history spanning 5,000 years of human civilization. A blockbuster space opera of the rebellion between Earth and its far-flung colonies, it is a classic science fiction masterwork.

Heavy Time - The Company Wars Book 4

Discovered alone and without his memory on his drifting ship, pilot Paul Dekker is accused of the murder of his crew members and he must rely on the help of renegade miner Morris Bird to learn the truth.

Rusalka - Russian Stories Book 1

She is the tormented ghost of a murdered girl, pitiless spirit of the wilderness, who prevails only upon living souls. And her name is the most dreaded in Russian folklore. Rusalka.

Impetuous Pyetr Kochevikov, a fugitive from Voyvoda with a price on his head, has none of the superstitions of his fearful young companion, Sasha, as they flee through the vastness of the forest.

But when they arrive exhausted at the cottage of the wizzard Uulamets, Pyetr is dismayed to learn that he can mock the spirits no longer. And when he finds himself enchanted by Uulamets' beautiful and wraithlike daughter, no mortal power can assuage the Rusalka's terrible thirst for life...

Chernevog  - Russian Stories Book 2

A sequel to "Rusalka", set in the magical world of pre-Christian Russia. Petyr and Eveshka, now married and living in domestic bliss in Uulemet's cottage, begin to realize that the past is not truly buried. Premonitions lead to a sense of unease that is terrifyingly realized.

Rider at the Gate - Finisterre, Nighthorse Book 1

Stranded on a distant planet that abounds with fertile farmland, human colonists appear to be in paradise. But all the native animals communicate by telepathy, projecting images that drive humans mad. Only Nighthorses stand between civilization and madness. When a flare of human emotion spreads to all the horses, chaos erupts.

Cloud's Rider - Finisterre, Nighthorse Book 2

On a distant planet, all the native creatures communicate telepathically, projecting images which drive humans to madness. As a result, the people live in walled cities and owe their lives to the nighthorses, equines who can bond with certain riders and provide a telepathic "buffer". But one savage winter, young Danny Fisher and his nighthorse Cloud lead the survivors of a deadly telepathic attack to shelter high in the snowbound mountains only to discover their "sanctuary" threatened by a vicious predator never before known to humans. Sequel to "Rider at the Gate".

Conspirator - Foreigner Book 10

Cajeiri is the young son of the powerful leader of the Western Association-and he has become a target for forces bent on destroying his father's rule. For Cajeiri is the first ateva youth to have lived in a human environment. And after hundreds of years of fragile atevi-human coexistence, he may very well be the first of his people to ever truly understand the so similar-yet so dangerously different-aliens who share his home planet and threaten the hidebound customs of his race.