Shan Frankland is ready for retirement from Environmental Hazard Enforcement, but she's been chosen for one last, long mission. Sent light years away from Earth, Shan finds herself on a world where humanity will finally meet aliens -- where diplomacy is of the utmost importance. In command of a crew of marines and a handful of scienctists, Shan is left hoping that she can keep every human -- and alien -- on the planet alive.
The back cover of the book goes on to explain that a major character in the story is Aras, an alien with a peculiar blood aliment that could "be disastrous if it fell into human hands":.
I expected to enjoy this story -- it looked very good -- but I didn't expect to be sucked into it immediately. The characterization and pacing are wonderful, and the slow revelation of the secrets of Cavanagh's Star is perfectly handled. I loved the conflicts and the moral questions, even the environmental stewardship aspects of the book, which are often heavy-handedly addressed in science fiction novels. Traviss has created a wonderful universe for her reader, and I'm delighted to find that the book is the first in a series of (so far) six! A definite recommended read for those who enjoy science fiction.
