The Three Hoarsemen (Episode 34) – The Works of C. J. Cherryh with Paul Weimer
As the cruelest month crawls to a close, John E. O. Stevens, Fred Kiesche and Jeff Patterson ponder the works of upcoming Damon Knight Grand Master C. J. Cherryh. For this task they have engineered the return of their first guest Hoarseman, the illustrious Paul Weimer.
The discussion includes their first exposures to the Mri, Morgaine, and the Chanur, the deep history of the Alliance/Union universe, the portrayal of the outsider’s perspective, and how they are all woefully behind on the Foreigner books.
As always, there is an accounting of culture consumed.
Running time: 1 hour 48 minutes.
- Downbelow Station by C. J. Cherryh
- The Faded Sun Trilogy by C. J. Cherryh
- The Complete Morgaine by C. J. Cherryh
- The Pride of Chanur by C. J. Cherryh
- Cyteen by C. J. Cherryh
- Foreigner by C. J. Cherryh
Links:
- Fred’s 2016: The Year in Books–19!
- Fred’s 2014: The Year in Shorts–146!
- C. J. Cherryh’s website
- Cherryh on Wikipedia
- Meetpoint Station
- Cherrylist
- ChView
- The C. J. Cherryh Reread
- Timeline for the Alliance/Union (Company Wars) Universe
- Updraft by Fran Wilde
- The Jewel and Her Lapidary by Fran Wilde
- The Emperor’s Railroad by Guy Haley
- Envy of Angels by Matt Wallace
- The Silk Roads, a New History by Peter Frankopan
- By Steppe, Desert and Ocean by Barry Cunliffe
- Dreams of Shreds and Tatters by Ananda Downum
- John’s review of Downum on Grumptroll
- A Hundred Thousand Worlds by Bob Proehl
- Stellaris Videos
- Hap & Leonard
- Batman: the Complete Series
© 2016 SF Signal.com
Tell us what you think – leave us a comment!
They let that ex-pat New Yorker turned quasi Minnesotan on that podcast again? Madness!
I also came to Cherryh through Dragon Magazine. In my case, it was a review — I think Pride of Chanur? Then I picked up Downbelow Station and Merchanter’s Luck, and I remember buying 40,000 in Gehenna when it was brand new. And reading it and not quite grokking it at least until I’d read it a couple of times and had a chance to let it digest.
I discovered Cherryh when I discovered some of her earlier books on my parents’ bookshelves when I was in highschool. She quickly became, and remains, one of favorite SF writers. Her characters and stories are so complex and nuanced and her world building so darned convincing. I was thrilled to hear that she’s getting this well-deserved honor.
More thoughts: I see her fingerprints all over two of the current major space opera series — Ann Leckie’s Ancillary books (the aliens & cultures and political machinations) and James S.A. Corey’s Expanse books (the blue-collar vibe; and also more politics). I also still haven’t read any Foreigner.
Serpent’s Reach is another favorite.
And on an unrelated note, Paul, have you read any of Harold Lamb’s Cossack stories?
I agree; both series have echoes of Cherryh in them. I wonder how much she has influenced some other space opera of the past few deceades.
I have as a matter of fact, Joe. I mentioned them back when I talked about Silk Road fantasy here on SF Signal. 🙂
Ha! I remember that article, and probably even commented on it … 🙂
East coast folk: Cherryh will be Principal Speaker at Philcon this fall. philcon.org