Murder, mystery, and interstellar intrigue! Lassti, a newly discovered planet, is the center of political intrigue. Recently the planet survey team’s physicist was found dead. Was he killed? If so, by who? One of his fellow surveyors? Or by one of the birdlike natives of Lassti? This is, if they are intelligent at all, which is proving hard to tell. Into this mix arrives Tocohl, a Hellspark trader who just wanted to have a vacation. After being attacked, rescuing a young woman, and going before a judge, Tocohl has learned all she ever wanted to know about being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Now she is seeking answers to mysteries that could save a world.
Hellspark, in particular, is one of our very favorite novels in any genre. All of Janet’s excellencies are apparent as she explores the interfaces of culture, language, intelligence, and what it means to be human. If you have not read Hellspark, you must do so immediately. It's that good.”—Sharon Lee and Steve Miller, coauthors of the best-selling Liaden Universe® series
“An absolute delight.”—Mike Resnick
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Unique GemThis is a unique gem of a book. Sometimes you wonder if the second book, or the second season of something will ruin it. Other times the second book, or second season, does ruin all the charm and love of the first. Sadly we will never know with Hells park, or Hell spark ;-), and Mirabile. But we are lucky enough to have the first book to cherish and read over and over and over again. Glad this is available as an eBook, especially with Baen's friendly multiple formats.
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Warm & charmingI've been reading sci-fi for 40+ years, literally thousands of books. I'd rank Hellspark & Mirabile as two of the top ten. I re-read my sadly worn copies often. Thank you Baen for reissuing these classics. Janet Kagan was the kind of storyteller that could create a world with her words. She is sadly missed.
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unique take on AI and a great storyyou might think a book first published in 1988 had nothing that newer SF books had not covered. you would be wrong. Janet Kagan has a take on the evolution and treatment of artificial intelligences that remains unique as i write this three decades later. She also integrates it in a plot that explores the future evolution of disperate cultures at a uniquely basic level. I am making this book one of the very base keepers in my library.
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Wonderful Story!!Great book!
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Need more stars!I read this, then I read it to my daughter when she was a little girl, more than once as I recall. She not only remembers it, she credits it as her favorite book of all the books that I read her. Considering that I read to her every single night for years she heard a lot of books. Burroughs, Tolkien, C. S. Lewis, Verne, Eddings; you name it, we read it. She recently recommended it to some young readers (she is a librarian). She has my hardback copy so I will be buying this as an ebook and if it is out in hardback once again I will buy it for the library.
Thank you for the opportunity to experience this once again.
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FINALLYI have been pleading for books by this wonderful author. Thanks much. Now for Mirabile!
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One of my favorite booksA galaxy doesn't hold all the stars I would give this book if I could. It is a tour de force presented by a masterful storyteller. I have been pushing this book on anyone who will stand still long enough to listen to me since I first read it, in 1988.
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