Mirage
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5.0 • 1 Rating
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- $8.99
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- $8.99
Publisher Description
The second book in the Web Shifter's Library series returns to the adventures of Esen, a shapeshifting alien who must navigate the perils of a hostile universe.
Relationships get complicated when you don’t know who—or what—you really are. Esen must find a way to rescue a hapless group of chimeras, beings who are a new and unique blend of species she knows, when she can’t become one herself. When Evan Gooseberry tries to help, he is shattered to learn he himself isn’t entirely Human and begins to suspect his new friend Esen isn’t what she seems.
Complicating matters, a mysterious contagion has killed the crew of the ship that brought the chimeras—and Evan—to Botharis. Everyone’s been quarantined inside the All Species’ Library of Linguistics and Culture, including over a hundred disgruntled alien scholars.
The risks climb as Skalet and Lionel continue their quest to solve the disappearance of Paul’s mother’s ship, the Sidereal Pathfinder, only to find themselves caught in a tangle of loyalties as Skalet is betrayed by her own Kraal affiliates, who infiltrate the Library.
All of which would be quite enough for one Web-being’s day, but Paul Ragem hopes to rekindle the romance of his first love. A shame Esen hasn’t told him who’s hiding in their greenhouse.
Customer Reviews
Middle Volume of the Web Shifter’s Library Series and a Great Story
Mirage
is the second volume in the Web Shifter’s Library Series by Julie E. Czerneda, and the middle of the second trilogy of novels. The Web Shifters Trilogy proceeds it in the series. These books feature Esen-alit-Quar, Esen or Es for short. Esen is a most unique being, thought to be one of the last of her kind. She is a web-being, a shapeshifter that can assume the forms of other beings.
In the Web Shifter’s Library Series, Esen and her human partner Paul Ragem have founded the All Species’ Library of Linguistics and Culture on Botharis (Paul’s backwater home planet). This institution aims to help various alien species understand each other (and sometimes themselves) to prevent tragedies that can occur when misunderstandings happen. Esen has a unique perspective on these matters since she can become any type of alien herself, so long as she can assimilate some of their genetic material. In this volume the Diplomat Evan Gooseberry returns to visit at the same time that a trio of odd members of a normally cautious species, the Sacrissee visit to ask a personal question. These unusual Sacrissee are very different, and their presence soon becomes a major event.
Julie E. Czerneda was a Biologist before she became an author, and this clearly shows in her world-building. There are so many amazing aliens in her works. These well-thought-out beings range from mineral to aquatic, and include interesting human cultures that have diverged from the standard as mankind expanded into a galaxy that was already teeming with life. This is an amazing old-school space opera with a vast scope. It’s also a pretty positive read, where even carnivorous giant crab-like species can be understood and reasoned with if one can only try to think like they do.
The cover art was done by the artist Adam Auerbach. This amazing artwork actually summarizes the main theme of the novel! The Web Shifters Library Series concludes with the next novel called “Spectrum.” I’ve already put it on my “Want to Read” List.