Spectrum
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5.0 • 2 Ratings
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- $8.99
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- $8.99
Publisher Description
The third 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.
Here Be Monsters
Something malevolent lurks in deep space, something able to pluck starships from their course and cause their crews to vanish.
It has a purpose: to use those ships to mark an unmistakable boundary. A warning.
It has an interest: Botharis, the planet where Esen and Paul have established the All Species' Library of Linguistics and Culture. Home to Veya Ragem, whose ship was the first to trespass.
Esen and Paul will need every resource, every friend and even foes, if they're to discover who--or what is behind this before more are lost. Once they do, Esen plans to use her abilities to comprehend and reason with this new species. What she doesn't know? There truly are monsters. And they wait for you in the dark.
Just ask Evan Gooseberry.
Customer Reviews
Conclusion of the Web Shifter’s Library Series
“Spectrum” is the third volume in the Web Shifter’s Library Series by Julie E. Czerneda, and the conclusion 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 disappearance of starships while in route to their destinations becomes the main issue. Framed images of these lost starships are being sent by an unknown party. Does this indicate the action of an unknown intelligence? Clearly this threat must be dealt with. Along the way, Paul’s past becomes an important part of the story.
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 is based on an important point in the novel. Although the Web Shifters Library Series concludes with this novel, it ends in such a way to allow the story to potentially continue in future works…