Hellspark

Hellspark is quite possibly my single favorite book - and I read an awful lot of books. All of Janet Kagan's books are wonderful, and my only gripe with her as an author is that she's only written three so far (Please Ma'am can I have some more?) Hellspark is a fascinating first contact book, with a crystal clear look at how our culture informs our assumptions, and the huge messes those assumptions can cause. Tocohl Susumo (our Hellspark protagonist) is wonderful as the only good cultural interpreter in a mass of surveyors from vastly different worlds, Maggy, her computer is a delightful mix of rapid thinking and small-child personality, and her aliens (the Sprookje) are truly alien without being unbelievable or trite. If you've already read this one, go on and try Mirabile and Uhura's Song, which are also wonderful reads.

My college english teacher made us read this book, saying one day it would be a classic. Here is a book about a totally new world with a new species. This Author created somthing that is not done very often. This is probably one of the most profound books that it has been my pleasure to read. Even the Title is interesting because it has two meanings.This book is both Fantacy and Science Fiction. I hope others will ejoy it as much as I did.

Despite the unfortunate title, a very engrossing work. Hell-spark has the best features of Star Trek in the extreme mixture of many different cultures, human and non-human and non-humanoid. Although the novel dragged in some places and some editing could have helped more quickly to reach the dénouement, I highly recommend it because it changed my thoughts as I read it. I found myself thinking of people and the culture they were from, and how that interacted with my own culture; how we spoke differently, gestured differently, thought differently. Kagan paints such a vivid picture of the various cultures you would think her a sociologist with a personal grasp of the extremes of human Earth cultures. Tocohl, the protagonist, plays the role of the evangelist, bringing together all segments of humanity into the Kingdom- for this is the diversity I would imagine there. The best part of Hells-park was the humans, and Hell-spark was the best kind of science fiction- not focusing on the science, but using it as a background to describe more of who we are.

I've been waiting to read this one for years... was never able to find it until the new printing! And it lives up to the other Kagan books I hold dear to my heart, Uhura's Song and Mirabile! I'm thrilled with the reprinting! This book is a stunning version of the future; the characters so real, so accessible, despite being alien; the turns and twists entertaining as well as puzzling; the anthropology/sociology masterful. Thanks for the treat... it'll be another one I read over and over again, and loan out to friends! I wonder, should I buy two copies now, before they get scarce and my own falls to pieces, as my copy of Mirabile has??

This is one of my top 10 SF reads, bar none. I thought it wouldn't work "out loud," but after 30 minutes of reading this aloud to my ladyfolks, she kept me reading for hours. We love Tocohol & Maggy and expect that they could show up anywhere, any time. And the murder-mystery colliding with first-contact story during an AI story, featuring an emsemble cast... AND, the story is out of an imagination I might claim didn't exist, but then who wrote Mirabile?

The interplay between the characters from different cultures was difficult for me to get into. Their customs seemed contrived and somewhat silly for supposedly advanced space faring cultures. About a third of the way into this book, I realized I didn't care to finish it.

Hellspark is a delightful, easeful, exciting, refreshing story set in Intergalactic terms. An all time favorite with me.
I have read Hellspark, cover to cover, a few dozen times, but mostly I open it anywhere to just be with dear friends who are kind and, for the most part, work well and thoughtfully with each other.
With each visit something special is evoked from within me regarding the depth and breadth of humanity's capabilities for goodness because, as our own world shows more of its own diversity, learning more of Tocohl's ability to see a culture or race through its own standards and practices allows its beauty and grace, too, to be visible. Just as the Sprookjes slowly became more understandable and, thus, more human like, all humans, all sentient beings have more in common than in differences.
While easy, this story is not a simple read. It is a profound example of what a slight shift in perspective can achieve. I view this book as one of the finest, cleanest examples of New Age Spiritual teachings.
But if this sort of information doesn't turn your crank, forget it. This book is full of characters of all kinds to not only enchant a reader but annoy, puzzle and surprise, too. You really don't HAVE to read it more than once.
Kagen! We all need more of your writing. Take us on Byworld Judge Susumo's next adventure. Maggy might be an interesting "teenager" by then. What a Hoot that will be!

I put plastic covers on the cover and read it very carefully when I felt the urge for a "fix". I am delighted to find this is out in acid free paper and I am ecstatic to find Merlin Meisha,a publishing discovery for people who like to keep and reread books. Anyway, I enjoy the characters, the mystery and the descriptions, all believable, of so many different aliens. I wish JK had found it within her to continue on with these characters in another book.

It is rare to find a book that half way through you know you will be buying additional copies to give as gifts. Hellspark is one of those books. The book captivated me. Rich in character, detail, humor I could not ignore the treasure I had found.

Tocohol, Maggie and the others became intimates of mine before I was a third finished. At no time did this science fiction mystery disappoint me. And delightfully it introduced whole new realms to me about how people interact with each other.

I cannot recommend Hellspark highly enough. New worlds, alien species, sentience questions, corporate desire versus cultural imperatives. And a soupcon of murder. Prepare to be amazed, moved,and enthralled.

Hear ye, hear ye, court is in session...

This is the book that introduced me to the idea that body language could be, and should be, studied exactly like, and along with, any foreign language. The linguistical study, as vital as it is, still takes second place to the mystery that underlies the whole book. There are a few names that can be hard to say correctly, but it is well worth taking the time to learn them. This book is more than just a simple mystery novel, ultimately dealing with the question "just what does 'human' mean?" Unreservedly recommended.