Cuckoo's Egg

By: C. J. Cherryh

Narrated by: Peter Ganim

Cuckoo's Egg is a novel by science fiction and fantasy author C. J. Cherryh, set in her Alliance-Union universe. It was nominated for the Hugo Award and longlisted the Locus Award for Best Novel. It was later included, along with Cherryh's novel Serpent's Reach, in the 2005 omnibus volume The Deep Beyond. The audiobook introduces the alien Shonunin race, and the plot of the novel concerns a male Shonun raising a human boy.

They named him Thorn. They told him he was of their people, although he was so different. He was ugly in their eyes, strange, sleek-skinned instead of furred, clawless, different. Yet he was of their power class: judge-warriors, the elite, the fighters, the defenders.

Thorn knew that his difference was somehow very important - but not important enough to prevent murderous conspiracies against him, against his protector, against his caste, and perhaps against the peace of the world. But when the crunch came, when Thorn finally learned what his true role in life was to be, that the future of two worlds might hinge on him, then he had to stand alone to justify his very existence.

©1985 C.J. Cherryh (P)2012 Audible, Inc.

Love thus book! One of my favorites

This is one of my favorites of all time. I read it when I was younger about 10 times and finally put it on audible. I really enjoyed hearing the fine performance!

Powerful story, superb voicing

I enjoyed this story when I first read it, but when I heard it on Audible, it had more meaning. C.J.Cherryh gave the Shonunin and the Hatani a whole culture (possibly based on the Samurai??) and Peter Gamin brought that culture to life. I did not think of the characters as having specific voices when I first read the book, but as I listened I realized that Mr. Gamin gave Duun and Thorn exactly the voices that suited them. Thorn's voice was recognizably the same as he matured from a toddler to an adult. Very well done - I think I've found a new favorite author.
Strongly recommended if you like what-if fiction.

Cuckoo;s Egg Begs For a sequel

C. J. Cherryh is a magician in cultural indoctrination. It is almost irritating in her books to refer to humans as a culture we know. She puts the isolated human in a completely Alien society and makes us see through that culture's eyes. By the cover of the book we always know that thorn is human but he doesn't. Sometimes the dialoge may seem tedious but it is worth the wait to see the results.

The conclusion actually begs for another book involving re-contact. I hope she writes it.

Interesting perspective

Although you know where you are going from the onset, you don't know why. The world concept is unique.

Sometimes you are aggravated by how or the length of time to get there, but it is still a fantastic trip. Just enjoy getting there & thinking about it.

Cherryh is incomparable.

Cherryh does write the most amazing books. About an alien boy raised by an elite warrior/judge alone on a planet far from earth, the story is intense, emotional, sad, and fascinating. No one does alien cultures like Cherryh.

Favorite

My all time favorite book! Intricate characterization and world building seen through the eyes of two disparate yet similar people.

very well written

loved it. the book contained many surprises, especially the ending. was not expecting the ending.

Wow!

Possibly one of the best books I’ve ever read/listened to. Can not praise it enough. Well worth the read.

Unique

There are SF books that are good, but "formulamatic". Many of CJ Cherryh's book are unique and this a prime example, a real gem. Her writing skills are beyond question. She is one of those extremely gifted writers. By taking bits and pieces of earth cultures and then adding spice and creativity, Cherryh is able to create entirely believable alien cultures. I am a long time audible listener and I recommend this book to you without a single reservation. You will enjoy it. The narrator was really excellent as well.

Another win for Cherryh

The uncanny cover art of this novel has haunted me since childhood, nearly 30 years. I used to pull it from mom’s shelf and stare at the image until I twitched out of paralysis and put it away again. Cherryh does aliens right every single time. Her thoughtfulness towards the sentient spirit does all of humanity justice.