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Tragedy at Évian: How the World Allowed Hitler to Proceed with the Holocaust
by Tony MatthewsIn July 1938 the United States, Great Britain and thirty other countries participated in a vital conference at Évian-les-Bains, France, to discuss the persecution and possible emigration of the European Jews, specifically those caught under the anvil of Nazi atrocities. However, most of those nations rejected the pleas then being made by the Jewish communities, thus condemning them to the Holocaust. There is no doubt that the Évian conference was a critical turning point in world history. The disastrous outcome of the conference set the stage for the murder of six million people. Today we live in a world defined by turmoil with a disturbing rise of authoritarian governments and ultra right-wing nationalism. The plight of refugees is once more powerfully affecting public attitudes towards those most in need. Now, on the 75th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz and the end of the Second World War, it’s time to reflect on the past to ensure we never again make the same mistakes. Tragedy at Évian also shines a spotlight on some of the astonishing and courageous stories of heroic efforts of individuals and private organisations who, despite the decisions made at Évian, worked under extremely dangerous conditions, frequently giving their own lives to assist in the rescue of the Jewish people.
Tragedy of Vietnam
by Patrick J HeardenFor courses on the Vietnam War, 20th century world history and American diplomatic history. Also appropriate as a supplemental text for U.S. history survey courses and history of Asia courses. Brief and accessible text that provides comprehensive coverage of the causes and consequences of the Vietnam War. The Tragedy of Vietnam provides extensive background on the Vietnam War, the relevant history of Southeast Asia and the consequences of the Vietnam conflict on the region. Author Patrick Hearden examines the key decisions and questions surroudning the tragic American entanglement in Vietnam, providing readers with a fascinating discussion of why the United States became involved in this war and why this involvement persisted for nearly a quarter of a century. This book covers the social, economic, ideological, diplomatic and military aspects of the Vietnam War.
Trail to Treason
by Patricia CloughBased on a true story, Trail to Treason is an evocative historical drama set during WWI, where a mother's sacrifice and clandestine espionage test the bounds of love and duty.In a world where love and duty collide, Florence finds herself wedded young to a stern man, her life a silent testament to obedience and sacrifice. Cast out into the cold from seeking solace in forbidden arms, she faces her exile with the weight of a shattered family – one son by her side, the other left behind in the grip of her unforgiving husband. With doors shut firmly by those she once called family and the church that promised sanctuary, Florence embarks on a humble journey as a nurse. Just as hope begins to glimmer on the horizon, love blossoms anew with a wealthy widower. Yet fate deals a cruel hand, snatching her newfound happiness away. As the shadows of the First World War stretch across Europe, a desperate Florence is ensnared in a deadly game of espionage, coerced into spying for the Germans. Bound by love, torn by duty, and haunted by the ghosts of choices past, Florence must navigate the treacherous waters of a world at war, where trust is a luxury and survival is a constant battle. Will she emerge unscathed, or will the sacrifices demanded by her clandestine role shatter the fragile hope she's clung to? Dive into the heart of an era where war rages not just across battlefields but within the very souls of those caught in its grasp. Based on a true story.
Trailblazers: Test Pilots in Action
by Christopher HounsfieldFlight testing experimental and new aircraft is one of the worlds most hazardous occupations. A test pilot requires the skills of a flying ace whilst maintaining the self-control and mental discipline of a scientist. They are a rare breed, carefully selected for their experience and intelligence let alone their bravery. This book contains a series of exclusive, fascinating anecdotes written by some of the world's best, flying iconic aircraft during the extensive experimental flights that must take place before a type can enter service. Each story is a unique insight into these modern day technological explorers. From Concorde to the Phantom jet, Spitfire to the U-2 spy plane.
Training for War
by Tom KratmanAn essay and manual on training for war by retired Army lieutenant colonel Tom Kratman, creator of the popular Carrera military science fiction series, including novels A Desert Called Peace, Carnifex, Come and Take Them, and The Rods and the Axe. Kratman’s contention: an army is for winning wars. And to win wars, you have to train men (and some women) to be warriors, not police or social workers. Herein Kratman gives guidance and a practical plan of action to officers tasked with training troops—advice than might be equally applied to other crucial training situations, as well.
Training the Bodes: Australian Army Advisors training Cambodian infantry battalions - A postscript to the Vietnam War
by Terry SmithBy the end of 1971, the hastily raised, poorly trained, and woefully led Cambodian army had suffered a string of defeats and heavy casualties inflicted by North Vietnamese army and Viet Cong units. With many of its best infantry battalions and much of its armour, transport and equipment destroyed, only three of its 15 brigade groups were militarily effective. In South Vietnam, America and its allies were in the process of withdrawing and handing back to the Vietnamese full responsibility for the conduct of the war. A small group of Australians, which never numbered more than 30 officers, warrant officers and non-commissioned officers of the Australian Army Training Team Vietnam, helped train 27 light infantry battalions of the Cambodian army in South Vietnam during 1972. This project was, according to one historical study, `a classic example of using special forces as a force multiplier', and had been `recognised as one of the most successful foreign internal defence missions of the Vietnam War'. The story of these few men is told against the background of the war in South Vietnam, and in particular Phuoc Tuy province, as both sides fought to secure villages and hamlets during 1972, before the Peace Accords being negotiated in Paris to end the war were signed. Training the Bodes is an interesting and valuable book that tells a moving story. The excerpts from letters and reports, and the photographs, are fascinating. It fills a small gap in Australia's military history.
Training the Right Stuff: The Aircraft That Produced America's Jet Pilots
by Mark A. Frankel Tommy H. ThomasonA comprehensive study of postwar training aircraft that produced a new generation of jet pilots
Training, Tactics and Leadership in the Confederate Army of Tennessee: Seeds of Failure (Military History and Policy #No. 5)
by Andrew R.B. HaughtonThis assessment of the performance of the southern soldiers in the American Civil War of 1861 deals with every aspect of an army from its senior officer to the lowliest private, following every process as the soldier tried to adapt to military life, train, and overcome the enemy.
Trains to Treblinka: A Novel
by Charles CauseyTreblinka, Poland--1942. Daily, thousands of passengers including Bronka and Tchechia arrive at a destination they believe is a resettlement work camp, only to be immediately separated from their families and told to remove their clothing. Within moments, the masses disappear into a long, fenced passageway down the center of the camp called the tube, except for those indiscriminately chosen out of the lines by the SS. While ordered to carefully organize the discarded valuables of the passengers, the young men and women begin to unravel the mysterious truth about Treblinka, yet they are not allowed to ask questions. Only later, when the workers search for their loved ones to no avail do the Nazi&’s menacing grins tell them all they need to know--that they must keep working or they will also end up entering the tube.As the sobering truth about Treblinka sinks deeply into the workers&’ hearts, a few of the men and women begin to plan a revolt. Based on a magnificent true story, Trains to Treblinka deftly interweaves the lives of several revolt organizers who pledge everything for the chance to burn down the camp and escape into the woods. When the day comes for the uprising, the young workers are barely able to contain their excitement and they risk betraying their own motives under the watchful eyes of the continually distrusting Nazis.This well-researched, inspiring historical book is an authentic look at Treblinka written as a suspense novel. From Publishers Weekly BookLife Prize review, &“It may be difficult and heart-wrenching to read the in-depth details about the atrocities that occurred at the Treblinka concentration camp, but this book is hard to put down. Causey presents a powerful linear approach to the arrival of the victims, the losses, the physical and emotional tortures, and the escape attempts. This profoundly memorable story about Treblinka serves as a reminder that every individual victim's name is worth remembering.&” Learn about the beauty of hope, the tragedy of war, and the enduring power of the human heart, all in Trains to Treblinka.
Traitor
by Stephen DaisleyDavid Monroe is a young New Zealander who, during World War I, finds himself in the heat of battle in Gallipoli, standing beside a Turkish doctor named Mahmoud who directs David to save a wounded soldier. The next instant, a shell bursts over them and David and Mahmoud are both sent to an army hospital on Lemnos. As their wounds heal, a deep and enduring bond grows between them and Mahmoud begins to teach David some of the truths of Sufi mysticism. Their bond is strong enough for David to want to betray his country for his friend, which nearly gets him executed. The savage punishment that follows will break and then remake him and ultimately allow David to find deep compassion within himself.
Traitor By Default: The Trials of Kanao Inouye, the Kamloops Kid
by Patrick BrodeAt the end of World War II, a young Japanese Canadian would stand trial and face execution for having committed war crimes and betraying his country.One of the most bizarre stories to emerge at the end of the Second World War was that of Kanao Inouye. Born in Kamloops, B.C., in 1916, he had relocated to his ancestral homeland of Japan, and by 1942 was a translator for the Japanese army. He was assigned to the prisoner of war camp in Hong Kong where he became infamous as one of the “most sadistic guards” over the Canadian survivors of the Battle of Hong Kong. Scores of prisoners would attest to his brutality administered in revenge for the treatment he had received growing up in Canada.His reputation was such that he was quickly apprehended after the war and faced charges of war crimes. But his subsequent trials became mired in questions as to who he really was. Was he a Canadian forced to serve in the Japanese military machine? Or was he a devoted soldier of his emperor obeying his superiors?
Traitor's Blood: Book 1 of The Civil War Chronicles (Stryker)
by Michael ArnoldTraitor's Blood, the first in The Civil War Chronicles, Michael Arnold's acclaimed series of historical thrillers, sees battle-scarred hero Captain Stryker, 'the Sharpe of the Civil War', confront his nemesis. 'Stands in comparison with the best of Cornwell' Yorkshire PostOnce seen in the heat of battle, Captain Stryker is never forgotten. A hardened veteran of the wars in the Low Countries, he has come home to England to seek revenge on the man who left him for dead and scarred him for life.Stryker is driven by loyalty rather than conviction to serve King Charles's cause. He has no truck with aristocracy, preferring the company of a handful of trusted men, including sometime actor Lancelot Forreseter and his foul-mouthed sergeant, Skellen. But when the existence of a dangerous spy at the heart of the Royalist establishment is discovered, it is Stryker whom Prince Rupert chooses to capture the man before he realises the game is up.Lightly armed and with only a handful of men, Stryker must journey across a country riven by bitterness and beset by marauding bands of soldiers in a race against time. But unbeknown to Stryker, someone else is also closing in on his quarry, someone whom Stryker has sworn to kill: Captain Eli Makepeace, his nemesis, the man who nearly destroyed him . . .
Traitor: British Double Agents 1930-80
by John TurnerFollowing the success of 'Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy' and increased 'spy fever', this 'Traitor: British Double Agents' covers in detail all the spies known to have acted against Britain from the 1930s to the 1980s. John Frayn Turner reveals the infamous Cambridge spy network, made up of well-knwon names including Burgess, Maclean, Philby and Blunt, studies the Microdots Case in detail, lists the atomic secret spies, analyses the downfall of master spy Blake and his subsequent escape while serving a 42-year sentence and details others who sold Britain's secrets.
Traitors Among Us
by Marsha Forchuk SkrypuchWorld War II may be over. But two sisters are far from safe.Inspired by true events, this is the latest gripping and powerful novel from the acclaimed author of Making Bombs for Hitler.Sisters Krystia and Maria have been through the worst -- or so they think. World War II ravaged their native Ukraine, but they both survived, and are now reunited in a displaced persons camp.Then another girl accuses the sisters of being Hitler Girls -- people who collaborated with the Nazis. Nothing could be further from the truth; during the horrors of the war, both sisters resisted the Nazis and everything they stood for. But the Soviets, who are now in charge, don't listen to the sisters' protests. Krystia and Maria are taken away and interrogated for crimes they never committed.Caught in a dangerous trap, the sisters must look to each other for strength and perseverance. Can they convince their captors that they're innocent -- or escape to safety before it's too late?
Traitors of Rome (Eagles of the Empire 18): Roman army heroes Cato and Macro face treachery in the ranks
by Simon ScarrowTRAITORS OF ROME: THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLERAn enthralling Cato and Macro adventure from bestselling author Simon Scarrow. Not to be missed by readers of Conn Iggulden and Bernard Cornwell. AD 56. Battle-hardened veterans of the Roman army Tribune Cato and Centurion Macro are garrisoned at the eastern border, aware that their movements are constantly monitored by spies from dangerous, mysterious Parthia. But the enemy within could be the deadliest threat to the Legion ... and the Empire. There's a traitor in the ranks. Rome shows no mercy to those who betray their comrades, and the Empire. But first the guilty man must be discovered. Cato and Macro are in a race against time to expose the truth, while the powerful enemy over the border waits to exploit any weaknesses in the Legion. The traitor must die ... Praise for Simon Scarrow's bestselling novels: 'Blood, gore, political intrigue...A historical fiction thriller that'll have you reaching for your gladius' Daily Sport'Gripping... ferocious and compelling' Daily Express'Brilliantly told adventures ... Roman soldiering at its very best - even by Scarrow's high standards' Sunday Sport
Traitors of Rome: Roman army heroes Cato and Macro face treachery in the ranks (Eagles Of The Empire Ser.)
by Simon ScarrowTRAITORS OF ROME: THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLERAn enthralling Cato and Macro adventure from bestselling author Simon Scarrow. Not to be missed by readers of Conn Iggulden and Bernard Cornwell. AD 56. Battle-hardened veterans of the Roman army Tribune Cato and Centurion Macro are garrisoned at the eastern border, aware that their movements are constantly monitored by spies from dangerous, mysterious Parthia. But the enemy within could be the deadliest threat to the Legion ... and the Empire. There's a traitor in the ranks. Rome shows no mercy to those who betray their comrades, and the Empire. But first the guilty man must be discovered. Cato and Macro are in a race against time to expose the truth, while the powerful enemy over the border waits to exploit any weaknesses in the Legion. The traitor must die ... Praise for Simon Scarrow's bestselling novels: 'Blood, gore, political intrigue...A historical fiction thriller that'll have you reaching for your gladius' Daily Sport'Gripping... ferocious and compelling' Daily Express'Brilliantly told adventures ... Roman soldiering at its very best - even by Scarrow's high standards' Sunday Sport
Trampa 22 (Bolsillo Ser.)
by Joseph HellerUn clásico moderno absolutamente rompedor sobre el sinsentido de la guerra en una nueva edición con prólogo de Laura Fernández. Trampa-22 es uno de los mejores libros del siglo xx y ha sido recientemente adaptado como miniserie televisiva protagonizada por George Clooney y Christopher Abott. Durante la Segunda Guerra Mundial, en el hospital de la base norteamericana de una minúscula isla italiana, un piloto de bombardero llamado Yossarian finge estar loco. Quiere evitar a toda costa perder la vida en su próxima misión aérea y regresar a casa. ¿Por qué demonios intentan todos matarle desde abajo?, se pregunta cada vez que lanza una bomba. Yossarian intenta demostrar que está loco pero cae en la «trampa 22»: una absurda y perversa regla militar que afirma que aquellos que alegan locura para no ir a la guerra son los más cuerdos. Y si estás cuerdo, estás sano, así que... ¡no te queda otra! Publicada originalmente en 1961, Trampa 22 es sin lugar a dudas una de las obras maestras más divertidas y celebradas de todos los tiempos y una piedra angular de la tradición literaria norteamericana, que le ha valido estar en las listas de los mejores libros del siglo xx. El lector se sumergirá en una ráfaga de situaciones absurdas y diálogos delirantes que subrayan la estupidez de la guerra y del ser humano. Y es que «el infierno somos, y hemos sido siempre, nosotros», apunta Laura Fernández en el prólogo. «Si iba a describir un infierno, sería uno rabiosamente divertido. Porque así de ridículo es el mundo. [...] para que esta humanidad trate de aprender algo de sí misma.» Críticas:«No hay ningún libro como este [...] sorprendentemente poderoso.»Norman Mailer, Esquire «Trampa 22 es la única novela bélica que he leído que tiene sentido.»Harper Lee «Novela bomba [...]. Heller no solo descubrió "el lado gracioso" de la Segunda Guerra Mundial, sino que, además, anticipó las horriblemente hilarantes alucinaciones de Vietnam abriendo paso y escotillas para soltar absurdistas y entrópicos como Vonnegut, Berger, Kesey, Barthelme, Brautigan, Pynchon, Elkin, Friedman y Hunter Thompson y, más cerca, Wallace, Saunders y Palahniuk.»Rodrigo Fresán, Babelia, El País «Una de las obras más terriblemente divertidas en el uso del lenguaje [...]. Explosiva, implacable, subversiva, brillante.»Robert Brustein, The New Republic «Trampa 22 es una novela que nos recuerda una vez más todo aquello que hemos dado por supuesto en nuestro mundo y que no deberíamos, la locura que intentamos que pase desapercibida, las decepciones y las mentiras que no tenemos la voluntad de discernir de la verdad.»John W. Adridge, The New York Times Review «A mi parecer, en los últimos cincuenta años ha habido dos grandes novelas norteamericanas. Trampa 22 es una de ellas.»Stephen King, Entertainment Weekly «Esta no es meramente la mejor novela norteamericana que surgió de la Segunda Guerra Mundial, es la mejor novela norteamericana que ha surgido en años de cualquier lugar.»Nelson Algren, The Nation «Lo que tienen en las manos [...] es un monumento [...] hecho de páginas y personajes [...] suculentamente delirantes.»Laura Fernández
Trans-Allegheny Pioneers: Hardships and Heroism
by John P. HaleJohn P. Hale’s "Trans-Allegheny Pioneers" offers an enthralling chronicle of the early settlers who ventured west of the Virginian Alleghenies, forging a path into the uncharted wilderness from 1748 onwards. This meticulously researched history provides an intimate look at the hardships, heroism, and indomitable spirit of those who dared to pioneer the frontier.Hale’s narrative captures the essence of early American frontier life, detailing the struggles and triumphs of the first white settlers as they established communities in the rugged and often hostile terrain beyond the Alleghenies. Through vivid storytelling and rich historical detail, Hale brings to life the experiences of these brave men and women, whose resilience and determination laid the foundations for future generations.The book delves into the myriad challenges faced by the pioneers, from skirmishes with Native American tribes to the relentless forces of nature. Hale paints a vivid picture of the relentless courage required to survive and thrive in such an unforgiving environment. He also highlights the crucial moments of cooperation, ingenuity, and solidarity that defined these early settlements."Trans-Allegheny Pioneers" is not just a historical account; it is a tribute to the spirit of exploration and the enduring human desire to seek new horizons. Hale’s engaging prose and thorough research provide readers with a nuanced understanding of the complex dynamics at play during this formative period in American history. His work sheds light on the cultural exchanges, conflicts, and alliances that shaped the frontier.Through detailed biographies, personal anecdotes, and historical context, Hale honors the legacy of the pioneers whose bravery and perseverance paved the way for the expansion of the American frontier. "Trans-Allegheny Pioneers" is an invaluable resource for historians, genealogists, and anyone interested in the rich tapestry of America’s early settlement history.Join John P. Hale on a journey through time, exploring the remarkable stories of hardship and heroism that defined the first white settlements west of the Virginian Alleghenies. This compelling narrative celebrates the pioneering spirit that continues to inspire and resonate today.
Transatlantic Diplomacy and the Use of Military Force in the Post–Cold War Era
by Mark WintzThis book is an analysis and a set of tools of analysis to explain and understand why, when, where, and how the United States and its major NATO allies will agree or disagree on a collective policy regarding using military force abroad.
Transatlantic Relations and Modern Diplomacy: An interdisciplinary examination (Routledge New Diplomacy Studies)
by Dana Cooper Sudeshna Roy Brian M. MurphyThis book explores the transatlantic relationship between the US and Europe from multiple perspectives and disciplines. Since the end of the Cold War, a multi-polar world has replaced the dual power economic and political stranglehold previously shared by the US and Russia. Amid the shift in power politics, the transatlantic partnership between the US and Europe has retained its importance in shaping the outcome of future global developments. With the rise of the US as a major world power and the tremendous economic growths witnessed by countries such as China, India and Brazil, the political power structures within and outside the transatlantic relations have gradually undergone shifts that are important to recognise, understand and critically assess on a consistent basis. Transatlantic Relations and Modern Diplomacy assesses the strengths and weaknesses of this enduring transatlantic relationship from multiple perspectives and disciplines at a time when the US and European countries are facing increasing economic pressures, significant political changes and substantial security concerns. Examining this relationship through a range of different lenses including historical, economic and cultural, this book highlights the importance of examining the transatlantic relationship from a variety of different contextual and historical perspectives in order to herald the future changes as informed global citizens. This book will be of interest to students of transatlantic studies, diplomacy, political science and IR in general.
Transatlantic Relations and the Great War: Austria-Hungary and the United States (Routledge Studies in Modern History)
by Kurt BednarTransatlantic Relations and the Great War explores the relations between the Danube Monarchy of Austria-Hungary and the modern US democracy and how that relationship developed over decades until it ended in a final rupture. As the First World War drew to a close in late 1918, the Mid-European Union was created to fill the vacuum in Central and Eastern Europe as the old Danube Monarchy of Austria-Hungary was falling apart. One year before, in December 1917, the United States had declared war on Austria-Hungary and, overnight, huge masses of immigrants from the Habsburg Empire became enemy aliens in the US. Offering a major deviation from traditional historiography, this book explains how the countdown of mostly diplomatic events in that fatal year 1918 could have taken an alternative course. In addition to providing a narrative account of Austrian-Hungarian relations with the US in the years leading up to the First World War, the author also demonstrates how an almost total ignorance of the affairs of the Dual Monarchy was to be found in the US and vice versa. This book is a fascinating and important resource for students and scholars interested in modern European and US history, diplomatic relations, and war studies.
Transatlantic Relations in the 21st Century: Europe, America and the Rise of the Rest (Contemporary Security Studies)
by Erwan LagadecThis book offers an overview of the interface between European integration, transatlantic relations, and the 'rise of the rest' in the early 21st century. The collapse of the Soviet bloc opened up an era in which the drivers and perceived benefits of the US alliance among European countries have become more variegated and shifting. The proposition that the US remains at once an 'indispensable' and 'intolerable' nation in Europe is a key concept in the alliance, as the US remains inextricably tied to the continent through economic, military and cultural links. This work examines this complex subject area from many angles, including an analysis of the historical and cultural contexts of America’s relations with Europe, as well as a discussion of the politics of transatlantic affairs which utilises evidence gleaned from a series of case-studies. In the concluding chapters, the author assesses the likelihood that the West can entrench its global dominance in the realms of "soft" and "hard" power, and by effecting a "controlled reform" that will see multilateral structures open up to emerging powers. This book will be of great interest to students of European Politics, EU integration, transatlantic relations, US foreign policy/diplomacy, International Security and IR in general.
Transatlantic: Based on a true story, utterly gripping and heartbreaking World War 2 historical fiction
by Julie OrringerSoon to be a major Netflix series1940, France. In the middle of a devastating war, how many lives can you save?Varian Fry, a young American journalist, arrives in Marseille armed only with three thousand dollars and a list of writers, thinkers and artists he hopes to rescue - so long as the Nazis don't get to them first.With borders closing around him, Varian tries to track down those on his list; renowned artists like Marc Chagall, who cannot believe that he will ever be unsafe in the country he loves. He smuggles them over the Pyrenees mountains and across the sea hidden in boats, but every day hundreds of ordinary Jewish refugees beg him for help. Does Varian have the right to choose who to save?At home in New York, making a list seemed hard, but in the middle of humanity's darkest hour, Varian must do all he can to help. And as the Nazis begin to get word of Varian's secret operation, he must dig deep and find the courage to rescue as many innocents as he can.Even though his own life may be in terrible danger.An incredibly compelling and heart-wrenching historical novel, inspired by a powerful true story, about the extraordinary courage and friendships forged during humanity's darkest hour. If you loved Schindler's List, All the Light We Cannot See or The Tattooist of Auschwitz, you'll adore Transatlantic, previously published as The Flight Portfolio.(P) 2019 Recorded Books
Transcription: A Novel
by Kate Atkinson<P> In 1940, eighteen-year old Juliet Armstrong is reluctantly recruited into the world of espionage. Sent to an obscure department of MI5 tasked with monitoring the comings and goings of British Fascist sympathizers, she discovers the work to be by turns both tedious and terrifying. But after the war has ended, she presumes the events of those years have been relegated to the past forever. <P><P>Ten years later, now a radio producer at the BBC, Juliet is unexpectedly confronted by figures from her past. A different war is being fought now, on a different battleground, but Juliet finds herself once more under threat. A bill of reckoning is due, and she finally begins to realize that there is no action without consequence. <P><P>Transcription is a work of rare depth and texture, a bravura modern novel of extraordinary power, wit and empathy. It is a triumphant work of fiction from one of the best writers of our time. <P><b>A New York Times Bestseller</b>
Transfigurations (S.F. MASTERWORKS)
by Michael BishopIn a clearing of the great forest of the planet Bosk Veld, a strange, ape-like species of alien, the Asadi, act out their almost-incomprehensible rituals, rainbow eyes flashing, spinning like pinwheels. Egon Chaney, in his anthropological study, "Death and Designation Among the Asadi" has shown how their life-style has apparently degenerated from a level of complex technological sophistication and devolved to a primal simplicity. Long after his disappearance in the forest, his daughter, Elegy Cather, comes to Bosk Veld to carry on his studies of the Asadi where he left off. With her is an intelligent ape, Kretzoi, physically adapted to resemble the aliens. Together with Thomas Benedict, Chaney's old partner, Elegy begins to unravel the enigma of the Asadi. As Kretzoi insinuates himself into their rituals, so we are drawn into what is perhaps the most convincing portrayal of the alien yet.