In the Company Of Others Book Summary and Study Guide

The story begins by acquainting the reader with the Way Things Are, which is Not Too Good. The people of Earth grew weary of looking for “Others” out there and decided that the only “Others” they would find would be themselves so they set about terraforming suitable worlds to allow the teeming masses to expand outward into Space. At the same time explorers were searching deep space. These explorers found harmless creatures that they called the Quill. But somewhere along the way things went horribly wrong and the innocuous Quill became deadly. They took over all of the terraformed planets, leaving the eager colonists stranded on the Colonizing Space Stations. The people of Earth refused to let their colonists come home for fear that they would bring the Quill home with them and Humanity would be forever destroyed.

There is low-level conflict throughout the book, yet no enemies or bad guys! The Station factions are the Immies, Stationers, and ‘Siders who all co-exist in a delicate balance of needs and power. They dance around each other in their mutual need to survive. Value judgments are tricky things and Ms Czerneda's training and experience as a research biologist has apparently taught her to be wary of them. Her books are filled with protagonists and antagonists, but no really Evil characters, which is not to say that the effects and actions these factions create are appreciated by those who must deal with them. The characters in Company are engaging and likeable whichever side of the conflicts they are on.

Ms Czerneda is extremely good at “putting you there” where the action is. You can almost smell the recycling floor on the Space Station with its unusual staff, like Malley, a large muscular person who is really too intelligent to be where he is, but smart enough to know how to survive.

Then there's Pardell, a sensitive man with special problems and special abilities, both of which make him so dangerous that people can't even touch him. Enter the Earther faction led by Dr. Gail Veronika Ashton Smith, biologist, researcher, and all around determined person who has a novel theory about the Quill and somehow manages to get the research funds to pursue it. The payoff? 17 terraformed worlds ready for colonists.

You can almost feel the wind on a virgin planet, and want to laugh and cry at the triumphs and frustrations as you read this book. Unlike many books I've read recently, at the end of this one you care about what happens to the people, and the Quill. Whether you laugh, cry or think, “Gee. That could happen,” at the ending, my bet is that you will have enjoyed the trip and be looking for more from Julie E. Czerneda.

The review of this Book prepared by Michael E. Picray

Daw, Jun 2001, 6.99, 576 pp.

ISBN: 0586779995

    Mankind broke free of the solar system and terra-formed sixteen different planets so humans can live on them. Then the Quill, a fungus like organism with soothing properties was found on a planet. They quickly spread throughout the terra-formed world, killing everyone on it. The people of

earth abandoned those living outside the solar system out of fear that the Quill would invade the home world.

    At Thromberg Station, Dr. Gail Smith, backed by soldiers, searches for Pardell, a person who was born on a Quill infested planet. Pardell has gold veins that make him sensitive to touch. However, he agrees to accompany

Gail back to his home world in an attempt to rid the orb of the Quill.

    IN THE COMPANY OF OTHERS is a big juicy novel that provides for outer space buffs what Highlander did for immortal gurus. Fans will enjoy this book as Julie E. Czerneda shows she is an up and coming talent by writing a

tale with a strong plot populated by complex and diverse characters.

Harriet Klausner

The review of this Book prepared by Harriet Klausner