This includes Brymn. As Mac develops her relationship with the representative of Dhryn culture, it becomes easier to think of him as just one more person in her circle of friends. In some ways this blending of the boundaries between the two species makes the differences all the more striking. Hearing Brymn refuse medical treatment by saying, " a Dhryn is robust, or a Dhryn is not," or something equally outside our range of understanding becomes that much more disquieting because of our easy acceptance of his companionship.
The choice of rooting Mac so firmly on earth results in an air of believability around the book, and hopefully the series as well. Earth may have colonies beyond our atmosphere, and contact with other life forms is normal, but that's not Mac's world. Going off planet with her, moving into other species' galaxies, and experiencing it all through the eyes of someone like us who never even considered it an option, makes it all the more believable to read.
We can empathise much more with Mac than we would if she were just another space pilot. How do other species use the toilet? Is it compatible with human anatomy? These are the concerns we can all relate to. We share the surprises and indignities that she experiences, so that as she is gradually acclimatized to new surroundings and feelings, we go through the same process.
Article comments
1 - Natalie Bennett
This article has been selected for syndication to Advance.net, which is affiliated with newspapers around the United States. Nice work!