Downbelow Station

Deserved winner of 1982 Hugo award. Finished re-reading again after 40 years. Enough time to have forgotten details of the plot and enabled me to re-read afresh. Acclaimed example of Military SF, but don't go looking for space battles. Cherryh does what she does best world-building, characterization, and politics. Don't look for muscle-bound heroes with halos either. There are “sides” with men and women on whatever “side” attempting to survive or do best for themselves in circumstances they have inherited or are compelled to follow in a time of war. Everyone does what is expected of them as in fact living in space means living in a hostile environment of a space station or the crew of a merchant or warship. Early on we are told of a station destroyed and refugees crowded into a warship and deposited liked or not at another station ill-prepared for a frighted crazed refugee population whose first response is to panic, form a mob, and lash out. Throughout the novel, these refugees are a constant threat to Pell station used and manipulated. Given the murder and mayhem, they cause it is hard to retain the sympathy they deserve. All in all, I found it hard to shout for one side or another. My greatest attachment being to the Ghandi like aliens, the hisa. Will the hisa survive mankind's propensity to solve problems with violence? Cherryh also has a deserved rep for her aliens. Haven't read the rest of this series; the Alliance-Union Universe, but I think I will have to.