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Immerse Yourself in an Alien World
Khe loves her simple life on a farming commune, until she discovers that her gift for pushing the crops is a death sentence. Fleeing across the treacherous wilderness, she makes her way to the city of Chimbalay, searching for the orindles who might save her. But Chimbalay has its own dangers. The Powers are there--the secret rulers who have chosen Khe to be the mother of a monstrous new race.
Neither "man in space" SciFi nor classical fantasy, Khe deftly blends elements of both while satisfying those wanting something new in a dystopian story. Perfect for readers looking for solid world-building and fresh and fully-realized characters.
Khe loves her simple life on a farming commune, until she discovers that her gift for pushing the crops is a death sentence. Fleeing across the treacherous wilderness, she makes her way to the city of Chimbalay, searching for the orindles who might save her. But Chimbalay has its own dangers. The Powers are there--the secret rulers who have chosen Khe to be the mother of a monstrous new race.
Neither "man in space" SciFi nor classical fantasy, Khe deftly blends elements of both while satisfying those wanting something new in a dystopian story. Perfect for readers looking for solid world-building and fresh and fully-realized characters.
284 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 10, 2012
76 people are currently reading
688 people want to read
About the author
Alexes Razevich
34 books56 followersAlexes Razevich grew up in Orange County, California and San Francisco. She attended California State University San Francisco, earning a degree in creative writing. She is a former editor for Electronic Engineering Times and freelance writer. Her work has appeared in The Easy Reader, (winner, fiction contest) Ceramics Monthly, Rolling Stone, and several electronics industry specific publications.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 75 reviews
October 9, 2012
This is a very imaginative but demanding fantasy novel that involves two, perhaps three or four, different species. There are the doumanas, who are all female—we meet the males only during Resonance, an evocative word for the mating season. Then there are the orindles though these might be specially trained doumanas. And finally there are the Powers; it seems strange to call them an alien species but that they were from the point of view of the doumanas. The novel is told from such a point of view, mostly, in fact from that of one in particular—Khe.
The Powers have been on the planet since the “Before,” another evocative word; one understands immediately what it means. Since then, “They” have socially engineered the inhabitants of the planet: some of whom live in “klers,” cities, and some in mobile communities called correntas. Most live, it appears, in rural, agricultural communes. At least the communities appear to be very like a collectivized society, sleeping in dormitories, performing their tasks without question as directed by a leader, dying upon command (called the Return), and mating only during the Resonance when the males appear from some place not revealed. The author has tried hard to give mystery and infuse feeling, even ecstasy, to such mating but it is difficult for the reader to feel any connection since she has created the doumanas to have off-putting reptilian features (like the Cardassians) and the procreation results in an egg that hatches oviparously.
Not all doumanas, however, feel the Resonance call, especially not Khe. For them there are the equivalent of fertility treatments. These are conducted under the direction of the Powers, entities that exist as pure energy and communicate telepathically. (Such a form of communication turns out in the latter part of the novel to be a Big Thing.) The Powers provide the technology--but it is clear “They” are engaged in genetic engineering with a hidden agenda and, not to give the plot away, Khe is singled out for a Very Special Purpose.
That such a purpose should depend on only one subject suggests carelessness and one wonders about the correnta actually flying through the air, giving a whole new dimension to the meaning of social mobility. The novel is also vague/ambivalent about the males; did the soumyas survive the Before in the correntas?
The characters and some episodes are impressively well-imagined, but the author seemed to struggle with developing the plot with the right pacing.
The idea that the walls can indeed “speak,” however, is simply delightful.
The Powers have been on the planet since the “Before,” another evocative word; one understands immediately what it means. Since then, “They” have socially engineered the inhabitants of the planet: some of whom live in “klers,” cities, and some in mobile communities called correntas. Most live, it appears, in rural, agricultural communes. At least the communities appear to be very like a collectivized society, sleeping in dormitories, performing their tasks without question as directed by a leader, dying upon command (called the Return), and mating only during the Resonance when the males appear from some place not revealed. The author has tried hard to give mystery and infuse feeling, even ecstasy, to such mating but it is difficult for the reader to feel any connection since she has created the doumanas to have off-putting reptilian features (like the Cardassians) and the procreation results in an egg that hatches oviparously.
Not all doumanas, however, feel the Resonance call, especially not Khe. For them there are the equivalent of fertility treatments. These are conducted under the direction of the Powers, entities that exist as pure energy and communicate telepathically. (Such a form of communication turns out in the latter part of the novel to be a Big Thing.) The Powers provide the technology--but it is clear “They” are engaged in genetic engineering with a hidden agenda and, not to give the plot away, Khe is singled out for a Very Special Purpose.
That such a purpose should depend on only one subject suggests carelessness and one wonders about the correnta actually flying through the air, giving a whole new dimension to the meaning of social mobility. The novel is also vague/ambivalent about the males; did the soumyas survive the Before in the correntas?
The characters and some episodes are impressively well-imagined, but the author seemed to struggle with developing the plot with the right pacing.
The idea that the walls can indeed “speak,” however, is simply delightful.
October 28, 2012
The author of Khe imagines an alternative universe, invites me in, and then charms me into staying with short, powerful sentences. I'm hooked at the get-go by the point-of-view character being pursued by devouring beasts. As Khe, a self-described country bumpkin, flees toward Chimbalay, I'm wondering, Celestial City? Camelot? The Big Apple? An intrusive city-form, called the corenta, must be avoided. I'm very intrigued, but I'll have to wait a long while to know more.
Khe gets inside the gate only because others are rushing out. Why are they eager to leave Chimbalay? Once in, Khe says, she can never return. Why not? And what's so wrong with her that she has braved a dangerous journey in order to seek the help of an "orindle," an exalted female being?
I'm a bit disappointed when the forward action literally stops inside the gate and veers into a lengthy excursion into the past. However, I soon get interested in the ups and downs of Khe's agrarian life among her 52 sisters, the doumanas (females of the species. Like fireflies, their spots light up when they're ready for seasonal mating).
Shocking, dirty little secrets begin to emerge about the three types of communities. Willing or not, doumanas are "returned to their creator" each year based on the number of spots. Khe's spots have been increasing faster than her years because of an experimental procedure that enhanced her field productivity--Khe can turn things green. I'm dismayed when her talent, rather than being rewarded, is exploited. I'm drawn to Khe because she has complex emotions-- jealousy of Thedra's singing ability, for instance--while I'm turned off by the inculturated pattern of obedience to collectivism. There's also something nefarious about the males and females being kept segregated (like Catholic school). The hatchlings (babies) are fewer in number than the leader would like, but she must get permission from the Powers that be for more.
I begin to dislike intensely this autocratic, highly regimented world. It's dystopia, not utopia. I'm supposed to feel that way.
I'm still impatient to see Chimbalay, the center of power, where policy is made by a centralized group of Prophets. Will a mere individual's problems and passions be addressed there, as in Mr. Smith Goes to Washington? But first, there's Khe's escape through a bestial wilderness. For me, this section has mixed results. There are gold nuggets. A sled talks to Khe, for instance; I love it that some inanimate objects are more sentient than the relentless task-masters. However, when Khe meets another runaway on the road, I feel the "babbler's" story overly delays the forward motion.
Halfway through the book, we're back at Chimbalay, where my curiosity about why orindles were rushing out is satisfied. The orindles are all going shopping at the corenta! Place names like Excitement Street underline the sly point that the prophets in glass skyscrapers are not exalted beings as advertised.
Enlightened by the history of Before and how the world came to be gender-segregated, I arrive at the story of the telepathic, energy-based Powers, a portion of the novel that seems to list toward the overly abstract and the metaphysical. The empathy quotient suffers.
Overall,I like best the well-crafted allegory of the individual emerging against collectivism and how Khe, like Gulliver, grows through her journey. Sometimes I'm presented with too much to think about.
The writer has talent, and the novel, though not an easy read, is worth a look by those who enjoy excursions in alternate universes.
Khe gets inside the gate only because others are rushing out. Why are they eager to leave Chimbalay? Once in, Khe says, she can never return. Why not? And what's so wrong with her that she has braved a dangerous journey in order to seek the help of an "orindle," an exalted female being?
I'm a bit disappointed when the forward action literally stops inside the gate and veers into a lengthy excursion into the past. However, I soon get interested in the ups and downs of Khe's agrarian life among her 52 sisters, the doumanas (females of the species. Like fireflies, their spots light up when they're ready for seasonal mating).
Shocking, dirty little secrets begin to emerge about the three types of communities. Willing or not, doumanas are "returned to their creator" each year based on the number of spots. Khe's spots have been increasing faster than her years because of an experimental procedure that enhanced her field productivity--Khe can turn things green. I'm dismayed when her talent, rather than being rewarded, is exploited. I'm drawn to Khe because she has complex emotions-- jealousy of Thedra's singing ability, for instance--while I'm turned off by the inculturated pattern of obedience to collectivism. There's also something nefarious about the males and females being kept segregated (like Catholic school). The hatchlings (babies) are fewer in number than the leader would like, but she must get permission from the Powers that be for more.
I begin to dislike intensely this autocratic, highly regimented world. It's dystopia, not utopia. I'm supposed to feel that way.
I'm still impatient to see Chimbalay, the center of power, where policy is made by a centralized group of Prophets. Will a mere individual's problems and passions be addressed there, as in Mr. Smith Goes to Washington? But first, there's Khe's escape through a bestial wilderness. For me, this section has mixed results. There are gold nuggets. A sled talks to Khe, for instance; I love it that some inanimate objects are more sentient than the relentless task-masters. However, when Khe meets another runaway on the road, I feel the "babbler's" story overly delays the forward motion.
Halfway through the book, we're back at Chimbalay, where my curiosity about why orindles were rushing out is satisfied. The orindles are all going shopping at the corenta! Place names like Excitement Street underline the sly point that the prophets in glass skyscrapers are not exalted beings as advertised.
Enlightened by the history of Before and how the world came to be gender-segregated, I arrive at the story of the telepathic, energy-based Powers, a portion of the novel that seems to list toward the overly abstract and the metaphysical. The empathy quotient suffers.
Overall,I like best the well-crafted allegory of the individual emerging against collectivism and how Khe, like Gulliver, grows through her journey. Sometimes I'm presented with too much to think about.
The writer has talent, and the novel, though not an easy read, is worth a look by those who enjoy excursions in alternate universes.
October 10, 2012
Science fiction, for all its great successes over the decades, has at times earned a reputation for producing too many works that are cookie-cutter or derivative. That’s why it’s refreshing to see a book like Khe which, while taking the form in interesting new directions, still nails the basics—a sympathetic main character, exciting adventure, and world building that unfolds gradually and leaves room for surprises at the end.
The book opens with Khe, a female humanoid alien on a distant planet, living as a laborer in one of many agricultural “communes” (actually, it opens with a prologue which consists of a tense scene from the middle of the book, but the story proper begins at the commune). Khe’s species differs in a few ways from humans—the most notable being the mating ritual known as Resonance, where fertile females are guided to their mates by colors that appear to them in the sky. Khe’s life is turned upside down when, despite being of age, she fails to experience the Resonance, leaving her “broken.” An operation intended to allow her to mate appears successful, until she realizes its side effects: a mysterious power over plant life, and seemingly accelerated aging. Facing premature death, she sets out across the Wilderness towards the city of Chimbalay in search of help.
Aside from the detailed world, what I enjoyed most about Khe were the unconventional themes. Topics such as the meaning of fertility, acceptance in one’s community and self-sacrifice are rarely touched on in science fiction, and may resonate (sorry) with female readers. However, I found myself wishing at times that some of them were explored more fully, or some situations or characters fleshed out before Khe moves on to other parts of her journey. The ending in particular resolves very quickly, and doesn’t leave much room for closure on some of the topics explored in the narrative.
Also, Khe contains a set of illustrations interspersed throughout the pages, and while I thought they were generally well-drawn and helpful for visualizing the story, the last one sort of gives away the ending of the book. Reader be warned.
Still, I would recommend Khe to any fan of science fiction or science/fantasy adventure, especially those bored of the typical “man on a spaceship” archetype. I look forward to what Ms. Razevich’s wild imagination produces next.
Rating: Four Resonance sacs out of five.
The book opens with Khe, a female humanoid alien on a distant planet, living as a laborer in one of many agricultural “communes” (actually, it opens with a prologue which consists of a tense scene from the middle of the book, but the story proper begins at the commune). Khe’s species differs in a few ways from humans—the most notable being the mating ritual known as Resonance, where fertile females are guided to their mates by colors that appear to them in the sky. Khe’s life is turned upside down when, despite being of age, she fails to experience the Resonance, leaving her “broken.” An operation intended to allow her to mate appears successful, until she realizes its side effects: a mysterious power over plant life, and seemingly accelerated aging. Facing premature death, she sets out across the Wilderness towards the city of Chimbalay in search of help.
Aside from the detailed world, what I enjoyed most about Khe were the unconventional themes. Topics such as the meaning of fertility, acceptance in one’s community and self-sacrifice are rarely touched on in science fiction, and may resonate (sorry) with female readers. However, I found myself wishing at times that some of them were explored more fully, or some situations or characters fleshed out before Khe moves on to other parts of her journey. The ending in particular resolves very quickly, and doesn’t leave much room for closure on some of the topics explored in the narrative.
Also, Khe contains a set of illustrations interspersed throughout the pages, and while I thought they were generally well-drawn and helpful for visualizing the story, the last one sort of gives away the ending of the book. Reader be warned.
Still, I would recommend Khe to any fan of science fiction or science/fantasy adventure, especially those bored of the typical “man on a spaceship” archetype. I look forward to what Ms. Razevich’s wild imagination produces next.
Rating: Four Resonance sacs out of five.
October 6, 2013
This was one of the most well told and original tales that I've encountered in a long time!
It is set on an alien world in a very relatable but alien culture. The story is told through first person and follows that main character through an incredible sequence of events spanning succinctly told years.
I was drawn into the sorry immediately and could barely put it down even though it is not a fast paced adventure tale. The alien world and culture are beautifully depicted, complete, and consistent. Characters are rich and their society complex. It was both fascinating and a soothing to read until the adventure portion. Khé is so likable in her struggle, I wanted good things for her throughout and wished to see her succeed when in thought spots.
This book was different than most. I guess because it's an alien world its science-fi/ fantasy, but it had a very different feel than most of those books I've read. It read more like a philosophical coming of age to freedom book. Completely appropriate for young adults, but the tone of the tale feels very mature.
It's hard to describe how much I loved this. Just trust me, it's great.
It is set on an alien world in a very relatable but alien culture. The story is told through first person and follows that main character through an incredible sequence of events spanning succinctly told years.
I was drawn into the sorry immediately and could barely put it down even though it is not a fast paced adventure tale. The alien world and culture are beautifully depicted, complete, and consistent. Characters are rich and their society complex. It was both fascinating and a soothing to read until the adventure portion. Khé is so likable in her struggle, I wanted good things for her throughout and wished to see her succeed when in thought spots.
This book was different than most. I guess because it's an alien world its science-fi/ fantasy, but it had a very different feel than most of those books I've read. It read more like a philosophical coming of age to freedom book. Completely appropriate for young adults, but the tone of the tale feels very mature.
It's hard to describe how much I loved this. Just trust me, it's great.
July 10, 2013
I read Khe with high expectations. I was not disappointed. This story has that kind of all encompassing cosmology to it that one finds in major Science Fiction works like Dune, but with a directness that is more personal. It doesn't matter how real it is, just how true it is to its own concept, and how well the concept is thought through. This book is not just thought through, it has a heartfelt quality about it. You feel what it is to be Khe and the people around her. We feel her passions, fears, sorrows, and exuberance. This is another world, where life's rolls are assigned to the members of society like a colony. Even the rolls of the sexes themselves are defined and separate. But Khe is something different, she has abilities that make her and stand out from others of her kind. This proves to be a personal liability for her, as her energies, gifts, and life itself are being consumed to serve the interests of the group, instead of her own needs. Soon, this forces her out of her cloistered existence and brings her into the greater world, where she discovers that she, and her place in the world she lives in, have more to them than the standard belief system she was raised on had made her aware of. The real charm of this story is in its telling, and the author does a beautiful job of making this world come to life for us, with all of its creatures, joys, and challenges. An easy, touching read, Khe is a fantasy filled with emotion and the simple pleasures of being alive. A gem of a little book.
March 18, 2013
This is a very impressive, polished debut novel and I am really looking forward to more work by Alexes Razevich. I shall miss the doumanas. I would like to make friends with several of them, especially Khe herself.
From the very first pages I felt comfortable in the world this author has created. It is familiar enough that I did not feel disorientated, different enough that it is most definitely an alien world. I particularly liked the use of colours to reflect the emotions felt by the doumanas. How strange it would be, knowing your emotions are visible to whoever is with you.
My connection with Khe was strong throughout. She is a fully rounded character, one I empathised with and rooted for, each day longing for more free time to turn to the next page. She grew as her story unfurled, and I felt the things she was feeling. The other characters are also well-drawn and I was sad when Inra Returned before I could get to know her better. The pace is steady, thrusting forward to a very satisfying ending after the almost unbearable tension of the efforts of a few soumyo to oust the interlopers, the controlling lumani, from their planet.
This really is a masterly use of language to create a fully believable world, and I highly recommend it.
From the very first pages I felt comfortable in the world this author has created. It is familiar enough that I did not feel disorientated, different enough that it is most definitely an alien world. I particularly liked the use of colours to reflect the emotions felt by the doumanas. How strange it would be, knowing your emotions are visible to whoever is with you.
My connection with Khe was strong throughout. She is a fully rounded character, one I empathised with and rooted for, each day longing for more free time to turn to the next page. She grew as her story unfurled, and I felt the things she was feeling. The other characters are also well-drawn and I was sad when Inra Returned before I could get to know her better. The pace is steady, thrusting forward to a very satisfying ending after the almost unbearable tension of the efforts of a few soumyo to oust the interlopers, the controlling lumani, from their planet.
This really is a masterly use of language to create a fully believable world, and I highly recommend it.
February 24, 2013
In Khe Alexes Razevich presents us with a unique and very well developed world that is different enough from our own to feel alien, yet similar enough that we can immerse ourselves in the world and empathize with the characters. We learn about the society of the "soumyo," its structure, norms and morays, leadership, economics, etc, the exposition expertly interwoven into the plot so as to not take away from the flow of the narrative.
The plot follows Khe in a first person narrative as she struggles with a disability, gets treatment for it, then finds that the treatment has an added blessing with an enormous downside. It is the downside that drives Khe to leave her commune and seek out those who could save her. The plot from here is very straight forward and develops nicely as Khe uncovers an underlying darkness that permeates an otherwise idyllic culture.
About 1/3 of the book is flashback written in the past tense. The remainder of the book is written in present tense. Although this convention works, it was not really necessary.
I would recommend Khe for anybody who is interested in a bit of unique science fiction.
The plot follows Khe in a first person narrative as she struggles with a disability, gets treatment for it, then finds that the treatment has an added blessing with an enormous downside. It is the downside that drives Khe to leave her commune and seek out those who could save her. The plot from here is very straight forward and develops nicely as Khe uncovers an underlying darkness that permeates an otherwise idyllic culture.
About 1/3 of the book is flashback written in the past tense. The remainder of the book is written in present tense. Although this convention works, it was not really necessary.
I would recommend Khe for anybody who is interested in a bit of unique science fiction.
September 18, 2013
I enjoyed the creative concept of this book and the unique alien world created by the author. However the story itself needed a little more development. It felt rushed to it's conclusion. In the first half the pacing was slower, the world unfolded at a leisurely pace and the mystery built slowly. The second half was a mad dash to the conclusion with all answers to the mystery dumped on the reader in a few monologues. (A pet peeve of mine). There was almost no development of new characters introduced in the 2nd half, which is a shame, because these are the characters that propell the story to its conclusion while the first half characters disappear from the story altogether.
I also felt the idea of what had happened on this planet was too easily reduced to a black/white good vs.evil scenario. It would have been more thought provoking to give the reader some gray area to chew on. It had the possibility of food for thought but it was squandered. This simple philosophy made it read like a young adult book to me. Over all, not a bad read, but it could have been better.
I also felt the idea of what had happened on this planet was too easily reduced to a black/white good vs.evil scenario. It would have been more thought provoking to give the reader some gray area to chew on. It had the possibility of food for thought but it was squandered. This simple philosophy made it read like a young adult book to me. Over all, not a bad read, but it could have been better.
August 1, 2013
Razevich creates an alien world in Khe that's unlike any I've ever read. I was completely fascinated, from the first page to the last, by this unique, beautifully written story. I kept thinking to myself, "Wow, how did Razevich dream this stuff up?" To me, the mark of a brilliant work in the fantasy genre is one that engenders not only a sense of wonder, but a curiosity about big-picture issues, such as group vs. individual identity, societal structures, the nature of thought, the birth and death of civilizations . . . even the meaning of life.
And she summons all these issues with a gentle, nuanced hand, without disturbing the elegant world she creates. I really, really look forward to reading more from Razevich.
And she summons all these issues with a gentle, nuanced hand, without disturbing the elegant world she creates. I really, really look forward to reading more from Razevich.
October 4, 2012
Khe is the name of the main character in this story. The females of this race are called doumanas and they are all a part of the soumyo race. Their lives appear to be communal, with the men and woman living separately. Khe is happy as a country doumana working in the fields along side her fellow doumanas. It is soon discovered that Khe has a defect and is not able to reproduce. Since Reproduction equals survival, Khe is sent to a research facility to be fixed. Her problem is fixed, but it forever changes her. Whether this change is for the good of the community or not is to be seen.
Khe is disgruntled and decides that she needs to find the people who fixed her and get rid of the side effects. On her way to the research center she has many adventures and meets some interesting people. She soon discovers that all the things she's been told her entire life are lies intended to keep her and her people subservient. She fights to keep her sanity as she comes to terms with the new knowledge she has gained. This story gives new meaning to ignorance is bliss.
Khe is most terrified by what the scientist and the Powers have done to her. Will these changes make her into a savior for her race or the destroyer?
Let me first say that I am a sci-fi lover so this was a nice break from some of the other stuff I've been reading lately. I must say I was impressed by the world the author created. She used colors to describe the emotions of her characters. These colors were visible on the creatures skin. I think it would be wonderful if you could tell if someone was truthful, angry, ashamed or happy by looking at their skin. I also loved the characters she created. It was easy to love Khe and hate the Lumani. I also like the illustrations. They gave the reader a peek at what the author thought the characters looked like in her head while she was writing.
What I didn't like was some of the scenes are disconnected. For example, there was no explanation for what called Khe and her band of friends to action or how they came to this final plan. Maybe it was intentional by the author but it through me for a loop.
Overall I was very impressed with this story and it is perfect for all age groups. It is well written and contained only a few minor editing errors. This author is one to watch. She has skills. With that said I gave this book four and half stars because I couldn't put it down.
This book given free for review.
Khe is disgruntled and decides that she needs to find the people who fixed her and get rid of the side effects. On her way to the research center she has many adventures and meets some interesting people. She soon discovers that all the things she's been told her entire life are lies intended to keep her and her people subservient. She fights to keep her sanity as she comes to terms with the new knowledge she has gained. This story gives new meaning to ignorance is bliss.
Khe is most terrified by what the scientist and the Powers have done to her. Will these changes make her into a savior for her race or the destroyer?
Let me first say that I am a sci-fi lover so this was a nice break from some of the other stuff I've been reading lately. I must say I was impressed by the world the author created. She used colors to describe the emotions of her characters. These colors were visible on the creatures skin. I think it would be wonderful if you could tell if someone was truthful, angry, ashamed or happy by looking at their skin. I also loved the characters she created. It was easy to love Khe and hate the Lumani. I also like the illustrations. They gave the reader a peek at what the author thought the characters looked like in her head while she was writing.
What I didn't like was some of the scenes are disconnected. For example, there was no explanation for what called Khe and her band of friends to action or how they came to this final plan. Maybe it was intentional by the author but it through me for a loop.
Overall I was very impressed with this story and it is perfect for all age groups. It is well written and contained only a few minor editing errors. This author is one to watch. She has skills. With that said I gave this book four and half stars because I couldn't put it down.
This book given free for review.
February 13, 2013
This review is for the Kindle edition ebook.
Who can you trust, when your entire known world is turned against you? Who do you go to when all you were taught seems to be lies?
Khe is special, in many ways. As a member of the farming commune, she must learn to live in harmony and peace. As a member, she was broken. As a good commune member, she must help grow the harvests as big as possible. And, she has learned she must never question her leader. When she realizes the leader is not reporting her abilities correctly, Khe makes a decision that changes her life and makes her question all she has been taught.
The plot as written is great. The decision to go against all Khe knows and attempt to help herself had me cheering for her. I must admit, I often cheer for the underdog in life. This book had me wishing and hoping Khe would be a winner. Going against the grain is very difficult in life, and it is well presented in this story. I found the beginning to be a bit confusing, it bounces between the present and the past. However, do not let that be a block to reading this wonderful story.
This book is well worth reading. It is very entertaining, without being another science fiction “man in space” story. It is an exciting, fast moving story of someone that’s different, without wanting to be different. Alexes Razevich has done an excellent job writing a different type of science fiction, that lets the reader keep guessing.
I can easily recommend this book to readers of science fiction and fantasy. Anyone tired of outer space chases and outer space wars will enjoy Khe. I would very much like to see more works by this author. An ability to write science fiction without following the mainstream is a refreshing change.
Who can you trust, when your entire known world is turned against you? Who do you go to when all you were taught seems to be lies?
Khe is special, in many ways. As a member of the farming commune, she must learn to live in harmony and peace. As a member, she was broken. As a good commune member, she must help grow the harvests as big as possible. And, she has learned she must never question her leader. When she realizes the leader is not reporting her abilities correctly, Khe makes a decision that changes her life and makes her question all she has been taught.
The plot as written is great. The decision to go against all Khe knows and attempt to help herself had me cheering for her. I must admit, I often cheer for the underdog in life. This book had me wishing and hoping Khe would be a winner. Going against the grain is very difficult in life, and it is well presented in this story. I found the beginning to be a bit confusing, it bounces between the present and the past. However, do not let that be a block to reading this wonderful story.
This book is well worth reading. It is very entertaining, without being another science fiction “man in space” story. It is an exciting, fast moving story of someone that’s different, without wanting to be different. Alexes Razevich has done an excellent job writing a different type of science fiction, that lets the reader keep guessing.
I can easily recommend this book to readers of science fiction and fantasy. Anyone tired of outer space chases and outer space wars will enjoy Khe. I would very much like to see more works by this author. An ability to write science fiction without following the mainstream is a refreshing change.
October 5, 2013
4.5 Stars
I am loving these Indie authors this year - Hugh Howey and now Alexes Razevich are definitely amongst my top 2013 reads so far!
I woke up one morning, picked up my Kindle, and somehow the intriguing face of Khe was magically staring out at me from the beautiful cover of this book. It turns out that my husband saw this book in his Book Bub e-mail and discovered that not only did it get awesome reviews, but it was also available for free on Kindle. So I couldn't resist.
Now usually, I enjoy long epic fantasy/science fiction series, but it was really refreshing to read an other-world scenario where world building, plot and accompanying sub-themes were all included in a beautifully written story of 274 pages. As a Matisse painting is defined by color rather than line, the moods and inner-feelings of the characters are represented as vivid colors, giving “she wears her heart on her sleeve” a real depth of meaning. Through the eyes of the protagonist Khe, a literary picture of an extra-terrestrial world is painted where all aspects of the inhabitants’ lives are controlled by an alien power. …an alien power that has had a particularly strong influence on the reproduction process of this planet, thus making reproductive control an important theme here.
This book also gives new meaning to the saying “if these walls could talk!” …and it also makes me wonder what my house would say to me if it could communicate!
I think a prequel about the Lumani would be really cool…Who are they? Where did they come from? Why did they come to this world in the first place? All sorts of possibilities…
I am loving these Indie authors this year - Hugh Howey and now Alexes Razevich are definitely amongst my top 2013 reads so far!
I woke up one morning, picked up my Kindle, and somehow the intriguing face of Khe was magically staring out at me from the beautiful cover of this book. It turns out that my husband saw this book in his Book Bub e-mail and discovered that not only did it get awesome reviews, but it was also available for free on Kindle. So I couldn't resist.
Now usually, I enjoy long epic fantasy/science fiction series, but it was really refreshing to read an other-world scenario where world building, plot and accompanying sub-themes were all included in a beautifully written story of 274 pages. As a Matisse painting is defined by color rather than line, the moods and inner-feelings of the characters are represented as vivid colors, giving “she wears her heart on her sleeve” a real depth of meaning. Through the eyes of the protagonist Khe, a literary picture of an extra-terrestrial world is painted where all aspects of the inhabitants’ lives are controlled by an alien power. …an alien power that has had a particularly strong influence on the reproduction process of this planet, thus making reproductive control an important theme here.
This book also gives new meaning to the saying “if these walls could talk!” …and it also makes me wonder what my house would say to me if it could communicate!
I think a prequel about the Lumani would be really cool…Who are they? Where did they come from? Why did they come to this world in the first place? All sorts of possibilities…
June 16, 2013
This was a good story overall - very creative.
SPOILER ALERT! There are two alien races on the world in this story. Females and males live in different villages and only meet up once a year during the mating season, when they are driven to return to the place of their births to find mates. The main character of this story is a young female who doesn't experience the mating call. She is ashamed of her difference and tries to find ways to be useful to her village. The village is somewhat reminiscent of a Chinese commune in some aspects. Each female lives in a group of unrelated sisters. Each group is told what crop or animal to grow or what task they are responsible for that season by a leader who is not to be questioned. The village is given a quota for various commodities they must produce. Those villages that produce more can afford to buy and raise more of the communal young. Khe is sent for an experimental treatment that might make her hear the mating call and become a more productive member of society. When the village leader learns that this treatment gave Khe some positive side-effects, she abuses her power over Khe. The rest of the story is about Khe learning how to break out of the rigid society that she lives in and find the truths behind the propaganda and religion that rule most of her race's way of life.
This was an engaging story. However, I was a bit annoyed at the illogic of the aging process of this species and at the eventual inclusion of sentient non-living things.
SPOILER ALERT! There are two alien races on the world in this story. Females and males live in different villages and only meet up once a year during the mating season, when they are driven to return to the place of their births to find mates. The main character of this story is a young female who doesn't experience the mating call. She is ashamed of her difference and tries to find ways to be useful to her village. The village is somewhat reminiscent of a Chinese commune in some aspects. Each female lives in a group of unrelated sisters. Each group is told what crop or animal to grow or what task they are responsible for that season by a leader who is not to be questioned. The village is given a quota for various commodities they must produce. Those villages that produce more can afford to buy and raise more of the communal young. Khe is sent for an experimental treatment that might make her hear the mating call and become a more productive member of society. When the village leader learns that this treatment gave Khe some positive side-effects, she abuses her power over Khe. The rest of the story is about Khe learning how to break out of the rigid society that she lives in and find the truths behind the propaganda and religion that rule most of her race's way of life.
This was an engaging story. However, I was a bit annoyed at the illogic of the aging process of this species and at the eventual inclusion of sentient non-living things.
September 27, 2013
Within just a few short chapters Alexes Razevich creates a believable but complex and completely alternative world which could have taken other authors a hundred pages or more to make the reader be so immersed in such a unique fantasy realm. Then the adventure takes you on a journey unlike anything I could try to compare it to (if you really forced a comparison out of me, perhaps; Frank Herbert with a more feminine angle.) This totally original sci-fi epic would not look out of place as an advert on the walls of a multiplex cinema among the big budget movies. If only I was James Cameron I would be snapping this up for it flows so well, its narrative is easy despite the vast cultural differences between our world and that of Khe’s.
I enjoyed this every step of the way, it was intriguing and entertaining. From the absorbing plot to the smaller detailed elements such as the species emotion spots that glow a different colour to represent their moods, this book had me hooked and could see a thousand possibilities for other equally interesting plots using the same universe but then, none would surely be so original. Whatever route Razevich decides to do next I will be following every step of the way and if you buy this book I think you would be doing the same.
I enjoyed this every step of the way, it was intriguing and entertaining. From the absorbing plot to the smaller detailed elements such as the species emotion spots that glow a different colour to represent their moods, this book had me hooked and could see a thousand possibilities for other equally interesting plots using the same universe but then, none would surely be so original. Whatever route Razevich decides to do next I will be following every step of the way and if you buy this book I think you would be doing the same.
April 20, 2013
Khe by Alexes Razevich
Look for a Nebula or a Hugo from this story.
About 50 pages into this book I had a flashback. I was in my late teens and was reading a book suggested to me by one of my older sisters. The book was ‘The Left Hand of Darkness’ by Ursula K. Le Guin. Other worlds complete with totally invented other cultures and more importantly credible other peoples and individuals. ‘Khe’ may very well be creating a niche deserving of a Nebula or a Hugo. What can I say that has not already been said? Many things, but one in particular: The unusual lives of the women in this book are so deeply felt that it is extraordinary.
Her characters transact their daily lives and in doing so build the fabric of a complex society, containing truly alien rules and regulations. What is startling about her world is its barren simplicity and its gradual, satisfying unravelling of its secrets. The comparisons to Asimov are apt but the depth of personality; especially female personality (which Asimov never got) is more Le Guin.
Look for a Nebula or a Hugo from this story.
About 50 pages into this book I had a flashback. I was in my late teens and was reading a book suggested to me by one of my older sisters. The book was ‘The Left Hand of Darkness’ by Ursula K. Le Guin. Other worlds complete with totally invented other cultures and more importantly credible other peoples and individuals. ‘Khe’ may very well be creating a niche deserving of a Nebula or a Hugo. What can I say that has not already been said? Many things, but one in particular: The unusual lives of the women in this book are so deeply felt that it is extraordinary.
Her characters transact their daily lives and in doing so build the fabric of a complex society, containing truly alien rules and regulations. What is startling about her world is its barren simplicity and its gradual, satisfying unravelling of its secrets. The comparisons to Asimov are apt but the depth of personality; especially female personality (which Asimov never got) is more Le Guin.
July 19, 2013
Very entertaining story, the author creates a very interesting world, populated with a race where the males and females live separately and once per year they reunite to mate. But that happens as an impulse that you cannot control, and our heroine misses this impulse and is sent for treatment. Initially the treatment seems to work, but then some side effects start to happen and the whole story develops from there. While seeking for a cure to her problem outside her village, she finds others affected by similar problem and she ended up finding the answer for a much more high level question, who are those entities that came to their world and caused the society to behave as they do nowadays. Very well written, characters full developed and environment well described. Nice cover. It took me around 10 hours to read the whole book.
I recommend this book to the permanent library of all readers that enjoy a very well written science-fiction book. I bought this book from Amazon.com and I was not requested to provide a positive review. Opinion expressed here is my own.
I recommend this book to the permanent library of all readers that enjoy a very well written science-fiction book. I bought this book from Amazon.com and I was not requested to provide a positive review. Opinion expressed here is my own.
January 12, 2014
If you like “science fantasy” with a (for me) fresh approach, you’ll like Khe. Khe takes you to a wonderful, new world with a very special species and their own physical traits and differences, still recognisable enough to identify with. I like how the world of this story is created, so familiar yet strange enough to make it fascinating.
Khe is placed in a very strange situation when something that is wrong with her is being corrected, and from there the story takes her (and the reader) on a fast and amazing journey. As Khe travels and meets people, her situation becomes more and more odd. It gets worse when she learns how her people have started to live the way they now do, and the end of the book is wonderful, endearing and surprising.
Khe is placed in a very strange situation when something that is wrong with her is being corrected, and from there the story takes her (and the reader) on a fast and amazing journey. As Khe travels and meets people, her situation becomes more and more odd. It gets worse when she learns how her people have started to live the way they now do, and the end of the book is wonderful, endearing and surprising.
November 9, 2012
What can I say about this sweet little book? It is sci-fi/fantasy. But it isn't space ship sci nor elf/faerie fantasy. This is a people on a planet not unlike Earth, yet very different. I love the world building and the character development. There wasn't a lot of tension but I was happy for that. Life has enough of that. Instead it presented a story about this character named Khe and how she and her people live. I said there wasn't a lot of tension, but she does have problems that she has to overcome. I wish I could better describe how I felt about this book. As you can see I gave it five stars. And I do think I might like to read it again sometime. Try it, I think you'll like it.
November 19, 2012
What I liked: I really enjoyed reading this book. I loved the main character, and found her courage inspiring. The way the author draws the characters together, especially the sisters, left me smiling to myself many times. This is, at heart, the story of a woman’s power, and it’s told through not only the main character, but through the sisters, and through the Lumani and Weast (read it to decode!). Bottom line in this book – and in life! - never underestimate the power of a woman.
What I didn’t like: Nothing.
In sum: Very well written with a very good story. Read it.
What I didn’t like: Nothing.
In sum: Very well written with a very good story. Read it.
September 22, 2014
I really enjoyed this book. The author takes a very fresh approach to the genre of world-building. You don't even realize how formulaic typical world-building has become until after you read this book. I'm finding more authors recently that are willing to throw convention to the wind and write something truly new and different - and Alexes is one of these authors.
March 13, 2017
There aren't many anthropological science fictions novels being written today and that makes Khe a rarity in the field. But it's a delightful find; a romance, a travelogue, an insight into an alien culture. Not for those who think sci-fi begins and ends at space battles, Khe is a thoughtful read.
November 28, 2012
This is a great first novel from Alexes Razevich. Let's hope her next one is published soon!
March 13, 2013
A wonderful, thoroughly enjoyably and incredibly creative book that I just couldn't stop reading. The author has created a believable world that is fascinating. I really liked the book.
May 26, 2017
Khe
I've had this book in my library for four years, and I'm glad I finally got around to reading it. This is a very imaginative and out of the box story. I enjoyed the fact that it's written from the point of view of a non-human protagonist, because it was like learning about a new species from the inside out. The story is exciting, emotional, and interesting. The characters are complex and relatable. A few editing issues keep it from being a five star book.
I've had this book in my library for four years, and I'm glad I finally got around to reading it. This is a very imaginative and out of the box story. I enjoyed the fact that it's written from the point of view of a non-human protagonist, because it was like learning about a new species from the inside out. The story is exciting, emotional, and interesting. The characters are complex and relatable. A few editing issues keep it from being a five star book.
August 21, 2018
Big stinker
This book was dull and not relatable. It’s a weird sci-fi distant world with uninteresting alien beings. Bald red ear hole egg layers. That’s about it. Nothing draws you in. I’m not even curious if it ever gets better next book.
Now this author has some great reads for sure and everyone has a hit and a miss . This is a miss. Not sure how she drug out multiple books.
Did love the Oona Goodlight series!!
This book was dull and not relatable. It’s a weird sci-fi distant world with uninteresting alien beings. Bald red ear hole egg layers. That’s about it. Nothing draws you in. I’m not even curious if it ever gets better next book.
Now this author has some great reads for sure and everyone has a hit and a miss . This is a miss. Not sure how she drug out multiple books.
Did love the Oona Goodlight series!!
November 1, 2022
A gentle revolutionary
Khe took the serious themes of life, family, actualization, cooperation and independence and wrapped them in innocence and simplicity.
While there is action that builds to a showdown that changes their world, the governing tone is of harmony and gentleness. That is what made this book stand out for me.
Khe took the serious themes of life, family, actualization, cooperation and independence and wrapped them in innocence and simplicity.
While there is action that builds to a showdown that changes their world, the governing tone is of harmony and gentleness. That is what made this book stand out for me.
September 22, 2019
It is a great non cookie cutter science fiction. Nice to read from the perspective of a non-human. Their culture is fascinating. Egg laying beings where ones necks show their emotions. The culture of her people is alien but but believable. It is nice to read from the commoner class.
February 1, 2022
I enjoyed the story a great deal and the elements of suffering, growth, pain and understanding that the characters go through was done with a great deal of finesse. It was a great description of a new world and society that suffered some of the same issues as humanity.
December 15, 2016
A perspective on life
K he like any or most beings want to live a normal life. A nicely well written story of how she manages to survive her life of challanges.
K he like any or most beings want to live a normal life. A nicely well written story of how she manages to survive her life of challanges.
November 22, 2019
It was a nice read with an interesting heroin.
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