I really enjoy this book, and I always forget that it's written by WJW -- it has the feel of a [a:Melissa Scott|75822|Melissa Scott|http://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1223868413p2/75822.jpg] novel to me. It's about the different values that shape different cultures, what happens when those cultures come into contact, and how individuals and cultures do or do not compromise or stretch those values when necessity seems to require it.

I particularly like the use of language in this book. The fundamental value-terms in the two cultures -- one a warrior culture, the other a merchant culture -- are left untranslated, so the reader as well as the initial viewpoint character, the ambassador from the stars, gets to gradually figure out the meaning by context. (There's a glossary in the back of the book, which is where it belongs. :) ) ( )