Otherwhere

In The Others , Bonanno chronicled the encounter between the People, a colorful and violent species, and a colony of high-tech, nonviolent aliens (Others) discovered on the People's planet. This sequel opens after a cultural backlash has killed all but 9413 Others. The survivors hope to establish a refuge in the arctic wastes, and Lingri the Chronicler alternates between recording their journey and remembering the interactions that brought them to this state. Lingri herself was perhaps the major factor in shaping the current Other/People relationship, so her remembrances are highly revealing. Bonanno writes with a verve that makes both sequences easy to follow--provided one has read The Others --and hard to put down. Unfortunately, a disjointed plotline undercuts the effectiveness of the novel's philosophical speculations; perhaps the next book will bring things together again. (Nov.)