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Book Reviews of Illegal Alien

Illegal Alien
Illegal Alien
Author: Robert J. Sawyer
ISBN-13: 9780441005925
ISBN-10: 0441005926
Publication Date: 1/1999
Pages: 304
Rating:
  • Currently 3.9/5 Stars.
 29

3.9 stars, based on 29 ratings
Publisher: Ace Books
Book Type: Mass Market Paperback
Reviews: Amazon | Write a Review

5 Book Reviews submitted by our Members...sorted by voted most helpful

paxtonholley avatar reviewed Illegal Alien on + 67 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
This book is a really good, fun read. Part Robert Heinlein, part John Grisham. It starts out a sci-fi first contact story then becomes a really good courtroom drama. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

The book starts off with a spacecraft crash landing in the ocean. First contact is made by America and we meet the team of aliens piloting the craft. A group of scientists chaperon the aliens on a global tour to meet national leaders. During one of the trips, one of the alien's chaperons turns up dead. Murdered, and all evidence points to one of the aliens. The rest of the story is a whodunnit murder mystery that just happens to involve aliens. Very well written.

Give it a try. I highly recommend it.
Hophead avatar reviewed Illegal Alien on + 285 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
Fascinating and compelling story -- I finished the book in one day. I have seldom seen an SF book blended so well with a courtroom drama.
kiltedfaerie avatar reviewed Illegal Alien on + 29 more book reviews
An interesting and quick read.
reviewed Illegal Alien on + 189 more book reviews
Great read! A First Contact novel involves an alien on trial for murdering a human. Fascinating story with lots of mystery, suspense AND courtroom drama! Author has insight into, and understanding of, hard sciences as well as law and the court system. I loved the mix and the social commentary built into the story makes for thoughtful as well as exciting reading. I couldn't put it down! Highly recommended.
Gandalara avatar reviewed Illegal Alien on + 23 more book reviews
An alien craft arrives on Earth, and human-alien relations seem to be going well, until one of the aliens apparently murders one of the humans. And then it gets more complex. This hybrid of SF and courtroom thriller is pretty solid. The story is interesting; though the dialogue is somewhat clunky at times, and some of the key points are a bit dodgy (a 400,000-year hibernation cycle seems pretty implausible, for instance).