sdlotu
7/28/2018
This is a story about the discovery of a new, possibly sentient species on a colony world operated by a captalist coporation. When the officers of the corporation realize the threat of this new species to their monopoly of the world's resources, subterfuge and violence result, ending in a court case about the species' sentience.
The first 75% of the book is masterful writing, but the last 25% seems more like a victory lap than the resolution to a damatic conflict. The courtroom events are expository, without any real tension or suspense, and it seems overlong.
Because of this, I give it 4.5 stars instead of 5. Still, a classic and a must read for any SF fan.