If you love classic science fiction with a hopeful, diplomatic angle, "Decision at Doona" is a treat. It’s an uplifting take on first contact, featuring charmingly persistent, giant, cat-like aliens and humans working to overcome past mistakes. The story shines for fans who enjoy "what-if" scenarios about building bridges - literally and figuratively - between species. If you’re into stories about culture clash, ethical decisions, and teamwork (and like your sci-fi on the lighter, family-friendly side), this is a great pick. Older readers may also appreciate its optimistic, old-school vibe and focus on community-building.

Who May Not Like This Book:

Readers looking for deep character development or modern sensibilities might find "Decision at Doona" dated, with its passive female characters and technological details (like microfilm) that feel old-fashioned. Some found the character of young Todd both unbelievable and irritating, especially given his outsized role in the story, and parents’ responses to him might be off-putting by today’s standards. If you prefer hard-hitting, tense sci-fi with lots of action or more nuanced, contemporary portrayals of families and societies, this one may not win you over.

A light, optimistic classic perfect for first contact fans and readers who enjoy seeing humans and aliens work together - just expect some dated elements and simple characterization.

About:

Decision at Doona by Anne McCaffrey tells the story of two dystopian worlds whose citizens accidentally colonize the same world. The book explores the challenges that arise when two law-abiding groups clash due to conflicting laws. Despite the confusion and political tensions, the story focuses on how these groups come together to form a new community on the planet of Doona, blending elements of first contact fiction with themes of forging new relationships and overcoming obstacles.

Characters:

Characters, while significant to the plot, often lack depth, with the young protagonist Todd drawing mixed responses regarding his behavior and role.

Writing/Prose:

The writing style is engaging and accessible, combining a lighthearted tone with deeper themes, making it appealing to a broad audience.

Plot/Storyline:

The story showcases the complexities of first contact and colonization when human settlers encounter an established alien species on a newly discovered planet.

Setting:

The setting combines a newly colonized planet with themes of overpopulation on Earth, creating a backdrop for cultural interactions between species.

Pacing:

The pacing varies throughout the story, starting strong but experiencing slow moments as it delves into bureaucratic challenges and character interactions.

THE PLANET RECEDED to a small, blue-green sphere, the lesser of its two satellites beginning to pass across the retreating face of its primary, a pearly tear in the north-east hemisphere. The film end...

Notes:

The main character, Ken Reeve, is excited to become one of the first colonists on the newly discovered planet Doona.

Doona was considered uninhabited due to a past first contact incident that led to the suicide of an alien species called the Siwannese.

The Non Cohabitation Principle prohibits colonization of planets with signs of intelligent life, which complicates the humans' situation on Doona.

The colonists discover cat-like aliens called Hrrubans already living on Doona despite previous surveys suggesting it was empty.

The Hrrubans are depicted as friendly and interested in interacting with the humans, subverting typical colonization narratives.

The story features a 6-year-old boy named Todd who struggles to conform to strict behavioral norms, causing issues during the journey and upon arrival.

The book includes themes of diplomacy, ethics, and the complexities of first contact with another species.

There is a significant focus on contrasting the over-civilized humans with the seemingly primitive Hrrubans, leading to a deeper exploration of both cultures.

The technology in the book is dated, such as the use of microfilm readers for communication from Earth.

The women characters are noted to be passive compared to other works by McCaffrey, reflecting possibly outdated gender norms in literature.

The narrative artfully blends humor and tension as the characters navigate between the two species' laws and cultural misunderstandings.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

The book has medium content warnings, including themes of overpopulation, societal pressure, children in distressing situations, and ethical dilemmas.

From The Publisher:

A fateful encounter between star-roving races by the author of the bestselling Dragonriders of Pern series!

After the first human contact with the Siwannese, that entire race committed mass suicide. So the Terran government made a law-no further contact would be allowed with sentient creatures anywhere in the galaxy. Therefore Doona could be colonized only if an official survey established that the planet was both habitable and uninhabited.

But Spaceship had made a mistake-Doona was inhabited. Now the colonists' choice was limited. Leave Doona and return to the teeming hell of an overpopulated Terra. Or kill the catlike Hrrubans. Or learn, for the first time in history, how to coexist with an alien race.

1967

•

246 pages

Ratings (7)

Incredible (1)
Loved It (2)
Liked It (3)
It Was OK (1)

Reader Stats (13):

Read It (8)
Want To Read (4)
Not Interested (1)

What can you read after
Decision at Doona?

See the list (100 books)

About the Author:

Anne McCaffrey, one of the world's most popular authors, is best known for her Dragonriders of Pern® series. She was the first woman to win the two top prizes for science fiction writing, the Hugo and Nebula awards. She was…

Meet New Books is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a way for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to products and services on amazon.com and its subsidiaries.
When you click the Amazon link and make a purchase, we may receive a small commision, at no cost to you.

Decision at Doona

Anne McCaffrey

Book 1 in the series:Doona

Who Would Like This Book: