Downbelow StationDownbelow Station
Score Classic
What it's about
Pell's Station orbits a living planet called Downbelow, home to gentle native beings. For centuries the Earth Company ruled the colonies, but now a war between Earth, the breakaway Union and a rogue fleet of warships is tearing human space apart. Refugees flood onto Pell, and the station and the family that runs it become the center of the struggle.
Why it's worth reading
It won the Hugo Award. It's a dense, realistic space opera about politics, war and ordinary people caught in between.
You'll love it if you liked
Cyteen
Ancillary Justice
FoundationGood to know
The first chapters are full of history and politics. There are many characters and points of view.
By the numbers
- Readers26 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics56 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Bestseller21 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #285 of the 459 fantasy books we rank
- #541 of the 762 classics we rank
- #1891 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Adventurous, Epic, Thought-provoking
More by C. J. Cherryh
If you like this, read next
The Lord of the Rings
Ficciones
Rendezvous with Rama
The Left Hand of Darkness
The Gods Themselves
UbikExplore the best-of lists
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Quick answers
Is Downbelow Station worth reading?
Yes. It won the Hugo Award. It ranks #1,891 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 64.9 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is Downbelow Station about?
Pell's Station orbits a living planet called Downbelow, home to gentle native beings. For centuries the Earth Company ruled the colonies, but now a war between Earth, the breakaway Union and a rogue fleet of warships is tearing human space apart. Refugees flood onto Pell, and the station and the family that runs it become the center of the struggle.
How long does it take to read Downbelow Station?
About 11 hours (439 pages), or about 3 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What awards has Downbelow Station won?
Hugo Award winner (1982).
What should I read after Downbelow Station?
If you liked it, try Cyteen by C. J. Cherryh, Ancillary Justice by Ann Leckie or Foundation by Isaac Asimov.