In Ariane Emory, Cherryh reveals for the first time a female protagonist's motivation for her sadism — Emory herself was raped as a child. After her successor Ari II was "reborn," her surrogate parent performed the same kind of ruthless parenting that the first Ari endured. Emory's exploitation of Justin Warrick is explained as a psychological intervention necessary to furthering his role in shaping future Expansionist policy.

Cherryh also employs her trademark male-female role reversal in the relationships between Ari II and Justin Warrick and between Emory's azi bodyguards Catlin and Florian. Catlin is cool, merciless, and expert in handto-hand combat, while her partner Florian's nurturing capacity makes him as proficient at gentling a skittish filly as well as high-tech military operations. The doubling of the pattern underscores Cherryh's point that capability and talent, not gender, ought to determine an individual's social status and responsibilities.

Cyteen's villains are...