A really good short story about Tabini and Ilisidi before the main story of "Foreigner" begins. I really enjoyed it. It's not as good as the other short, but still quite good. I don't know if reading this before getting to know who these characters are in the main series is a good idea because it probably won't make much sense. The story isn't complicated, but there's some names and political references that might not make any sense without knowing the series. A nice addition, all things considered. ( )

In Intruder, some of Tabini's backstory and Ilisidi's lifelong political agenda start to come clear. Deliberations is a short (roughly 25 pages as numbered in my epub copy) ebook-only prequel to the series that takes place on the eve of Tabini assuming the aijinate from Ilisidi as aiji-regent and features both his and Ilisidi's reflections on the event.

During or after Intruder or Protector would, I think, be a good time in this series to read this prequel- certainly not before Foreigner. It does not really stand alone without prior knowledge of the series, but it's a pleasant extra for fans of the series who are interested in reading about Atevi society from the perspective of adult atevi rather than a human like Bren or a child raised among humans like Cajeiri. ( )

Short story prequel looking at ilsidi and Tabini at the time of Tabini's coming of age (the felicious 23). WIll he or won't he become the aij? Will Ilsidi stand aside gracefully or force a confrontation?

Liek most prequels it only works if you've know from the rest of the series something about the characters involved. Here we see Ilsidi being more contmeplative of the whole of atevi civilisation than one suspects is often the case. Interesting read. ( )