Illegal Alien by Robert J. Sawyer (1997, Hardcover)

Synopsis
When a popular TV astronomer is savagely murdered, suspicion falls on an alien named Hask. During Hask's trial, cultural differences between humans and the aliens initially seem to suggest that the murder may have been a misunderstanding, but there may be more going on that anyone realizes.

Key Details
Author:	Robert J. Sawyer
Language:	English
Publisher:	Berkley Pub. Group
Format:	Hardcover
ISBN-10:	0441004768
ISBN-13:	9780441004768

Size
Length:	292 pages
Thickness:	1.2 in
Weight:	15.2 oz

Publisher's Note
Although the intelligent visitors of the Tosok race are initially welcomed by all when their ship is disabled and lands on Earth, people's feelings for the Tosoks take a sudden turn for the worse when a human scientist is found dead

The highly-praised author of Starplex, End of an Era, and Foreigner presents a thrilling new story, a skillful blend of the great wonders of the universe and the harsh realities of life on earth. When a disabled starship enters our atmosphere, fear is quickly replaced with awe -- and the incredibly intelligent members of the Tosok race are welcomed with open arms. But the growing spirit of trust and cooperation is shattered when a popular human scientist is found dead. The U.S. government provides a leading civil rights lawyer to defend the accused alien. And an unprecedented trial centers around not only one lost life, but the very essence of justice itself.a

Industry Reviews
"Ultimately, 'Illegal Alien' is a deeper and more important novel than its high-concept title and quick-reading, highly polished, and highly contemporary surface might suggest. [It] is a novel that admirable combines the hard surface of science, law, and order with the softer side of compassion and idealism."
New York Review of Science Fiction - Howard V. Hendrix (04/01/1998)

"A consistently plotted if not always persuasively motivated yarn, with ingeniously constructed aliens in a fairly routine courtroom drama."
Kirkus Reviews (11/01/1997)

"'Illegal Alien' is a fast-paced, exciting book that shows the imaginative heights to which science fiction writers can climb when they combine sf with something else."
Washington Post Book World - Martin Morse Wooster (01/25/1998)