mercenary caste aliens/aliens with perfect memory unable to lie

[ChrysWhyte]

I've been trying to find this book I started reading over 10 years ago for years now.

What I do remember is that there is an alien race whose society is all about being good warriors, they're basically for hire, and another race, I think they were merchants, who have a perfect memory, and as a side effect are unable to lie. I think one of them 'figures out' how to though. Possibly this was on a desert type planet (or just area of the planet)

 

[clovis-man]

Not sure about the "lying" part, but it sounds a little like C.J. Cherryh's Faded Sun trilogy. The first in the series is The Faded Sun: Kesrith.

 

[Teresa Edgerton]

It does sound like The Faded Sun. The Regul are the ones with the memories. They have a strong psychological disposition not to lie because of their perfect memories, but they can be deceptive by what they choose to say or not say.

 

[clovis-man]

It does sound like The Faded Sun. The Regul are the ones with the memories. They have a strong psychological disposition not to lie because of their perfect memories, but they can be deceptive by what they choose to say or not say.

Well, it has been over 30 years since I read it. I'm surprised I can remember anything.

I've read a lot of her work. She and I were born a month apart, so I've had plenty of opportunity over the intervening years. I still think this is one of her best.

 

[Teresa Edgerton]

Well, it has been over 30 years since I read it. I'm surprised I can remember anything

I read the books when they were first published, too, and once since then (although still many years ago) which is probably why I remember some of the details a little better.

Anyway, if they aren't the books you are looking for, Chrys, they are nevertheless very good books and you might enjoy reading them anyway.