I like it too - like the others, I especially like the first and last sentences. This 'death' that is clearly not what we mean by the word whets my curiosity. (I also like the way 'aliens' become specified as 'Terrans' - aliens with whom we will be very familiar! - even though I realize that that was not intentional. But others with more experience may not like it.) I don't like 'But what he must do now makes his mind go blank, and he thinks he must be afraid' - it is too melodramatic, I think. But otherwise - it would certainly make me read the book.