ka applegate honestly did a great job of making the alien cultures seem truly alien
honestly this is one of my favourite animorphs books jsut because it's *inventive*. there are cool aliens and complex characters - i actually really liked toomin/ellimist! i love that he is a gamer and that theme is reoccurring,

from him being a 'loser' juvie gamer, to being trapped by and eventually defeating father through games, to the galaxy wide ellimist/crayak conflict. i really liked the bit with father, it was creepy and cool