Color of Distance, The

Blurb

The Color of Distance is a hard science fiction novel by Amy Thomson published in 1995 by Ace Books. In was nominated for a Philip K. Dick Award in the category Best Paperback Original Novel. The sequel is Through Alien Eyes.
The book is about a scientist who becomes genetically modified, allowing her to live among a species of intelligent alien that lives in the treetops and communicates by changing the color and pattern of their skins. Over the course of the book she comes to see herself as one of them. The book focuses on the biology of the planet and the life cycle of the aliens and contains environmentalist themes.
A part of the proceeds from the sale of the book were pledged to tropical rainforest conservation.