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| ISBN-10 | 0445200049 |
| ISBN-13 | 9780445200043 |
| Authors | Kathryn Lance |
| Publisher | Warner Books |
| Rating | 4.00 |
| Categories | |
Description
In this absorbing and unique novel, Kathryn Lance asks how far the folly of mankind can go, how much science can be substituted for nature before the imbalance proves disastrous. In a world of the future, great machines lie rusting as their fuel has finally run out and humanity faces the possibility of extinction as altered strands of DNA run rampant through the gene pool. Several forces emerge, each hoping to be humanity's saving grace, but which one will ultimately save the world? The Principal: a brilliant leader fighting to keep a tide of savagery from decimating social structures. The religious cultists: operating on an anti-science platform, promising to rebuild society according to an older, pure model free of the technology that proved to be mankind's downfall. The Garden: a group of female scientists who live cloistered lives, searching for genetic solutions to the world's problems. Two young lovers are caught in a situation they cannot control, desperate to find a way to be together forever.
In this absorbing and unique novel, Kathryn Lance asks how far the folly of mankind can go, how much science can be substituted for nature before the imbalance proves disastrous. In a world of the future, great machines lie rusting as their fuel has finally run out and humanity faces the possibility of extinction as altered strands of DNA run rampant through the gene pool. Several forces emerge, each hoping to be humanity's saving grace, but which one will ultimately save the world? The Principal: a brilliant leader fighting to keep a tide of savagery from decimating social structures. The religious cultists: operating on an anti-science platform, promising to rebuild society according to an older, pure model free of the technology that proved to be mankind's downfall. The Garden: a group of female scientists who live cloistered lives, searching for genetic solutions to the world's problems. Two young lovers are caught in a situation they cannot control, desperate to find a way to be together forever.
A Pleasant Surprise
I stumbled across this one recently at a used-book store, expecting a reasonably good SF page-turner, based on the cover info. It turned out to be much richer and deeper than that. The story is fulfilling enough on it's own, but it is really character-driven, and rewardingly so. They aren't just fully-developed, they grow and change, so you begin to care what happens to them, and not just because they are the people at the center of the action. None of this dilutes the "story" which is, in fact, a page-turner. Win-win!decent read
I first read this book as a kid, forgot it, and then found it on amazon again. Its basically a good read which posits a society destoyed by genetic experimentation gone awry. Some time in the past an engineered bug, which was originally intended to destroy oil spills, got loose and destoyed all planetary oil reserves. In the process, the bug also attacks the seals on other genetic experiments, loosing a number of genetic horrors on the world. This leads to massive mutations and plagues all over the world.This story deals with the attempt by a man, known as the principal, to restore some semblance of civilization and cure the genetic problems facing society in the face of resistance from militant luddites. However, the story is complicated by the relationship of the principal, his brother and right hand man, and the woman that both of them love.
Its an interesting story with an interesting setting, however, I wuld have enjoyed more exposition and background info on the world that was created. There is a sequel out there somewhere which may be of interest to some (Pandora's Children), however, judging by the fact that mine is the only review...