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Loading... Darwin's Children (2003)by Greg Bear
None. I did not read "Darwin's Radio" but when this sequel chanced my way, I read it, thinking that it might work as a stand-alone story. It does, but there is much in the book that is unsatisfying. Possibly because Bear had already invested time in character development in the first work, the character's never quite seemed dimensional in this one. Many, many pages were given to conversations, meetings and exposition in which the science that supports the novel was explained. Necessary but, in this case, occasionally sleep-inducing. Political and sociological commentary figured largely, which is also fine, and an important part of any good science fiction novel, but somehow, in this instance, it seemed didactic. All criticisms aside, the topic was extremely interesting and well-researched. Bear dealt beautifully with speculating on alternative forms of communication as the next step in the evolutionary process. There is much to like about this book, but I would tend to recommend it to friends with many caveats. (  ) turtlesleap | May 22, 2013 |  Darwin's Children is the sequel to Darwin's Radio and continues to follow the lives of Kaye, Mitch, and Stella, their daughter. The plot has some interesting twists and turns, especially in the end. The plot also is very believable in terms of people's reactions to new 'things' and other people's unscrupulous drive for power. Unfortunately, this book falls far short of the first book. The writing drags in areas and is confusing in spots. The characters are only slightly more developed over the first book and most become caricatures of themselves. This book had the feeling of a "sequel demanded by the publisher", without a lot of heart in the writing by Greg Bear. Overall, I was very disappointed in this book and in some ways, wished I had not read it. It nearly spoiled the wonderful feelings I had for Darwin's Radio. (  ) LMHTWB | Apr 22, 2012 | After reading and enjoying Darwin's Radio several years ago I was looking forward to catching up with the sequel but was a little disappointed. The writing just didn't flow very well for me and I found the conversations between scientists that are used to explain concepts a bit too contrived. ( ) davros63au | Nov 21, 2011 | Kaye and Mitch had protected Stella like a rare orchid throughout her short life. Kaye knew that, hated the necessity of it. It was how they had stayed together. Her daughter's freedom depended on it. The chat rooms were full of the agonized stories of parents giving up their children, watching them be sent to Emergency Action schools in another state. The camps. Mitch, Stella, and Kaye had lived a dreamy, tense, unreal existence, no way for an energetic, outgoing young girl to grow up, no way for Mitch to stay sane. As I had copies of both books, I decided to read the sequel straight after finishing "Darwin's Radio". I found myself much more interested in what Dicken and Augustine discovered in the 'new children' school, than in Kaye and Mitch lying low to avoid their child being taken from them. Although it was never stated in the book, I think the main reason that Kaye dumped Mitch as soon as he was no longer useful for protecting the family, was because he was showing signs of depression, and she didn't want another husband with mental health issues after her experience with Saul. So them getting back together again later made no sense to me; in fact, nothing about their relationship rang true. And why the obsession with Mitch's hands - yes he used to be an outdoors Type who worked with his hands, and now he isn't - I get it! ( ) isabelx | Jul 16, 2011 | A massive let down after the first book. Not much story in it at all - very little happening other than lots of diatribe about viruses. The story could have developed in all sorts of interesting directions leaving the reader wanting more. In the end I was just reading it simply to finish it. (  ) abitmorejerry | Mar 23, 2011 | no reviews | add a review
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