In addition to the usual Egan high quality of hard science fiction and delightfully surprising improved-Egan character development in the book, I found the most fun reading about Prabir's adventures in the South Moluccas. The pacing is difficult at times. The questions about Life in the book are presented in ways both fresh and unique. ( )

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This is basically the book I wished that Darwin's Radio, by Egan's near namesake Greg Bear, was going to be. The central idea is the same: peculiar mutations are occurring which will not only upset evolutionary biology but also perhaps imperil the future of humanity. However Egan ties his viewpoint character into a disturbing but believable family background with consequent psychoses, and the politics and biology all seemed considerably more credible. It is set in a part of the world I don't know at all - the South Moluccas, in the near future; with excursions to the gay/academic scene in Toronto - but all very vivid and believable. I'm not surprised that this won prizes, if anything I'm surprised it didn't win more. ( )

I have to admit that I didn't really get this book. It might be that you need to have had at least some formal instruction in biology to follow the plot, even. But I can certainly judge the quality of the writing (excellent!) and the insight of the commentary. For example, this book contains the most persuasive explanation of homosexuality. For social animals such as us, it pays for the gene pool to throw up infertile members @ some low frequency, so that they may contribute elsewhere, and help care for others' kids. Egan imagines this as the occasional lake formed by the steady current of the river of evolution.
I buy it! ( )

In this novel, Egan creates some of the most human of his characters. Prabir, Madhusree and others all have strengths, weaknesses and peculiarities in their characters that make real people interesting.

At its core, the book explores the nature and courses of evolution and how it pertains to the meaning of life. That's right, the big question! Along the way, Egan presents a world view that is at the same time sober and awing, as well as scientifically persuasive.

Another topic that gets some attention in the book is the reprehensible treatment of refugees on Australian soil. In the past few years, Egan has been personally involved with efforts to correct this injustice.

Finally, I think that in Teranesia Egan pulls off one of his strongest endings. In my opinion, some of his other novels, despite their many strengths, suffer a let down toward the end. I absolutely love the last line of this book. ( )