Playing God

Saving a species that has unleashed plagues that have mutated so the entire world's population is in danger is a challenge. When bitter intergroup histories split the groups themselves, and no one trusts the corporation that controls the relocation and restoration, the challenge is amplified. Social politics, corporate greed, and intractable hostilities do lead to near catastrophe—and implausibly accepted solutions. Very much a plot-driven novel, the characters were well enough designed for their parts and fairly convincing, but while each learns a good bit, it really isn't their story.

8/10
A fascinating and unique alien species, complex issues of personal conviction, violence, and corporate greed, and timeless themes of loyalty, betrayal, and the meaning of family all add up to a really good science fiction book. High marks for plot depth and interesting characters, yet I kept wishing I understood some of the characters more fully. Zettel’s books will continue to be “must read” for me—consistently good quality, thought-provoking storytelling.

Sarah Zettel has won all sorts of accolades, so I made myself stick it out through this ponderously complex novel in which the alien Dedelphi race asks for bioremediation help from Earth. The Dedelphi are made up of extended family clans of identical twins and their pouch-bred children. The main players are female; “fathers” – seemingly mindless bundles of testosterone (nice trope, there) are kept around (but mostly penned up) for perpetuating the race. The Dedelphi hire the human Bioverse Corp. for planetary cleansing and rebuilding after biological warfare kills many of them and destroys their ecosystem. Dr. Lynn Nussbaumer, a wide-eyed, polyanna-ish tree-hugger, is asked to head up the project for Bioverse, and her show more doctor-husband David is needed as well. She had already been working with the Dedelphi, and became close to one particular clan, the t’Theria, especially the female Praeis and her daughters Res and Theia. But wouldn’t you know it: Lynn discovers that an old boyfriend, Arron Hagopian, has also been living and working with the Dedelphi, but with a rival clan, the Getesaph.

Lynn and Bioverse decide to evacuate the planet, clean it up, bring back the clans, and Life will be Good. The clans, however, have other ideas. Violence and death ensue, and Lynn learns that all life forms can sometimes be bad. Unfortunately, so can otherwise heralded authors.

Okay, it wasn’t terrible, and it was hard not to like the little pouchettes, Res and Theia. But having to keep the many clans straight, not to mention the rankings and relationships within clans, took entirely too much time and energy, and seemed to serve as a substitute for plot all too often. show less

Sarah Zettel's novels are well written and interesting. This is one of her earlier works and more sci-fi than fantasy. I enjoyed it very much.

tiptree shortlist 1998

Dover ricostruire un mondo dilaniato dalla guerra e dall'odio non è certo facile anche per la più grande delle multi-planetarie geo-ingegneristiche terrestri, gli investimenti e gli interessi in gioco sono enormi ma alla fine l'ostacolo più grande sarà la difficoltà di mettere d'accordo le diverse anime del pianeta.
Un'avvincente avventura fra etica, socialità, famiglia, guerra, odio razziale... una facile metafora del nostro mondo reale, in cui grandi sentimenti e grandi idee si scontrano in modo inesorabile.
Una bella storia che ha solo il difetto di essere un pochino prolissa in certe parti e con alcuni costrutti logici poco plausibili. Cmq un bel libro.