This of course Lois McMaster Bujold has done brilliantly through his wise fabulous of Vorkosigan, Miles and his unforgettable, but there has also proposed a space-opera action-packed and dramatic twists, certainly for grip Readers looking for a reading SF "standard".
Here it is still quite different: While the SF world of history is absolutely not stingy, with several very staggered aspects that make the bed of the various twists and turns of the story, its presentation might frustrate or annoy a seasoned player genre, one that considers it essential rapid consistency and especially full of the world - the centerpiece of the book according to its definition. As for me, almost exclusive my questions had been answered by the end of the book, which enough for me, not needing a perfectly clean and clear framework to assess the evolution of the story. Here priority is indeed the characters, their relationships, their psychological developments, their daily ... This novel is the story of the characters, not the history of their world!
The general themes are classic SF: humanity lives now scattered through space, on a large number of reachable planets together by space travel. Remains a blur for most of the novel (a half fig half grape explanation, however, is offered at a time) on the origin of the four human categories that seem to call each other and the product of their interbreeding, the new humanity. These different "species" marked with psychic powers (telepathy, telekinesis or even empathy) Did origin as a spontaneous genetic variation in human earthlings? genetic variation acquired? extraterrestrial origins?
Far from being annoyed by the lack of clear explanation, I enjoyed this way of telling the story directly by immersing the reader in the bath, in another daily, other concerns, the daily concerns of people at both different and very human, with the small end of the telescope of the narrator.
The central theme of the novel is simple in its definition: the people of Sadiris, considered the most brilliant human expression (especially the possibility that Sadiris have, for those who choose to unite their minds to a vessel space to form one whole, is an exceptional driver) has been eradicated. Their planet has become uninhabitable due to a chemical attack carried out by the neighboring planet, Ain. The survivors are rare, vessels drivers, ambassadors, scientists, people on vacation on other planets, etc.
A delegation was sent to Beta Cygnus, a planet known for its racial mixture in an attempt to find, select and genetically to convince people (mostly women, the last Sadiris being mainly male) kindly marry with survivors, so that the top race of Sadiris does not go out.
Genetics and psychic expressions of different human races are at the heart of this scientific project, conducted with the blessing of Cygnien government. A team is formed, mixing course Sadiris, especially scientists, but also native professionals, Cygniens Métis origins and psychic skills as varied as discrete. If discrete besides that one is surprised that so fascinated to discover the impact, turning a situation that had initially seemed familiar to us ...
The team and left for a long journey around the world Cygnus Beta for a scientific quest to anthropological orientations, traveling sometimes hostile lands and making strange discoveries. The adventures are exciting from start to finish.
In short the story the author dares sometimes small allusions almost "anachronistic", before one does not understand that our culture has been carefully preserved, immersing ourselves in some perplexity: is this world close to ours in time or is it an alternate history? ...
This novel is very much feminine. By this term I do not mean "girls", although I think any reader amateur central romance novels and literary tone (Jane Austen, Victoria Clayton or even contemporary romances quality realistic mode) will be the first to worship.
Yet describe this as a romance novel would be an error of judgment. Social relations form the stakes of the story, through the couple relationships, it's true, but ultimately very little, leaving the spotlight to the interactions between civilized people, but to the languages, manners, values, religions very different symbolisms .
Well, readers who expect the action with a capital permanently, space combat, major discoveries, exploration of space, etc., are probably not find their account. Similarly readers, especially readers, who appreciate their female characters that loud-mouthed, aggressive, unbridled sexuality and unapologetic, did not probably appreciate the true value of the measured person, hardworking, to false apparent simplicity what the narrator, Grace Delarua.
As for the others, those who love originality in their novels, who enjoy SF at large, without being too specific expectations and believe that successful characters are three-quarters of a good novel, I can only encourage them to read this amazing book (I think especially to all lovers of the series of Miles Vorkosigan).
Overall the story is quiet, without delays or lengths, full of astonishing subtlety of an infinite attention to detail, with lightness and extreme fluidity. The tone is wonderfully invigorating and positive, a rarity these days! Yet the starting point of the story is terrible, that of a disaster that decimated an entire planet, sparing the inhabitants left on mission, traveling or on vacation. The psychological impact, so traumatic, with an almost total annihilation not only a world but a race, Sadiris, is the center of history. The short preamble, which sets up Dllenahkh gives the main note of the novel, but the severity of his tone differs from the rest of the story, narrated by Thanks Delarua.
Indeed, the overall tone (which reminded me a lot that other extraordinary reading The Thinking Woman's Guide to Real Magic despite a very different context) remains very positive, forward-looking, thanks to the personality of the narrator. For if the text has many short passages to the third singular, centered Dllenahkh, as is the prologue, the whole story is the first singular, narrated by Delarua With a young fascinating woman.
I often complain about the use of the first person singular! But is that so often adulterated, creating an atmosphere overplayed, easy and full of artificial emotions. Here authenticity is perfect.
Thanks addressing someone as she recounts the last two years. A very good friend, someone who knows the world in which it operates, the reader does one finally understands. No infodump here, though not any frustration, a constant quality and a splendid reading. No not sentimental effusion, it is astonishing to understand, at the turn of an event, a sentence, a revelation that Grace, playful and confident in his first fact remains modest, reserved , not revealing much about his feelings.
By this subtle side and so realistic in my eyes, this common mistake to believe that a person is not expansive shadow or secret feelings, there is the Art of Victoria Clayton, which suggests the feelings of his heroines at the very end of each of his novels.
Grace is indeed extraordinary: first simple one believes, a bit naive, enthusiastic and very young. But gradually we understand that this is a young middle-aged woman with a keen intelligence and unusual abilities. A passage in his family allows us to learn a lot more about her, sweeping all of a sudden our convictions. We discover a much more complex personality than its solar energetic nature and let not think a burdensome past, while showing us by example the practical impact of different abilities of the human groups that evolve in history.
When my misgivings about the use of the first person are defeated is that I fell in love with the narrator and this novel is no exception to the rule: With a rather plain young woman, strong, pragmatic and able friendly and infinitely touching.
Dllenahkh, which we discovered only by indirect lighting, very similar to that used for the characters of Victoria Clayton, again, has the same charm men with undeniable intellectual qualities, including the ongoing control mask a deep sensitivity. But where SF is involved in the unusual way of hiding their emotions Sadiris (American commentators compare Sadiris with the Vulcans, oh yes there is that!) Not by insensitivity, but for the simple reason that this people, who uses telepathy naturally and permanently, should monitor constantly appearing and very expansive from the eyes of other races. This control their emotions is permanent thanks in particular to the daily meditation which they sastreignent; and if they can seem cold and insensitive to the beginning of the novel (much like the elves in fantasy, this is also not the only wink) the story is soon to prove otherwise.
The relationship slowly sets in a purely professional context and through many adventures, does not mislead the reader who guesses how Grace and perhaps Dllenahkh, cling to the illusion of a purely friendly relationship while their privacy is reinforced with strength, depth and emotion full restraint and sensitivity.
This sounds very romantic, and even romantic, and it certainly is, at least for readers enjoying one hand a form of realism in the birth of love, accompanied by a good dose of humor, and Moreover delicious and glorious idea to use the settings of an offset reality for them to live an exciting and moving story ... Here in SF, but I still think Lois McMaster Bujold who brilliantly tried the same exercise fantasy in the following novels: The Curse of Chalion, Paladin of Souls, The Sacred Hunt and finally the series in 4 volumes beginning with Knife sharing, Volume 1: Enchantment.
This unclassifiable novel I hope readers will find, that will probably searching primarily among those who think not like science fiction: it may not be easy!
A result of this book, The Galaxy Game, was released in a few months with the main character's nephew Grace, and the opportunity for us to explore a little more impact amazing features of these neos-humans on this company futuristic.
I was very pleasantly surprised to see this first novel by Karen Lord (or perhaps second, she also wrote a delightful African tale to Austin sauce that is a true gem of malice and wisdom, Redemption in Indigo) reflects in French!
I am thrilled to see that some publishers dare originality, presenting novels dare them shamelessly mix genres, absolving themselves ridiculous obligations to comply with the rules issued by use, and certainly by the compulsive need that we all have to classify these according to our reading-genre called into question!
(Note: read in English)
