Science Fiction -- 5 stars
In the far future, the human population has spread out over myriad planets. Sanctity, the latest iteration of the Catholic church, wants to rule them all. But now there is another problem: a plague that is spreading everywhere, everywhere except on Grass. Sanctity sends an ambassador to Grass to search for signs of the plague and/or a cure. Thinking they are being sent to a primitive planet, the ambassador and his family find that there is more than one intelligent life form there, and the dominant intelligence is not necessarily human. In fact, Grass proves to be a planet with a culture more ancient than man. ----- This may be one of the most intelligent and sophisticated science fiction books I have ever encountered. Written with an eco-feminist slant, this is more than just a study of planet tortured by human invasion, this is an expose of religion and class culture, one where the "ruling" class only thinks they are in charge. Complex characters, inventive flora and fauna, and a good vs. evil story that not only entertains, it makes you think. Ms. Tepper has written two more books with similar themes. The second is available only at an inflated hardcover price, but I intend to look for the third for my Kindle.
No comments:
Post a Comment