MAXIMUM LIGHT    (1997)

Shana Walders is young, beautiful and in the National Service hoping to soon join the regular army. During the evacuation of civilian pets from the scene of a train derailment she witnesses something that may jeopardise her chances.

Cameron Atuli is a young, gay ( in 2034 referred to as "blithe") ballet dancer who voluntarily agreed to have his memory erased.

Dr. Nick Clementi is very old and dying. He is a member of the committee that investigates the claims made by Shana following the derailment.

The story of MAXIMUM LIGHT is told from the viewpoint of each of these characters in turn. They live in a world in which the population is aging and the birth rate is down. Pets have been substituted for children in their absence. Clementi believes that synthetic chemicals resulting from everyday human practice are polluting the atmosphere and when combined are affecting human endocrine systems. The result is that infertility abounds, as do birth defects, and learning amongst the young is impaired.

To say much more would give too much away. Kress weaves an intriguing tale that kept me interested to the very end. She obviously has a biological bent and based on this outing I shall be placing her on my 'to read' list.

Very Good  (9)
 

BEGGARS IN SPAIN    (1993)

Early in the Twenty First Century, mankind is able to genetically modify embryos so as to give them ‘desirable’ characteristics. Hair colour, beauty, intelligence and sleeplessness can be chosen by parents with the money to spend. Roger Camden wants his daughter to achieve greatness and he believes that an individual not chained to the need for sleep could do just that.

Leisha Camden reaches the potential her father had hoped. She was first in her class at Harvard Law. The other Sleepless are equally able, becoming experts and leaders in their field. This quality among the Sleepless begins to result in conflict with the Norms. When the wider, unmodified population learns more of the advantages bestowed upon the Sleepless, greater prejudice against them becomes apparent.

A group of Sleepless decides the only way they can live without the prejudice and restrictions placed upon them is to live in a segregated community far from the Norms. They find it more difficult to ‘escape’ than they had thought.

This was a good tale that began and ended very well. Somewhere in the middle of the story I started to think that perhaps Kress should have left the story in its original, Hugo winning novella, form. By the end of the story, I was glad she had not. The central theme of the story was prejudice, the bulk of mankind was happy to reap the benefits of the superior Sleepless, but were not willing to accept them in their community. Even the Sleepless themselves were capable of failing to accept difference within their own.

Very Good  (8)

July 2000
 

BEGGARS AND CHOOSERS    (1994)

This is the sequel to Kress’ BEGGARS IN SPAIN, which told the story of a group of genetically modified humans that no longer required sleep. BEGGARS AND CHOOSERS is told from the viewpoint of three of the Sleepers, one of which has had some genetic tinkering, and we see how they cope in a world dominated by the expertise of the Sleepless.

Drew Arlen has grown up with the Sleepless, and although he has had some enhancements made to his body, his genetic makeup remains untouched. He is known as the Lucid Dreamer for he is able to share his ‘dreams’ or stories with the masses who enter a trance-like state during his performance.

Billy Washington is a sixtysomething Liver, ie unaltered, living in a backwater town trying to cope with an ever-increasing incidence of mechanical malfunction in his community. All of his needs are provided for by the donkeys, the gene-altered but non-Sleepless, who make the ‘bots that provide food and medicine.

Diana Covington is a donkey who has been given the job of spying on the leader of the SuperSleepless, Miranda Sharifi. During the course of her work she meets up with Billy and those closest to him.

Liver communities become more and more degraded as the machines they have grown reliant upon continue to fail. The SuperSleepless ask the government for permission to release advanced nanotechnology that will improve, in their opinion, the life of all. An underground terrorist group plan on releasing genetically modified viruses that will rid the planet of the inhuman.

This is an excellent follow up to BEGGARS IN SPAIN that continued to entertain from start to finish. I believe there is another book that follows this and I will keep my eyes open for it. The two BEGGARS books and MAXIMUM LIGHT put Nancy Kress high up on my list of favourite authors.

Excellent  (10)

April 2002
 

BEGGARS RIDE   (1996)

This is the final book in Kress’ Beggars trilogy and while it doesn’t reach the same heights of the first two books, it is a worthy addition. The story follows Lizzie and Vicki as they continue to struggle in the world of Livers. Miranda Sharifi is no longer supplying Change syringes so newborns are susceptible to disease. Lizzie decides to use her talents to initiate change that will help all Livers, but her activity alerts those who wish to control her kind.

Very Good  (9)

May 2003
 

CROSSFIRE    (2003)

The first human colony has just landed on the planet of Greentrees and they soon discover that contrary to earlier reports, the planet is not uninhabited. Small settlements of aliens, who become known as Furs, are found scattered about the planet. Their behaviour, when first contact is made, surprises and troubles the humans.

The colonists soon find themselves in the middle of an alien war that has been going on for a thousand years. Unsure of which side to believe in, they are eventually placed in a situation that may determine the survival of their own species as well as the aliens.

Kress has written an entertaining and enjoyable book that rarely lost a beat.

Very Good  (8.5)

July 2004
 

PROBABILITY MOON    (2000)

Humanity is at war with the Fallers, an alien race intent on monopolising both interstellar territory and advanced alien technology left behind by an unknown species. This technology is in the form of space tunnels that permit travel over vast distances.

A new type of alien artefact has been discovered and humans are the first to find it. It may be a weapon that could help turn the war in their favour. While one team investigates the artefact, another is sent to a nearby inhabited planet, World, which is the source of some strange, very localised radiation.

This is the first part of a trilogy and on completing this instalment I am eager to continue the story. The story shifts between the two investigating groups and each journey is as compelling as the other. The mystery surrounding the artefact and the odd culture on World make for an exciting read.

Excellent  (9.5)

November 2004
 

PROBABILITY SUN    (2001)

The second novel in the PROBABILITY trilogy sees the return of a manned expedition to World to investigate the strange radiation emanating from the Neury Mountains. The special team includes physicist Tom Capelo and Sensitive, Marbet Grant, who is able to interpret thoughts by observing behaviour and expressions.

While Tom’s task is to try to crack the science of the alien artefact, Marbet’s job is to attempt communication with the only Faller captured alive.

This is a worthy follow-up to PROBABILITY MOON and on its strength I have already begun the final story in the trilogy.

Very Good  (9)

November 2004
 

PROBABILITY SPACE    (2002)

Humanity is divided over how the artefact should be used. Some believe it should be used to protect our solar system from Faller attack while others believe we should use it to destroy the Faller home system.

Tom Capelo is kidnapped and his oldest daughter Amanda witnesses the act and flees, not knowing who to trust.

Lyle Kaufmann and Marbet Grant want to travel back to World to see if they can help what is expected to be a civilisation in ruin.

As I began reading this book, I was feeling that it was going to be the weakest of the trilogy, but as the story progressed any doubts I held were soon gone. A bit of time was spent on mankind’s political instability, but once the focus shifts to Amanda’s perils which combine with Lyle and Marbet’s journey, the story barrels to a very satisfying conclusion.

Very Good  (9)

December 2004
 

CRUCIBLE     (2004)

Man has inhabited the planet Greentrees for fifty years and most have forgotten the conflict with the Furs and the Vines. The colony’s complacency is about to be tested as a space ship enters orbit around the planet.

I enjoyed this sequel more than the original Crossfire. Kress takes us to the Vines planet where we discover their true nature. The colonists end up fighting amongst themselves before being thrust into a struggle with Furs and Vines in a battle for control of Greentrees.

Very Good  (9)

April 2005
 

STEAL ACROSS THE SKY    (2009)

Mysterious aliens visit Earth and recruit a small number of humans to travel interstellar space to visit planets inhabited by the descendants of Earth. These descendants were kidnapped by the aliens thousands of years in the past.

The recruits are told that they need to act as witnesses as the aliens wish to atone for their crimes against humanity.

A very enjoyable book that would be well received by non sf readers. I'm happy to say it doesn't appear to be the first in a series.

Very Good  (9)

August 2012
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