Ntural History

[lightreads]

Natural History by Justina Robson

My review

rating: 2 of 5 stars
A first contact story, where introduction of a mysterious alien wish-granting technology catalyzes the political upheaval between good old humans and their highly engineered children species. Not actually bad or anything; but also not in the least engaging to me. There was this thematic . . . thing about form and function and personal destiny, plus a psychologically clumsy virtual reality subplot, but it just didn't fit together right and I never mustered up enough interest to work it through.


View all my reviews.

Comments

[readerjane]

Eifelheim, Eifelheim, Eifelheim!

Try it -- it's by Michael Flynn. I think this will both satisfy your standards for a first contact story, and ease your frustration over Merlin a-historicity. (Not that Eifelheim is set during Arthurian times: it's 1300s interspersed with contemporary bits, but as far as I can tell, the historical chapters are well-researched and executed.)

Caveat: I have not finished the book yet. It's possible it could turn into a throwing book by the end, but I don't think so.

[lightreads.livejournal.com]

I have that, actually, except it's an audio book, and I never seem to get around to those these days -- they talk so slow. But you're not the first person to say so, and I'm sure I'll eventually give it a shot.