ISBN: 0-312-86716-6 Order from: Amazon.com
Another novel on Slonczewski's series of "bilogical" science fiction, this book uses a multitude of characters to explore social problems of exploitation and conservation, overpopulation and the distribution of wealth, along with a truly unusual alien culture.
Reviewed by David on January 25, 1999
Genre: Science Fiction (Politics, Ecology, Aliens, Biology, Epidemic, Microbes)
Synopsis: In a interstellar federation called the Fold, some planets are richer than others. L'li, suffering from poverty, uncontrolled population growth and a deadly pandemic, is shunned by the wealthier neighbors. When 'jum G'hana, an orphaned L'liite child dying of the "creeping" infection is saved by a Brother of the Spirit, and brought to a small religious colony on the unexplored world of Prokaryon, few realize that the children's colony will play a major role in the political struggle shaking the Fold.
Full Review: For centuries, the colonization of new planets was proceeded by terraforming. The native life, if any, was boiled off, and then Earth-originated life, from bacteria to the plants and animals, was seeded on the surface. Recently, a more difficult approach was adopted: instead of modifying the planet, the humans were gene-altered to cope with the poisonous or incompatible planets like Prokaryon. The adaptation process is cheaper and easier with the children, but even so, the expense and delay of modifying the humans has the terraforming faction champing at the bit. Faced with the enormous population pressure on planets like L'li, and the hunger for mineral exploitation, the popular opinion sways close to wiping out the unique life of Prokaryon and making the planet safe for unmodified humans.
The conservationists, scientists and the children of the religious colonies have one hope: find the elusive "Masters of Prokaryon" that make the trees grow in regular rows, the rain fall only at night, and the Singing Trees emit light in prime sequences.
However, few people realize that the aliens of Prokaryon don't even suspect intelligence in the humans.
The Children Star suffers from a few of problems. First, there are too many characters between which the viewpoint shifts frequently. Second, the evil exploiters, personified by one villainous magnate, are mostly strawmen, having no redeeming values. It would have been more convincing to make them honest, well-meaning but misguided egalitarians. Lastly, and perhaps least significantly, the religious faith of the Spirit Callers is vague and fuzzy, despite lpaying a major role in the plot.
On the positive side, most characters are sympathetic, well-defined and plausible. 'jum, in particular, is a touching, bright and defensive child.
The Children Star is a skillful book, suffering a bit from too much ambition. It exhibits the classic traditions of Science Fiction, including exploration of new ideas, and tackling contemporary social issues in a fantastic but plausible setting.
Universe: Free Fold
Overall: 5.5; Plot: 6; Characters: 5.5; Style: 5; World-building: 5.5; Originality: 6;
Copyright date 1998, Tom Doherty Associates (Tor), September 1998, Cloth, 349 pages
ISBN: 0-312-86716-6 Order from: Amazon.com