I seem to be having a bit of a #scifisummer and it has been so fun and refreshing, even when it’s tense and complicated. Sometimes the chaos goblin who runs my brain at the library is on the right track, and I’ve had some excellent grabs recently. Rocketing straight to the top of the list (get it? rockets?? science fiction???? you’re welcome), is this bonkers beauty that I finished this morning and cannot stop thinking about.
In short, we’re about 50,000 years in the future, we’re intergalactic planetary, and Sask-E is in the process of being terraformed as a “pristine Pleistocene” planet for humans to relive the golden age of Earth. We open with Destry, one of the rangers protecting the planet as it evolves according to plan, and move through three significant moments in the planet’s development/history.
Newitz does SO MUCH with this premise. They explore big topics – personhood, environmental responsibility, government systems, evolutionary systems, ownership, gender, family, compromise, history, bureaucracy – with flying moose and sentient doors and cities hidden in volcanoes. I was freaking delighted the entire way through. They came up with concepts I’ve never heard of, woven tightly with a vision of cooperative living among all species (organic and synthetic) that I find inspiring.
The author’s note at the end that they wrote this because they wanted to think of a better world. The villains are really corporate greed, private ownership and the notion of human supremacy. Am I ready to jump on the “domesticating dogs was actually violent brainwashing” wagon? No. But I can’t stop thinking about it or any of the other ideas brought up.
So, yes, lots of lefty type philosophy embedded in the story, but also just a really interesting sci-fi tale! Cool robots and technology and species. There’s some action and some research. There’s parties and hookups and good humor and games. Interesting characters with diverse opinions and great rapport. Just. Everything.
I have a feeling this one is going to make my best of the year list. What Newitz has accomplished is spectacular. If you need a shot of optimism, a glimmer of a better, different, wilder future could be, then pick this one up.
