Darwin's Children

Rating:
Summary: Bear continues to evolve
Review: Darwin's Children is the sequel to the Nebula winner and Hugo nominee Darwin's Radio, and like its predecessor, it is a dense, demanding, disturbing, fascinating novel. It's not an easy read, however: it's crammed with acronyms and scientific jargon, and the SHEVA children, with their enhanced senses, often speak in their own language. A scientific glossary, a short biological primer, and a non-fiction reading list are hidden at the back of the book (and I mean that; I didn't discover them until after I'd finished reading the story), but you may find that referring to these punctuates your equilibrium.

Bear also shifts viewpoint characters so frequently that it's sometimes difficult to keep track, especially if you haven't read Darwin's Radio. If you're expecting X-men, you may be disappointed; there is some violence, but little in the way of pyrotechnic action. The tone is more reminiscent of The Hot Zone, gene-spliced with political thriller.

Darwin's Children doesn't pull its punches when it comes to politics: a horrible disease is compared to House Republicans and vice versa, and the only out-and-out villains who appear in the book are a senator and a television commentator. Bear is also scathing in his depiction of religious fanatics, bureaucrats, talk radio, and the capacity of Americans en masse (though not usually as individuals) to be intolerant, gullible, complacent or savage to the point of attempting genocide. His scientists are more sympathetic, though never flawless - even Augustine, skilled as he is at the underhanded political games that help him gain power, believes that what he is doing is necessary for the greater good. All the major characters are well realised, and all change slowly but believably: some even evolve.

Darwin's Children is demanding, but it's also gripping, sometimes frightening, often thought-provoking, and well worth the effort of reading.

Rating:
Summary: Good, but the same problems as the first novel
Review: First off, don't even consider reading this novel before reading its predecessor "Darwin's Radio"; there is simply too much plot and science to attempt to pick up without the benefit of reading the first novel. Secondly, while there is some serious science discussed in both books, the reader shouldn't feel that a lack of formal biology education will prevent them from understanding and enjoying these books (although it certainly won't hurt). Bear does an excellent job of working the necessary science into the flow of the narrative, and he even provides a fairly comprehensive glossary at the end of the book.

That said, I found 'Darwin's Children" to be every bit as engaging and every bit as frustrating as "Darwin's Radio". The premise, that a new branch of human evolution is beginning, is an intriguing one, and the idea of following this new species as it grows to maturity has the potential to be fascinating. And to a degree, it is; unfortunately, Bear all to frequently takes the reader down literary dead-ends, and makes temporal jumps just when the story is getting interesting.

First the good, though, and there is plenty. To begin, Bear's characters are a step above the first novel. That's not to say that the were lacking previously, but the author has taken this opportunity to instill them with a deep pathos that is truly memorable. The characters, operating under horribly strenuous circumstances represent the full range of human emotion. Moreover, their philosophies are well defined and realistic; they absolutely fit the situation at hand, and nicely mirror historical precedent. Secondly, Bear has created a dystopian near future that is all too believable. He draws nicely on the subtle but pervasive daily fear of the post 9/11 world to create a U.S. that is both terrifyingly different, and yet disturbingly familiar. While he often where's his politics on his sleeve, Bear does draw nicely on the concern for a potential erosion of our civil liberties in the years to come. Finally, as I alluded to earlier, Bear does a superb job of incorporating genuinely cutting edge science without bogging down the narrative. In fact, the scientific dialogue almost becomes a character unto itself, as the reader ponders what revelation will be next.

Unfortunately, all of these elements are let down by rather discordant storytelling. In a book just under four hundred pages long, Bear has attempted to cover three different time periods separated by six years. Frankly, this is just too much to attempt in a relatively short novel. In any given section the pacing and plot lines are excellent, but just when the reader is immersed in the story, it jumps rather jarringly ahead by a few years. Moreover, critical plot developments are presumed to have taken place in the intervening periods, which is extraordinarily frustrating when one considers how successful Bear is at writing sympathetic characters. Secondly, there are more than a few blind alleys that left me puzzled. On more than one occasion Bear seems about to reveal a major plot point, only to back away. Perhaps other readers will deduce Bear's thinking, but in spite of rereading several sections I haven't been able to ascertain where he was headed. Finally, there is an odd supernatural/spiritual/religious plot line around one of the main characters. In and of itself this isn't a bad thing, but it seems oddly out of place with the rest of the story and doesn't really add anything to the novel.

Ultimately "Darwin's Children" isn't a bad novel, but it could have been much more. With it's well drawn characters, fascinating plot and superb settings it could have been a great novel. Unfortunately, Bear bit off more than he could chew in the allotted space. The end result is a novel that is often fascinating, frequently gripping but in the end, to broken up to be completely successful. I enjoyed reading it, but I would recommend waiting for the paperback or picking it up at the library rather than investing in the hardcover edition.

Rating:
Summary: More human than DARWIN'S RADIO
Review: First, I do urge you to read DARWIN'S RADIO first, although I feel this is the better novel of the two. However, it is necessary to know the background of the earlier book to thoroughly enjoy the second.

One difficulty I did have with both books is the multitude of characters. So many are introduced and so few really have any importance to the story. This however, is a minor flaw.

While there is a lot of biological background explored in this book, it's easier to take and intrudes less into the plot than it did in the first. More emphasis is given to the human characters, especially the daughter who naturally is a focal point of interest.

The mother becomes more fleshed out also. Her "epiphany" adds interest. The first book stressed her atheism, and therefore, her experience is very interesting, and does have its effect on the character and, in turn, her effect on the plotline. The author deals with this subject in an objective manner so that the reader can accept it as something that does happen to some people or reject it as overactive imagination.

All in all, the two books together comprise one of the better science fiction works.

Rating:
Summary: Nice sequel to Darwin's Radio!
Review: Greg Bear keeps writing books that end up on my list of favorites. Darwin's Radio was brilliant, and Darwin's Children is an excellent sequel. Don't pick this story up in the middle. If you haven't read Darwin's Radio, get that one first -- you won't be sorry. As for this book, Bear does a great job of developing the character of a "new child," the next step in human evolution. I can't comment on how good the science is, since my main knowledge of biology stops with the frog I cut open in high school, but ultimately the characters make this a fine story. He also mixes in some ideas about God, and he does it deftly and gently, without making it seem out of place in a story that deals with evolution.

A nice added touch in Darwin's Children is a biology primer at the end of the book, along with a glossary of technical terms. Not enough to get you that job at the CDC, but helpful nonetheless.

Rating:
Summary: Solid science with believable charactors
Review: This is a great and involving novel. If you skip Darwin's Radio and read this book first it is like seeing "Aliens" before seeing "Alien". The story works but it totally gives away the previous plot.
This book takes a deep look at American society when a new minority enters into it. And as history shows us we react poorly. Expecially in the light of current (post 9/11) events I think the book shows how we react as a group, even though we choose to think of our selves as enlightned. I think Bear really drove that point home. I especailly liked the reaction of the Shivites to their situation, reminisant of concentration camp behavior? Would we do anything different?
The charactors were believable, in fact I am sure you know people just like them.
I also loved the fact that this booked ended. I am way sick and tired of 3+ volume series that leave you hoping the author will not die before he finishes his story.

If you liked this book read "Vitals" by Gregg Bear, and "The White Plague" by Frank Herbert

Rating:
Summary: Could have been happy with just Darwin's Radio
Review: This sequel tells the story of Kaye's daughter up to about 16 years of age. The new species of man Bear creates proves to be not all that different. There are new social interaction possibilities, and new english phrases, but they really aren't that much different. This makes it not that interesting. Additionally, the more group focus of the new species leaves the individual characters seeming disinterested or plain.
If you liked Darwin's Radio - I would suggest you leave it at that, and use your imagination instead of reading this.