Rating: 
Summary: Lazy and Obviously Political
Review: Great disappointment after Darwin's Radio. Little science, no surprises. Tiny amount of character development, but I sure don't feel much for most of these people, who have made choices that I do not understand.
Very heavy handed political message here as well -- the Republicans are cast as Nazis who only need an opportunity to show their true colors. Fox News takes some below the belt shots as well, implying that all who watch it are sheep.
Unless Mr. Bear concentrates on writing and storytelling a bit more, I'll pass on his next book -- and I have read all his previous works.
This author sure isn't near as entertaining as he once was. Perhaps he should run for office and quit writing.
Rating: 
Summary: Poor Conclusion to a Great Idea
Review: Greg Bear is one of my favorite SF authors but I must say Darwin's Children is a real let down. Darwin's Children, the sequel to Darwin's Radio, continues the story of a species of hominids born as result of genetic mutations caused by retroviruses. The theory behind the story is that great leaps in human evolution have occurred suddenly as a result of these mutations - the first being a leap from Neanderthals to present day humans in the distant past. The story's focal point is Stella Nova Rafelson who was born in the previous novel. Society, frightened by these new offspring create what are essentially concentration camps for these children and all are required to be placed in them. Stella's parents, Kaye and Mitch, have been hiding out from the authorities but are eventually caught. We see how society treats these children and how they interact with one another throughout the novel as Bear attempts to explore a new species and conjectures about what the future holds for their assimilation into and obviously in the long term, absorption of the human species into something new.
The key problem with the novel is that the characters are not that believable and a bit rigid. The story really meanders and gets very tedious and frankly doesn't really go anywhere until the end of the story. Kaye Rafelson, who has an "epiphany" or religious experience, is a dead-end thread of the story and poorly explored.
I'm a bit disappointed in this novel.
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: Not Bear's Best Work
Review: I consider Greg Bear to be one of the most talented and engaging of the "new generation" of hard science fiction writers. With that qualification, I find it difficult to recommend this book. First and foremost, it is worth confirming that you really need to read the prequel, "Darwin's Radio". The new book takes place 12 years after Stella's birth and follows her development through adolescence and puberty. Virtually every primary character in "Darwin's Radio" makes another appearance in "Darwin's Children". Without the context of first book, you'll be lost. Indeed, it's hard to review this book without reference to its predecessor. "Darwin's Radio" is an excellent piece of science fiction. It's fascinating, well-researched and well-paced. Darwin's Children, on the other hand, stumbles more aimlessly from character to character, idea to idea, and sort of peters out without ever having focused on a central theme. The result is a disjointed mish mash of chapters and loose ends that never really get untangled. Also, the book stagnates on its own lack of character development. With the exception of Stella, the cast of characters hasn't changed much. Mitch, Kaye, Christopher, Mark and Marge: all still there, all still the same. The book's most interesting new character, Will, isn't developed much. I will give Mr. Bear this. Behind this book is some extraordinary research and hard work. His convincing ability to weave the "science" of the current work in genetics with the "fiction" of his leap into a viral theory of evolution can only have come about with a steady journalist's approach to science. Few author's could blur the lines between science and fiction so successfully and I applaud him for it. Indeed, the foundation of Bear's reputation is this thorough approach to his subjects. That alone probably makes the book worth reading, for those who were as fascinated as I was by "Darwin's Radio". However, you'll find it harder going. Bear has, in the past, managed to built excellent stories on his solid scientific foundations. But Darwin's Children falls short and never rises to the level of "Moving Mars" or "Eon". One could say that Darwin's Children is long on science, but short on fiction. If you finished "Darwin's Radio" wondering what would happen to Stella, this book is worth your time. If you can live without knowing, there are better books out there.
Rating: 
Summary: Trapped in the words
Review: I do not like to read, and was forced to read a book for an english class I took. I chose this book randomly off of the libray shelves judging only by the science fiction label on the spine. I could not put it down! Someone like me who does not read for pleasure was so wrapped in the book that I could not bring myself to put the book down. I loved every word of it.
Rating:
Summary: Mixture of pros and cons
Review: I enjoy Greg Bear's scientific fiction. I really do. The SHEVA Children series beginning with Darwim's Radio, and now Darwin's Children, present a well researched, thought provoking masterpiece of science in a fictional setting. The quality of the science notwithstanding, this book has some disappointments.
First, the ending was a disappointment. Kaye's epiphany with all the religious undertones didn't have a place in this book, in my opinion. The ending didn't seem to go anywhere, as I felt the need for another chapter to close the book. Do I see a 3rd book in the future; likely.
I do think the book holds many subtle messages about human nature, and its ability to commit crimes against humanity when consumed by fear. The way the SHEVA children were robbed of their human and civil rights, reminds me of what's happening here in the U.S. with the Ashcroft doctrines, and Bush's fear mongering against anything unfamiliar. As in "Children" where the government instilled fear in the public against the children, I see distinct parallels with the current administration's use of fear to keep the people in check. Bear does a good job in building these parallels.
I recommend this book to readers who enjoy fiction based on pure science, as Bear's research is impecible. My recommendation is with many caveats however as outline above.
Rating:
Summary: Better than the first volume
Review: I felt that the first volume got lost in to much science and flawed character descriptions. This one gets much quicker into the action. The science is there; it is just presented in the first book. Mr. Bear's idea that the new humans have developed to be more socially adapted is very well conceived, and worthy of his reputation.
Politics in the first book is only hinted at. Here, in post-9/11 US it plays a major role in the book. We, and the author now, know how the US public and political establishment react to external threats, and it aint pretty. An eloge to Mr. Beat for daring to take such a strong stand. Still, I cannot give the book five stars, since I think that he still is far to wordy. I want Bear of Infinity Concierto, or Blood Music, or Forge of God back!
Rating:
Summary: Only for Biology Geeks and Bear Fans
Review: I just finished reading this book. I was definitely surprised by the lack of plot and climax which are generally superb in Greg Bear's novels. It's as if Bear had so much more on his mind that he wanted to add to Darwin's Radio, but instead had to release it as a separate book. A more appropriate title might read, _Darwin's Radio 1.1_. However, I thoroughly enjoy the biology, making it a very pleasant and worthwhile read. If you love science, this book is a hardcover must for that reason alone. Otherwise, buy it on paperback later because everything Greg Bear writes deserves to be read.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent Sequel
Review: I liked this novel alot. In a large way it flowed better for me-than Radio-because it had less science. Or perhaps I understood the science better having read Radio. Probably a little of both. I find the very concept of evolution jumping so suddenly-in one generation-fascinating. I also enjoyed the very human responses to the situation. The camps for the kids, the genocide-in Georgia-of SHEVA expectant mothers, the search for a vaccination to end the SHEVA virus. I could barely wait for Stella to be born and fell completely in love with her at the end of Radio. I was looking forward to Children as a way of seeing her grow up. I was kind of disappointed to not spend more of the book in the Commune with the new kids and less in the politics of their survival. I also was none too impressed with Kaye's epiphany. I somehow felt it just did not gel well with the novel. I am not an athiest per se, but it just did not seem to fit with what was happening. I would not mind reading anovel that focused more clearly on the "calling" but not with it all jumbled up in this book.
I personally prefer Radio, but mostly because I was so fascinated as to what the children would be. I was a little disappointed that more time was not spent with the children in this novel but, all in all it was a good read and a worthwhile addition to my library.
Rating:
Summary: Lost
Review: I read and enjoyed Darwin's Radio and gave it a good review. Before reading Darwin's Children I read the reviews on Amazon and generally found them discouraging. (why did I miss the good ones that I now find ? who knows). Never the less I pressed on and read it. True to the reviews that I had read I found the bio detail oppressive and skipped it as I largely done with Radio. But the unlike Radio I found that not only was I losing the thread of the story, I was also losing the will to continue. Do you know someone who thinks they know more than you, but rather than communnicating at you're level really delights in talking above your head using language that they know you won't understand. You must do, the world's full of such people. This seems to be Greg Bear. I struggled to page 255, one of the bodies is "gravid" !!!!. I have a wide vocabulary but had to guess at this one, is it a common term in the US, not in the UK. Next page "stone soup. Merton looked puzzled. Eileen explained stone soup. How colonial" She didn't explain to me, and I would have liked her to. I can find other examples, too much of this finally annoyed me. Bear's use of language excludes the reader rather than includes and this can't be good. I don't want him to limit himself to single sylables (see my spelings naf) but common usage would be nice. Forgive my ignorance
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