Nothing Human

Rating:
Summary: Negative pressure, not positive pressure
Review: Ahem, just a brief comment. In the book, she refers to a bubble type environment, where someone is isolated, for fear that he might infect others. She says it is under positive pressure. Not so. It would actually be negative pressure, where the pressure inside would be less than in the entrance rooms. This is so that any particles would tend to be swept inside the room when the door is open.

Positive pressure is just the opposite, and is used mostly in semiconductor clean rooms and surgical theatres, where you don't care if stuff inside the room leaks out, but you do not want particulates from outside leaking in.

Rating:
Summary: Intriguing concepts wrapped in a sputtering plot
Review: As she does in "An Alien Light", Kress explores humanity and what defines it via the lens of an alien microscope. Unfortunately, in this novel, the concepts become less weighty when bogged down in a sluggish plot and superficial characters. In 300 pages, Kress fails to provide the reader with enough background, depth, or empathy to understand the central characters' motives or rationalizations for the actions they take. And the conclusion leaves one unsatisfied and somewhat flat - rather than pondering her central question (what defines humanity), one is left uncaring.

To read about the same concepts in a better package, I recommend you read An Alien Light, or better yet, the Beggars series.

Rating:
Summary: Intriguing concepts wrapped in a sputtering plot
Review: As she does in "An Alien Light", Kress explores humanity and what defines it via the lens of an alien microscope. Unfortunately, in this novel, the concepts become less weighty when bogged down in a sluggish plot and superficial characters. In 300 pages, Kress fails to provide the reader with enough background, depth, or empathy to understand the central characters' motives or rationalizations for the actions they take. And the conclusion leaves one unsatisfied and somewhat flat - rather than pondering her central question (what defines humanity), one is left uncaring.

To read about the same concepts in a better package, I recommend you read An Alien Light, or better yet, the Beggars series.

Rating:
Summary: Strong first half meanders in second half 3
Review: Nancy Kress' latest novel, despite its garish cover, deals with a topical issue; genetic manipulation of the unborn. Kress' novel would be little better than an average Michael Crichton thriller if not for her unusual twist; the genetic manipulation being done here is not by humanity but by an alien race called the Pribir.

The Pribir were once like humanity (or so they say)and are preparing humanity for life in an environment full of environmental toxics. Their primary means of communication appears to be through a series of complex smells. The resulting children from their experiment are something more than human but still have the same emotional flaws as their peers.

Kress deals with a lot of complex issues here: the environment and our place in it; the rights of those who have been genetically manipulated; the role of any outside culture in influencing another one--even for their own good. As usual Kress handles the plot, characters and themes deftly. What the novel lacks is any sense that it is building to a powerful conclusion.

Nothing Human isn't disappointing just anti-climatic. It's rare that a Kress novel disappoints and no one can write a classic every time. Kress' latest novel has much to admire but it just isn't in the same league as Beggar's in Spain or Probability Moon.