Rating: 
Summary: Flawed but interesting story
Review: Tepper is writing here on some of her favorite themes - feminism, epochal and strange transformations, and repressive patriarchal religions. This time, however, the story isn't set in the distant future or on an imagined world, but in New Mexico in the very near future - so near it is now the past. (The book was written in 1996 and set in 2000.)The novel centers on a group of women, close friends since they met in college 40 years earlier, who are receiving what seems to be messages or warnings from one of their number who disappeared a few years earlier and is thought to be dead. One of them is an attorney, Caroline Crespin, happily married to a retired FBI agent who is a very rare type in this story, a decent male. She is defending a woman accused of infanticide against a vile District Attorney, Jake Jagger, who works for an even more vile far right conspiracy, the Alliance. As the apocalypse grows near, Caroline and her friends discover the real truth behind the Alliance and look for a way to stop its plans for world domination and enslavement of women. This isn't Tepper at her best - Grass is probably her best work. The immediate setting and the exaggerated evil of the villains makes the story more dogmatic and preachy than provocative. The ending is unpersuasive and ducks crucial issues. But the main characters are done well and most of the main story is exciting and compelling.
Rating: 
Summary: A bit preachy but overall intriguing
Review: The book lacked the subtlety of "The Gate to Women's Country" but was still a good read. Much of the horrors she described do happen, and not just "elsewhere." I'm sure she saw more than her share of that working at Planned Parenthood. For those folks lamenting the lack of multi-dimensional male characters, kindly keep in mind that there are thousands of books that have given short-shrift to female characters, but have gotten much acclaim nonetheless. I think we can allow at least a few books to concentrate on female characters to the exclusion of the male. It doesn't mean the story isn't a good one. As a former Catholic, I have to agree with Ms. Tepper's assessment: namely that it is a boys-only club with unrealistic views about women and life in general. The church heirarchy isn't stupid; they are well aware than there are too many people being born yet they persist in prohibiting birth control. This from a bunch of guys who aren't permitted to have romantic relationships of any kind, be married or to have children. And women - over half of the world's population - are given no real voice at all. Can you say "out of touch with reality" boys and girls? Okay, time for me to get off the soapbox. Read within the proper context, it has many valuable messages within a rather compelling story. The unanswered question at the end just made it more interesting and thought-provoking. I'm sure almost everyone who read the book has a good idea of what they would choose (or are debating over two choices.) It won't be everyone's cup of tea, but I've never heard of a book that was.
Rating:
Summary: A bit preachy but overall intriguing
Review: The book lacked the subtlety of "The Gate to Women's Country" but was still a good read. Much of the horrors she described do happen, and not just "elsewhere." I'm sure she saw more than her share of that working at Planned Parenthood. For those folks lamenting the lack of multi-dimensional male characters, kindly keep in mind that there are thousands of books that have given short-shrift to female characters, but have gotten much acclaim nonetheless. I think we can allow at least a few books to concentrate on female characters to the exclusion of the male. It doesn't mean the story isn't a good one. As a former Catholic, I have to agree with Ms. Tepper's assessment: namely that it is a boys-only club with unrealistic views about women and life in general. The church heirarchy isn't stupid; they are well aware than there are too many people being born yet they persist in prohibiting birth control. This from a bunch of guys who aren't permitted to have romantic relationships of any kind, be married or to have children. And women - over half of the world's population - are given no real voice at all. Can you say "out of touch with reality" boys and girls? Okay, time for me to get off the soapbox. Read within the proper context, it has many valuable messages within a rather compelling story. The unanswered question at the end just made it more interesting and thought-provoking. I'm sure almost everyone who read the book has a good idea of what they would choose (or are debating over two choices.) It won't be everyone's cup of tea, but I've never heard of a book that was.
Rating:
Summary: A bit preachy but overall intriguing
Review: The book lacked the subtlety of "The Gate to Women's Country" but was still a good read. Much of the horrors she described do happen, and not just "elsewhere." I'm sure she saw more than her share of that working at Planned Parenthood. For those folks lamenting the lack of multi-dimensional male characters, kindly keep in mind that there are thousands of books that have given short-shrift to female characters, but have gotten much acclaim nonetheless. I think we can allow at least a few books to concentrate on female characters to the exclusion of the male. It doesn't mean the story isn't a good one. As a former Catholic, I have to agree with Ms. Tepper's assessment: namely that it is a boys-only club with unrealistic views about women and life in general. The church heirarchy isn't stupid; they are well aware than there are too many people being born yet they persist in prohibiting birth control. This from a bunch of guys who aren't permitted to have romantic relationships of any kind, be married or to have children. And women - over half of the world's population - are given no real voice at all. Can you say "out of touch with reality" boys and girls? Okay, time for me to get off the soapbox. Read within the proper context, it has many valuable messages within a rather compelling story. The unanswered question at the end just made it more interesting and thought-provoking. I'm sure almost everyone who read the book has a good idea of what they would choose (or are debating over two choices.) It won't be everyone's cup of tea, but I've never heard of a book that was.
Rating:
Summary: Good Women's Sci/Fi
Review: This book is Sheri Tepper's most feminist book I've read. It has a number of disturbing, thought-provoking passages, and characters I liked and others I'd love to see get their just desserts (and they do). Unfortunately it took a good portion of the book for me to get in to the story, as it seemed to start slowly. I did enjoy the last half, although I would have liked to know what Carolyn Crespin's final choice was (I know what I'd have chosen, but what about C.C.?) Overall a good book I would recommend.
Rating: 
Summary: Sheri's Getting Scary
Review: This is the most dogmatic thing I've read in years. Newsflash: just because someone is a feminist does not automatically make her "open-minded" and "progressive." Women can be just as bigoted and mean-spirited as men, as Tepper has repeatedly proved. This lady has a serious persecution complex. She spins out an elaborate fantasy where every male is an evil oppressor and every woman is a brave yet downtrodden victim (unless, of course, they've been brainwashed by the Evil Men.) The few non-evil males are such spineless, one-dimensional nice guys that they might as well not be there at all. And how do Tepper's characters solve the problems that the Evil Men have created? Essentially, a virus is unleashed into the world that causes people to lose interest in sex, and, magically, all the world's problems are solved. But wait, wouldn't there be widespread panic and confusion if sex suddenly disappeared? Well, Tepper's thought of that, too--her virus also releases a sedative-type chemical into its hosts which makes them calm and happy. So, basically, Tepper's solution to sexism is to castrate and drug the entire human race into complacency. A big, species-wide lobotomy. Free will? Feh, who needs it, people will just make stupid choices...according to Tepper, anyway. Good Lord. Next to her, Stalin looks like a big, cuddly teddy bear.
Rating:
Summary: Exposes the misogyny that lies below the surface
Review: This is the second Tepper novel I read; I found it to be much more readable than the first, which was a fantasy novel. This is ostensibly science fiction, although it has elements of fantasy, such as the deity that offers Carolyn a reproductive choice that will decide the fate of humanity. The female characters are eminently believable, and its examination of our stereotypes of women, especially mothers, is fascinating. Some of the male characters are a bit two-dimensional. The story slows down a little in the second half - it becomes a little less dramatic - and the ending, where we are left hanging, is frustrating - we never learn what Carolyn decides. All in all this is a good read.
Rating:
Summary: Preachy but intriguing.
Review: This is the third book I've read by this author. I can forgive her preachiness because the ideas are interesting, but as I read this one I found myself wondering--has Tepper ever actually *met* a Catholic? In her novel, the Pope is in league with The Ones Who Want To Keep Women Down. But while women are banned from the priesthood (which, I agree with Tepper, indicates fundamental misogyny), respect for women's basic human rights is part of Catholic doctrine! I found it hard to buy the idea that the Catholic hierarchy would be in on a plot to keep women down for the sake of keeping them down. In any case, it's an interesting and worthwhile book, even if your willing suspension of disbelief may get a real workout
Rating: 
Summary: One of Tepper's best!!
Review: This novel is certainly one of Tepper's best! It is thoughtful, intelligent and feminist without being pushy. The concepts here are rich and vast and certainly thought provoking! It's a wonderful thing when a favorite author continues to deliver!
Rating:
Summary: Excellent, held my interest through every page.
Review: Well thought out plot, well developed characters, expecially with the number there are. Fearless tackling of difficult subject matter. Wonderful twists and turns and delightful integration of all the bits and pieces at the end. A few places it got a bit preachy but forgiven as the topic is so very important that it's worth driving the point home. Descriptions are vivid and flowing creating pictures in the mind. I could not put it down--excellent.
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