Rating: 
Summary: Inventive science, difficult fiction
Review: This science fiction novel, written by a biologist, gives us an unusually thorough description of an alternate biology. The flora and fauna of the imaginary world Prokaryon are intriguing, particularly when they begin to reveal a hidden intelligence. The visitors to Prokaryon are diverse, including different sorts of humans and intelligent machines, all communicating effortlessly with each other. Medical nanotechnology sends microscopic probes through bodies to remove unwanted organisms. Less inventive is the ubiquitous nanoplast, a substance that shapes and reshapes according to need but is never explained. Neutrinograms allow faster than light communication, another version of an old science fiction device. The densely written story, involving a large number of human and non-human characters, is laborious to read. Only dedicated science fiction fans will make it all the way through.
Rating: 
Summary: Masterfully written and thoroughly engaging novel.
Review: Wow! This book turned out to be quite a surprise. I generally don't like "child-themed" science fiction so had left this one on my reading stack for a while. When I finally did get into the first few chapters, I found out how my preconceptions from the book's title, and the blurb on the back cover were totally off base.The very depth of mathematics and biology that are explored, within the context of a most fascinating story, are both mind expanding and enlightening. There is quite a bit more here than first meets the eye. The plotting and storyline combined with the hard science make this a most memorable and worth while novel. Highly Recommended.
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