Darwin's Children

Rating:
Summary: Good hard sf
Review: A good hard SF is a rare thing these days, when the bookstores ale loaded with tons of fodder fantasy crap, and Greg Bear sure knows how to write it. I wouldn't go as far as to say he is "a Arthur Clarke's biggest rival so far" as one of the reviews in The Times suggests (one of the main reasons it that in order to earn more today's writers usually produce far more words then necessary which of course degrade their work), but for fans of Clarke, Asimov and other hard SF masters he definitely is a sound alternative.

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: What a Shame Mr. Bear
Review: Dear Mr. Bear:

I own almost all of your books. I have read and enjoyed them very much. Right up until "Darwin's Children", that is. I quote, "The Republicans are the country's pit bull, Mitch. Barking in the night, all night, every night, right or wrong, and savaging their enemies without mercy."

Really? Have you been paying ANY attention this year at all? Michael Moore, Mr. Soros, Whoopie Goldberg and the rest of the so-called tolerant (what an oxymoron THAT is when applied to these people), peace loving liberal Democrats...never in my not very short life have I seen such bald, naked hatred as these people, and their friends, have demonstrated. They have a lock on mean-spirited nastiness. Self-serving, narcissistic opportunists all.

I am a Republican, and I know many other Republicans, and none of us resemble anything like the picture you paint. You, Sir, are part of the vicious, hate mongering, country dividing, maniacal left wing that has torn this country apart ever since Al Gore legitimately lost the 2000 election but did not have the balls, or apparently the brains, to admit it. At least John Kerry had the good sense, and decency, to do the right thing. I was pleasantly surprised at his actions, but I can admit it.

Now, you continue your vitriolic behavior by incorporating your hatred into your stories. I have never read a novel where the author tired to paint the Democratic, as a whole, evil (even though I might think there are a few who would qualify for that title -- I am intelligent enough to know that there are evil people in both parties). These authors have wisely left their political opinions at home where they belong.

Unfortunately, what seemed like promising fiction turns out to be nothing more than another hate filled vehicle, written by a blind to reality, intellectual elitist who thinks he knows what is best for everyone else and is just certain we all want to hear it.

You should be ashamed of yourself. But my experience with people like you is that you are incapable of that emotion.

Rather than pass this book on to someone else, someone not smart enough to know they are being brainwashed, I will just take it to the dump on Saturday, where it will join the rest of the garbage.


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: 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: 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: A spark missing
Review: I'd enjoyed Greg Bear's fisrt novel in this series, Darwin's Radio, tremendously - evolution, physical anthropology and neaderthals, with a new race of humans being born. What's not to like?

In Darwin's Children, the first generation of new humans are growing up, and there's enormous government tension engendered by their presence, the fear of them as a contagious virus that needs to be contained, etc. (In the real world, I suspect the response to 'new' humans would be far more savage and deadly, but perhaps the author didn't want to go there.)

Mitch and Kay, and their new human daughter Stella, are key protagonists in this novel, but not the only players: every chapter in the book switches - irritatingly - from one character point of view to another.

As is so often the case with science fiction, the science becomes the protagonist, with the human characters often little more than mouthpieces for lengthy disserations on various scientifica topics - in this book for example, evolutonary and viral biology (though Bear provides a glossary at the back for the jargon-challenged).

I suppose this would have all been fine, except nothing really happens in Darwin's Children. There are tensions. Stella grows up. Mitch and Kay have relationship issues. There's a very touching archaeological find of mixed races buried in 30,000 years of old lava (CAN two races of humanoids work together???). Oh, and Kay has an epiphany - which is all very interesting - but ultimately has little bearing on either the story or the development of Kay's character.

In short, after rushing out to buy the book in hardcover, I was left feeling flat. Perhaps this was a book Bear didn't want to write anyway - but his publisher made him....