Natural History by Justina Robson
01/05/2004 . Source: Geoff Willmetts 
pub: Pan. 393 page paperback. Price: £ 6.99 (UK). ISBN: 0-330-48943-7). Buy from Amazon US - Buy from Amazon UK
nb: US titles may only be available from Amazon US, and UK titles from Amazon UK. check out website: www.panmacmillan.com
This is an example of a fragmented novel. That is, you're seeing the story plot through several characters different perspectives and, to some extent, you're obliged to work out what is going on from what they discover as much as reading through to the end. In fact, with this type of novel it really does pay to think about the events and how it affects the characters rather than have easily identifiable protagonists.
This is a future where 'Forged' humans exist. Essentially, their essences are carried in the form of spaceships, terraforming vehicles to exotic metallic animals like enlarged parrots. The 'Unevolved' are essentially normal humans.
Both sides are rather tolerate of each other. The 'Forged' need the 'Unevolved' to help them with certain maintenance and the former can do things the latter can't. It's a shame that more of this wasn't explored because it's quite a fascinating premise.
One of the Forged, a spaceship being called Isol, intercepts and is partially absorbed by some alien technology that leads her to discover the planet where it came from. Although abandoned, she sees it as a possible homeworld for other Forged, especially as she now has a means for instantaneous travel across the galaxy.
The Unevolved, not wishing to infringe on a potential alien abode, convince Isol to take an inspector, Dr. Zephyr Duquesne, there to look around the place. Into this mix, we also see the viewpoints of other Forged as they examine a piece of this alien material themselves and discover that it can be equally destructive as well.
In many respects, this is an ascension novel, without giving too much of the plot away. Author Justina Robson frequently has to remind the reader what these Forged beings look like. In many respects, this is a problem caused by them all speaking like regular humans would. It's sorta like having two spaceships berthed together and talking although they can have aviators that can be used for more mobile excursions.
They still don't come over as alienisque enough to appreciate the difference. You'd have thought them being so different from the Unevolved which show a more significant difference in their voices but this isn't exploited. Robson also shows her own roots as she falls back on her native Yorkshire slang in her dialogue although I often thought calling someone 'Lady Muck' hailed from my end of the country.
Despite such criticisms, this is a rather involving novel and I'm sure if you'll get read it just to see a lot more of this reality.
GF Willmetts |
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