Darwin's Children - Greg Bear Book Review

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Review Summary

Stella Nova is one of the new generation of kids. Instead of the society accepting the new generation, the kids are being hunted and put away to camps, or even death. They try to find their way in the world that is so hostile towards them and a new type of society emerges.
irina, Resident Scholar

Del Rey, Apr 2003, 24.95, 400 pp.
ISBN: 0345448359

Eleven years ago the scattered human endogenous viral activation retrovirus caused mutations leading to the birth of a different human species (see DARWIN'S RADIO). Instead of welcoming the genetically enhanced humans, the old generation, many of which are the parents of these kids, fears and detests their offspring. Much of the phobia comes from the unknown, but also from the propaganda beat that these new humans will ravage the old race. The government established special laws and agencies to keep these children uneducated and targeted for death for almost anything.

There remain small cells of non-enhanced humans who want to do the right thing with the preadolescents that are growing up in isolation. Amongst this minority, scientists Kaye Lang and Mitch Rafelson, live in exile under the watchful eye of Big Brother yet still quietly raise their daughter, Stella, who seeks her own kind. If EMAC finds her, the camps or death will occur and the current suburban Virginia exile of Kaye and Mitch will seem mainstream compared with what the Feds would do to them.

Harriet Klausner

Harriet Klausner, Resident Scholar

Detailed literary breakdown of Darwin's Children

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Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot

Composition of Book
Descript. of chases or violence - 10%
planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 20%
Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 40%
Descript. of society, phenomena (tech), places - 30%

Tone of book - suspenseful (sophisticated fear)
FANTASY or SCIENCE FICTION? - science fiction story
Repressive society story Yes
Is this an adult or child's book? - Adult or Young Adult Book
Cultural problems, alien culture Yes
Culture clash- - one culture tries to impose its culture on another group
Family relations Yes
Who's a slave/repressed? - aliens are slaves

Main Character
Identity: - Female
Profession/status: - student
Age: - a teen
Has magical/special powers? Yes
Magical/mental powers of main character: - can read emotions
How sensitive is this character? - sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor - Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence - Average intelligence - Smarter than most other characters
Physique - very athletic

Main Adversary
Identity: - an organization
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in: - a moderate amount

Setting
Earth setting: - near future (later in 21st century) - medium future 22-24th century
Takes place on Earth? Yes

Style
Person? - mostly 3rd
Accounts of torture and death? - no torture/death - generic/vague references to death/punishment
scientific jargon? (SF only) - some scientific explanation - a fair amount of scientific explanation
Sex in book? Yes
What kind of sex: - vague references only
How much dialogue? - significantly more dialog than descript - significantly more descript than dialog

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Note: the views expressed here are only those of the reviewer(s).

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