science fiction

The Family Tree - Sheri S. Tepper Book Review

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Review Summary
Doris is a mid-thirties modern day cop. She has issues from her upbringing that affect her today. Her hubby is Jared, both married late and now she is realising all he wants her for is as a housekeeper. (Their marriage has never been consumated. Why? This issue is addressed... with sinister reasons!) Jared is rather strange, even threatening, and Doris is nervous of him.

Jared tries to remove a stubbon weed from the garden and it attacks him and he ends up in hospital. Doris decides to leave him and finds a new place to live. She talks to the plant in her head, it follows her to her new home and then it starts obeying her - like dropping a cutting for her, offering her fruit. Not just this plant - plants are growing like crazy everywhere, taking over the world but leaving certain areas clear (like airports and highways.)

Things get very strange. In another world where there is a caste system. Different tribes have very diverse cultural ways and skills (such as the armakfatidi being excellent cooks but they can't speak, they just grummel). Various individuals from different tribes are called together on a quest, something to do with the potential destruction of the world. They journey to St Weel, a band of diverse characters including two who become smitten by each other (one a spoiled sultan's son, the other a young diplomatic empress,) an orphan (who is the main narrator), a eunuch and a learned son of a leader fulfilling a prophecy his father was given.

Donni Hakanson, Resident Scholar


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Plot

Composition of Book
Descript. of chases or violence - 10%
planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 50%
Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 20%
Descript. of society, phenomena (tech), places - 20%




Tone of book - sensitive (sigh....)
FANTASY or SCIENCE FICTION? - part earth & part fantasy world
Plotlets: - on a parallel earth in another dimension
Political power play Yes
Political plotlets - factions fight within govt for control
Is this an adult or child's book? - Adult or Young Adult Book

Main Character
Identity: - Female
Profession/status: - police/lawman
Age: - 20's-30's
Is this an ordinary person caught up in events? Yes
How sensitive is this character? - sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor - Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence - Smarter than most other characters
Physique - average physique

Main Adversary
Identity: - magical being
Age: - long-lived adults
Profession/status: - bounty hunter
Has magical powers? Yes
Magical/mental powers of main antagonist: - can cast all sorts of spells
Eccentric: Yes - eccentric - obsessed - mentally ill - deluded - emotionally unstable - wild
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in: - a moderate amount
How sensitive is this character? - hard edged
Intelligence - Average intelligence
Physique - physically sick

Setting
Terrain - Forests
Earth setting: - current (early 21st century)
Takes place on Earth? Yes

Style
Person? - rotating 1st
Accounts of torture and death? - generic/vague references to death/punishment
Sex in book? Yes
What kind of sex: - vague references only
How much dialogue? - roughly even amounts of descript and dialog
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