"Science-fiction fans will luxuriate in the dystopian madness, while even nonfans will find an artful critique of humanity's ability to cooperate in the face of a greater threat."
In a dystopian future, aliens have parked their spaceship in New York Harbor, America is rabidly isolationist, and geneticist Marianne Jenner's three adult children can't stop squabbling.
Read full book review >
"Arrestingly ambiguous and persuasively set forth—in the best science-fiction tradition, guaranteed provocative no matter what your personal opinions."
Kress (Dogs, 2008, etc.) returns to science fiction with this yarn about alien contact, genetic engineering and life after death.
Read full book review >
"Life-sized characters with personal and cosmic preoccupations, tense and knotty if sometimes uneven plotting, and Kress's usual abundance of ideas: gripping, challenging work, a reassuring return to top form."
Alien-contact yarn from the author of, most recently, the Probability Trilogy (Probability Space, p. 1000, etc.).
Read full book review >
"Shapeless, with a somewhat interesting young protagonist, while only minimally renewing our acquaintance with the until-now fascinating Worlders and Fallers: a bitterly disappointing conclusion."
Final installment of Kress's hitherto scintillating trilogy (Probability Sun, 2001, etc.), although by itself this one's barely intelligible.
Read full book review >
"Kress's always-excellent characters wrestle with a splendid array of puzzles and problems, human, alien, and scientific: another resounding success for this talented, sure-footed writer."
Sequel, as predicted, to Kress's wonderful alien-contact yarn Probability Moon (2000).
Read full book review >
"Twisty and compelling, brimful of ideas, with Kress's usual life-sized characters: top-notch work from a major talent—and we haven't heard the last of the Fallers."
A far-future alien-contact yarn from the versatile author of Stinger (1998), etc. When humans expanded into space, they found a network of stargates left by vanished aliens—and also ran into the Fallers, xenophobic aliens who immediately declared war and continue to resist all attempts at communication.
Read full book review >
"Agreeably understated, impeccably crafted, engagingly peopled, and, this time, the offstage villains are perfectly suited to the swirling, murky atmosphere of paranoia."
Another biotech thriller featuring the long-suffering, messed-up FBI agent Robert Cavanaugh (Oaths and Miracles, 1996).
Read full book review >
"And if you don't like the stories, you can always ponder the collection's baffling title."
Kress's first story collection since The Aliens of Earth (1993) comprises 13 tales, 1991—97, and includes the original novella-length version of her splendid Beggars in Spain.
Read full book review >
"Dubious characters, plotting that relies on coincidence, and a threadbare backdrop: disappointing work from this talented yet erratic writer."
More near/medium-future biological manipulations from the author of Beggars Ride (1996), etc. By 2034, endocrine-disrupting chemical pollutants have caused a collapse in world fertility.
Read full book review >
"Dreary and annoyingly, sophomorically didactic, though fans of the previous two volumes will probably want to investigate."
In the splendid Beggars in Spain (1993), Kress invented a breed of humans who no longer needed to sleep—a compelling idea that the disappointing Beggars and Choosers (1994) dissipated in ho-hum nanotechnology and political manipulation.
Read full book review >
"The author's real strengths lie in her ability to create characters who have recognizable frailties and sorrows, and pages that are simply brimming over with ideas."
A widely admired science-fiction writer returns to a favorite theme—biotechnology run amok—but this time entering the mainstream to offer up a thriller.
Read full book review >
"Simultaneously disquieting and memorable: stories of great scope, depth, and unobtrusive charm."
Eighteen tales, 1986-93, drawn from various magazines and original anthologies, by the author of the outstanding novels Brain Rose (1989) and Beggars in Spain (p. 190).
Read full book review >
Thank you! You’ll get the first email of recommendations from our critics within a week!
Bummer. There was a problem adding your email address. Please try again.
Subscribe to Pro Connect
Be the first to discover new talent!
Each week, our editors select the one author and one book they believe to be most worthy of your attention and highlight them in our Pro Connect email alert.
Sign up here to receive your FREE alerts.
