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Braided World
“Come find what you have lost...”
Heeding this cryptic message from deep space, the crew of the starship Restoration journeys from Earth to a distant planet, hoping to find humanity’s lost genetic diversity. But with the human race on the verge of extinction from the twin horrors of plague and a mysterious scourge of dark matter, how can an alien world harbor any remedies for Earth’s declining populations?
Worse, the Restoration arrives depleted: its captain is dead, its crew demoralized--except for an indomitable old woman whose power and wealth give her the privilege of naming the new captain. Anton Prados, a young, untested officer, will now preside over humanity’s first contact with an alien race. An alien race that, improbably, looks exactly like humans. Only, the Dassa possess highly unusual breeding habits--and a reproductive process that seems to be the nullification of all that is human. And they think much the same about humanity…
Heeding this cryptic message from deep space, the crew of the starship Restoration journeys from Earth to a distant planet, hoping to find humanity’s lost genetic diversity. But with the human race on the verge of extinction from the twin horrors of plague and a mysterious scourge of dark matter, how can an alien world harbor any remedies for Earth’s declining populations?
Worse, the Restoration arrives depleted: its captain is dead, its crew demoralized--except for an indomitable old woman whose power and wealth give her the privilege of naming the new captain. Anton Prados, a young, untested officer, will now preside over humanity’s first contact with an alien race. An alien race that, improbably, looks exactly like humans. Only, the Dassa possess highly unusual breeding habits--and a reproductive process that seems to be the nullification of all that is human. And they think much the same about humanity…
416 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published February 4, 2003
5 people are currently reading
305 people want to read
About the author
Kay Kenyon
43 books255 followersKay Kenyon is a fantasy and science fiction author. She is now working on her 21st novel, a fantasy. She has been a finalist for the Philip K. Dick Award and several others and recently had a trilogy optioned for film, The Dark Talents: At the Table of Wolves.
Her newest fantasy series is The Arisen Worlds quartet. Book 1, The Girl Who Fell Into Myth, Book 2, Stranger in the Twisted Realm, Book 3, Servant of the Lost Power and Book 4, Keeper of the Mythos Gate. "A story of powers and magic on a grand scale.” —Louisa Morgan, author of The Secret History of Witches.
Her acclaimed 4-book series, The Entire and The Rose, has been reissued with new covers: Bright of the Sky. Called "a splendid fantasy quest" by The Washington Post.
She loves to hear from readers, and you can contact her at http://www.kaykenyon.com where you can also sign up for her newsletter.
Her newest fantasy series is The Arisen Worlds quartet. Book 1, The Girl Who Fell Into Myth, Book 2, Stranger in the Twisted Realm, Book 3, Servant of the Lost Power and Book 4, Keeper of the Mythos Gate. "A story of powers and magic on a grand scale.” —Louisa Morgan, author of The Secret History of Witches.
Her acclaimed 4-book series, The Entire and The Rose, has been reissued with new covers: Bright of the Sky. Called "a splendid fantasy quest" by The Washington Post.
She loves to hear from readers, and you can contact her at http://www.kaykenyon.com where you can also sign up for her newsletter.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
September 3, 2020
This one turns into a good exercise in hard-sf world building mixed with liberal dollops of anthropology and (dare I say it?) civics after a somewhat slow start. Once the main characters get into gear and interact, it's a good interstellar adventure. I always liked Kenyon's science fiction more than her more recent fantasy novels, and this is a good one.
July 1, 2009
I was interested in the book enough to follow it through to the end. It was entertaining and moved at a good pace. But there were so many holes and problems that I just can't give it three stars. It's two and a half at best.
I like her writing but I think she takes ridiculous liberties in order to further the plot rather than taking the time to come up with something that makes more sense.
**************** SPOILER BELOW ****************************
One problem I had was with the hoda and that they came from the same society that enslaved them. Children were raised as slave-owners and suddenly became slaves. Families lost their children to being hoda. I just didn't buy how people could so easily change their views about people they knew already. If it were rare, sure, but ALL hoda came from within. It didn't jive for me.
My biggest problem with the book, though, was the very current sense of morality and behavior of the humans who are allegedly from 10,000 years in our future. Does she really believe that humans won't have changed much in that amount of time? That's before recorded history. Think how much we've changed since even a few hundred years ago. And these people have a problem with seeing people touching in public? They don't even have intercourse, just orgasm from touch. I really didn't buy that.
I also felt it ridiculous that they would be offended and repulsed by people reproducing like fish. Really silly. Nor do I believe that a pop singer 10,000 years from now is going to know who Mozart and Verdi are let alone the words to their music. Totally absurd.
There were other problems, like the ending where people who had just mutinied to go home suddenly wanted to stay after they had found a possible cure. Really didn't make sense at all. I also didn't like her writing from the human perspective only until suddenly she was writing from a hoda perspective, too. It was jarring and felt lazy, like she couldn't figure out a way to show us what she wanted without going into the hoda world.
Oh, and what about the fact that there is no way this tiny society took up a whole planet. Why didn't they try going to another group on the planet when they weren't getting anywhere? Why didn't it occur to them that the information they were looking for was elsewhere on the planet? And there was no way this tiny group (if you look at the map, it took a very short amount of time to go from place to place so the distances had to be small and therefore the city small, too) had enough genetic diversity to save Earth.
I could go on but I'm getting irritated all over again. Lazy writing really irks me, especially when just a little more effort would make it so much better.
I like her writing but I think she takes ridiculous liberties in order to further the plot rather than taking the time to come up with something that makes more sense.
**************** SPOILER BELOW ****************************
One problem I had was with the hoda and that they came from the same society that enslaved them. Children were raised as slave-owners and suddenly became slaves. Families lost their children to being hoda. I just didn't buy how people could so easily change their views about people they knew already. If it were rare, sure, but ALL hoda came from within. It didn't jive for me.
My biggest problem with the book, though, was the very current sense of morality and behavior of the humans who are allegedly from 10,000 years in our future. Does she really believe that humans won't have changed much in that amount of time? That's before recorded history. Think how much we've changed since even a few hundred years ago. And these people have a problem with seeing people touching in public? They don't even have intercourse, just orgasm from touch. I really didn't buy that.
I also felt it ridiculous that they would be offended and repulsed by people reproducing like fish. Really silly. Nor do I believe that a pop singer 10,000 years from now is going to know who Mozart and Verdi are let alone the words to their music. Totally absurd.
There were other problems, like the ending where people who had just mutinied to go home suddenly wanted to stay after they had found a possible cure. Really didn't make sense at all. I also didn't like her writing from the human perspective only until suddenly she was writing from a hoda perspective, too. It was jarring and felt lazy, like she couldn't figure out a way to show us what she wanted without going into the hoda world.
Oh, and what about the fact that there is no way this tiny society took up a whole planet. Why didn't they try going to another group on the planet when they weren't getting anywhere? Why didn't it occur to them that the information they were looking for was elsewhere on the planet? And there was no way this tiny group (if you look at the map, it took a very short amount of time to go from place to place so the distances had to be small and therefore the city small, too) had enough genetic diversity to save Earth.
I could go on but I'm getting irritated all over again. Lazy writing really irks me, especially when just a little more effort would make it so much better.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 20, 2009
This three stars is really 3-1/2. "The Braided World" is a good piece of genre literature. It has plenty of action and human/alien drama. It kept my attention and kept me reading. Kenyon created a very interesting world. But, it was very predictable and the story was populated by stock characters the seemed pretty unrealistic. I did like the fact that the action stayed with the central characters and didn't jump around from location to location. "The Braided World" is terrific if you want some science fiction entertainment that just lets you enjoy your inner geek.
July 18, 2023
This is a really interesting novel with very good prose. What is more interesting is the new convoluted pathways that Goodreads require of me to be able to write a review. Are you finding that finishing your novels does not automatically Allow you to move to the write a review page? It is almost as if my space science fiction opinions are unwanted. I still usually have that ability with other genre but I now wonder for how long. Fortunately, Goodreads have gifted me one benefit, my new favourite song is now "Never back down". 🤔
This corporation are a customer service gem. 🤗 I will visit some favoured YouTube channels to remove my distaste for the site's continued antics. This review was made possible by Biz Barclay, Verilybitchie, Books and Lala, Acollierastro, With Olivia, Wizards and Warriors, Mia Mulder, Tom Nicholas, Kazachka, Autumn's Boutique, Shannon Makes, Sound of Music Flashmob -Antwerp, May, Ben and Emily, A Clockwork Reader, Cruising Crafts, The Bands of HM Royal Marines, Dominic Noble, Mauler, A Day of Small Things, Oliviareadsalatte, Lily Simpson, Owen Jones, Peter Stefanovic, May Moon Narrowboat, iWriterly, Weir on the Move, Alysotherlife, A Cup of Nicole, Cambrian Chronicles, The Little Platoon, Chris Animations, Chris and Shell, Renegade Cut, Ro Ramdin, Philosophy Tube, DUST, Malinda, UATV.
The world building is an on-going project during the entire book. The understanding of the characterised is expanded as various characters make decisions attempting to resolve life and death puzzles affecting three species. The original picture is a good foundation but opens up as the true science fiction big ideas cascade across the pages chapter by chapter. It is almost easy to miss their introduction when the plot reveals these, as these are absorbed in the intensity of major plot points. It was wonderful. 🙂 This was a rarity in most of the science fiction ebooks, which I have tried to read in the last five years.
The characters are vivid and their interactions are as confusing as for the reader as they are for the characters. I liked almost none of the humans, which caused me to pay attention more to this complex and well developed society. The alien culture is truly weird and its details are beautifully logical. Watching the humans struggle to understand the aliens, while barely understanding each other was frustrating but realistically human. It is sometimes easy to forget that the human crew are not governmental and lack the cohesion of any organizational discipline. That lapse will be short lived, so no worries.
The book sets and resolves many puzzles with no final answers. This does have a satisfying end but could easily be a series. I was hoping this would be book one of a series but there does not seem to be. 😢 The technology is fairly grounded and if vaguely described is handled logically. Final judgement. Very engaging, if not likeable characters. Character internal dialogue is used very well and with such complex relationships is quite useful in embracing them all with their varied flaws. An alien species with near human biology is beautifully written.
A friend's review was recommendation enough for me. There are only a very tiny percentage of reviews as compared to ratings on this site, which really surprised me at the start. The reviews of the very literary and non-fiction are useful but I found most of other reviews to be useless, which was another big surprise. The vocal male science fiction membership can be extraordinarily nasty and despite their comments to reviews, write no reviews and having scanned their shelves I noticed that they have not read the books. It is a curious and troubling phenomenon.
My negative science fiction reviews had often elicited comment clouds, which seem loosely organized. They were all relatively closely spaced and were always created in a short time, many comments following another within 24 hours. After this cloud passes there are no other vicious comments to the review. Since my new response comments have begun there have not been a single comment on any review. I enjoy the silence, though after five years despise this site. When members see these comments directed to myself and a number of other readers without a single counter, either members are afraid or agree. In either case this site can only be judged as toxic. It may be a passable and fading sales platform for Amazon but is not a reader's forum.
As I attempt to upload this review, Goodreads again do not allow it. It is possible to see my home page but receive "Sorry something went wrong" when attempting to upload. I thought that this mysterious upload blockage pattern was done but apparently this review is not complimentary enough. With stubborn persistence and my last sentence, it finally disappeared. Yay? 🤔
I watch rather than use print for most of my fiction at present. US publishers of fiction seem to prefer only three categories for print, The Minimal Effort, The No Effort and The Insulting. It does appear to be a successful, if frightening strategy. I confess that I watch my fiction at present, especially science fiction. More than 90% of my small sample of Amazon's selection were of these three categories. The streaming services, YouTube's DUST and Omeleto channels provide more interesting and better written stories.
YouTube has been a splendid discovery these last two years with their number and variety of channels. I found the science fiction, lifestyle, educational and essayist channels before stumbling upon the book channels. 😍 These are friendly, thoughtful and cosmopolitan communities of readers, who are enamoured of all things bookish. The many channels often carry sponsor spots for various educational video sites. These sites carry YouTube essayist, educational channel series, as well as documentaries.
As an example of Goodreads discourse, let me recount my experience after writing a negative review of Powers of Earth, a pathetic salute to the January 6, 2021 hero by a Travis Corcoran (self-described libertarian, vocal advocate of the return of chattel slavery, US veteran, a supporter of Putin and his Russia, employee of an unnamed US agency). After my original review received a libertarian mini-deluge of outraged 35+ year old American males (including the writer) over more than six months (seriously), a final comment from Claes Rees Jr/cgr710, declared that They had "won" (?).
It transpired that a tsunami of vile sexual and racist comments, some in my name were sent to many of the female creators of YouTube channels which I mentioned. While They failed to impress the Oxford Astrophysicist, the Thirteen year old boater and her mother, the lovely couple rebuilding a historic wooden boat and many others, They instead sent a very clear picture of the aggrieved American male on a "cancel" mission to a broad multinational audience. In Their defence, They did successfully increase the planet's overabundance of unpleasantness. Yay?
My YouTube picks of the moment.
LuckyBlackCat, Brittany Page, Eleanor Morton, Ship Happens, Deerstalker Pictures, The Leftist Cooks, Red Plateaus, Munecat, Mrs Betty Bowers, DUST, Sarah Millican, A Clockwork Reader, Chloe Stafler, Jean's Thoughts, Leeja Miller, Between the Wars.
As for Amazon/Goodreads, you might consider treating this as a potentially hostile site. 😐
Ominous music begins. 🙂 The members include real pieces of work, which is detailed in my reviews of "Dark Horse" , a good novel by Diener or "Marine", his typical sad reliving of college years by Dalzelle. These sociopathic members went in my case to the extremes of managing to involve Australian Security Services (Pine Gap Intelligence Centre) into investigating my private life. I am not an Australian resident or citizen thankfully, when considering their abandonment of Julian Assange in his persecution by the US government.
This intrusion was abetted by your friendly Kindle tech. My profile information and limited message history was handed over to outside organizations by Goodreads. Fortunately I have very limited exposure through Amazon/Goodreads. You might consider minimizing you profile information, removing any lurkers (those friends who never post), screenshotting the odd and the ugly and avoid messaging. If you are not a self-described Communist or Socialist, write no negative review to any science fiction favourite or no positive review to the wrong novel, you may not be targeted but I think it better to be safe. Ominous music ends. 🙂
May we all enjoy Good Reading! 🤗
While not understanding any of the terms which I encounter on the YouTube, these channels are some that brought me joy or taught me new things.
Minimal List, 2 Steps from Hell - The Bands of HM Royal Marines, Shannon Makes, Jill Bearup, J. Draper, Paola Hermosin, Owen Jones, Tara Mooknee, Autumn's Boutique, The Chloe Connection, Munecat, Lilly's Expat Life, Renegade Cut, Lady Knight the Brave, Book Furnace, Beau of the Fifth Column, Fortress of Lugh, Alt Shift X, Sabine Hossenfelder, Ro Ramdin, Overly Sarcastic Productions, Viva La Dirt League, Bella Ciao - Nikolay Kutuzov, Don't F@ck with Ukraine. Karolina Zebrowska, Beautifully Bookish Bethany, Tom Nicholas, Verilybitchie, Chris Animations, Chris and Shell, IzzzYzzz, Vikings - Monkey 8D Music, Spacedock, Book Odyssey, Lady of the Library, No Justice MTG, Adiemus - Carmina Slovenica, Real Engineering, Real Time History, Between the Wars, The Cold War, Kathy's Flog in France, Tibees, Lily Simpson, With Olivia, Nomadic Crobot, LuckyBlackCat, Philosophy Tube, Mia Mulder, Sideprojects, Master Samwise, Jay Exci, May Moon Narrowboat, Weir on the Move, Patrick is a Navajo, The Who Addicts, The Welsh Viking, Brittany Page, Some More News, DW News, Cambrian Chronicles, The Kavernacle, Second Thought, Cass Ellis, Lindsay Ellis, Lydia Loves Timelines, Ask a Mortician, Can Davis History, Knowing Better, MechWest Show, What Vivi did next, Kai Zammit, Dark Skies, Physics Girl, Up and Atom, Sabaton, Hej Sokoly, Call of History, Templin Institute, Quinn's Ideas, Facts with Psych, I am Mindblind, May, Cruising Crafts, Cruising Alba, Sailing Melody, Tasting History, RobWords, Never Back Down - Teresatesssa...
I wish you a glorious morning, a relaxed afternoon, a pleasant evening, a fantastic night and may we all continue learning. To Travis Corcoran - Slava Ukraini! Slava Geroyam!
Total freedom for me, not for thee.
(year 2xxx) chant at a Libertarian MAGA rally somewhere in the USA
Wealth growth and no regulation for the best, increased taxes and restrictions for the rest.
(year 2xxx) Title of the "US Joint Houses and Parties Policy Foundation Statement" for new federal legislation
This corporation are a customer service gem. 🤗 I will visit some favoured YouTube channels to remove my distaste for the site's continued antics. This review was made possible by Biz Barclay, Verilybitchie, Books and Lala, Acollierastro, With Olivia, Wizards and Warriors, Mia Mulder, Tom Nicholas, Kazachka, Autumn's Boutique, Shannon Makes, Sound of Music Flashmob -Antwerp, May, Ben and Emily, A Clockwork Reader, Cruising Crafts, The Bands of HM Royal Marines, Dominic Noble, Mauler, A Day of Small Things, Oliviareadsalatte, Lily Simpson, Owen Jones, Peter Stefanovic, May Moon Narrowboat, iWriterly, Weir on the Move, Alysotherlife, A Cup of Nicole, Cambrian Chronicles, The Little Platoon, Chris Animations, Chris and Shell, Renegade Cut, Ro Ramdin, Philosophy Tube, DUST, Malinda, UATV.
The world building is an on-going project during the entire book. The understanding of the characterised is expanded as various characters make decisions attempting to resolve life and death puzzles affecting three species. The original picture is a good foundation but opens up as the true science fiction big ideas cascade across the pages chapter by chapter. It is almost easy to miss their introduction when the plot reveals these, as these are absorbed in the intensity of major plot points. It was wonderful. 🙂 This was a rarity in most of the science fiction ebooks, which I have tried to read in the last five years.
The characters are vivid and their interactions are as confusing as for the reader as they are for the characters. I liked almost none of the humans, which caused me to pay attention more to this complex and well developed society. The alien culture is truly weird and its details are beautifully logical. Watching the humans struggle to understand the aliens, while barely understanding each other was frustrating but realistically human. It is sometimes easy to forget that the human crew are not governmental and lack the cohesion of any organizational discipline. That lapse will be short lived, so no worries.
The book sets and resolves many puzzles with no final answers. This does have a satisfying end but could easily be a series. I was hoping this would be book one of a series but there does not seem to be. 😢 The technology is fairly grounded and if vaguely described is handled logically. Final judgement. Very engaging, if not likeable characters. Character internal dialogue is used very well and with such complex relationships is quite useful in embracing them all with their varied flaws. An alien species with near human biology is beautifully written.
A friend's review was recommendation enough for me. There are only a very tiny percentage of reviews as compared to ratings on this site, which really surprised me at the start. The reviews of the very literary and non-fiction are useful but I found most of other reviews to be useless, which was another big surprise. The vocal male science fiction membership can be extraordinarily nasty and despite their comments to reviews, write no reviews and having scanned their shelves I noticed that they have not read the books. It is a curious and troubling phenomenon.
My negative science fiction reviews had often elicited comment clouds, which seem loosely organized. They were all relatively closely spaced and were always created in a short time, many comments following another within 24 hours. After this cloud passes there are no other vicious comments to the review. Since my new response comments have begun there have not been a single comment on any review. I enjoy the silence, though after five years despise this site. When members see these comments directed to myself and a number of other readers without a single counter, either members are afraid or agree. In either case this site can only be judged as toxic. It may be a passable and fading sales platform for Amazon but is not a reader's forum.
As I attempt to upload this review, Goodreads again do not allow it. It is possible to see my home page but receive "Sorry something went wrong" when attempting to upload. I thought that this mysterious upload blockage pattern was done but apparently this review is not complimentary enough. With stubborn persistence and my last sentence, it finally disappeared. Yay? 🤔
I watch rather than use print for most of my fiction at present. US publishers of fiction seem to prefer only three categories for print, The Minimal Effort, The No Effort and The Insulting. It does appear to be a successful, if frightening strategy. I confess that I watch my fiction at present, especially science fiction. More than 90% of my small sample of Amazon's selection were of these three categories. The streaming services, YouTube's DUST and Omeleto channels provide more interesting and better written stories.
YouTube has been a splendid discovery these last two years with their number and variety of channels. I found the science fiction, lifestyle, educational and essayist channels before stumbling upon the book channels. 😍 These are friendly, thoughtful and cosmopolitan communities of readers, who are enamoured of all things bookish. The many channels often carry sponsor spots for various educational video sites. These sites carry YouTube essayist, educational channel series, as well as documentaries.
As an example of Goodreads discourse, let me recount my experience after writing a negative review of Powers of Earth, a pathetic salute to the January 6, 2021 hero by a Travis Corcoran (self-described libertarian, vocal advocate of the return of chattel slavery, US veteran, a supporter of Putin and his Russia, employee of an unnamed US agency). After my original review received a libertarian mini-deluge of outraged 35+ year old American males (including the writer) over more than six months (seriously), a final comment from Claes Rees Jr/cgr710, declared that They had "won" (?).
It transpired that a tsunami of vile sexual and racist comments, some in my name were sent to many of the female creators of YouTube channels which I mentioned. While They failed to impress the Oxford Astrophysicist, the Thirteen year old boater and her mother, the lovely couple rebuilding a historic wooden boat and many others, They instead sent a very clear picture of the aggrieved American male on a "cancel" mission to a broad multinational audience. In Their defence, They did successfully increase the planet's overabundance of unpleasantness. Yay?
My YouTube picks of the moment.
LuckyBlackCat, Brittany Page, Eleanor Morton, Ship Happens, Deerstalker Pictures, The Leftist Cooks, Red Plateaus, Munecat, Mrs Betty Bowers, DUST, Sarah Millican, A Clockwork Reader, Chloe Stafler, Jean's Thoughts, Leeja Miller, Between the Wars.
As for Amazon/Goodreads, you might consider treating this as a potentially hostile site. 😐
Ominous music begins. 🙂 The members include real pieces of work, which is detailed in my reviews of "Dark Horse" , a good novel by Diener or "Marine", his typical sad reliving of college years by Dalzelle. These sociopathic members went in my case to the extremes of managing to involve Australian Security Services (Pine Gap Intelligence Centre) into investigating my private life. I am not an Australian resident or citizen thankfully, when considering their abandonment of Julian Assange in his persecution by the US government.
This intrusion was abetted by your friendly Kindle tech. My profile information and limited message history was handed over to outside organizations by Goodreads. Fortunately I have very limited exposure through Amazon/Goodreads. You might consider minimizing you profile information, removing any lurkers (those friends who never post), screenshotting the odd and the ugly and avoid messaging. If you are not a self-described Communist or Socialist, write no negative review to any science fiction favourite or no positive review to the wrong novel, you may not be targeted but I think it better to be safe. Ominous music ends. 🙂
May we all enjoy Good Reading! 🤗
While not understanding any of the terms which I encounter on the YouTube, these channels are some that brought me joy or taught me new things.
Minimal List, 2 Steps from Hell - The Bands of HM Royal Marines, Shannon Makes, Jill Bearup, J. Draper, Paola Hermosin, Owen Jones, Tara Mooknee, Autumn's Boutique, The Chloe Connection, Munecat, Lilly's Expat Life, Renegade Cut, Lady Knight the Brave, Book Furnace, Beau of the Fifth Column, Fortress of Lugh, Alt Shift X, Sabine Hossenfelder, Ro Ramdin, Overly Sarcastic Productions, Viva La Dirt League, Bella Ciao - Nikolay Kutuzov, Don't F@ck with Ukraine. Karolina Zebrowska, Beautifully Bookish Bethany, Tom Nicholas, Verilybitchie, Chris Animations, Chris and Shell, IzzzYzzz, Vikings - Monkey 8D Music, Spacedock, Book Odyssey, Lady of the Library, No Justice MTG, Adiemus - Carmina Slovenica, Real Engineering, Real Time History, Between the Wars, The Cold War, Kathy's Flog in France, Tibees, Lily Simpson, With Olivia, Nomadic Crobot, LuckyBlackCat, Philosophy Tube, Mia Mulder, Sideprojects, Master Samwise, Jay Exci, May Moon Narrowboat, Weir on the Move, Patrick is a Navajo, The Who Addicts, The Welsh Viking, Brittany Page, Some More News, DW News, Cambrian Chronicles, The Kavernacle, Second Thought, Cass Ellis, Lindsay Ellis, Lydia Loves Timelines, Ask a Mortician, Can Davis History, Knowing Better, MechWest Show, What Vivi did next, Kai Zammit, Dark Skies, Physics Girl, Up and Atom, Sabaton, Hej Sokoly, Call of History, Templin Institute, Quinn's Ideas, Facts with Psych, I am Mindblind, May, Cruising Crafts, Cruising Alba, Sailing Melody, Tasting History, RobWords, Never Back Down - Teresatesssa...
I wish you a glorious morning, a relaxed afternoon, a pleasant evening, a fantastic night and may we all continue learning. To Travis Corcoran - Slava Ukraini! Slava Geroyam!
Total freedom for me, not for thee.
(year 2xxx) chant at a Libertarian MAGA rally somewhere in the USA
Wealth growth and no regulation for the best, increased taxes and restrictions for the rest.
(year 2xxx) Title of the "US Joint Houses and Parties Policy Foundation Statement" for new federal legislation
November 27, 2007
Love, Life, Betrayal, This book was packed full of exciting adventure. A good book, nothing more to say. The universe is great and well thought out. The characters are amazing.
When you think its over, it turns around and smacks you in the face.
When you think its over, it turns around and smacks you in the face.
November 2, 2018
I originally started this book fifteen years ago and couldn't make it past the first fifty pages. Much of that was a factor of my age and the limited types of books I read at the time. "The Braided World" went into my pile of books that I'd try again "sometime later."
This summer was finally "sometime later," and I gave it another try. I was surprised how much I ended up enjoying it. What I loved about it is Kenyon's ability to create a fully-realized fictional society that ties (okay, I'll say it - "braid") all sorts of themes, large and small, throughout the book. There are a lot of ideas in this book which made me think about the role of sex in culture, about the difficulty of determining whether I'm offended by another society's behavior because it's actually "bad" or just "weird," and even something as mundane as how jealousy can divide friends. Kenyon doesn't just have the characters talk about the issues, either. Each theme is reinforced throughout the entire story, right down to the choices of clothing that characters wear. It's a book that rewards thinking about it later, as you realize there were additional connections in the text you hadn't picked up at first.
If I had to give two criticisms, the first would be that the book starts slowly, and some of the early parts seem a bit repetitive. It does pay off about midway where you see things starting to come together. The second would be that the character arc for Nick Venning seemed a little less polished than what happened with the others. By the end, what's happening to him is more comic than tragic, which is unfortunate since other characters come across better for their interactions with him.
All in all, I'm glad I held onto this book, because it's an example of what sci-fi can do best: imagine strange new worlds and use them to explore what it means to be human.
This summer was finally "sometime later," and I gave it another try. I was surprised how much I ended up enjoying it. What I loved about it is Kenyon's ability to create a fully-realized fictional society that ties (okay, I'll say it - "braid") all sorts of themes, large and small, throughout the book. There are a lot of ideas in this book which made me think about the role of sex in culture, about the difficulty of determining whether I'm offended by another society's behavior because it's actually "bad" or just "weird," and even something as mundane as how jealousy can divide friends. Kenyon doesn't just have the characters talk about the issues, either. Each theme is reinforced throughout the entire story, right down to the choices of clothing that characters wear. It's a book that rewards thinking about it later, as you realize there were additional connections in the text you hadn't picked up at first.
If I had to give two criticisms, the first would be that the book starts slowly, and some of the early parts seem a bit repetitive. It does pay off about midway where you see things starting to come together. The second would be that the character arc for Nick Venning seemed a little less polished than what happened with the others. By the end, what's happening to him is more comic than tragic, which is unfortunate since other characters come across better for their interactions with him.
All in all, I'm glad I held onto this book, because it's an example of what sci-fi can do best: imagine strange new worlds and use them to explore what it means to be human.
August 6, 2017
Slow start, good finish
It was a little tough to keep on track in the beginning of this book, despite Kenyon's usual expertise in world-building. I felt that more background into the problems Earth was facing and the need to journey to the 'message' would have helped. This book could have been helped with some more time spent on details regarding the 'dark matter' cloud and the genetic problems faced by humanity. Once nearing the conclusion, however, I found myself moved by the human experiences as viewed by the indigenous Dassa, and vice-versa. Am still preferring Kenyon's 'Entire and the Rose' series but this is still a worthwhile read.
It was a little tough to keep on track in the beginning of this book, despite Kenyon's usual expertise in world-building. I felt that more background into the problems Earth was facing and the need to journey to the 'message' would have helped. This book could have been helped with some more time spent on details regarding the 'dark matter' cloud and the genetic problems faced by humanity. Once nearing the conclusion, however, I found myself moved by the human experiences as viewed by the indigenous Dassa, and vice-versa. Am still preferring Kenyon's 'Entire and the Rose' series but this is still a worthwhile read.
May 25, 2017
2.5
There were defiantly some odd things in this book. I really liked how it ended and they came back and the hoda are free. I like Anton and maypong together, but what if he was suppose to be with lady Joon since she turned out to be born to bear with his child. The sacif really threw me, that was really weird almost to the point of disgust! I wouldn't have been totally disgusted by it if they didn't sacif with family members, that's just going to far for me.
There were defiantly some odd things in this book. I really liked how it ended and they came back and the hoda are free. I like Anton and maypong together, but what if he was suppose to be with lady Joon since she turned out to be born to bear with his child. The sacif really threw me, that was really weird almost to the point of disgust! I wouldn't have been totally disgusted by it if they didn't sacif with family members, that's just going to far for me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 31, 2022
Another world of human-like beings, subtle differences between their planet and Earth. Different language, social and moral ideals that border on unseemly. Very good to excellent, 4.5 stars
December 29, 2013
An enjoyable enough read, with some interesting worldbuilding and a nice fast pace.
Kind of shallow, though. The only character developed enough for me to care about was Bailey Shaw. Everyone else was flat and I just didn't care what happened to them, if they succeeded or failed in their goals, etc.
My biggest problem is the time frame. The book takes place roughly 10,000 years in the future, yet the humans are completely indistinguishable from modern-day Western humans in their behavior, thoughts, morals, and taboos. I especially don't buy that people were still playing Mozart and Puccini that far into the future. You're telling me there have been no other great musicians in the last 10,000 years that might be more popular or well-known to a professional singer? And that's after I really have to stretch my belief that classical music has survived that long, especially in this society when the very premise of the book is that a ton of important information and knowledge has been lost over the years. I guess you could argue that my first complaint could have been caused by the second, but it still reads like there wasn't a whole lot of thought put into how Earth cultures might have evolved.
Also, if all this devastation to genetic diversity happened 10,000 years ago and the human race is still hanging on, I'd say they were doing pretty good! Not exactly the picture of desperation the author was trying to convey. I would have found it all easier to swallow if this had taken place in a much closer future--say, one or two centuries from now. That would have explained the advancements in technology but also made it a bit more believable that people were still singing opera from the 1700s.
This review is mostly critical, but I'm giving the book somewhere between two and a half and three stars for being a competent read with an engaging plot and some interesting political sci-fi.
Kind of shallow, though. The only character developed enough for me to care about was Bailey Shaw. Everyone else was flat and I just didn't care what happened to them, if they succeeded or failed in their goals, etc.
My biggest problem is the time frame. The book takes place roughly 10,000 years in the future, yet the humans are completely indistinguishable from modern-day Western humans in their behavior, thoughts, morals, and taboos. I especially don't buy that people were still playing Mozart and Puccini that far into the future. You're telling me there have been no other great musicians in the last 10,000 years that might be more popular or well-known to a professional singer? And that's after I really have to stretch my belief that classical music has survived that long, especially in this society when the very premise of the book is that a ton of important information and knowledge has been lost over the years. I guess you could argue that my first complaint could have been caused by the second, but it still reads like there wasn't a whole lot of thought put into how Earth cultures might have evolved.
Also, if all this devastation to genetic diversity happened 10,000 years ago and the human race is still hanging on, I'd say they were doing pretty good! Not exactly the picture of desperation the author was trying to convey. I would have found it all easier to swallow if this had taken place in a much closer future--say, one or two centuries from now. That would have explained the advancements in technology but also made it a bit more believable that people were still singing opera from the 1700s.
This review is mostly critical, but I'm giving the book somewhere between two and a half and three stars for being a competent read with an engaging plot and some interesting political sci-fi.
November 30, 2009
Seems like forever since I have picked up a good mass market paperback scifi novel. I had been looking at Kay Kenyon's The Braided World for years and have owned for nearly that long. It was a great read and a nice return to science fiction. It is an anthropological/first contact scifi novel in the vein of Mary Doria Russell or Orson Scott Card in which a mission sent from a dying Earth hopes to find a means to restart the human race on a distant planet.
A rich former opera singer funds a mission to the planet based on a message which says that the planet has what they have what Earth has lost. The captain dies just as the expedition arrives (wouldn't you know it?), putting the whole thing in the hands of two junior officers. The planet is inhabitated by what looks like humans who call themselves the Dassa. Unfortunately, they have some peculiar habits including slavery for women capable of breeding in the human way. The political system is confusing enough to lead to miscalculation by the novice diplomats.
Kenyon is great at creating peculiar societies and here she has made a world in which the strange biology of the Dassa leads to a odd political system. The plot revolves around the attempts by humans and Dassa to use each other to get what they want. There are a few cliches here and there, but I really liked it.
A rich former opera singer funds a mission to the planet based on a message which says that the planet has what they have what Earth has lost. The captain dies just as the expedition arrives (wouldn't you know it?), putting the whole thing in the hands of two junior officers. The planet is inhabitated by what looks like humans who call themselves the Dassa. Unfortunately, they have some peculiar habits including slavery for women capable of breeding in the human way. The political system is confusing enough to lead to miscalculation by the novice diplomats.
Kenyon is great at creating peculiar societies and here she has made a world in which the strange biology of the Dassa leads to a odd political system. The plot revolves around the attempts by humans and Dassa to use each other to get what they want. There are a few cliches here and there, but I really liked it.
June 21, 2010
Typically, I read during my lunch period. As a result I like books that have shorter chapters or frequent breaks or transitions within a chapter, so that I have convenient stopping points. The Braided World satisfied this requirement. The text also flowed well.
The premise of the book is that Earth has been ravaged by an little known force that left higher organisms vulnerable to bacterial and viral infections. It was devastating the human population. As a result, a small expedition sets out to a distant planet, which has broadcast a message stating that they had the cure for Earth's problems.
All-in-all this is a good lunch time distraction. I found it interesting enough to want to finish reading it. However, some of the premises set forth by the book are a little hard to swallow. In particular, the alien culture's sexual taboos were all too easily being broken and the Earth's expedition leaders were all but too willing to help. If you put that aside I think that this book is worth a read.
The premise of the book is that Earth has been ravaged by an little known force that left higher organisms vulnerable to bacterial and viral infections. It was devastating the human population. As a result, a small expedition sets out to a distant planet, which has broadcast a message stating that they had the cure for Earth's problems.
All-in-all this is a good lunch time distraction. I found it interesting enough to want to finish reading it. However, some of the premises set forth by the book are a little hard to swallow. In particular, the alien culture's sexual taboos were all too easily being broken and the Earth's expedition leaders were all but too willing to help. If you put that aside I think that this book is worth a read.
February 16, 2010
Although I like science fiction, this book didn't seem to well researched. What it lacked in substance, it tried to make up for in shock-value scenes. The characters were 2-dimensional, and the plot just dragged. I actually put the book down with only 50 pages to go and read a different book. Not a great one.
September 23, 2016
Although exciting in the latter part of the book, the premise was slightly revolting (and surprisingly unexamined with regards to the gender issues,) and most of the characters were unappealing. The beginning was a bit of an infodump and while the rest of the book did improve with interesting themes and good pacing it just wasn't enough to make it genuinely good overall.
June 10, 2011
The cover says something like "the most terrifying aliens are in humanity's image" so I thought it would be something more interesting than just a different culture on another world with a couple hidden differences.
May 1, 2016
This was in the usual Kay Kenyon style, though her The Entire and the Rose series will always remain my favorite of her books. The Braided World has a fascinating plot, some memorable characters and room for dreaming at the end.
August 25, 2018
ottimo romanzo di sf antropologica, moderno e attuale, sulla tematica di xenobiologia. un primo contatto con una civiltà apparentemente umana ma fondata su un sistema sociale e biologico completamente diverso dal nostro. sulla scia di classici come The Lovers, di Farmer.
didnotfinish
June 18, 2009I was not able to finish this book, had to get it back to the library before I moved. I'm not really inclined to finish it. It was not really grabbing my attention.
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