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Transformer #1-3
The Transformer Trilogy by M A Foster
The classic science fiction trilogy in an omnibus edition. Back in print after two decades! In a society where change is the enemy, one BEING will create a revolution. To the totalitarian state of Oerlikon, change is the most fearsome enemy. So a secret weapon was created to preserve the status quo-the Morphodite. A bioengineered and laboratory-raised super assassin, the Morphodite was designed to scent out and destroy subversive conspiracies. A unique being, it can change its sex, identity, and even its genetic code as a defense. But its creators did not foresee that this untraceable, powerful assassin would morph into a true revolutionary hero-that would turn against the police state that created it.
- GenresScience FictionFiction
Paperback
First published November 7, 2006
6 people are currently reading
33 people want to read
About the author
M.A. Foster
20 books28 followersLibrarian note:
There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name
US writer, former data-systems analyst and sequentially a Russian linguist and ICBM launch-crew commander to the US Air Force; he is also a semiprofessional photographer. After some poetry, released privately as Shards from Byzantium (coll 1969 chap) and The Vaseline Dreams of Hundifer Jones (coll 1970 chap), he began to publish sf with the ambitious Ler trilogy about a race of Supermen created by Genetic Engineering whose social structure is built around a form of line marriage here called a braid.
The Gameplayers of Zan (1977), a very long novel formally constructed on the model of an Elizabethan tragedy, describes a period of climactic tension between the ler and the rest of humanity, and is set on Earth. The Warriors of Dawn (1975), published first but set later, is a more conventional Space Opera in which a human male and a ler female are forced to team up to try to solve a complexly ramifying problem of interstellar piracy. The Day of the Klesh (1979) brings the ler and the eponymous race of humans together on a planet where they must solve their differences.
The Morphodite/Transformer sequence which followed comprises The Morphodite (1981), Transformer (1983) and Preserver (1985), all three assembled as The Transformer Trilogy (omni 2006), and similarly uses forms of meditative Shapeshifting to buttress complex plots, though in this case the alternately male or female, revolution-fomenting, protagonist dominates the tale as assassin, trickster and Superman.
Waves (1980) rather recalls Stanisław Lem's Solaris (1961) in a tale of political intrigue on a planet whose ocean is intelligent. The four novellas collected in Owl Time (coll 1985) are told in challengingly various modes, and derive strength from their mutual contrast.
More recently, the author has been involved with the writing of storylines for Acme comics http://www.acmecomics.com/node/69.
There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name
US writer, former data-systems analyst and sequentially a Russian linguist and ICBM launch-crew commander to the US Air Force; he is also a semiprofessional photographer. After some poetry, released privately as Shards from Byzantium (coll 1969 chap) and The Vaseline Dreams of Hundifer Jones (coll 1970 chap), he began to publish sf with the ambitious Ler trilogy about a race of Supermen created by Genetic Engineering whose social structure is built around a form of line marriage here called a braid.
The Gameplayers of Zan (1977), a very long novel formally constructed on the model of an Elizabethan tragedy, describes a period of climactic tension between the ler and the rest of humanity, and is set on Earth. The Warriors of Dawn (1975), published first but set later, is a more conventional Space Opera in which a human male and a ler female are forced to team up to try to solve a complexly ramifying problem of interstellar piracy. The Day of the Klesh (1979) brings the ler and the eponymous race of humans together on a planet where they must solve their differences.
The Morphodite/Transformer sequence which followed comprises The Morphodite (1981), Transformer (1983) and Preserver (1985), all three assembled as The Transformer Trilogy (omni 2006), and similarly uses forms of meditative Shapeshifting to buttress complex plots, though in this case the alternately male or female, revolution-fomenting, protagonist dominates the tale as assassin, trickster and Superman.
Waves (1980) rather recalls Stanisław Lem's Solaris (1961) in a tale of political intrigue on a planet whose ocean is intelligent. The four novellas collected in Owl Time (coll 1985) are told in challengingly various modes, and derive strength from their mutual contrast.
More recently, the author has been involved with the writing of storylines for Acme comics http://www.acmecomics.com/node/69.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
November 5, 2012
Psychological science fiction at its best, which as a psychology major myself: I mean that in a very literal sense. There are several theories of psychology demonstrated throughout the work with the interplay of characters, actions and observations. Reminiscent of Frank Herbert's Dune series which revolves around a super being that can "see" the future, the Transformer trilogy is an about such a human that was created, instead of bred, like in Herbert space epic. A being created against its will, dangerous beyond what its creators intended and left with a fractured memory as to why and who they originally were. The Morphodite searches for the answers, and beware those who try to them him/her.
What I've always loved about Foster's work is that the author uses language in a different way. Although we are dealing with humans on another world, he uses the subtlety of language and phrasing to convey their "otherness" which is far more believable and understandable to me than creating a society extremely different in appearance or society to what we might be familiar with.
Also, what I particularly enjoyed about this books is the changing of gender concept, where it can be clearly divined that effectively gender doesn't matter, which would in turn lend itself to sexuality and partnerships as well. If you are honest and truly human, you love whom you love, whatever gender you are or they happen to be: it is the individual, their personality, their uniqueness that you should be caring for. Yet, just the same, gender or gender changing is not the central theme, although the morphing process is fascinating in description.
Amazingly absorbing, but admittedly the reader must appreciate a more detailed writing style...which I do, as long as the characterization and storyline is as engrossing at The Transformer Trilogy. One of my absolute favorite writers and works. The Book of the Ler and the stand-alone novel Waves are the other brilliant stories I've read by the author. I wish there were more, as Foster had a rare talent, but I enjoy what was written and released.
What I've always loved about Foster's work is that the author uses language in a different way. Although we are dealing with humans on another world, he uses the subtlety of language and phrasing to convey their "otherness" which is far more believable and understandable to me than creating a society extremely different in appearance or society to what we might be familiar with.
Also, what I particularly enjoyed about this books is the changing of gender concept, where it can be clearly divined that effectively gender doesn't matter, which would in turn lend itself to sexuality and partnerships as well. If you are honest and truly human, you love whom you love, whatever gender you are or they happen to be: it is the individual, their personality, their uniqueness that you should be caring for. Yet, just the same, gender or gender changing is not the central theme, although the morphing process is fascinating in description.
Amazingly absorbing, but admittedly the reader must appreciate a more detailed writing style...which I do, as long as the characterization and storyline is as engrossing at The Transformer Trilogy. One of my absolute favorite writers and works. The Book of the Ler and the stand-alone novel Waves are the other brilliant stories I've read by the author. I wish there were more, as Foster had a rare talent, but I enjoy what was written and released.
October 10, 2019
Thought-provoking and original. This classic is a must-read.
The best books cause you to look at things in a different way. This trilogy along with Fosters "Ler" trilogy are certainly thought-provoking. If you could see the results not just of your own actions but everyone's and could actually choose the pivot point to cause everything to change what would you be? This is the only one of the questions Foster addresses .
The best books cause you to look at things in a different way. This trilogy along with Fosters "Ler" trilogy are certainly thought-provoking. If you could see the results not just of your own actions but everyone's and could actually choose the pivot point to cause everything to change what would you be? This is the only one of the questions Foster addresses .
February 14, 2011
Can't believe it's taken me until now to discover Foster and this trilogy! Enjoyed it very much as I prefer 'hard' scifi and this is an excellent example. Lots of science and astronomy in an off-earth setting. Good, good stuff!
September 11, 2017
Always found ma foster to be thought provoking and a good read
Interesting premise and we'll executed first read these as separate volumes. Glad to have read them again. Hoping that the authors others work will make it to ebooks as well
Interesting premise and we'll executed first read these as separate volumes. Glad to have read them again. Hoping that the authors others work will make it to ebooks as well
April 8, 2015
See reviews of component books at reviews at reviews.metaphorosis.com
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews