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®Evolution #1
Gemsigns
They were created to save humanity. Now they must fight to save themselves.For years the human race was under attack from a deadly Syndrome, but when a cure was found - in the form of genetically engineered human beings, Gems - the line between survival and ethics was radically altered. Now the Gems are fighting for their freedom, from the oppression of the companies that created them, and against the Norms who see them as slaves. And a conference at which Dr Eli Walker has been commissioned to present his findings on the Gems is the key to that freedom. But with the Gemtech companies fighting to keep the Gems enslaved, and the horrifying godgangs determined to rid the earth of these 'unholy' creations, the Gems are up against forces that may just be too powerful to oppose.
353 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 28, 2013
25 people are currently reading
3675 people want to read
About the author
Stephanie Saulter
5 books57 followersStephanie Saulter is a writer of speculative fiction and the author of the ®Evolution novels: Gemsigns, Binary and Regeneration. They're set in a near future that's been fundamentally altered by neurological pandemic, genetic manipulation and social media, and use the lens of an altered humanity to take a new look at the old issues of race, class, religious dogma and social conflict.
Before she got around to being an author, Stephanie developed real estate, managed restaurants, was a corporate executive, a public policy wonk, a management consultant, and founded the Scriptopus interactive website for writing short fiction. She doesn't have a poor attention span; on the contrary she finds lots of things interesting and figures you learn more by doing. Few of her jobs would appear to have any relationship to her Humanities degree (English literature and anthropology) from MIT, but she would disagree. She lives in London.
Before she got around to being an author, Stephanie developed real estate, managed restaurants, was a corporate executive, a public policy wonk, a management consultant, and founded the Scriptopus interactive website for writing short fiction. She doesn't have a poor attention span; on the contrary she finds lots of things interesting and figures you learn more by doing. Few of her jobs would appear to have any relationship to her Humanities degree (English literature and anthropology) from MIT, but she would disagree. She lives in London.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 111 reviews
May 22, 2014
4.5 of 5 stars at The BiblioSanctum http://bibliosanctum.blogspot.com/201...
I seem to be reading a lot of social science fiction lately. Given the old “too much of anything” adage about excess, you’d think adding one more to the pile would have diminished my enjoyment or value of the experience. Now, with the average book that might be true. But then, Stephanie Saulter’s Gemsigns is anything BUT an average book.
Taking place over a period of about a week, the book plays out like a flurry of quick punches, with every shot finding its mark. And I have to say, Saulter got in a couple good ones to my gut, not to mention a few more jabs to my poor battered heart. Still, while most of it flew hard and fast, I find there’s also a strangely mesmerizing quality to the story. A lot of this is in the gradual reveal of the current state of affairs, as well as what’s at stake for everyone involved. There’s a sense of inevitably to the unfolding events, knowing that every act of violence that comes to light is yet another step closer to an explosive conclusion.
These kinds of books always get me for some reason. No doubt a lot of it can be chalked up to personal interest, as I’ve always been fascinated by stories that explore what it means to be human. Well before it became time to even think about college, I’d already known I wanted to go into Anthropology, that wonderful and broad discipline dedicated to answering this very question. Years later now, I still remember what one of my professors once told our class about human variation – that it is a thing so vast, any attempt to define “normal” is rendered kind of moot.
Gemsigns reminded me of that. The book is set in the not-so-far-off future, not long after humanity had suffered the effects of a devastating virus that almost wiped us out. To survive meant genetically modifying almost every new person born on this planet, but in order to repopulate and rebuild, the engineers went further. They created different kinds of genetically modified humans (“Gems”), tailoring them to specific duties that needed performing, with minimal thought to their quality of life or well-being. Gems were essentially nothing but humanity’s tools.
After a century of being perceived as nothing more than property, the Declaration finally freed gems from their servitude but didn’t translate or clarify their rights and status in the global legal system. To approach this issue, Dr. Eli Walker (an anthropologist, YAY!) has the task of putting together a proposal deciding whether gems are truly human. Meanwhile, certain factions want to take advantage of this period of instability, like the gemtech companies that would like to see everything return to the pre-Declaration days, or the godgangs who just want to see gems dead, period. Fortunately, the gems have Aryel Morningstar, their charismatic spokesperson who will do all she can to ensure that their voices will be heard.
What makes Gemsigns such a powerful novel is that despite its futuristic setting or its science fiction label, it is still utterly significant and relevant to the world today. Folks, this is what a great piece of social science fiction looks like. Each time I squirmed with discomfort over the nightmarish treatment of gems, or every time I pondered a question regarding an ethical issue, I knew it was the book doing its job. And it was good at it.
As I alluded to before, Saulter utilized a steady, measured approach when it came to laying out the novel’s situation. It’s a gripping story, though the suspense and intensity I felt here is more akin to that of a riveting courtroom drama, rather than say, an action-thriller. I appreciated this gradual, detail-oriented rise towards the climax, though at times I felt the pacing was a bit too restrained, resulting in a couple lulls in the story. But in the end, the author delivered the stunning ending I wanted. If I had been standing while I was reading the last few chapters, I think I would have needed to sit down. It was JUST. THAT. WHOA.
Well-written and thought provoking, Gemsigns is an all-around superb debut from Stephanie Saulter, and another winner from Jo Fletcher Books. I’m already anticipating great things for Binary, the second book in the ®Evolution sequence, which I will definitely be checking out soon.
I seem to be reading a lot of social science fiction lately. Given the old “too much of anything” adage about excess, you’d think adding one more to the pile would have diminished my enjoyment or value of the experience. Now, with the average book that might be true. But then, Stephanie Saulter’s Gemsigns is anything BUT an average book.
Taking place over a period of about a week, the book plays out like a flurry of quick punches, with every shot finding its mark. And I have to say, Saulter got in a couple good ones to my gut, not to mention a few more jabs to my poor battered heart. Still, while most of it flew hard and fast, I find there’s also a strangely mesmerizing quality to the story. A lot of this is in the gradual reveal of the current state of affairs, as well as what’s at stake for everyone involved. There’s a sense of inevitably to the unfolding events, knowing that every act of violence that comes to light is yet another step closer to an explosive conclusion.
These kinds of books always get me for some reason. No doubt a lot of it can be chalked up to personal interest, as I’ve always been fascinated by stories that explore what it means to be human. Well before it became time to even think about college, I’d already known I wanted to go into Anthropology, that wonderful and broad discipline dedicated to answering this very question. Years later now, I still remember what one of my professors once told our class about human variation – that it is a thing so vast, any attempt to define “normal” is rendered kind of moot.
Gemsigns reminded me of that. The book is set in the not-so-far-off future, not long after humanity had suffered the effects of a devastating virus that almost wiped us out. To survive meant genetically modifying almost every new person born on this planet, but in order to repopulate and rebuild, the engineers went further. They created different kinds of genetically modified humans (“Gems”), tailoring them to specific duties that needed performing, with minimal thought to their quality of life or well-being. Gems were essentially nothing but humanity’s tools.
After a century of being perceived as nothing more than property, the Declaration finally freed gems from their servitude but didn’t translate or clarify their rights and status in the global legal system. To approach this issue, Dr. Eli Walker (an anthropologist, YAY!) has the task of putting together a proposal deciding whether gems are truly human. Meanwhile, certain factions want to take advantage of this period of instability, like the gemtech companies that would like to see everything return to the pre-Declaration days, or the godgangs who just want to see gems dead, period. Fortunately, the gems have Aryel Morningstar, their charismatic spokesperson who will do all she can to ensure that their voices will be heard.
What makes Gemsigns such a powerful novel is that despite its futuristic setting or its science fiction label, it is still utterly significant and relevant to the world today. Folks, this is what a great piece of social science fiction looks like. Each time I squirmed with discomfort over the nightmarish treatment of gems, or every time I pondered a question regarding an ethical issue, I knew it was the book doing its job. And it was good at it.
As I alluded to before, Saulter utilized a steady, measured approach when it came to laying out the novel’s situation. It’s a gripping story, though the suspense and intensity I felt here is more akin to that of a riveting courtroom drama, rather than say, an action-thriller. I appreciated this gradual, detail-oriented rise towards the climax, though at times I felt the pacing was a bit too restrained, resulting in a couple lulls in the story. But in the end, the author delivered the stunning ending I wanted. If I had been standing while I was reading the last few chapters, I think I would have needed to sit down. It was JUST. THAT. WHOA.
Well-written and thought provoking, Gemsigns is an all-around superb debut from Stephanie Saulter, and another winner from Jo Fletcher Books. I’m already anticipating great things for Binary, the second book in the ®Evolution sequence, which I will definitely be checking out soon.
July 11, 2016
Gemsigns is a novel set in a future where almost everyone has had some form of genetic modification. However, gems are genetically modified humans who have unique special abilities that set them apart from the norm population. They were originally created in response to an illness that threatened the human population, and were part of the reason the world was able to recover. Because they were engineered as tools, not much attention was paid to their social and emotional development. Until recently gems were considered the property of the gemtech firms who engineered and profited from them, but now they have been declared free from that indentured servitude. The question now is what to do with them? Not everyone agrees with the idea that gems should be treated equally, and some are willing to go to great lengths to keep the gems under strict control.
Dr. Eli Walker is an anthropologist who has been tasked with providing an unbiased report in an upcoming conference to help determine whether the goal of integration with the norm population is in fact truly possible. Of course he is beset by gemtech firms who want the gems back under their jurisdiction, but he is determined to render a fair assessment. But as tensions between gems and norms continue to rise, Eli starts to realize that he won't simply be able to deliver his report and let things lie, but that he must do something more to prevent the violent upheaval that seems inevitable.
Gemsigns is sociopolitical SF that asks the question, what makes us human? Are we defined by what makes us the same or even by what makes us different? What constitutes the boundary of normal is difficult to define in a society used to variations, but imagine how much more nebulous that boundary might become in a society where disabilities, illness, and variation outside of certain ranges for height and weight are all genetically controlled and corrected for.
While the setting in Gemsigns is quite different from our own, the issues feel as contemporary as ever. Fear of the other never disappears, unfortunately, it simply takes another convenient form. But this an area where SF has traditionally held court, in exploring the possibility of changing our cultural approach to the other, and Gemsigns is no exception. This book is an impressive debut novel from a writer who will definitely be one to watch.
Dr. Eli Walker is an anthropologist who has been tasked with providing an unbiased report in an upcoming conference to help determine whether the goal of integration with the norm population is in fact truly possible. Of course he is beset by gemtech firms who want the gems back under their jurisdiction, but he is determined to render a fair assessment. But as tensions between gems and norms continue to rise, Eli starts to realize that he won't simply be able to deliver his report and let things lie, but that he must do something more to prevent the violent upheaval that seems inevitable.
Gemsigns is sociopolitical SF that asks the question, what makes us human? Are we defined by what makes us the same or even by what makes us different? What constitutes the boundary of normal is difficult to define in a society used to variations, but imagine how much more nebulous that boundary might become in a society where disabilities, illness, and variation outside of certain ranges for height and weight are all genetically controlled and corrected for.
While the setting in Gemsigns is quite different from our own, the issues feel as contemporary as ever. Fear of the other never disappears, unfortunately, it simply takes another convenient form. But this an area where SF has traditionally held court, in exploring the possibility of changing our cultural approach to the other, and Gemsigns is no exception. This book is an impressive debut novel from a writer who will definitely be one to watch.
July 29, 2016
2.5 stars
This is a book I should have loved but just didn't connect with on any level.
This is a book I should have loved but just didn't connect with on any level.
July 29, 2016
A political SF thriller dealing with the implications of a genetically engineered underclass integrating with the rest of society.
Humanity succumbs to the Syndrome, a neurological condition that's basically a physiological reaction to the modern world, but is eventually saved by widespread cheap genetic engineering. One hundred years later the vast majority of humanity has been engineered to be immune to the Syndrome and many other diseases, but the corporations that pioneered GEnetic Modifaction (GemTechs) didn't stop with saving humanity from the Syndrome. Over decades they've created a whole class of beings called gems who are various riffs on the human base form, including gems adapted for undersea work, breeding other gems, construction, organ replication and harvesting, visual acuity and all sorts of other modifications, both mental and physical. The GemTechs treated their gems horribly though, as property and as slaves, but a few years ago in the book's timeline there was a social upheaval and the GemTechs were forced to free all their gems.
The book picks up in the leadup to the European Conference on the Status of Genetically Modified Humans which will determine the laws that will apply to gems going forward. It's been a few years since the Declaration that freed the gems, but their status has been very unclear since. Eli Walker is a genetic anthropologist and has been tasked to create a report on whether gems can ever be "normal". He gets exposure to the Gemtechs and also to the gems themselves, as well as many of the normals that support them. The gems want their freedom, the Gemtechs want their property back and the majority of norms are worried what the cost of having gems in the general population will be.
This is a really clever scenario that's ultimately let down by making things far too black and white. All the gems are clever, righteous or innocent. All the corporate types are either stupid or evil. It's really that simple. Freedom good, slavery bad. While this is an entertaining story, in real life there are more shades of grey than this. There should be room for the corporate type who really does think that the best place for some gems is working for a Gemtech. There should be room for a lazy gem who feels entitled to welfare after years as a slave, or a gem hothead who wants to take the fight back to the godgangs. Then the story finishes with a "shocking" reveal that has to be the most obvious reveal I've ever seen in a book (it's in her name for goodness sake!).
I will say that the report that Eli Walker ends up authoring is awesome. I wish there was that sort of thing written and read about minorities that people are determined to "other" in the real world.
Humanity succumbs to the Syndrome, a neurological condition that's basically a physiological reaction to the modern world, but is eventually saved by widespread cheap genetic engineering. One hundred years later the vast majority of humanity has been engineered to be immune to the Syndrome and many other diseases, but the corporations that pioneered GEnetic Modifaction (GemTechs) didn't stop with saving humanity from the Syndrome. Over decades they've created a whole class of beings called gems who are various riffs on the human base form, including gems adapted for undersea work, breeding other gems, construction, organ replication and harvesting, visual acuity and all sorts of other modifications, both mental and physical. The GemTechs treated their gems horribly though, as property and as slaves, but a few years ago in the book's timeline there was a social upheaval and the GemTechs were forced to free all their gems.
The book picks up in the leadup to the European Conference on the Status of Genetically Modified Humans which will determine the laws that will apply to gems going forward. It's been a few years since the Declaration that freed the gems, but their status has been very unclear since. Eli Walker is a genetic anthropologist and has been tasked to create a report on whether gems can ever be "normal". He gets exposure to the Gemtechs and also to the gems themselves, as well as many of the normals that support them. The gems want their freedom, the Gemtechs want their property back and the majority of norms are worried what the cost of having gems in the general population will be.
This is a really clever scenario that's ultimately let down by making things far too black and white. All the gems are clever, righteous or innocent. All the corporate types are either stupid or evil. It's really that simple. Freedom good, slavery bad. While this is an entertaining story, in real life there are more shades of grey than this. There should be room for the corporate type who really does think that the best place for some gems is working for a Gemtech. There should be room for a lazy gem who feels entitled to welfare after years as a slave, or a gem hothead who wants to take the fight back to the godgangs. Then the story finishes with a "shocking" reveal that has to be the most obvious reveal I've ever seen in a book (it's in her name for goodness sake!).
I will say that the report that Eli Walker ends up authoring is awesome. I wish there was that sort of thing written and read about minorities that people are determined to "other" in the real world.
March 24, 2014
Gemsigns is shockingly ambitious. It’s uncomfortable and telling. It makes its readers look at themselves in a mirror that hides nothing. This is a book about what makes us human, and inspects how we react to the things we don’t understand, in a world where those reactions, however small, can make a world of difference.
I can’t, honestly, give this book enough praise. Saulter is an author to watch. Gemsigns is a must-read book if you are in the mood for something truly powerful.
Read my full review here:
http://www.bookwormblues.net/2014/03/...
I can’t, honestly, give this book enough praise. Saulter is an author to watch. Gemsigns is a must-read book if you are in the mood for something truly powerful.
Read my full review here:
http://www.bookwormblues.net/2014/03/...
July 10, 2015
As the blurb says, this book is gripping. It has a great concept and plays with interesting ideas. The legal and policy issues are fascinating and nuanced.
I have a few wishes for this book.
1. I wish some of the plotting was a little more nuanced. Many of the key points, like violence is unheard of in the current society, aren't raised until after violence occurs and the reader is left to wonder why people are so shocked. Yes, it says something about our society that I didn't find the levels of violence in the book terribly shocking. Awful, yes. But not shocking.
Also, the characters' names broadcast their eventual roles. It was easy to figure out that Aryal Morningstar would and that Gabriel would .
2. I wish some of the characters were a little more nuanced. All of the pro slavery people were wholly evil. No saving graces. Almost all of the anti slavery people were angelic. More shades of gray makes the story more complex and interesting.
3. I wish there were more commas! At least once per chapter (often more frequently), I had to reread a sentence because the lack of commas made it difficult to figure out which phrase was being modified.
I have a few wishes for this book.
1. I wish some of the plotting was a little more nuanced. Many of the key points, like violence is unheard of in the current society, aren't raised until after violence occurs and the reader is left to wonder why people are so shocked. Yes, it says something about our society that I didn't find the levels of violence in the book terribly shocking. Awful, yes. But not shocking.
Also, the characters' names broadcast their eventual roles. It was easy to figure out that Aryal Morningstar would and that Gabriel would .
2. I wish some of the characters were a little more nuanced. All of the pro slavery people were wholly evil. No saving graces. Almost all of the anti slavery people were angelic. More shades of gray makes the story more complex and interesting.
3. I wish there were more commas! At least once per chapter (often more frequently), I had to reread a sentence because the lack of commas made it difficult to figure out which phrase was being modified.
July 28, 2016
Set in a near future, after humans have been affected by our technology. Genetically modified to survive but then why not go further?
Are GM humans actually human if they've been designed and bred? Are they too different? Very interesting debut.
Are GM humans actually human if they've been designed and bred? Are they too different? Very interesting debut.
Read
February 2, 2015Imagine a future in which genetically modified humans are not only possible but standard, and society is struggling to come to grips with the definition of humanity. Wait, you don’t have to, Saulter already imagined it for you. Gemsigns came out this past summer, and the only reason I’m not more upset about waiting until now to read it is that it makes the wait for the sequel (out in the UK, but not in the U.S. until May) shorter. Saulter’s characters are compelling, villains and heroes alike — from the mysterious little boy at the crux of the plot, to the evangelically inspired (and psychotic) leader of the “godgang,” to the scientist just trying to get all the data in a row. Her plotting is aces; there are twists and turns, fight scenes and pitched political battles, as well as moments delving deep into the world itself. For fans of science fiction, The X-Men, and politically timely literature. –Jenn Northington
From The Best Books We Read in January: http://bookriot.com/2015/02/02/riot-r...
From The Best Books We Read in January: http://bookriot.com/2015/02/02/riot-r...
March 17, 2016
I hesitate between 2,5/5 or 3/5, it was not bad, it was even quite good and thought provoking. But after the first quarter of the book it became kind of boring. I never had the rush to keep reading, I just made myself read to finish it and not DNF it since it's actually an interesting read. The gems are really interesting, that's why I would have loved to know more about them, I know it was not really the subject but I was really curious and hoped for more!
April 5, 2014
After so many years and hundreds of science-fiction novels, the speculative fiction can still surprise me by looking at what makes us human from new and interesting angles. Gemsigns is an amazing debut.
February 10, 2017
This was EXCELLENT and as a bonus it's a whole trilogy that's done, and which I plan to jam into my brain ASAP.
January 7, 2016
4.5 stars
Upon reflection, this book was one that touched on the beauty of what makes one human. Rather poignant at parts, yet surprisingly well written. The concept of an genetically altered race of super-humans is certainly not unique in the Sci-Fi genre. However, Gemsigns cleverly subverts the common (revolutions and uprisings) for a thoughtful exploration of morality.
Upon reflection, this book was one that touched on the beauty of what makes one human. Rather poignant at parts, yet surprisingly well written. The concept of an genetically altered race of super-humans is certainly not unique in the Sci-Fi genre. However, Gemsigns cleverly subverts the common (revolutions and uprisings) for a thoughtful exploration of morality.
September 28, 2013
Review: http://thefoundingfields.com/2013/09/...
“An excellent début novel, Stephanie Saulter brings a stunning opener to a promising series. Handling several aspects from world-building to pace and character development wel, Gemsigns establishes itself as one book that you really should check out.” ~Bane of Kings, The Founding Fields
"Humanity stands on the brink. Again.
Surviving the Syndrome meant genetically modifying almost every person on the planet. But norms and gems are different. Gems may have the superpowers that once made them valuable commodities, but they also have more than their share of the disabled, the violent and the psychotic.
After a century of servitude, freedom has come at last for the gems, and not everyone’s happy about it. The gemtechs want to turn them back into property. The godgangs want them dead. The norm majority is scared and suspicious, and doesn’t know what it wants.
Eli Walker is the scientist charged with deciding whether gems are truly human, and as extremists on both sides raise the stakes, the conflict descends into violence. He’s running out of time, and with advanced prototypes on the loose, not everyone is who or what they seem. Torn between the intrigues of ruthless executive Zavcka Klist and brilliant, badly deformed gem leader Aryel Morningstar, Eli finds himself searching for a truth that might stop a war."
I wasn’t really sure what to expect going into Gemsigns. Released in May after having been pushed back from an originally intended March date, this book swept me by at first, and it wasn’t until I started hearing praise from it by reviewers who normally have good judgements on books that I’ll like, and when I was eventually able to read the book, I leapt at the chance to – and devoured it as quickly as I could. Like Ancillary Justice by Ann Leckie, Gemsigns is a book that really caught me by surprise, and for exactly the same reason – I wasn’t expecting it to be as good as it was. I was drawn in right from the start and kept on the edge of my seat right the way through. And if you need anymore convincing, it’s published by the awesome folks at Jo Fletcher Books, who are in my eyes – one of those rare publishers (Angry Robot is another) that I haven’t read a book from that I haven’t liked. They have Tom Pollock’s superb The Skyscraper Throne Trilogy as well as Mazarkis Williams’ impressive Tower and Knife Trilogy. Both series are very unique and very awesome and Gemsigns, the first book in the new ®Evolution series is another one that I can add to that list.
GemsignsThe book discusses one of the most interesting questions that has been presented to us many times before in fiction, as well as other areas – and that is What makes us human? The question is attempted to be answered by Eli Walker, who is one of the book’s many characters. He’s not the only one who gets a Point of View as well, for the book starts off with a third person narrative from someone whose identity is never revealed, allowing us to be introduced to some of the key players. Over the course of the book more and more characters are added to Gemsigns - Aryel, Bal, Gaela, Gabriel, John and of course Eli – allowing for a fairly complex narrative that also makes room for some perspectives from non-main characters when needed. This allows us to get into the heads of a variety of characters, who are for the most part complex and relatable, thanks to Saulter handling them very well, so that the story can move along at a pretty solid pace.
The world created by Saulter is really fleshed out well. Throughout the book you’ll find the odd article, or something similar – thrown in cleverly to provide info-dumps in a way that actually manages to work (most of the time), expanding on the near-future setting and creating a pretty original world. Saulter blends the use of technology that we are used to in the present with her futuristic elements to further add depth and intrigue to this setting, and manages to make the book move along without falling into the trap of slowing down the pace so we can examine everything that’s new in great detail.
Gemsigns is a rare book that doesn’t fall into the trap of focusing on the revolt or the rebellion of the genetically enhanced humans, which provides a relief because we already have a vast amount of novels that follow that plot-line in science fiction. It explores what happens after the uprising has taken place, and despite UN declarations, things aren’t as easy as they seem. Whilst this may not translate into a page-turning read, the book still manages to take place over a very short space of time (a week) with an interesting approach that deals with various angles of action, politics and more angles in order to keep the book ticking over in a compelling and engaging way.
Making a nice change to the recent action-packed novels that I’ve been reading then – three recent examples include Steelheart by Brandon Sanderson (review soon), Ancillary Justice by Ann Leckie and BZRK: Reloaded by Michael Grant, Gemsigns is a debut that manages to stay consistently strong throughout and is certainly a book that you should consider checking out if you’re looking for something fun and entertaining. Whilst the info-dumping is pulled off mostly well, there are a few elements that don’t always work – some may not like the info-dumping that crops up every now and again, but aside from that minor issue, Gemsigns is superb. It’s something that more people should be looking at reading, and it’s a novel that should be receiving a lot more attention than it has been so far. Apart from a minor problem then – this book comes highly recommended.
VERDICT: 4/5
“An excellent début novel, Stephanie Saulter brings a stunning opener to a promising series. Handling several aspects from world-building to pace and character development wel, Gemsigns establishes itself as one book that you really should check out.” ~Bane of Kings, The Founding Fields
"Humanity stands on the brink. Again.
Surviving the Syndrome meant genetically modifying almost every person on the planet. But norms and gems are different. Gems may have the superpowers that once made them valuable commodities, but they also have more than their share of the disabled, the violent and the psychotic.
After a century of servitude, freedom has come at last for the gems, and not everyone’s happy about it. The gemtechs want to turn them back into property. The godgangs want them dead. The norm majority is scared and suspicious, and doesn’t know what it wants.
Eli Walker is the scientist charged with deciding whether gems are truly human, and as extremists on both sides raise the stakes, the conflict descends into violence. He’s running out of time, and with advanced prototypes on the loose, not everyone is who or what they seem. Torn between the intrigues of ruthless executive Zavcka Klist and brilliant, badly deformed gem leader Aryel Morningstar, Eli finds himself searching for a truth that might stop a war."
I wasn’t really sure what to expect going into Gemsigns. Released in May after having been pushed back from an originally intended March date, this book swept me by at first, and it wasn’t until I started hearing praise from it by reviewers who normally have good judgements on books that I’ll like, and when I was eventually able to read the book, I leapt at the chance to – and devoured it as quickly as I could. Like Ancillary Justice by Ann Leckie, Gemsigns is a book that really caught me by surprise, and for exactly the same reason – I wasn’t expecting it to be as good as it was. I was drawn in right from the start and kept on the edge of my seat right the way through. And if you need anymore convincing, it’s published by the awesome folks at Jo Fletcher Books, who are in my eyes – one of those rare publishers (Angry Robot is another) that I haven’t read a book from that I haven’t liked. They have Tom Pollock’s superb The Skyscraper Throne Trilogy as well as Mazarkis Williams’ impressive Tower and Knife Trilogy. Both series are very unique and very awesome and Gemsigns, the first book in the new ®Evolution series is another one that I can add to that list.
GemsignsThe book discusses one of the most interesting questions that has been presented to us many times before in fiction, as well as other areas – and that is What makes us human? The question is attempted to be answered by Eli Walker, who is one of the book’s many characters. He’s not the only one who gets a Point of View as well, for the book starts off with a third person narrative from someone whose identity is never revealed, allowing us to be introduced to some of the key players. Over the course of the book more and more characters are added to Gemsigns - Aryel, Bal, Gaela, Gabriel, John and of course Eli – allowing for a fairly complex narrative that also makes room for some perspectives from non-main characters when needed. This allows us to get into the heads of a variety of characters, who are for the most part complex and relatable, thanks to Saulter handling them very well, so that the story can move along at a pretty solid pace.
The world created by Saulter is really fleshed out well. Throughout the book you’ll find the odd article, or something similar – thrown in cleverly to provide info-dumps in a way that actually manages to work (most of the time), expanding on the near-future setting and creating a pretty original world. Saulter blends the use of technology that we are used to in the present with her futuristic elements to further add depth and intrigue to this setting, and manages to make the book move along without falling into the trap of slowing down the pace so we can examine everything that’s new in great detail.
Gemsigns is a rare book that doesn’t fall into the trap of focusing on the revolt or the rebellion of the genetically enhanced humans, which provides a relief because we already have a vast amount of novels that follow that plot-line in science fiction. It explores what happens after the uprising has taken place, and despite UN declarations, things aren’t as easy as they seem. Whilst this may not translate into a page-turning read, the book still manages to take place over a very short space of time (a week) with an interesting approach that deals with various angles of action, politics and more angles in order to keep the book ticking over in a compelling and engaging way.
Making a nice change to the recent action-packed novels that I’ve been reading then – three recent examples include Steelheart by Brandon Sanderson (review soon), Ancillary Justice by Ann Leckie and BZRK: Reloaded by Michael Grant, Gemsigns is a debut that manages to stay consistently strong throughout and is certainly a book that you should consider checking out if you’re looking for something fun and entertaining. Whilst the info-dumping is pulled off mostly well, there are a few elements that don’t always work – some may not like the info-dumping that crops up every now and again, but aside from that minor issue, Gemsigns is superb. It’s something that more people should be looking at reading, and it’s a novel that should be receiving a lot more attention than it has been so far. Apart from a minor problem then – this book comes highly recommended.
VERDICT: 4/5
January 7, 2016
Gemsigns is a book I didn't know I was desperate to read until I started it. I've been searching for a thoughtful, well-written, science fiction novel for a while, and this book ticks all the boxes, and more.
Interestingly enough, Gemsigns isn't about the uprising or revolution of the genetically engineered humans (gems), as is tradition with the sub-genre. The revolution is done and dusted, and the UN has issued a Declaration protecting gems from mistreatment. However, a UN declaration doesn't automatically translate into rights and freedoms under global legislature, and the novel focusses on the research conducted into whether gems are 'normal' and whether they can function productively within a society of normal human beings. This approach is new to me, and I thoroughly enjoyed the experience of reading about the aftermath of the big revolution.
Gemsigns is a slower book - not a thriller in the traditional sense. It takes an issue, the legal status of a specifically genetically engineered population, and examines it over the course of a week. Saulter takes us through the lives of the major players one day at a time, and reveals their world in layers. Each day brings to light new revelations, motivations and secrets, gradually filling in gaps in the reader's knowledge. For example, we hear a lot about the Declaration before its political importance is fully understood.
There isn't really a love-story in this book, and I welcomed the change with open arms and heart. The relationships between key characters are fully developed, and different types of interactions - friendships, partnerships, working relationships and rivalries - are explored. A book primarily concerned with the meaning of being human, Gemsigns explores the depth and breadth of human nature delicately and honestly through its cast and their relationships.
The novel is populated with well-developed, relatable characters. They have clearly painted motivations and goals, and believable reactions and ethics. Since the story is told from multiple points of view, but never in first person, the author cleverly allows readers to get a close look at what makes each character tick.
In particular, Galea is interesting because of her interesting and unique powers. Eli Walker is amazing as a narrator and main protagonist, because he's leading an independent study of humanity, and whether gems fit into it. It would be hard for any reader not to love Aryel Morningstar, her charisma and mystery are clearly portrayed on the page. I do have hopes that we will get to know Zavcka Klist a lot better, and explore her plans and machinations, in subsequent books, because she's incredibly powerful and intelligent, and I feel that Saulter has offered only a glimpse at what she is capable of in this book.
Gemsigns is absolutely amazing, and considering it is Saulter's début, I do not hesitate to label her as an author to watch. Unmistakable talent and great story-telling mix well in this science-fiction novel, and readers are strongly encouraged not to let it pass them by!
A copy of this book was provided by the publisher for review.
You can read more of my reviews at Speculating on SpecFic .
Interestingly enough, Gemsigns isn't about the uprising or revolution of the genetically engineered humans (gems), as is tradition with the sub-genre. The revolution is done and dusted, and the UN has issued a Declaration protecting gems from mistreatment. However, a UN declaration doesn't automatically translate into rights and freedoms under global legislature, and the novel focusses on the research conducted into whether gems are 'normal' and whether they can function productively within a society of normal human beings. This approach is new to me, and I thoroughly enjoyed the experience of reading about the aftermath of the big revolution.
Gemsigns is a slower book - not a thriller in the traditional sense. It takes an issue, the legal status of a specifically genetically engineered population, and examines it over the course of a week. Saulter takes us through the lives of the major players one day at a time, and reveals their world in layers. Each day brings to light new revelations, motivations and secrets, gradually filling in gaps in the reader's knowledge. For example, we hear a lot about the Declaration before its political importance is fully understood.
There isn't really a love-story in this book, and I welcomed the change with open arms and heart. The relationships between key characters are fully developed, and different types of interactions - friendships, partnerships, working relationships and rivalries - are explored. A book primarily concerned with the meaning of being human, Gemsigns explores the depth and breadth of human nature delicately and honestly through its cast and their relationships.
The novel is populated with well-developed, relatable characters. They have clearly painted motivations and goals, and believable reactions and ethics. Since the story is told from multiple points of view, but never in first person, the author cleverly allows readers to get a close look at what makes each character tick.
In particular, Galea is interesting because of her interesting and unique powers. Eli Walker is amazing as a narrator and main protagonist, because he's leading an independent study of humanity, and whether gems fit into it. It would be hard for any reader not to love Aryel Morningstar, her charisma and mystery are clearly portrayed on the page. I do have hopes that we will get to know Zavcka Klist a lot better, and explore her plans and machinations, in subsequent books, because she's incredibly powerful and intelligent, and I feel that Saulter has offered only a glimpse at what she is capable of in this book.
Gemsigns is absolutely amazing, and considering it is Saulter's début, I do not hesitate to label her as an author to watch. Unmistakable talent and great story-telling mix well in this science-fiction novel, and readers are strongly encouraged not to let it pass them by!
A copy of this book was provided by the publisher for review.
You can read more of my reviews at Speculating on SpecFic .
July 18, 2014
“What shall be done with the four million slaves if they are emancipated? […] Our answer is, do nothing with them; mind your business, and let them mind theirs. Your doing with them is their greatest misfortune.”The concept of Stephanie Saulter’s Gemsigns is a straightforward variant of a classic SF trope: A deadly disease, called the Syndrome, made it so humanity needed to genetically modify itself. And once this “gemtech” was developed, and given the need to rebuild a depopulated world, the genetic engineers also created “gems”, humans with modifications beyond resistance to the Syndrome: brute strength, gills, the ability to smell toxic wastes, etc., etc.—whatever was needed. And these slaves were given clear distinguishing marks such as brightly colored hair, the titular “gemsigns”. Abuses come to light not long before the story begins, leading to the Declaration, a sort of watered-down provisional emancipation.
—Frederick Douglass, Douglass’ Monthly, January 1862
It’s in the world-building and characterization that this story falls down. The gems are all noble (except for the occasional River Tam Beats Up Everyone incident). Religion comes in two forms: the United Churches with moral ideas so vague that none of the many references to them says anything specific, and the “abomination”-obsessed “godgangs” whose theology is no better defined. The corporations are all Evil, plotting to force the gems back into indenture. And everything rides on the main character’s presentation at the Conference.
There are no surprises, no changing of minds that matters, no internal conflict and very little external conflict that touches the main character; in short none of the emotional payoff I expect when reading a novel.
The question asked in this story is, “what shall be done with the emancipated
With regret, I cannot recommend this book.
July 8, 2014
Pros: shows multiple viewpoints of challenging issues, thought-provoking, wide range of interesting characters
Cons: first chapter’s style didn’t work for me
It’s been a year since the Declaration that made it illegal for Gemtech companies to own their genetically modified humans went into effect. In a few days Dr. Eli Walker’s report on wether gems are fundamentally different from unmodified humans will be delivered at a European Conference.
Zavcka Klist of Bel’Natur, one of the main Gemtechs, has a plan to get the gems working again, and earning Bel’Natur more profits. Aryel Morningstar, a petit gem with a disfiguring hump, is the spokeswoman for the gems, savvy and hopeful despite the realities of the challenges ahead. Gabriel is a young boy, found by a gem in Aryel’s community, who has an unusual, and highly desirable, ability.
Tensions are high and, as the conference nears, a godgang starts attacking gems in the streets.
This is a brilliant book. It takes place over 7 days, the last 5 days preceding the conference, the conference itself and the aftermath of Eli’s report. It’s remarkable how much information and how many differing viewpoints Saulter manages to pack into those days. She deals with the necessary background information via reports and news stories, so it feels natural.
There’s a lot of politics going on in the book as various players try to influence Eli and his report. But the author makes sure the complexity of the issues being address is front and centre by showing not only the extremes of positions, but also the concerns of regular people, if mostly through mentions of what’s happening on streaming sites.
The economics of amalgamating a large group of people is also dealt with, both in terms of supporting those who are unable - or unwilling - to work and by showing the reaction of norms when gems ‘steal’ their jobs.
The issues being explored, slavery, humanity, discrimination, acceptance, as well as the gems themselves, with their engineered abilities, reminded me of Karen Sandler’s Tankborn trilogy, but the treatments and tones of the books are wildly different. While Tankborn follows two protagonists who don’t have much power to change things, Gemsigns follows those at the forefront of the politics deciding what laws will be put into affect. Gemsigns was very thought-provoking and relevant with regards to today’s politics, with its social issues (ex: do LGTBQ people deserve the same rights and privileges as their straight neighbours?).
I loved the ending and the fact that I figured out the twist a few pages before it was revealed.
The only complaint I had with the book was the style of the first chapter, which was a bit off-putting for me. After that, the book took off and never stopped.
Cons: first chapter’s style didn’t work for me
It’s been a year since the Declaration that made it illegal for Gemtech companies to own their genetically modified humans went into effect. In a few days Dr. Eli Walker’s report on wether gems are fundamentally different from unmodified humans will be delivered at a European Conference.
Zavcka Klist of Bel’Natur, one of the main Gemtechs, has a plan to get the gems working again, and earning Bel’Natur more profits. Aryel Morningstar, a petit gem with a disfiguring hump, is the spokeswoman for the gems, savvy and hopeful despite the realities of the challenges ahead. Gabriel is a young boy, found by a gem in Aryel’s community, who has an unusual, and highly desirable, ability.
Tensions are high and, as the conference nears, a godgang starts attacking gems in the streets.
This is a brilliant book. It takes place over 7 days, the last 5 days preceding the conference, the conference itself and the aftermath of Eli’s report. It’s remarkable how much information and how many differing viewpoints Saulter manages to pack into those days. She deals with the necessary background information via reports and news stories, so it feels natural.
There’s a lot of politics going on in the book as various players try to influence Eli and his report. But the author makes sure the complexity of the issues being address is front and centre by showing not only the extremes of positions, but also the concerns of regular people, if mostly through mentions of what’s happening on streaming sites.
The economics of amalgamating a large group of people is also dealt with, both in terms of supporting those who are unable - or unwilling - to work and by showing the reaction of norms when gems ‘steal’ their jobs.
The issues being explored, slavery, humanity, discrimination, acceptance, as well as the gems themselves, with their engineered abilities, reminded me of Karen Sandler’s Tankborn trilogy, but the treatments and tones of the books are wildly different. While Tankborn follows two protagonists who don’t have much power to change things, Gemsigns follows those at the forefront of the politics deciding what laws will be put into affect. Gemsigns was very thought-provoking and relevant with regards to today’s politics, with its social issues (ex: do LGTBQ people deserve the same rights and privileges as their straight neighbours?).
I loved the ending and the fact that I figured out the twist a few pages before it was revealed.
The only complaint I had with the book was the style of the first chapter, which was a bit off-putting for me. After that, the book took off and never stopped.
July 13, 2014
I received a free copy of this book through Goodreads First Reads. FTC guidelines: check!
Gemsigns is the story of genetically modified human beings who are appealing to the government to have rights of their own in a future world where they were created to save the human race.
As a political science major, this story was a fascinating examination of the dance in political arena and how manipulation of media can help (or halt) a movement. As an avid reader of science fiction, this was also a fascinating examination of where the field of genetic engineering could (possibly) take us and what that means for the human race. Is evolution still evolution if we cause it?
The characters in this had depth and the reader starts truly caring about what happens to each and every one of them. The biases and damaged pasts that certain characters bring to the table are entirely believable and start to become terrifying once the un-checked power of the "gemtechs" (the companies that created the genetic modifications) is revealed.
There's a couple small mysteries in this story that make for a great climatic scene at the end. I was blown away at the big reveal... I bet that other readers will be too.
If you love science fiction, I think that you should give Gemsigns a read. It's a unique, surprising, and emotional roller coaster ride. I can't wait for the next entry in the series.
Gemsigns is the story of genetically modified human beings who are appealing to the government to have rights of their own in a future world where they were created to save the human race.
As a political science major, this story was a fascinating examination of the dance in political arena and how manipulation of media can help (or halt) a movement. As an avid reader of science fiction, this was also a fascinating examination of where the field of genetic engineering could (possibly) take us and what that means for the human race. Is evolution still evolution if we cause it?
The characters in this had depth and the reader starts truly caring about what happens to each and every one of them. The biases and damaged pasts that certain characters bring to the table are entirely believable and start to become terrifying once the un-checked power of the "gemtechs" (the companies that created the genetic modifications) is revealed.
There's a couple small mysteries in this story that make for a great climatic scene at the end. I was blown away at the big reveal... I bet that other readers will be too.
If you love science fiction, I think that you should give Gemsigns a read. It's a unique, surprising, and emotional roller coaster ride. I can't wait for the next entry in the series.
October 20, 2015
It started out a bit shaky but then came together nicely. EDIT: I had more thoughts. It's a lot like a less action-y X Men.
August 13, 2017
Gemsigns is sadly unrecognized for how remarkable it is. It may start out slow, but when it starts up it thunders like an avalanche and sweeps you away, deep, deep into the story. It's incredibly intelligent, thought out, well planed, and expertly written.
I'm more than eager to find out what happens next for my new genetically altered, rainbow haired friends in The Squats.
I'm more than eager to find out what happens next for my new genetically altered, rainbow haired friends in The Squats.
June 12, 2013
You can read the full review over at The Founding Fields:
http://thefoundingfields.com/2013/06/...
Shadowhawk reviews one of the latest debut novels from Jo Fletcher Books.
“A great exploration of the ethical and moral dilemma regarding genetically engineered humans and how they fit into society, Gemsigns is one novel you can’t afford to miss reading this year.” ~The Founding Fields
Gemsigns is one of those rare novels that you know you are going to enjoy before you even pick it up, but when you start going through it, your mental process is along these lines: “oh my good, this is the best thing since (insert event of choice), and I want more!”. I am being entirely serious here. Gemsigns was on my “51 Most Anticipated Releases of 2013” list for two reasons: I love the beautiful cover, and I was really intrigued with the novel blurb. I was initially going to be reading the novel in April, but some things didn’t work out and it got pushed to end of May. But I finally did manage to get to it, and in the final reckoning, I’m really glad that I did, because this book is simply phenomenal.
Gemsigns presents a world where people the world over have suffered from some serious overexposure to computers and social media. This led to a social collapse and eventually, a few decades later, the world has largely stabilised, thanks in part to genetically modified humans who are “produced” by designated corporations known as GemTechs, with Gems being the label given to this new breed of humans. When the novel starts, times have turned on the GemTechs and they have essentially lost their monopoly, with a rise in sentiment demanding that the Gems be given their own rights as any normal human being. The primary protagonist of the novel is Eli Walker, a scientist who is brought in by a panel of lawmakers who have been put in charge of deciding the issue, and it is his responsibility to convince the panel of a decision for or against the issue. It is largely through his perspective that we view the events in the novel, and given his impartial outlook on the issue, Eli Walker becomes an excellent commentator as well.
What can I say really? The whole near-future setting with the Syndrome, the “disease” that arose from that overexposure to computers and social media I mentioned, is one of the most unique elements in SF I’ve read about to date. By its very nature, this world-building element offers up some serious commentary on our own lives right now. We are all hyper-connected to each other 24/7 and a huge amount of our day is eaten up by social media. Even when we are not on social media, we are doing something on our computers: watching movies, surfing YouTube, researching one thing or the other, hanging out on message boards and forums, creating content like blogging and so on. It just doesn’t stop at all. So its extremely interesting to see authors do a spin on that and engage with the reader on how this can affect our future, what it can lead us to do, and how ruthlessly we pursue that goal. That’s what Gemsigns is all about. The GemTechs want back control of the Gems and they will resort to any means necessary.
Except, we can’t ignore religion, and religion does play a big part in how events unfold in the second half of the novel. Ever since the Gems have been given their freedom (more so since, as there are suggestions that this was going on before as well), godgangs have been on the rise. These are groups of sadistic and violent vigilantes professing to believe in God who go around beating up Gems, sometimes fatally. Through them, Stephanie Saulter explores how religion both accepts and denounces Gems. The theological question that arises is, are Gems sons and daughters of God, or are they demons? The discussion in the novel is quite fascinating, and Eli Walker definitely has his work cut out for him.
Speaking of, I really liked Eli’s character. He is shown as a smart man who can draw his conclusions and is effectively completely objective in his research. And he doesn’t take things at face value, he prefers to dig deep and gain as much understanding as possible before he makes the final call just prior to the climax, in which he presents his findings on the issue of Gems being normal humans (and thus able to claim any and all benefits and opportunities as available to normal people) or being a secondary breed of humans that should be pushed back into servitude. Throughout the novel, I was impressed with Eli at every turn. He stands up to those who bully, he is able to walk into a gathering of Gems and he is able to convince them of his honest intentions, despite the fact that his eventual results may go against them. He is not a meek pen-pusher who is going to bow down to pressure. He is a man who makes his own way and is concerned only with doing what’s right. I can get behind that!
http://thefoundingfields.com/2013/06/...
Shadowhawk reviews one of the latest debut novels from Jo Fletcher Books.
“A great exploration of the ethical and moral dilemma regarding genetically engineered humans and how they fit into society, Gemsigns is one novel you can’t afford to miss reading this year.” ~The Founding Fields
Gemsigns is one of those rare novels that you know you are going to enjoy before you even pick it up, but when you start going through it, your mental process is along these lines: “oh my good, this is the best thing since (insert event of choice), and I want more!”. I am being entirely serious here. Gemsigns was on my “51 Most Anticipated Releases of 2013” list for two reasons: I love the beautiful cover, and I was really intrigued with the novel blurb. I was initially going to be reading the novel in April, but some things didn’t work out and it got pushed to end of May. But I finally did manage to get to it, and in the final reckoning, I’m really glad that I did, because this book is simply phenomenal.
Gemsigns presents a world where people the world over have suffered from some serious overexposure to computers and social media. This led to a social collapse and eventually, a few decades later, the world has largely stabilised, thanks in part to genetically modified humans who are “produced” by designated corporations known as GemTechs, with Gems being the label given to this new breed of humans. When the novel starts, times have turned on the GemTechs and they have essentially lost their monopoly, with a rise in sentiment demanding that the Gems be given their own rights as any normal human being. The primary protagonist of the novel is Eli Walker, a scientist who is brought in by a panel of lawmakers who have been put in charge of deciding the issue, and it is his responsibility to convince the panel of a decision for or against the issue. It is largely through his perspective that we view the events in the novel, and given his impartial outlook on the issue, Eli Walker becomes an excellent commentator as well.
What can I say really? The whole near-future setting with the Syndrome, the “disease” that arose from that overexposure to computers and social media I mentioned, is one of the most unique elements in SF I’ve read about to date. By its very nature, this world-building element offers up some serious commentary on our own lives right now. We are all hyper-connected to each other 24/7 and a huge amount of our day is eaten up by social media. Even when we are not on social media, we are doing something on our computers: watching movies, surfing YouTube, researching one thing or the other, hanging out on message boards and forums, creating content like blogging and so on. It just doesn’t stop at all. So its extremely interesting to see authors do a spin on that and engage with the reader on how this can affect our future, what it can lead us to do, and how ruthlessly we pursue that goal. That’s what Gemsigns is all about. The GemTechs want back control of the Gems and they will resort to any means necessary.
Except, we can’t ignore religion, and religion does play a big part in how events unfold in the second half of the novel. Ever since the Gems have been given their freedom (more so since, as there are suggestions that this was going on before as well), godgangs have been on the rise. These are groups of sadistic and violent vigilantes professing to believe in God who go around beating up Gems, sometimes fatally. Through them, Stephanie Saulter explores how religion both accepts and denounces Gems. The theological question that arises is, are Gems sons and daughters of God, or are they demons? The discussion in the novel is quite fascinating, and Eli Walker definitely has his work cut out for him.
Speaking of, I really liked Eli’s character. He is shown as a smart man who can draw his conclusions and is effectively completely objective in his research. And he doesn’t take things at face value, he prefers to dig deep and gain as much understanding as possible before he makes the final call just prior to the climax, in which he presents his findings on the issue of Gems being normal humans (and thus able to claim any and all benefits and opportunities as available to normal people) or being a secondary breed of humans that should be pushed back into servitude. Throughout the novel, I was impressed with Eli at every turn. He stands up to those who bully, he is able to walk into a gathering of Gems and he is able to convince them of his honest intentions, despite the fact that his eventual results may go against them. He is not a meek pen-pusher who is going to bow down to pressure. He is a man who makes his own way and is concerned only with doing what’s right. I can get behind that!
August 13, 2022
Pros: Creative plot ideas, thrilling interactions, and fair but truncated character development, some representation of a spectrum of identities that sometimes strays into the caricatures of the privileged. Centers some real juice of modern society such as Othering and hegemony, with references to race, enslavement, and sexuality.
Cons: Was I not supposed to realize Aryel's gemsign on the initial description of her form? It seemed like I was supposed to be surprised in the climactic reveal. The writing can be a bit hamfisted and young, especially in the exerpts of fictional publications.
Cons: Was I not supposed to realize Aryel's gemsign on the initial description of her form? It seemed like I was supposed to be surprised in the climactic reveal. The writing can be a bit hamfisted and young, especially in the exerpts of fictional publications.
March 31, 2013
I can think of maybe half a dozen authors I've given a 5-star review to for a debut novel. Stephanie Saulter is now one of them. Gemsigns simply grabbed me by the brain (and later, by the feels) and would not let go until I'd finished it - I read it over two sittings, and that break was a damned reluctant one.
The events of the book begin with the escape (from somewhere) of what we later realise is a runaway Gem (identity unclear), who somehow manages to simply disappear when she finally evades her pursuers (a gemtech company? If so, which one? Questions!). From there we jump forward to a few days before the all-important Conference, and the story starts to follow Dr Eli Walker as he sets out on the assignment he's been given - to determine and present a report upon how human (or 'normal' - that word is key here) the Gems really are, before laws are put in place to govern their treatment and grant them legal rights. At this point they have freedom from the extremely limited lives they had as the property of gemtechs, their parent companies. Those gemtechs, particularly Bel'Natur - the most powerful of them - want the gems back in their labs. The godgangs, religious zealots who are, of course, violently anti-gem, just want them all gone. The gems themselves seem to just want to be able to live their lives like anyone else - although as the tension and violence levels escalate in the lead-up to the Conference, not all of them are willing to turn the other cheek.
Saulter gives us literally a day-by-day accounting of events, and so gives the overall story the feeling of a ticking time-bomb. At the explosive centre of it all is, of course, the Conference itself - and Dr Walker's report doesn't disappoint in that sense. What it touches off is nothing short of an edge-of-your-seat attack upon the story's other central characters - Gaela, a gem with hyperspectral vision, her adopted son Gabriel, a telepath upon whom a great deal of the underlying mystery rests, and the other true curiosity of the story - Aryel Morningstar. Her story, as it emerges, is as gripping and intriguing as the more overt set-piece concerning the Conference, and Walker's report. As the unveiling of his findings finally lights the godgang's fuse, so the revelation of Aryel's deformity provides the final (and breathtaking) twist in this tale, and it's a perfect note to end this part of the story on. While Saulter makes a spectacle of Aryel that the character had clearly hoped to avoid, we're still left with plenty of questions to carry us into the second book. It's a deft accomplishment on the author's part, and I for one can't wait to find out more!
Another aspect of Saulter's writing style that I feel demands a hat-tip is how objective it all seems, even while I was, as I noted earlier, repeatedly kicked in the feels. The story doesn't enter first-person POV, yet still switches neatly between focus upon each of those central characters - including, I should note, Zavcka Klist, who is another character I'm left with plenty of questions and suspicions about... Then there's the leader of the godgang responsible for the attack on the protagonists in the final chapters. We see things from his perspective as well, and while I inevitably found that particular point of view repellent, I have to congratulate Saulter for bringing all of these elements and conflicting viewpoints together so well. It made for a thrilling read, and I'm incredibly glad I took that chance on it when I put my hand up for a review copy. I really hope this book does well; I'd love to see what comes next!
The events of the book begin with the escape (from somewhere) of what we later realise is a runaway Gem (identity unclear), who somehow manages to simply disappear when she finally evades her pursuers (a gemtech company? If so, which one? Questions!). From there we jump forward to a few days before the all-important Conference, and the story starts to follow Dr Eli Walker as he sets out on the assignment he's been given - to determine and present a report upon how human (or 'normal' - that word is key here) the Gems really are, before laws are put in place to govern their treatment and grant them legal rights. At this point they have freedom from the extremely limited lives they had as the property of gemtechs, their parent companies. Those gemtechs, particularly Bel'Natur - the most powerful of them - want the gems back in their labs. The godgangs, religious zealots who are, of course, violently anti-gem, just want them all gone. The gems themselves seem to just want to be able to live their lives like anyone else - although as the tension and violence levels escalate in the lead-up to the Conference, not all of them are willing to turn the other cheek.
Saulter gives us literally a day-by-day accounting of events, and so gives the overall story the feeling of a ticking time-bomb. At the explosive centre of it all is, of course, the Conference itself - and Dr Walker's report doesn't disappoint in that sense. What it touches off is nothing short of an edge-of-your-seat attack upon the story's other central characters - Gaela, a gem with hyperspectral vision, her adopted son Gabriel, a telepath upon whom a great deal of the underlying mystery rests, and the other true curiosity of the story - Aryel Morningstar. Her story, as it emerges, is as gripping and intriguing as the more overt set-piece concerning the Conference, and Walker's report. As the unveiling of his findings finally lights the godgang's fuse, so the revelation of Aryel's deformity provides the final (and breathtaking) twist in this tale, and it's a perfect note to end this part of the story on. While Saulter makes a spectacle of Aryel that the character had clearly hoped to avoid, we're still left with plenty of questions to carry us into the second book. It's a deft accomplishment on the author's part, and I for one can't wait to find out more!
Another aspect of Saulter's writing style that I feel demands a hat-tip is how objective it all seems, even while I was, as I noted earlier, repeatedly kicked in the feels. The story doesn't enter first-person POV, yet still switches neatly between focus upon each of those central characters - including, I should note, Zavcka Klist, who is another character I'm left with plenty of questions and suspicions about... Then there's the leader of the godgang responsible for the attack on the protagonists in the final chapters. We see things from his perspective as well, and while I inevitably found that particular point of view repellent, I have to congratulate Saulter for bringing all of these elements and conflicting viewpoints together so well. It made for a thrilling read, and I'm incredibly glad I took that chance on it when I put my hand up for a review copy. I really hope this book does well; I'd love to see what comes next!
March 30, 2016
Can we have more sociopolitical speculative fiction, y’all? Can that be a thing we ask the book gods for? Gemsigns happened to be lying around my Overdrive wishlist when I was picking out books for a long trip, and I happened to choose it out of all the books on my Nook on a train ride to Connecticut because the train was filling up rapidly with business bros and I wanted to quickly be in the middle of reading something in order to deter potential conversation-makers.
From inauspicious beginnings, what a glorious outcome! Gemsigns was so good. It was so good that although I was only using carry-on luggage for a weeklong trip, I went and bought the sequel the next day so I could read it on the plane ride home.
The premise of Gemsigns is that an electronics-related plague wiped out most of an entire generation’s labor force, and industries responded by creating genetically modified humans (GMHs, or “gems” for short) to do the heavy lifting nobody else was physically able to do. As the plague tapered off, the gemtech companies expanded their repertoire, breeding gems smarter and with specialized skills like heightened language acquisition or dramatically heightened vision. Now, gems have wrested themselves away from ownership by the gemtech companies, and Eli Walker is preparing a report for the European Union about the differences between gems and humans. The report’s findings are expected to reverberate throughout Europe and the world, setting the longterm course for gem independence and self-determination.
Gemsigns is sociological af. In a society that has all but eliminated disability as a going concern, gems who were considered failed experiments, or whose mental or physical design will not permit them to live without support, are a curiosity—and a costly one. Should taxpayer money cover their care, when gemtech companies have freely offered to pay for it (as long as gems continue to be considered their property)? Should special laws be put in place to protect regular humans from gems with modifications that could do real harm?
That the most important worry in this story is who will pay for all the infrastructure that a new class of independent, rights-having people would create is one of my most favorite things about it. In my many years of study, I have cleverly spotted that most everything comes down to exactly this: Money and power. Who has it, who wants it, and what will they do to keep or get it? Gemsigns plays these ideas out in fascinating, surprising detail.
If I’ve made it sound like there are no characters worth caring about, please believe that that’s only because I was so enthralled and surprised by Saulter’s worldbuilding that I had to put it front and center in this review. Gemsigns is full to brimming with interesting, complex characters with clashing motives and lives outside of the story. It’s just a really, really good book, and y’all should please read it.
TOGETHER WE CAN make Stephanie Saulter as famous as she deserves.
From inauspicious beginnings, what a glorious outcome! Gemsigns was so good. It was so good that although I was only using carry-on luggage for a weeklong trip, I went and bought the sequel the next day so I could read it on the plane ride home.
The premise of Gemsigns is that an electronics-related plague wiped out most of an entire generation’s labor force, and industries responded by creating genetically modified humans (GMHs, or “gems” for short) to do the heavy lifting nobody else was physically able to do. As the plague tapered off, the gemtech companies expanded their repertoire, breeding gems smarter and with specialized skills like heightened language acquisition or dramatically heightened vision. Now, gems have wrested themselves away from ownership by the gemtech companies, and Eli Walker is preparing a report for the European Union about the differences between gems and humans. The report’s findings are expected to reverberate throughout Europe and the world, setting the longterm course for gem independence and self-determination.
Gemsigns is sociological af. In a society that has all but eliminated disability as a going concern, gems who were considered failed experiments, or whose mental or physical design will not permit them to live without support, are a curiosity—and a costly one. Should taxpayer money cover their care, when gemtech companies have freely offered to pay for it (as long as gems continue to be considered their property)? Should special laws be put in place to protect regular humans from gems with modifications that could do real harm?
That the most important worry in this story is who will pay for all the infrastructure that a new class of independent, rights-having people would create is one of my most favorite things about it. In my many years of study, I have cleverly spotted that most everything comes down to exactly this: Money and power. Who has it, who wants it, and what will they do to keep or get it? Gemsigns plays these ideas out in fascinating, surprising detail.
If I’ve made it sound like there are no characters worth caring about, please believe that that’s only because I was so enthralled and surprised by Saulter’s worldbuilding that I had to put it front and center in this review. Gemsigns is full to brimming with interesting, complex characters with clashing motives and lives outside of the story. It’s just a really, really good book, and y’all should please read it.
TOGETHER WE CAN make Stephanie Saulter as famous as she deserves.
January 28, 2016
I wanted to read "Gemsigns" since I heard of its release in the UK. Sadly, years passed before I could get a hold of it in my chosen eBook format here in the US.
My 5-star rating reflects how I feel about this book. I could hardly put it down. Even though it dealt with familiar themes (genetically enhanced humans, or "gems"), it had a new way of looking at the problem that felt like it mirrored many modern day ethical quandries. The pacing and plot was fantastic. It was so well crafted that I think it would adapt well to television, where the 1 week outlined in the novel could last for 1 seasons of a TV show. This is near-future social scifi executed skillfully. I also just like the way the author crafts a sentence. Her way of thinking aligns very closely with my own, so I always felt comfortable in the story.
I actually have a number of criticisms. Normally, my criticisms would result in dropping at least a star off the highest rating. But I just can't bring myself to do it, because I had so much darn fun. But I would feel remiss without mentioning some of its flaws. For example, the characters are very starkly good or evil. There are not really any shades of gray. I'm not sure why this didn't bother me. I think as I read the book I expected more nuance to be revealed, and when it wasn't, I shrugged it off. This is quite unlike me and required some reflection by the time I finished the novel. The characters are all awfully perceptive people, reading body language and tension like a pro. Not everyone should have this emotional sensitivity, so it's clear that some bias from the author's personality has infected her characters. It's also likely that some of the plot twists could be easily divined beforehand. Once again, I was too distracted by the shiny narrative that I didn't really see the hints, but if you did I imagine it would be less interesting. My third and final criticism is that some of the political machinations of characters like Zackva Klist and Aryel Morningstar have the sheen of duplicity but are actually quite straightforward when you think about it. I like a little more Machiavellian manipulation. The final solution (proposed by Trench) is actually what any of us modern day humans would probably assume by default. It's just harder to see from within the narrative because of the decades (centuries?) of oppression, but it's also not a huge surprise.
None of that has bothered me, so I feel happy with the glowing rating I've assigned "Gemsigns." I'm glad I read it, and I think I could unreservedly recommend it to everyone.
My 5-star rating reflects how I feel about this book. I could hardly put it down. Even though it dealt with familiar themes (genetically enhanced humans, or "gems"), it had a new way of looking at the problem that felt like it mirrored many modern day ethical quandries. The pacing and plot was fantastic. It was so well crafted that I think it would adapt well to television, where the 1 week outlined in the novel could last for 1 seasons of a TV show. This is near-future social scifi executed skillfully. I also just like the way the author crafts a sentence. Her way of thinking aligns very closely with my own, so I always felt comfortable in the story.
I actually have a number of criticisms. Normally, my criticisms would result in dropping at least a star off the highest rating. But I just can't bring myself to do it, because I had so much darn fun. But I would feel remiss without mentioning some of its flaws. For example, the characters are very starkly good or evil. There are not really any shades of gray. I'm not sure why this didn't bother me. I think as I read the book I expected more nuance to be revealed, and when it wasn't, I shrugged it off. This is quite unlike me and required some reflection by the time I finished the novel. The characters are all awfully perceptive people, reading body language and tension like a pro. Not everyone should have this emotional sensitivity, so it's clear that some bias from the author's personality has infected her characters. It's also likely that some of the plot twists could be easily divined beforehand. Once again, I was too distracted by the shiny narrative that I didn't really see the hints, but if you did I imagine it would be less interesting. My third and final criticism is that some of the political machinations of characters like Zackva Klist and Aryel Morningstar have the sheen of duplicity but are actually quite straightforward when you think about it. I like a little more Machiavellian manipulation. The final solution (proposed by Trench) is actually what any of us modern day humans would probably assume by default. It's just harder to see from within the narrative because of the decades (centuries?) of oppression, but it's also not a huge surprise.
None of that has bothered me, so I feel happy with the glowing rating I've assigned "Gemsigns." I'm glad I read it, and I think I could unreservedly recommend it to everyone.
September 23, 2021
This has all kinds of things I should have liked: an exploration of the boundaries of what it means to be human, how societies imagine and understand belonging, and how social movements allow marginalized groups to seek acceptance. After the world is ravaged by terrible pandemic, genetic testing and manipulation allow humanity to escape the Syndrome. But the corporations that hold the genetic keys begin to create modified humans - people with ultraviolet and infrared vision, people with gills, people with ultrasonic hearing - that they use or lease out for commercial purposes. When these GHMs (genetically modified humans), or gems, petition for rights and the ability join society, the world must decide whether or not they can accept them.
As I said, I should have liked this. But the characters and plot serve the message, not the other way around. And, though Saulter tries to create nuance and complication, it's clear there's only one side here. It's hard to disagree with the idea that unfettered capitalism and scientific experimentation without ethics leads to oppression, subjugation and monstrous acts. Sometimes, of course, it's fun to read a story that has unambiguous good guys vs. bad guys. But I think Saulter was trying to write something more complicated, but because she made her sides so obvious, the book feels didactic.
The characters are more like cardboard cutouts that Saulter can move around. Most of the book was focused on delineating how designing people to be the perfect kind of slave is bad, so there wasn't a ton of time for character development. Even the villains were your standard issue crazy Christians, which is kinda boring. Plus, the eventual reveal around the enigmatic gem leader Aryel Morningstar undermined the whole message of the book for me.
Anyway, I wouldn't recommend this. It's a cool premise - what if the XMen were engineered and escaped from their evil overlords? - but the execution doesn't live up to the potential.
As I said, I should have liked this. But the characters and plot serve the message, not the other way around. And, though Saulter tries to create nuance and complication, it's clear there's only one side here. It's hard to disagree with the idea that unfettered capitalism and scientific experimentation without ethics leads to oppression, subjugation and monstrous acts. Sometimes, of course, it's fun to read a story that has unambiguous good guys vs. bad guys. But I think Saulter was trying to write something more complicated, but because she made her sides so obvious, the book feels didactic.
The characters are more like cardboard cutouts that Saulter can move around. Most of the book was focused on delineating how designing people to be the perfect kind of slave is bad, so there wasn't a ton of time for character development. Even the villains were your standard issue crazy Christians, which is kinda boring. Plus, the eventual reveal around the enigmatic gem leader Aryel Morningstar undermined the whole message of the book for me.
Anyway, I wouldn't recommend this. It's a cool premise - what if the XMen were engineered and escaped from their evil overlords? - but the execution doesn't live up to the potential.
September 27, 2015
The short review, is that I didn't find myself convinced by the story.
The longer version. Starting with the beginning, I found that the initial chapter opened with the author announcing that this would be pretension literary fiction, with a meditation on history. I reread it after finishing in case it connected more with the book, perhaps it did, but only microscopically. After the initial poetic meditation, the writing gradually settles down, though first it goes through some purple storytelling. (The prose there reminded me of V setting the scene in at least the film version of V for Vendetta, if not the graphic novel as well. Except that V's prose there is deliberately purple because it helps introduce us to V's character).
Then what did I find myself unconvinced about? There were lots of little things, why characters did this or that, why society would really react this way. The biggest issues are with the set up. I didn't believe the syndrome--the human brain unable to take in the future internet? And causing that kind of a deadly reaction? Seriously? It sounded like set up for the plot, and nothing more. And the origin of the gems as engineered underclass? I wasn't predisposed to this one, and I didn't believe that, even in a crisis like the syndrome, humanity would resort to combining those modern favorites, eugenics and slavery--especially while keeping a pretense of civilization. Of course, it didn't help that we learned that background in the worst kind of info dump. The ending also felt contrived. Morningstar's hiding that particular gemsign? And people love her for it?
And another smaller issue. There were at least two occasions where, I guess to create dramatic tension, the author withheld information that the point of view characters clearly knew. It just felt contrived.
The longer version. Starting with the beginning, I found that the initial chapter opened with the author announcing that this would be pretension literary fiction, with a meditation on history. I reread it after finishing in case it connected more with the book, perhaps it did, but only microscopically. After the initial poetic meditation, the writing gradually settles down, though first it goes through some purple storytelling. (The prose there reminded me of V setting the scene in at least the film version of V for Vendetta, if not the graphic novel as well. Except that V's prose there is deliberately purple because it helps introduce us to V's character).
Then what did I find myself unconvinced about? There were lots of little things, why characters did this or that, why society would really react this way. The biggest issues are with the set up. I didn't believe the syndrome--the human brain unable to take in the future internet? And causing that kind of a deadly reaction? Seriously? It sounded like set up for the plot, and nothing more. And the origin of the gems as engineered underclass? I wasn't predisposed to this one, and I didn't believe that, even in a crisis like the syndrome, humanity would resort to combining those modern favorites, eugenics and slavery--especially while keeping a pretense of civilization. Of course, it didn't help that we learned that background in the worst kind of info dump. The ending also felt contrived. Morningstar's hiding that particular gemsign? And people love her for it?
And another smaller issue. There were at least two occasions where, I guess to create dramatic tension, the author withheld information that the point of view characters clearly knew. It just felt contrived.
June 13, 2017
I have a lot of conflicted feelings about this book, that make reviewing hard. On the one hand, Gemsigns has a diverse cast, and a really strong science fiction concept that is used to effectively interrogate issues of race and otherness. I want to promote books which engage with social justice on the level that this book does. On the other hand, the incredibly dense writing and detached method of third person narration meant that I struggled to engage with any of the characters, and keep reading.
‘Gems’ are genetically engineered humans that were created to fulfil a need, namely the devastation of the Earth’s population during an epidemic known the Syndrome. From hyperspectral vision, to improved combat abilities, to enhanced childbearing, Gems were designed to help humanity survive. But as humanity gradually recovered, and the Gems became more and more exploited by Gemtechs, no longer in the name of ‘necessity’, they fought for emancipation from their former slave labour. A year on from the Declaration that gave them freedom, anthropologist Eli Walker is given the task of defining the Gems as a species, and therefore heavily influence in the decision as to whether they can become a fully emancipated people.
It’s a pretty complex concept that essentially boils down to one thing: how do you judge humanity, and what do you do with that kind of power? It is clear from the very start that, despite their altered genetic code, Gems are very, very human. But the political and commercial agendas surrounding their existence quickly serve to muddle the picture, and put Eli in a very awkward position.
Immediately, the issue of the Gems’ status identity is analogically linked to racism. They are former slaves, with the Gemtech companies that owned them now arguing that they are the ones that can best accommodate integration and assimilation into the dominant ‘norm’ culture. Furthermore, hate crime is an insistent plot point throughout this book, and the story shows that newly emancipated Gems are perceived encroaching upon the territory of ‘norms’ in a classic “they’re coming over here and taking our jobs” narrative, with the added issue that, in many cases, Gems are genuinely engineered to do these jobs better. Not only does this book use Gems as a vehicle for interrogating race, but also neurodiversity, as the demands of certain functions that Gems have been engineered to do has resulted in a portion of the Gem population being created autistic, as well as also exploring issues of trauma and PTSD that come from being former slaves. It’s a very ambitious and wide reaching concept that can be used to address many of the social injustices of the modern world.
The story is also interesting. You follow Eli Walker as he tries to negotiate the numerous insidious agendas that encroach upon his ‘objective’ report, but also Gaela, a Gem whose hyperspectral sight and synaethesia makes her a valuable, employable asset in the post-Declaration world, and her adoptive son Gabriel, an unusual child who is the centre of his own conspiracy. You also get a sinister glimpse into the ingenious mind of Zackva Klist, a high up employee of Gemtech Bel Natur, who is doing everything she can to skew Eli’s final decision to her advantage. The gradual building of tension and unease is very effective, it makes you feel like you’re on the very edge of revolution or riot. It actually felt very similar to the unease I experience when faced with the political instability in the contemporary world, and its an effective book that can make those kind of feelings real.
And yet. And yet.
I just did not like this book’s writing at all.
I didn’t feel anything for, or from, any of the characters. Eli surveys the scene with very little emotion and acts as a funnel for information, but doesn’t really have a personality, remaining the very picture of ‘objective’. Even characters like Gaela or Aryel, who have very interesting backstories, don’t have much to differentiate their viewpoint from any of the other characters and end up feeling bland. The person I actually enjoyed reading the most was Klist, because the very clinical, detached writing could then be vaguely attributed to her calculating personality and ruthless political machinations, rather than just sapping away any individuality of her voice.
There are moments when Eli, or another character, breaks down in tears in the face of the abominations and cruelty that Gems have endured. And they should have that kind of reaction – a lot of what happens in this book is terrible. But for me it would just cause a weird disconnect, where I would read a character’s emotional breakdown without feeling anything at all or even batting an eye, because I just couldn’t have that level of emotional connection with any of the writing.
In particular, the main time I felt this kind of weird detachment was whenever we inhabited the point of view of a religious fanatic. The writing would mechanically spit out cultist vocab like ‘preacher’, ‘unclean’, 'deceiver' and ‘baptised’, but ultimately remain very impassive – the words would be vitriolic, but the actual writing style would remain mostly unchanged. It was just creepy, and not in a way that felt intentional.
I think this has something to do with my inability to get on with the very information heavy, dense tone of ‘hard’ sci-fi. Large infodumps, a plot rather than character focus (despite the fact that this book deals with the trauma of individuals and the nature of ‘humanity’ itself), and a general tendency to both be over-elaborate in description, and then utterly downplay the emotional impact of large plot revelations, made this book pretty impenetrable for me as a reader. I think – in an ideal world – this novel would’ve benefitted a lot more from either being a series of first person narratives, or at least having a more colloquial tone. You feel like you’re watching everything through a thick, opaque layer of glass that muffles everything, because the narratorial voice is so dense, impassive, and utterly disconnected from anything that is happening on the page.
I'm giving this book 3/5 because I genuinely think the plot was good, and the issues it details are dealt with sensitively. Concept-wise, I think it's 5 out of 5 - but if I was to rate this on writing alone, it would probably be brought down to a 2.
If you like speculative fiction books that cleverly deals with social justice, and the particularly information-orientated 3rd person voice of traditional science fiction, this is definitely the book for you. But for me, this book was like walking uphill – a painful struggle that you know will give you pay off once you reach the top, but still not particularly enjoyable.
‘Gems’ are genetically engineered humans that were created to fulfil a need, namely the devastation of the Earth’s population during an epidemic known the Syndrome. From hyperspectral vision, to improved combat abilities, to enhanced childbearing, Gems were designed to help humanity survive. But as humanity gradually recovered, and the Gems became more and more exploited by Gemtechs, no longer in the name of ‘necessity’, they fought for emancipation from their former slave labour. A year on from the Declaration that gave them freedom, anthropologist Eli Walker is given the task of defining the Gems as a species, and therefore heavily influence in the decision as to whether they can become a fully emancipated people.
It’s a pretty complex concept that essentially boils down to one thing: how do you judge humanity, and what do you do with that kind of power? It is clear from the very start that, despite their altered genetic code, Gems are very, very human. But the political and commercial agendas surrounding their existence quickly serve to muddle the picture, and put Eli in a very awkward position.
Immediately, the issue of the Gems’ status identity is analogically linked to racism. They are former slaves, with the Gemtech companies that owned them now arguing that they are the ones that can best accommodate integration and assimilation into the dominant ‘norm’ culture. Furthermore, hate crime is an insistent plot point throughout this book, and the story shows that newly emancipated Gems are perceived encroaching upon the territory of ‘norms’ in a classic “they’re coming over here and taking our jobs” narrative, with the added issue that, in many cases, Gems are genuinely engineered to do these jobs better. Not only does this book use Gems as a vehicle for interrogating race, but also neurodiversity, as the demands of certain functions that Gems have been engineered to do has resulted in a portion of the Gem population being created autistic, as well as also exploring issues of trauma and PTSD that come from being former slaves. It’s a very ambitious and wide reaching concept that can be used to address many of the social injustices of the modern world.
The story is also interesting. You follow Eli Walker as he tries to negotiate the numerous insidious agendas that encroach upon his ‘objective’ report, but also Gaela, a Gem whose hyperspectral sight and synaethesia makes her a valuable, employable asset in the post-Declaration world, and her adoptive son Gabriel, an unusual child who is the centre of his own conspiracy. You also get a sinister glimpse into the ingenious mind of Zackva Klist, a high up employee of Gemtech Bel Natur, who is doing everything she can to skew Eli’s final decision to her advantage. The gradual building of tension and unease is very effective, it makes you feel like you’re on the very edge of revolution or riot. It actually felt very similar to the unease I experience when faced with the political instability in the contemporary world, and its an effective book that can make those kind of feelings real.
And yet. And yet.
I just did not like this book’s writing at all.
I didn’t feel anything for, or from, any of the characters. Eli surveys the scene with very little emotion and acts as a funnel for information, but doesn’t really have a personality, remaining the very picture of ‘objective’. Even characters like Gaela or Aryel, who have very interesting backstories, don’t have much to differentiate their viewpoint from any of the other characters and end up feeling bland. The person I actually enjoyed reading the most was Klist, because the very clinical, detached writing could then be vaguely attributed to her calculating personality and ruthless political machinations, rather than just sapping away any individuality of her voice.
There are moments when Eli, or another character, breaks down in tears in the face of the abominations and cruelty that Gems have endured. And they should have that kind of reaction – a lot of what happens in this book is terrible. But for me it would just cause a weird disconnect, where I would read a character’s emotional breakdown without feeling anything at all or even batting an eye, because I just couldn’t have that level of emotional connection with any of the writing.
In particular, the main time I felt this kind of weird detachment was whenever we inhabited the point of view of a religious fanatic. The writing would mechanically spit out cultist vocab like ‘preacher’, ‘unclean’, 'deceiver' and ‘baptised’, but ultimately remain very impassive – the words would be vitriolic, but the actual writing style would remain mostly unchanged. It was just creepy, and not in a way that felt intentional.
I think this has something to do with my inability to get on with the very information heavy, dense tone of ‘hard’ sci-fi. Large infodumps, a plot rather than character focus (despite the fact that this book deals with the trauma of individuals and the nature of ‘humanity’ itself), and a general tendency to both be over-elaborate in description, and then utterly downplay the emotional impact of large plot revelations, made this book pretty impenetrable for me as a reader. I think – in an ideal world – this novel would’ve benefitted a lot more from either being a series of first person narratives, or at least having a more colloquial tone. You feel like you’re watching everything through a thick, opaque layer of glass that muffles everything, because the narratorial voice is so dense, impassive, and utterly disconnected from anything that is happening on the page.
I'm giving this book 3/5 because I genuinely think the plot was good, and the issues it details are dealt with sensitively. Concept-wise, I think it's 5 out of 5 - but if I was to rate this on writing alone, it would probably be brought down to a 2.
If you like speculative fiction books that cleverly deals with social justice, and the particularly information-orientated 3rd person voice of traditional science fiction, this is definitely the book for you. But for me, this book was like walking uphill – a painful struggle that you know will give you pay off once you reach the top, but still not particularly enjoyable.
January 17, 2020
I first heard about this book thanks to Bookworm Blues, and the high praise Sarah gave it surprised me. Sure, it sounded like an interesting enough novel, but Sarah has exacting standards and isn’t easily impressed. Could Gemsigns really be as great as she said it was?
The answer is yes. Yes it could. And then some!
Gemsigns is a novel akin to Daryl Gregory’s Afterpary or Ramez Naam’s Nexus. Utterly fantastic, sucking you in from the get-go and not letting you go even once the story’s over and there’s no more of the book to read. The world is so beautifully constructed, so fantastically real, that you swear you yourself could be living in it right now because all the little details are right there to make it all come to life in such vivid and evocative ways.
In the future, humanity has made a comeback from a crippling neurological condition caused by overexposure to so much of the technology that we take for granted today. Medical science finally found a treatment for this, using gene therapy to alter humanity just enough so that we became immune to the Syndrome. Those already affected by it stood no chance, but the next generation could live on, and the one after that, and so on. But we didn’t stop there. Once better able to alter our genetics before birth, why not eliminate chances of birth defects and genetic disease, making a stronger, better human race? And while we’re on the subject, why not create a whole new race of people, genetically modified to do whatever we want, be they people who regenerate organs so they can constantly be cut into and used for transplants, or people with enhanced strength for heavy lifting, or people with gills so they can work underwater for extended periods of time? And why bother giving them rights; after all, they’re just fleshy machines, really, created with a work purpose and will never really interact with normal human society.
This is the premise behind Gemsigns. Genetically modified humans, commonly called gems, have been freed from essential slavery at the hands of the corporations that created them, and now they have the daunting task of trying to make a life for themselves in a world that doesn’t really accept them. Even if it wasn’t for social prejudice, though, the gemtechs want their property back, want to allow gems freedom only at a cost that benefits the company. Godgangs, groups of religious zealots who believe that gems are an abomination and an affront to God and mankind, want to kill them all. And much of the outcome hinges on the results of an upcoming conference put together to settle the issue for good: can even gems be considered human?
There’s so much in the way of social and political commentary in this book that it’s hard to know where to start. Take any typical argument you might hear about racism, disability, or class prejudice and you’re going to find it in Gemsigns. Whether or not certain people are deserving of rights, whether it’s better to pass as “normal” or to be unabashedly yourself, equality versus equanimity, you name it. It’s all here, and it’s all presented in a way that doesn’t negate any of the complexities of the issues involved, but neither is it so complex as to be hard to understand for those who may not be well-versed in social issues. It’s all wonderfully accessible!
And also demonstrates that humanity can nearly be crushed under its own weight and come out the other side with even greater technological advances and yet still we’ll be arguing the same arguments, just about different people. But for all that’s a very sad notion, Gemsigns gives us hope that even though the future will still hold idiots bent on not learning anything, there are also countless people willing to learn and grow and help those in need and to strive for a better and more level playing field for all. It may seem trite, but that’s a powerful message, and one I sometimes think we all need to see more of.
Saulter’s flawless writing makes a great story into a brilliant one, and even the moments where infodumping happens, it happens in a way that’s still fascinating and doesn’t detract from the reading experience. The worldbuilding is exquisite, the characters are real and flawed and you can’t help but be interested in them, even when you may not necessarily like them. From Eli Walker’s determination to stay honest to Zavcka Klist’s ruthless pursuit of her company’s assets to Aryel Morningstar’s mysterious nature and her charismatic approach to people… It’s a beautiful cast of characters that drive the story onward. The whole thing is character-driven, rather than letting swift action fill the pages. Tension comes from wondering what the outcome of the conference will be, who will the Godgangs kill? Any sense of more physical action comes right at the end, with a series of amazing plot revelations that just floored me, which is especially impressive considering how blown away I was by the book in general.
What it comes down to is this: if you want complex social sci-fi that deals with powerful issues in a way that both entertains and educates, then read Gemsigns. If you want a superbly written future, read Gemsigns. If you want to be deeply impressed by somebody’s debut novel, to the point where you’d swear that this sort of polished refined prose couldn’t possibly be someone’s debut, then read Gemsigns. It’s more of an experience than just a mere story, a new world rather than a mere novel. It’s very possibly one of the best things I’m going to read this year. Social sci-fi just doesn’t get any better than this!
The answer is yes. Yes it could. And then some!
Gemsigns is a novel akin to Daryl Gregory’s Afterpary or Ramez Naam’s Nexus. Utterly fantastic, sucking you in from the get-go and not letting you go even once the story’s over and there’s no more of the book to read. The world is so beautifully constructed, so fantastically real, that you swear you yourself could be living in it right now because all the little details are right there to make it all come to life in such vivid and evocative ways.
In the future, humanity has made a comeback from a crippling neurological condition caused by overexposure to so much of the technology that we take for granted today. Medical science finally found a treatment for this, using gene therapy to alter humanity just enough so that we became immune to the Syndrome. Those already affected by it stood no chance, but the next generation could live on, and the one after that, and so on. But we didn’t stop there. Once better able to alter our genetics before birth, why not eliminate chances of birth defects and genetic disease, making a stronger, better human race? And while we’re on the subject, why not create a whole new race of people, genetically modified to do whatever we want, be they people who regenerate organs so they can constantly be cut into and used for transplants, or people with enhanced strength for heavy lifting, or people with gills so they can work underwater for extended periods of time? And why bother giving them rights; after all, they’re just fleshy machines, really, created with a work purpose and will never really interact with normal human society.
This is the premise behind Gemsigns. Genetically modified humans, commonly called gems, have been freed from essential slavery at the hands of the corporations that created them, and now they have the daunting task of trying to make a life for themselves in a world that doesn’t really accept them. Even if it wasn’t for social prejudice, though, the gemtechs want their property back, want to allow gems freedom only at a cost that benefits the company. Godgangs, groups of religious zealots who believe that gems are an abomination and an affront to God and mankind, want to kill them all. And much of the outcome hinges on the results of an upcoming conference put together to settle the issue for good: can even gems be considered human?
There’s so much in the way of social and political commentary in this book that it’s hard to know where to start. Take any typical argument you might hear about racism, disability, or class prejudice and you’re going to find it in Gemsigns. Whether or not certain people are deserving of rights, whether it’s better to pass as “normal” or to be unabashedly yourself, equality versus equanimity, you name it. It’s all here, and it’s all presented in a way that doesn’t negate any of the complexities of the issues involved, but neither is it so complex as to be hard to understand for those who may not be well-versed in social issues. It’s all wonderfully accessible!
And also demonstrates that humanity can nearly be crushed under its own weight and come out the other side with even greater technological advances and yet still we’ll be arguing the same arguments, just about different people. But for all that’s a very sad notion, Gemsigns gives us hope that even though the future will still hold idiots bent on not learning anything, there are also countless people willing to learn and grow and help those in need and to strive for a better and more level playing field for all. It may seem trite, but that’s a powerful message, and one I sometimes think we all need to see more of.
Saulter’s flawless writing makes a great story into a brilliant one, and even the moments where infodumping happens, it happens in a way that’s still fascinating and doesn’t detract from the reading experience. The worldbuilding is exquisite, the characters are real and flawed and you can’t help but be interested in them, even when you may not necessarily like them. From Eli Walker’s determination to stay honest to Zavcka Klist’s ruthless pursuit of her company’s assets to Aryel Morningstar’s mysterious nature and her charismatic approach to people… It’s a beautiful cast of characters that drive the story onward. The whole thing is character-driven, rather than letting swift action fill the pages. Tension comes from wondering what the outcome of the conference will be, who will the Godgangs kill? Any sense of more physical action comes right at the end, with a series of amazing plot revelations that just floored me, which is especially impressive considering how blown away I was by the book in general.
What it comes down to is this: if you want complex social sci-fi that deals with powerful issues in a way that both entertains and educates, then read Gemsigns. If you want a superbly written future, read Gemsigns. If you want to be deeply impressed by somebody’s debut novel, to the point where you’d swear that this sort of polished refined prose couldn’t possibly be someone’s debut, then read Gemsigns. It’s more of an experience than just a mere story, a new world rather than a mere novel. It’s very possibly one of the best things I’m going to read this year. Social sci-fi just doesn’t get any better than this!
September 5, 2015
I'm not sure what to rate this...I keep going back and forth. I should love this book, based on the pretense and structure...but I don't. I like it...I think. I am hoping the the book club brings some insight into it and I can settle on a rating.
January 3, 2018
Excellent SF novel set during a week in the future when people assemble to decide how to classify and treat those who are different.
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