A Miracle of Rare Design: A Tragedy of Transcendence

Birthright #21

by Mike Resnick

On the planet Grotamana, called Medina by humans, Xavier William Lennox met with disaster. Lennox, a travel writer and adventurer, has become fascinated by the secretive golden-skinned natives of Medina, called Fireflies by the Human Republic. But on his first visit he was caught by the Fireflies' high priest while attempting to spy on a sacred ritual in a village forbidden to all foreigners. He was tortured and nearly killed before being left as a warning to other curious Men.
Now Lennox is determined to find out what it is that the aliens want so much to hide. He will return to Medina, and this time he will attempt to discover their secrets from inside their culture, instead of outside. Lennox employs the latest medical breakthroughs to alter his body to resemble a Firefly. He immerses himself in the dialect of a city of Medina distant from the sacred village. He studies what is known of the Fireflies' culture and history, though that knowledge is dangerously limited.
And then he arranges to be dropped back on Medina, in the wasteland between cities, to make his slow way toward the sacred village. If he survives the journey, he thinks he will have learned enough to safely pass the gates of the temple precincts.

Genres: Science Fiction, Fiction, Science Fiction Fantasy, Space Opera, Speculative Fiction, Fantasy, Aliens

178 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1994

About the author

Michael "Mike" Diamond Resnick, better known by his published name Mike Resnick, was a popular and prolific American science fiction author. He is, according to Locus, the all-time leading award winner, living or dead, for short science fiction. He was the winner of five Hugos, a Nebula, and other major awards in the United States, France, Spain, Japan, Croatia and Poland. and has been short-listed for major awards in England, Italy and Australia. He was the author of 68 novels, over 250 stories, and 2 screenplays, and was the editor of 41 anthologies. His work has been translated into 25 languages. He was the Guest of Honor at the 2012 Worldcon and can be found online as @ResnickMike on Twitter or at www.mikeresnick.com.

Reviews

[Jim · Rating 3 out of 5]

An enjoyable and fast read- and fairly standard science fiction by Mike Resnick (1942-2020), published in 1994. Mike was one of the most prolific SF authors, especially of short stories. This book, at 178 pages, seemed more like a long short story than a novel--if that makes any sense. Anyway, we get into the action almost right away. Xavier Lennox is a travel writer visiting the planet Medina, a planet which has aliens who want to stay in isolation without any contact with humans (who have been expanding throughout the galaxy at this point). When Lennox, in disguise, attempts to spy on a sacred ritual, he is caught and tortured by the aliens. But the Earthman is determined to learn the secrets of the aliens...After his body is altered to resemble a Medinan and he learns one of the alien dialects, he returns...facing certain death if he is caught again. Mike is a great storyteller and this is a story that kept me turning the pages to see how it would all end. And it was an unexpected ending, although I didn't know what to expect for the ending.

[Donald Armfield · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reprint coming soon from Dog Star Books, in affiliation with Raw Dog Screaming Press.

Big fan of Mike Resnick, he always comes out with a character of awesome likeness. A man of many awards, for his sci-fi work. I recommend his Stalking The Vampire and his other "Stalking Titles"

In "Miracle of Rare Design" he brings his character Lennox. A thrill seeking, with a self-centered ego.After being brutally assaulted by a Firefly alien race, left for dead. Lennox gets the opportunity to return as a Firefly. After mastering its movements and native tongue he tries to make a deal with the alien race for planet earth.

In change of events, the missions keep coming taking him to other alternate planets to become one of their alien race and learn there way of living, one transformation leads to another like an addiction. Returning to human doesn't seem right....read and find out the path Lennox chooses.

If you are a fan of Resnick then pick this up, If you already read it, read it again (includes prologue by Heidi Ruby Miller)If you are new to Resnick's work, great book to start with. GREAT READ!!

[Jonathan · Rating 5 out of 5]

My very favorite of Mike Resnick's books. A fascinating exploration of immersion in alien cultures, but first and foremost a fun, exciting story as Resnick always tells.

[Иван Величков · Rating 5 out of 5]

Много любима книга. Когато я прочетох за първи път останах като гръмнат, но това важи за повечето книги от цикъла Birthright.
Завиър Уилям Ленъкс в пътешественик и писател, запленен от чуждопланетните култури, когато Републиката му предлага да проникне на планетата на Светулките, преобразен на генно ниво като един от тях, веднага е навит. Изпълнява успешно задачата си(икономически интереси в полза на човечеството) и следва друго назначение и друго преобразяване. В колкото повече форми на живот се превъплъщава, толкова повече почва да не харесва хората и вечния им алчен стремеж към богатство.
Както почти всички книги от цикъла и тази е вдъхновена от времената на колониалната Британска Империя. Тук на фокус е животът на сър Ричард Бъртън, осъждащ британската политика след експедициите си в Африка и Азия. Естествено всичко е пречупено през лудата призма на Майк Резник и запратено в далечни времена и планети, но както и в трилогията "Галактическа комедия"(използвала за основи "цивилизоването" на Африка), човекът си е същият алчен гъз мачкащ всичко по пътя си, за да се нагуши.
Силно препоръчвам. Може да се чете и като увлекателна фантастика и като отровна социална сатира.

[Daniel Kukwa · Rating 4 out of 5]

The plot abruptly stops 2/3 of the way through the novel, and suddenly switches tracks...which leaves a feeling of lightheaded discombobulation in its wake. This is really the only issue keeping this novel from a 5 star rating: in short, it's a concise, brutal, in-your-face awakening story of a human who decides he'd rather be anything but human. A surprising read...and the cover is so irrelevant to the novel that it will lure in unsuspecting readers.

[Joanna Maciejewska]

First time I've read this book 15 years ago and it became one of my favourite at that time. I was anxious to read it again, as an adult, and maybe it's my but "A Miracle of Rare Design" is every bit the book I remember it to be: well-written, engaging and asking important questions about being a human and finding one's place in the world.

[T.A. Bruno · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! This book was so cool. I honestly loved everything about it. The aliens involved are amazing, and Xavier Lennox's transformations are incredible and interesting throughout. It's the correct length too, never wearing out its welcome. Great book, highly recommended.

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

“A Miracle of Rare Design” by Mike Resnick

This was a short little sci-fi book suggested to me by my boyfriend. With only about 190 pages and relatively large font on this edition, this was a quick read, but it was facilitated by an intriguing story that moved along at a brisk pace. I really enjoyed reading this and it definitely sparks questions about human consciousness and the nature of identity. Where I struggled a little bit was in the presentation of ethnography. It was hard to turn my qualitative research brain off reading this because of the methodological or ethical flaws. Were they flaws of the protagonist or flaws of Resnick’s? How should I feel about this world which assumes humans as the apex creature in the known universe and all else is positioned as primitive? What are the implications of deception in the name of diplomacy and knowledge? Ultimately I think this was where I could not give the book a 5-star rating. The “natives” gave in too easily to the protagonist charms when deception was revealed, which made the pursuit of knowledge feel unrealistic to this qualitative scholar.

With that said, the book was still enjoyable and I would consider it well worth a read. However, my specific experience was that I found myself asking too many questions that I don’t think were intended from the book.

Have you read “A Miracle of Rare Design”? What did you think?

[Les · Rating 2 out of 5]

This Birthright story has left me feeling a little flat, dissatisfied that the big reveal I was anticipating never eventuated. Thankfully it's a short book. I love Resnick's style and he's been one of my favorite authors of any genre so I guess, for this reason, I feel a bit disappointed.

WHAT COULD BE CONSIDERED AS SPOILERS AHEAD...

The first phase of the story where the main character "becomes" a Firefly alien to assimilate with them seemed to promise me a grand finale, that I would learn a great secret that these highly spiritual creatures were hiding. But did that happen? Nope. The story then goes on to show him being altered surgically a few more times to be able to manipulate a new alien species to Man's desires each time. It does provoke thought in that his character grows increasingly distant from his human origins each time he's changed, and he can see the limitations and folly of the human species because of his alien perspectives.

Overall it's typically Resnick in that it's easy to read and flows nicely and doesn't waste time with superfluous words, almost pulp-style, which I like. However, the lack of a gritty story or twist means that the entertainment value to me is seriously diminished.

I see that some people have rated this very highly due to the philosophical theme, which is fine, but I was hoping for a little more entertainment and fun.

[Jeff Yoak · Rating 3 out of 5]

I absolutely loved the middle third of this book. It is a slow starter, but our hero is surgically altered to appear as a member of an alien race and to have the basic capacities of their bodies. Once he is immersed among them, the book becomes fascinating. Unfortunately, Resnick doesn't regard this as the story. I was on the edge of my seat waiting for what sort of ending. Does he come to sympathize with his new species and aid them in resisting the aims of the humans who sent him? Does he finally learn the reason for their occasional spontaneous suicides and commit it himself? Does his allegiance with humans cause some ultimate betrayal of indigenous species?

Nah, he just sorta succeeds in his initial aims and moves on. And is transformed into another race to masquerade as them. That story is even thinner, and then there is another. The book is about the changes of in his character as he becomes and lives among many very different species. The description of that story is more appealing to me than the description of the story that I thought I was reading, but it doesn't really work in application. The drilling into the character is ultimately shallow, and that first story of being embedded is gripping. That should have been the story here.

[James Ashman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lennox discovers worlds and cultures far different than those of humankind. This was a fun read, somewhat short, and probably should have been shorter. I found the beginning half the most enjoyable, and the rest a different work, best put as interesting. It felt a lot like pulp sci-fi, and so it was a good read to kill a bit of time. It was fun; I can understand why it stopped in each section and why, though leaves a bit to be desired.

[Craig · Rating 4 out of 5]

Resnick has written in such a wide range of niches within the sf field that some of his better books, such as this one, get overshadowed by his more popular themes. A Miracle of Rare Design is a grand old sf adventure on one level, but offers some fascinating insight into the search for knowledge and the drive to understand and communicate. It's well worth checking out.

[Joanne Pascoe · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had no idea this was part of a series, let alone #21. Seems to stand on it's own.

Main character is a bit of an anti-hero. Reminds me a bit of Thomas Covenant from Stephen Donaldson's books. This is not someone I'd want to know. I finished the book, reasonably well-written, and there are some interesting ideas, but not sure if I'll seek out more of the series - especially if they feature this main character. Book was published about thirty years ago (1994), and styles have moved on a bit.

[Ian · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Resnick I had not read. A chap in the Resnick universe of Man who volunteers to be modified into different alien bodies in order to advance Man's agenda in the galaxy. The chap eventually decides to remain an alien and live alone! Not a happy story, but an entertaining story. Resnick sure could write.

[Rog Petersen · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a terribly silly book. A fun, stupid kind of silly.
It's a silly premise, filled with silly ideas executed in a silly manner.
Resnick writes well enough that it's an easy read. So there's that.
It DOES have a righteous John Berkey cover!

[emilia;) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Początek super, im dalej tym miałam bardziej mieszane uczucia🤨

[Cherie Hanechak · Rating 5 out of 5]

A unique exploration of what it is to be alien.

[Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Miracle of Rare Design:
A Tragedy of Transcendence by Mike Resnick
Publisher: Dog Star Books
ISBN: 978-1-935738-41-1
Reviewer: Jenny Mounfield

‘Xavier William Lennox shuffled down the narrow street, trying to mimic the awkward walk of the Fireflies. He breathed in the pungent odors of decaying food, felt a slight burning sensation in his nostrils, and tried to ignore it.’

The time is two-thousand years from now and mankind has spread like a virus throughout the galaxy. The story opens with intrepid explorer, Xavier William Lennox, studying the native ‘Fireflies’ on the far-flung world of Medina. His perilous situation soon escalates as his identity is discovered. He barely escapes with his life.

‘“It is here that your friends shall find you, Xavier William Lennox,” said Chomanche. “If you are very lucky, they may even be able to keep you alive.”
Lennox didn’t have the strength to reply.
“You have seen things this night that no member of your race may see,” continued Chomanche. “We cannot change that, but we can remove the offending organs. Do you understand what I am saying to you?”’

Seeing his value as an ambassador for alien relations, the Department of Alien Affairs, through a series of complex surgeries, has Lennox remade into a firefly and sends him back to Medina. He has less than a year to convince the fireflies to trade their diamond deposits before mining begins. Finding himself once more before Chomanche, the Firefly high priest who ordered his torture and subsequent dismemberment, Lennox must find a way to strike a deal before the army comes in and nukes the lot of them. Having been remade, Lennox is seen as the work of the Fireflies’ god and his mission is a success.

Up to this point the story is pretty much Avatar in a new guise. From here, however, the plot veers in a different direction as Lennox undergoes more surgeries and visits more worlds, assimilating himself into one alien culture after another. With each transformation he loses another vital piece of that which makes him human until what remains is literally a being that exists nowhere else.

If I only had one word to describe, A Miracle of Rare Design I would choose, ‘entertaining’. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this, even though a number of inconsistencies rankled, not least of which was why, with such obviously advanced medical technology did medics still use timed doses of oral medication for pain relief? And then there’s the mystery of why Fireflies fling themselves off the top of a pyramid during religious ceremonies. (In early chapters there is an expectation that this mystery will be solved.) Another point of contention for me is the constant switch from a third person, past tense narrative into first person italicized introspection. It’s jarring and largely unnecessary. Some of these passages run for several sentences and by mid-way through the story I found myself skipping them with no ill results. In fact, the narrative is much stronger without them.

Despite the above quibbles, I wouldn’t hesitate in recommending A Miracle of Rare Design because it really is an imaginative adventure that demonstrates beautifully how gods are made. It’s a story that highlights all that it means to be human. It’s a story of hunger, and need and hope—and it’s a story of one man’s obsessive quest to have it all.

Jenny Mounfield has been reviewing books for several years. Her reviews have appeared both online and in print. She is the author of four novels and several short stories for young people. The Unforgetting, a psychological thriller for adult readers, is available from the Kindle Store.

[Nicolas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dans ce livre, on suit un homme qui va avoir la possibilité, grâce à la république humaine, de devenir un être d’une autre espèce afin d’essayer d’éviter un génocide. Comme je l’ai déja dit, Resnick a fait du bon, du moyen, et du mauvais. Ce livre est à la limite entre le bon et le moyen. Le héros qu’on découvre ici est comme la plupart des personnages de Resnick très contrasté. C’est un auteur de livres de voyages à succès, franchement égocentrique et un peu frappé sur les bords. Mais ce n’est pas ça le plus intéressant, encore une fois comme d’habitude chez Resnick. Ce qui est tout à fait fascinant, c’est que pour une fois, on tombe sur un auteur qui trouve un stratagème très habile pour nous faire voir, d’un oeil humain, des cultures extra-terrestres. Et cette ruse fonctionne à merveille : on suit les aventures de Lennox, qui découvre à chaque fois de nouvelles capacités, mais également de nouvelles limitations, propres à sa race, que ce soit les lucioles, les globules ou les espèces de chauve-souris, on ne peut qu’être séduit par ses tranbsformations, mais également par un aspect beaucoup plus intéressant de l’écriture de Resnick : chacune des transformations de Lennox l’éloigne un peu plus de son humanité passée. Certes cet éloignement est très visible dans les formes adoptées, car les lucioles ressemblent beaucoup plus aux humains que les globules, mais il est aussi visible dans la psychologie de Lennox, qui est quasiment incapable de revenir à une forme humaine après ces différentes transformations, fasciné qu’il est par la capacité, sans cesse renouvelée, de devenir un autre inimaginable, et surtout, par le besoin de s’approprier ses nouveaux processus biologiques. Mais il y a une autre transformation, beaucoup plus intéressante, révélée par le chapitre de conclusion. C’est un peu la conclusion philosophique de cet ouvrage qui révèle, et c’est tout sa beauté, avec juste le bon nombre de mots, que derrière le frisson de la recherche de l’étrange, peut-être Lennox cache-t-il des visées plus profondes. Mais peut-être seulement. Bref, c’est un assez bon bouquin, à lire si la recherche de l’autre vous attire.

[Ана Хелс · Rating 5 out of 5]

Наистина завладяваща книжка, ако и да не в огромния обем на не-знам-си-колко-томна космическа сага. Има от всичко, което ми харесва в истинския сай – фай – изключително ярък образ за главен герой – малко откачен, по-скоро затворен, търсещ промяна и приключение на всяка цена; странни и напълно различни планети, населени с почти неразбираеми от човешка гледна точка същества, които имат доста повече причини от нас да живеят; привидно непредвидим, но напълно интровертно логичен финал, носещ задоволство от собственото си съществувание, неподлежащо на служба на разни избледнели откъм смисъл понятия като общество, любов или човещина.

От нажежените пясъци на планетата на човеко – светулките, почитащи неразбираемия Бог до фанатична лудост, през джунглите изпълнени със смърт на емпатичните човеко-носорози, до странната плетеница на нежната комуникация на безоките червеи – тъкачи и летящия свят на насекомоидните птици, изпяващи сърцата си в трели на съперничество и любов, един човек бавно губи всичко, което го дефинира като вид, докато достигне в метаморфозата си до подобрено и висше във всеки един смисъл уникално същество, прототип на бог – самотен, търсещ и творящ.

Блестяща приказка, с огромно въображение , богатство на идеи като за цяла поредица, но майсторски сместени в няколкостотин кратички странички. Световете на Резник, омерзателно завладени от хората, са по аватарски завладяващи, и предизвикващи най-съкровенната ни вяра, а именно видовото ни превъзходство над всичко, което съществува под хилядите слънца на безкрайността. Психологизъм и фантазия се срещат в най-правилното съотношение , което може да развълнува дори моята намусена душа. Ще опитам още от Резник, и дано да не се разочаровам, че летвата е високо, високо вдигната.

[Em · Rating 2 out of 5]

the first half of the book really captured my attention (interesting premise, involving if somewhat self-absorbed protagonist) and then the tone changed dramatically. the ending made sense, but i was left feeling vaguely unsatisfied. might have preferred it as a short story.

[Larry Head · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was, conceptually, an fantastic read. It really makes one think, what are the limits of medical technology and if posible, what would be the outcome of doing this type of thing, psychologically. An altogether great read.

[Joel Nichols · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some gestures at interesting aliens but an unlikeable and patriarchal main character and world view that's pretty unbelievable. I think that Lennox's shenanigans would have gotten him killed on the first planet and his actions on the last would (I'd imagine) doom the entire species.

[Aurora · Rating 2 out of 5]

I confess I found this one a bit annoying, but like most of Resnick's work, I had to keep reading to find out what happened.

[Sarah Sammis · Rating 3 out of 5]

I remember liking it but most of the details are fuzzy.

[graceofgod · Rating 5 out of 5]

Man. I remember this being really good.

[Tasula · Rating 4 out of 5]

Strange and excellent book about a writer trying to satisfy his curiosity about aliens.