Chimera

by Will Shetterly

These beings are human, for all practical purposes. They think, they feel, they love, and they dream. But they still have some of the qualities of the animals that they are bred from.


Most importantly, they are not granted the rights of humans. They are property. Slavery has been revived in America.


But there is also a movement for Abolition, for the granting of legal rights to chimeras. Zoe Domingo is a jaguar-woman, created to be a sex-slave. Instead, she became the property of an abolitionist, and was freed, though she remained as her former owners companion. But on a trip to Los Angeles, Zoes mentor is murdered under violent and mysterious circumstances, and Zoe is accused of the crime.

Genres: Science Fiction, Fiction, Mystery, Cyberpunk, Young Adult, Romance, Fantasy

ebook

First published January 1, 2000

Reviews

[Snail in Danger (Sid) Nicolaides · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an interesting one. It took a lot of the tropes of classic detective fiction and played with them in ways that made them unexpectedly useful and relevant to plot advancement. (Perhaps that is an overly wordy way of saying, it was fun to read.) I'm not sure if the resolution of the love story plot thread was completely convincing, and to a certain extent the treatment of the genetically altered segment of the population doesn't quite fit with the setting: an America where libertarianism has been taken to some of its more disquieting-but-logical extremes. However, this is a good book; I'd read it again. If you like detective stories and/or SF, you'll probably like this. (This was my first Shetterly, I think; certainly my first book-length Shetterly. In general, books by what I pretentiously think of as the Minneapolis circle, including but not limited to The Scribblies, will not disappoint.)

[Michael Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

A chimera is a being produced by gene-splicing human genes with those of assorted mammals, the result being an intelligent “critter” who’s not quite a slave -- but who doesn’t have much in the way of civil rights, either. Having found that much in the flap copy, I thought immediately of one of my favorite stories: “The Ballad of Lost C’Mell,” by Cordwainer Smith. Well, Zoe Domingo isn’t C’Mell and Shetterly isn’t Smith, but it’s still a pretty good yarn, though a little heavy on the moralizing. What makes it fun is the mix of noir crime fiction style (think Philip Marlowe as a vegetarian PI) and a semi-cyberpunk vision of the future (everyday teleportation, space-warping as a personal “pocket,” and Libertarian terrorists). Two-thirds of the way through, I began to wonder how Shetterly was going to tie up all the narrative threads, but he manages it in quite well -- though I shall be waiting with greater interest for the next “Bordertown” book.

[Althea Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very enjoyable light read - an adventure/mystery set in a cyberpunk-y near future where gene-spliced hybrid human/animals have become an underclass. I felt like it would make a fun movie.
A beautiful part-cat woman pressures a hard-boiled gambling detective to take her on as a client. Her patron, an activist and scientist in favor of 'chimera' rights, has been murdered - and she could be framed for the crime.
While I liked reading it, I don't feel like it's one of those stories that will stick with me forever...

And, sorry, but I have got to bitch about the cover art. Does the woman on that cover look to you like she has "Mayan cheekbones, a wide nose, and copper-colored skin"? Not to me she doesn't. For that matter, she's not wearing a "short" jumpsuit either, although it IS iridescent green, and her boots are sort of silver, as described in the book.

[Tasula · Rating 1 out of 5]

I gave up halfway through. I thought it had an interesting premise (gene spliced creatures treated as property) and AI's. But I got tired of the way the "hero" kept referring to his client as "the cat", and the bloodthirstyness.

[Marsha Valance · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my 11 best mysteries read in 2000.

[Jeff James · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a quick read, kind of disposable, but definitely entertaining. For whatever reason, this was exactly the book I was in the mood to read this week, so it gets extra points for sheer readability. The story itself is pretty basic - the setting is a futuristic society where genetic engineering has created half-breed creatures called "chimeras", part human and part animal. These creatures are basically slaves by another name. Throw together a murder mystery plot and a love story between a human private eye and his cat-girl client, and you've got yourself a good time.

[Daryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

A brisk, quick read, yes, but a fun one. Shetterly knows how to keep the action flowing while dropping hints as to the murder mystery which is the heart of the book. Classic noir mixed with classic science fiction. Good stuff.

[SFReader · Rating 3 out of 5]

http://www.sfreader.com/read_review.a...

[Grey Walker · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is rip-rollicking story, perfect for the genre. I'd read more!

[Lori · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book explores a brave new future where genetic engineering and indentured servitude are both norms. I enjoyed the author's take on what makes someone human and what you would do for love.

[Jeff Youngstrom]

My review from August 17, 2000

[bluetyson]

isbn,original