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Typhon's Children
To the new colonists, the teeming, ocean-dominated planet of Typhon seems a wondrous and exotic paradise--until the land erupts with incomprehensible violence, consuming the colony in a fiery hell. Their supplies lost, the survivors find themselves struggling against a world where death wears many guises. But the deadliest menace strikes from within--for every child born on Typhon suffers strange, degenerative mutations. Unless the situation can be reversed, the Typhon colony is doomed.
Per Langstaff is a scientist obsessed with the life-and-death mystery, certain that the answer to the colony's survival lies with the virulent planet itself. His staunchest ally, Dilani, is a rebellious young girl born deaf to sound and convention, an orphan as unruly as the oceans themselves. Together these two outcasts, bound by a shared love of the depths, embark on an unforgettable journey that will take them to the utmost reaches of humanity . . . and beyond.
Per Langstaff is a scientist obsessed with the life-and-death mystery, certain that the answer to the colony's survival lies with the virulent planet itself. His staunchest ally, Dilani, is a rebellious young girl born deaf to sound and convention, an orphan as unruly as the oceans themselves. Together these two outcasts, bound by a shared love of the depths, embark on an unforgettable journey that will take them to the utmost reaches of humanity . . . and beyond.
- GenresScience FictionFiction
336 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published October 1, 1999
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
November 29, 2007
Human settlers on Typhon find themselves on the brink of extinction as the second generation is born with deformities and disabilities. In the midst of the debate about how best to deal with this problem, a storm sweeps up on their home, on a small atoll in the middle of an ocean that covers most of the planet, destroying what they have built and carrying away three settlers on a small boat: Per, a first-generation (oldgen) settler with a traumatic and mysterious past; Dilani, a deaf girl of the second generation (newgen); and Bey, a newgen boy with only withered legs. Soon after the storm subsides, the three castaways encounter a friendly cephalopod (a dodecapod, to be precise) and begin to learn to communicate with it. The dodecapod, named Subtle (although the humans call him Twelve), leads them on an adventure to the depths of the ocean where all four encounter what Subtle/Twelve calls a god and they begin to change forms to better match the requirements of Typhon.
The novel is consistently interesting, building a believable world (complete with conflicts within the social structure, settlers' prejudices about disability and difference, and a lifestyle both built from and built in resistance to the place in which they live), racing forward with one plot development after another, and providing characters worth following. The real achievement of the book, however, is the shifting perspective between human and cephalopod consciousness. The first major portion of the book is primarily limited to the humans' perceptions of the world and developments within their society, but as the story progresses, Subtle/Twelve's consciousness becomes more important and is accessed more frequently. And, with the exception of one scene in which the cephalopod's relationship feels all too human in its expression and concerns, Anzetti's attempts to put the reader inside the mind of something completely nonhuman are convincing, especially when focused on descriptions of the humans and the surrounding environment. The language convinces in its concrete detail and in its frequently fumbling attempts to articulate something thoroughly foreign, though often familiar to the reader.
The novel is consistently interesting, building a believable world (complete with conflicts within the social structure, settlers' prejudices about disability and difference, and a lifestyle both built from and built in resistance to the place in which they live), racing forward with one plot development after another, and providing characters worth following. The real achievement of the book, however, is the shifting perspective between human and cephalopod consciousness. The first major portion of the book is primarily limited to the humans' perceptions of the world and developments within their society, but as the story progresses, Subtle/Twelve's consciousness becomes more important and is accessed more frequently. And, with the exception of one scene in which the cephalopod's relationship feels all too human in its expression and concerns, Anzetti's attempts to put the reader inside the mind of something completely nonhuman are convincing, especially when focused on descriptions of the humans and the surrounding environment. The language convinces in its concrete detail and in its frequently fumbling attempts to articulate something thoroughly foreign, though often familiar to the reader.
November 24, 2018
In this novel, a space colony is already decimated from several natural disasters, and now it seems that some kind of viral plague is infecting and changing all the colonists. An outsider scientist, Per, and a young, deaf orphaned girl named Dilani explore the life in the ocean and find that communicating with the planet's sentient sea creatures may be the key to solving the colony's problems. LOVE this book. I really wish Toni Anzetti had written more. I read this twice and am guessing on the earlier read date.
June 2, 2021
If you like sci-fi books then you will enjoy this one.
Good and interesting story with unique characters.
Since it was a sci-fi book on another planet there were names of things that were clearly unique to this planet and I was lost several times trying to figure out what or who the author was talking about. It had a lot of twists.
Good and interesting story with unique characters.
Since it was a sci-fi book on another planet there were names of things that were clearly unique to this planet and I was lost several times trying to figure out what or who the author was talking about. It had a lot of twists.
December 31, 2008
A remnant of humans attempt to colonize the ocean planet of Typhon. They found an island, and life was good, but it erupted in a volcanic, fiery hell, forcing them to flee. They lost most of their supplies and several colonists, but the survivors have settled on a new island.
That's the background. The book opens with the survivors trying to figure out a way to stay alive and continue the human race. Nearly all children born on Typhon suffer from degenerative, harmful mutations. Most don't live to their first birthday.
Per, a scientist studying the ocean life, is convinced the answer to these mutations lies somewhere in Typhon's vast seas, but no one believes him except a teenage girl named Dilani, a rebellious deaf mute. A monster storm forces them out to sea in a lifeskip (an enclosed boat) along with another deformed teenager, and the three of them are thrust into a dangerous journey to resolve humanity's crisis. Along the way, they are aided and befriended by a twelve-limbed octopus and shark-like creatures called ketos, and even meet the god of Typhon.
It's an interesting book. It appears to be Anzetti's first novel, which is quite impressive since it's smooth and polished.
That's the background. The book opens with the survivors trying to figure out a way to stay alive and continue the human race. Nearly all children born on Typhon suffer from degenerative, harmful mutations. Most don't live to their first birthday.
Per, a scientist studying the ocean life, is convinced the answer to these mutations lies somewhere in Typhon's vast seas, but no one believes him except a teenage girl named Dilani, a rebellious deaf mute. A monster storm forces them out to sea in a lifeskip (an enclosed boat) along with another deformed teenager, and the three of them are thrust into a dangerous journey to resolve humanity's crisis. Along the way, they are aided and befriended by a twelve-limbed octopus and shark-like creatures called ketos, and even meet the god of Typhon.
It's an interesting book. It appears to be Anzetti's first novel, which is quite impressive since it's smooth and polished.
March 23, 2013
I read Typhon's Children at the encouragement of my SF book club, but certainly without regret. The story of genetic change on a strange (and unhospitable) world is both interesting and thought provoking.
The story centers on a deaf girl (Dilani) who lost her parents on the oceanic world of Typhon. A volcano unexpectedly became active and destroyed the one existing island where the colony had settled. Life even before the "big disaster" was less than idyllic. Something, either on Typhon or within the colonists, is causing each of the new generation to be born with mutations. Some are slight (Dilani's deafness and webbed toes), while others are nearly monsterous.
The bulk of the book is a combination quest story combined with a different twist on the "first contact" theme. I enjoyed Anzetti's descriptive underwater passages, although some of the varied names of animal life became confusing.
This book ended too slowly, but still left plenty of possibility for a sequel. Plenty of good issues to provoke discussion. It was a great selection for our book club.
The story centers on a deaf girl (Dilani) who lost her parents on the oceanic world of Typhon. A volcano unexpectedly became active and destroyed the one existing island where the colony had settled. Life even before the "big disaster" was less than idyllic. Something, either on Typhon or within the colonists, is causing each of the new generation to be born with mutations. Some are slight (Dilani's deafness and webbed toes), while others are nearly monsterous.
The bulk of the book is a combination quest story combined with a different twist on the "first contact" theme. I enjoyed Anzetti's descriptive underwater passages, although some of the varied names of animal life became confusing.
This book ended too slowly, but still left plenty of possibility for a sequel. Plenty of good issues to provoke discussion. It was a great selection for our book club.
November 14, 2015
Typhon's Children is Toni Anzetti first published novel. This science fiction tale takes place mostly below the waters of the planet Typhon. Toni keeps Subtle a mystery for quite a while with no real description of what kind of creature he is until quite a bit into the story. I had to change my whole view of him once I found out what he looked like, and was pleasantly surprised.
As for the main characters, I had a hard time bonding with Dilani or Per. I found that I didn’t like some of the things they did, or maybe it was things that they did that I felt were a little out of character…but that only happened a few times.
With the storyline, I found it quite interesting and I also was pleased with the ending. I never became fully involved in this book, but when all of the pieces started falling together in the last 100 pages or so, I did find myself looking forward to the next time I would pick up the book.
Typhon's Children is a good science fiction story that should have been better.
I rated this book a 7½ out of 10.
As for the main characters, I had a hard time bonding with Dilani or Per. I found that I didn’t like some of the things they did, or maybe it was things that they did that I felt were a little out of character…but that only happened a few times.
With the storyline, I found it quite interesting and I also was pleased with the ending. I never became fully involved in this book, but when all of the pieces started falling together in the last 100 pages or so, I did find myself looking forward to the next time I would pick up the book.
Typhon's Children is a good science fiction story that should have been better.
I rated this book a 7½ out of 10.
July 2, 2013
I have heard the theory that if there is intelligent life in the universe, it is most likely to be aquatic. Still, most science fiction is focused on dry land. This is one of my favorite science fiction reads for the rich detail it puts into a world where most of the life is aquatic, and the few humans trying to survive in that hostile environment.
As someone who advocates for people with disabilities, I also appreciate the way that the author handled characters like Dilani with great sensitivity, even while placing them in a culture where genetic purity is revered to the extent that the original colonists have difficulty handling the conditions that their children were born with.
As someone who advocates for people with disabilities, I also appreciate the way that the author handled characters like Dilani with great sensitivity, even while placing them in a culture where genetic purity is revered to the extent that the original colonists have difficulty handling the conditions that their children were born with.
March 20, 2009
Many sci-fi writers dabble with Terra-forming as premises for great stories. Toni Anzetti, the author, dabbles heavily with a planet that works to shape it's residents, whether they be locals or out-of-towners (off-planet). I did enjoy reading this book but it didn't have me turning pages into the wee hours. I don't plan to read the sequel but having said all that, if you enjoy imaginative and well-written sci-fi, you will enjoy this book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 16, 2009
Nice SF, especially when it comes to writing from the perspective of aliens with different sensory systems and how it affects interactions with humans. The richness of the writing shows the author's scientific knowledge, but without getting dry/textbookie.
August 11, 2014
THE OCTOPUS NAMED SUBTLE!
I remembered having read a book featuring that character, but cursory searches did not turn up anything of that description. But here it is!
I remembered having read a book featuring that character, but cursory searches did not turn up anything of that description. But here it is!
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews