Perfect People

by Robert H. Lieberman

Best-selling author & film director Robert H. Lieberman takes us into the unique underground civilization of Cretoria where the last of living humanity, genetically modified to Perfects and Nearly Perfects— Imperfects long since eliminated. Or are they? It’s a society where reproduction has long since been taken out of the hands of humans, where “boy-springs and “girl-springs” are developed in a ”Hatchery,” and sexual pleasure is provided by “flanking” machines.


Enter detective Creally Leemling, a Nearly Perfect, created in his Maker’s image, but not perfect … still human enough to doubt, to probe dangerously close to the ultimate secret of Creatoria … to dare desire a woman his world said did not, must not, could not exist.


We meet Wendy — an Imperfect. She was born, not made, a beautiful vibrant creature filled with passions and pain … a wonderful exotic sexual being … a real, not ideal, woman risking capture and death for one last love.


And there is Weems— a Perfect. Tall and imposing, Weems is a triumph of genetic engineering. Powerful as a god and lacking all physical human flaws — which made it easy for him to lie, scheme, and commit cold-blooded murder — he is the possessor of a shocking secret.


Publishers Weekly - "Suspenseful narrative and unusually sharp, evocative visual sense that speeds."


New York Times - "Mr. Lieberman has a sharp eye for the incongruous and the humor that can accompany desperate happenings."

Genres: Science Fiction

294 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published April 1, 1986

About the author

Robert H. Lieberman is a novelist, film director, and a long-time member of the Physics faculty at Cornell University. Initially he came to Cornell to study to be a veterinarian, but ended up becoming an electrical engineer and doing research in neurophysiology. He has also been professor of mathematics, engineering and the physical sciences and was recently awarded the John M. and Emily B. Clark Award for Distinguished Teaching at Cornell University.

— From wikipedia

Lieberman's first success as a novelist was "Paradise Rezoned, which sold over 300,000 copies. It has been issued in a new edition available on Kindle and Amazon. His other books including "Baby," Goobersville Breakdown" and "Perfect People" are now available in new editions. “The Last Boy” his latest novel (Source Books) continues to be a strong seller. All of his books tend to be page-turners that plunge the reader into the lives of richly imagined characters and worlds.

Lieberman's most recent film "They Call It Myanmar" was a New York Times Critics' Pick and was selected by Roger Ebert as one of the top dozen documentary films of 2012. See a trailer at: http://www.theycallitmyanmar.com


He is the writer/director of "Green Lights," a comedy: http://www.ithacafilms.com

Reviews

[Chris Raiin · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a great find in a used bookstore! This book was well written and well paced. It kept me guessing and threw me for a loop during the climax. Only thing that kept it from "amazing"--didn't quite end where I thought it would. A sequel isn't strictly necessary, but I felt it would have been appropriate. I hope you don't consider that a "spoiler." The book ends well, but I thought the final events would have been a little more...overarching. Nevertheless, I still recommend it! The protagonist, Creally Leemling, is a new favorite of mine.

[Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

The copywrite is 1986, but the title refers to a future where humans have been genetically engineered, hence "perfect people". Living in descending levels below ground, it is an adventurous journey of one man's search for answers. I loved it; it's a great little science fiction novel.

[Zip · Rating 3 out of 5]

A quick and tight read. Predictable storyline. Basically, techno man doesn't appreciate his techno world and finds hope in a woman who lives outside, but alas, techno world doesn't allow for happy endings. Take this one on a weekend stay at the beach. I would have preferred a different ending.