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Semiosis #2
Interference
The sequel to Sue Burke's sweeping SF epic debut, Semiosis, continues in Interference as the colonists and a team from Earth confront a new and more implacable intelligence.
Over two hundred years after the first colonists landed on Pax, a new set of explorers arrives from Earth on what they claim is a temporary scientific mission.
But the Earthlings misunderstand the nature of the Pax settlement and its real leader. Even as Stevland attempts to protect his human tools, a more insidious enemy than the Earthlings makes itself known.
Stevland is not the apex species.
Semiosis duology
Semiosis
Interference
At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.
304 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 22, 2019
345 people are currently reading
4186 people want to read
About the author
Sue Burke
56 books807 followersI grew up in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, lived briefly in Austin, Texas, y'all, and moved with my husband to Madrid, Spain, in December 1999. Then back to the US, specifically Chicago, in July 2016.
I've worked for fifty years as a journalist, both as a reporter and editor, and I translate from Spanish to English.
I also write poetry, essays, and fiction, especially science fiction.
I've worked for fifty years as a journalist, both as a reporter and editor, and I translate from Spanish to English.
I also write poetry, essays, and fiction, especially science fiction.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 454 reviews
May 15, 2020
Full review, finally! First posted on FantasyLiterature:
The small colony of humans on the planet Pax, who left Earth a couple of hundred years earlier, have established a cooperative relationship with at least some of the sentient plant life on Pax, as well as a group of nomadic aliens called the Glassmakers, as related in Semiosis. Their technology now is more Stone Age than Information Age; Pax is deficient in metals. So it’s out of the question to return to or even communicate with Earth, which is 55 light years away. But Earth hasn’t forgotten about Pax.
In this sequel, Interference, a scientific expedition of thirty people from Earth makes plans to travel to Pax to see what has become of the colony. Different members of the expedition have varying reasons for going, ranging from scientific curiosity to a desire to escape the culture of Earth, where women are confined to submissive, secondary roles. But Karola has an especially compelling reason to escape Earth: she’s discovered that she’s a secret clone of a now-dead woman who is so hated on Earth for her crimes against humanity that men create clones of her for the sole purpose of psychologically torturing this woman in effigy, so to speak, until the clone dies. Karola is willing to do anything to get on the expedition to Pax and so escape the fate that the Earth government has in store for her … and she does.
It’s an intriguing beginning, but Karola has only a minor role in the rest of Interference, as author Sue Burke’s focus shifts to the broader question of how the arrival of the new group from Earth affects the inhabitants of Pax, and vice versa. Many misunderstandings ensue, as well as some understandings. Stevland, the highly intelligent rainbow bamboo plant who helps govern the Pax colony, considers whether to let the Earth visitors know of his existence, and how to arrange to send his seeds to Earth when the visitors leave. Meanwhile, the Earth group has its own in-fighting and drama to deal with.
Interference explores the relationships between various beings — plant, humans, and Glassmakers — but does so on a fairly high level. With the exception of its much-later epilogue (which opens the door for a third book that, according to Burke, may or may not get written), Interference doesn’t jump between different time periods and generations in the same way that Semiosis did, but Burke still frequently switches between different characters’ points of view. As a result, it’s difficult to feel particularly attached to any of the characters, with the exception of Stevland.
The SEMIOSIS DUOLOGY creates an intriguingly alien planet, and one does get a good feel for the many unfamiliar dangers that humans might face on such a strange world, as well as the difficulties that are created when people (or aliens) with different motivations, cultures and worldviews collide. Though there are some exciting scenes, the book felt overly long. I felt like it took forever to finish Interference. As I noted in my review of Semiosis, I find Sue Burke’s prose to be merely serviceable, and I didn’t see any noticeable improvement in Interference. Fans of Semiosis will likely be happy with this sequel, but if you weren’t all that enthusiastic about that book, Interference isn’t likely to change your mind.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC!
The small colony of humans on the planet Pax, who left Earth a couple of hundred years earlier, have established a cooperative relationship with at least some of the sentient plant life on Pax, as well as a group of nomadic aliens called the Glassmakers, as related in Semiosis. Their technology now is more Stone Age than Information Age; Pax is deficient in metals. So it’s out of the question to return to or even communicate with Earth, which is 55 light years away. But Earth hasn’t forgotten about Pax.
In this sequel, Interference, a scientific expedition of thirty people from Earth makes plans to travel to Pax to see what has become of the colony. Different members of the expedition have varying reasons for going, ranging from scientific curiosity to a desire to escape the culture of Earth, where women are confined to submissive, secondary roles. But Karola has an especially compelling reason to escape Earth: she’s discovered that she’s a secret clone of a now-dead woman who is so hated on Earth for her crimes against humanity that men create clones of her for the sole purpose of psychologically torturing this woman in effigy, so to speak, until the clone dies. Karola is willing to do anything to get on the expedition to Pax and so escape the fate that the Earth government has in store for her … and she does.
It’s an intriguing beginning, but Karola has only a minor role in the rest of Interference, as author Sue Burke’s focus shifts to the broader question of how the arrival of the new group from Earth affects the inhabitants of Pax, and vice versa. Many misunderstandings ensue, as well as some understandings. Stevland, the highly intelligent rainbow bamboo plant who helps govern the Pax colony, considers whether to let the Earth visitors know of his existence, and how to arrange to send his seeds to Earth when the visitors leave. Meanwhile, the Earth group has its own in-fighting and drama to deal with.
Interference explores the relationships between various beings — plant, humans, and Glassmakers — but does so on a fairly high level. With the exception of its much-later epilogue (which opens the door for a third book that, according to Burke, may or may not get written), Interference doesn’t jump between different time periods and generations in the same way that Semiosis did, but Burke still frequently switches between different characters’ points of view. As a result, it’s difficult to feel particularly attached to any of the characters, with the exception of Stevland.
The SEMIOSIS DUOLOGY creates an intriguingly alien planet, and one does get a good feel for the many unfamiliar dangers that humans might face on such a strange world, as well as the difficulties that are created when people (or aliens) with different motivations, cultures and worldviews collide. Though there are some exciting scenes, the book felt overly long. I felt like it took forever to finish Interference. As I noted in my review of Semiosis, I find Sue Burke’s prose to be merely serviceable, and I didn’t see any noticeable improvement in Interference. Fans of Semiosis will likely be happy with this sequel, but if you weren’t all that enthusiastic about that book, Interference isn’t likely to change your mind.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC!
August 16, 2024
Update August 2023: well my comments about Interference feeling like the middle book of a trilogy appear to have been spot on. A third book in the Semiosis series will be published this fall: Usurpation. Definitely on my “read immediately” short list!
Review November 2019
Not quite as excellent as the first book, but still very good. I liked the main part of the story involving the arrival of people from Earth at the Pax settlement, which had much of the expected outcomes.
What I wanted more of was what was really going on in Laurentia, and also, an expansion of what was touched on in the Epilogue. I know this is supposed to be the second book in a duology, but these open ended parts of the story made Interference feel almost more like the middle book of a trilogy. Between imported species and the social instability that continues to plague Earth, there certainly seems to be more to tell.
Review November 2019
Not quite as excellent as the first book, but still very good. I liked the main part of the story involving the arrival of people from Earth at the Pax settlement, which had much of the expected outcomes.
What I wanted more of was what was really going on in Laurentia, and also, an expansion of what was touched on in the Epilogue. I know this is supposed to be the second book in a duology, but these open ended parts of the story made Interference feel almost more like the middle book of a trilogy. Between imported species and the social instability that continues to plague Earth, there certainly seems to be more to tell.
November 11, 2019
Semiosis was one of my absolute favorites last year. If Goodreads can accomodate six stars, I'd rated it that high. The POV characters, the dynamics, the survival story, the generational saga, and most of all, the intelligent plants, captivated me till the very last page and made me googled bamboos and what it could do to me. You know, just in case.
Interference introduced us to a set of characters from Earth, which unfortunately were not as interesting as the Pax colonists. I don't mind that most of them were unlikable but even the mind of unlikable characters could be exciting to read. They were sort of bland, forgettable and it was easy to get mixed up on who's who. The story about what happened on Earth, all the wars and dystopian stuff, we've seen it everywhere already. I honestly did not care and thus, the inevitable conflicts that involve these humans upon arrival in Pax were not too appealing.
The highlight for me about this book was the Glassmakers. I love how they were fleshed out even more, with their societal behaviour and how they tried to integrate with the colonists and interact with the rest of Pax. It makes a great speculative social-oriented SF, very Le Guin-like. Oh, how little culture changed, even across species.
I also wished there are more plants and their antics. I want more Pax's life! But I guess I have to settle with some non fiction books instead.
Okay, I might be complaining a lot but at the end I am glad I read this duology. It is a fabulous, smart, speculative fiction that worth your time and mind. If you have not started, what are you waiting for? The beautiful and dangerous Pax awaits.
Interference introduced us to a set of characters from Earth, which unfortunately were not as interesting as the Pax colonists. I don't mind that most of them were unlikable but even the mind of unlikable characters could be exciting to read. They were sort of bland, forgettable and it was easy to get mixed up on who's who. The story about what happened on Earth, all the wars and dystopian stuff, we've seen it everywhere already. I honestly did not care and thus, the inevitable conflicts that involve these humans upon arrival in Pax were not too appealing.
The highlight for me about this book was the Glassmakers. I love how they were fleshed out even more, with their societal behaviour and how they tried to integrate with the colonists and interact with the rest of Pax. It makes a great speculative social-oriented SF, very Le Guin-like. Oh, how little culture changed, even across species.
I also wished there are more plants and their antics. I want more Pax's life! But I guess I have to settle with some non fiction books instead.
Okay, I might be complaining a lot but at the end I am glad I read this duology. It is a fabulous, smart, speculative fiction that worth your time and mind. If you have not started, what are you waiting for? The beautiful and dangerous Pax awaits.
April 19, 2020
I had trouble to remember the book title, whilst reading this. In my head I was reading Inheritance. You have to deal with what you were given, good or bad. That holds true for Karola from Earth as much as for the people on Pax.
I made an effort to finish Semiosis, because I liked the world-building so much. I wasn‘t a fan of the pacing or the tone. So I went into this with some trepidation. And it took me longer than usual to read the first two chapters. At which point I was pretty much done and could have gladly stopped reading.
I came to dislike the almost infantile tone of the communication between the characters and their internal thoughts. Why did they all sound as if they were a bit simple? No complex thought processes or critical thinking seemed to be present.
In Chapter 3 the new explorers from Earth arrived on Pax. Great opportunity to give the reader an external view of that society. I did not like the execution at all. The characters were not believable and bordered on caricatures. They had the emotional maturity and mental capacities of gnats. I almost DNFd right there and then!
Curiosity kept me going. I enjoyed chapters 4 and 5 a lot more. The chapter with Queen Thunderclap gave some nice insights into the societal structure of the glassmakers.
Chapter 5 was fun for its action and Stevland, my favourite character, finally showing up again a little more prominently.
The author shines when she goes into the scientific aspects of her story. Society, biology, cultural understanding and interaction. Writing believable, realistic characters is most definitely not her strength.
One of the biggest missed chances of this novel in my opinion is further exploration of Karola‘s character. And of the coral plain. I would really liked to have dived into that ecosystem more deeply.
Chapter 6, finally, was a Stevland chapter. And the longest chapter of the book. I liked it, but it also confused me. The story didn‘t gell for me, there were things that did not make sense.
The last chapter was fun and the epilogue left the reader with interest in more.
Bottom line, it was allover the place. Some parts I actively disliked, sometimes I was bored, sometimes it was fun and I was fascinated. As a whole it was not a gripping read. I might pick up something else by the author, but she will not become an instant buy.
I received this free e-copy from the publisher/author via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review, thank you!
I made an effort to finish Semiosis, because I liked the world-building so much. I wasn‘t a fan of the pacing or the tone. So I went into this with some trepidation. And it took me longer than usual to read the first two chapters. At which point I was pretty much done and could have gladly stopped reading.
I came to dislike the almost infantile tone of the communication between the characters and their internal thoughts. Why did they all sound as if they were a bit simple? No complex thought processes or critical thinking seemed to be present.
In Chapter 3 the new explorers from Earth arrived on Pax. Great opportunity to give the reader an external view of that society. I did not like the execution at all. The characters were not believable and bordered on caricatures. They had the emotional maturity and mental capacities of gnats. I almost DNFd right there and then!
Curiosity kept me going. I enjoyed chapters 4 and 5 a lot more. The chapter with Queen Thunderclap gave some nice insights into the societal structure of the glassmakers.
Chapter 5 was fun for its action and Stevland, my favourite character, finally showing up again a little more prominently.
The author shines when she goes into the scientific aspects of her story. Society, biology, cultural understanding and interaction. Writing believable, realistic characters is most definitely not her strength.
One of the biggest missed chances of this novel in my opinion is further exploration of Karola‘s character. And of the coral plain. I would really liked to have dived into that ecosystem more deeply.
Chapter 6, finally, was a Stevland chapter. And the longest chapter of the book. I liked it, but it also confused me. The story didn‘t gell for me, there were things that did not make sense.
The last chapter was fun and the epilogue left the reader with interest in more.
Bottom line, it was allover the place. Some parts I actively disliked, sometimes I was bored, sometimes it was fun and I was fascinated. As a whole it was not a gripping read. I might pick up something else by the author, but she will not become an instant buy.
I received this free e-copy from the publisher/author via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review, thank you!
August 21, 2020
Off to a great start -- I'm about 1/3 in ( 11/9/19 ). Her invented ecology -- & scary animals! -- on Pax are truly remarkable. And the Glassmaker aliens have been fleshed out into a more believable & interesting species. Not to mention, interesting individuals. Scary-fast-- and smart! I'd be surprised if this one doesn't earn 5 stars from me. And it's enough of a stand-alone that you could read it by itself. But I'd still read #1 first, if I were you.
This is a book where I kept slowing down, not wanting it to come to an end. Obvious possibilities for a sequel -- but the author says she's off to something else for her next. I'll be there -- and I hope she comes back to this universe later!
The ending -- well, the land corals.... She almost pulls it off, and I got over it. And the return-to-Earth coda went a bit overlong. But hey, I'm picking nits here.
Fippocats! And fippokittens!! Who can resist a kitten? They come in colors! 🐱 😻 🐈 The returning Earthmen bring a few with them, for company, and the Earthside pet markets. 💰 🤑
An easy 5 stars! Wonderful book. Easily my best SF read so far this year.
This is a book where I kept slowing down, not wanting it to come to an end. Obvious possibilities for a sequel -- but the author says she's off to something else for her next. I'll be there -- and I hope she comes back to this universe later!
The ending -- well, the land corals.... She almost pulls it off, and I got over it. And the return-to-Earth coda went a bit overlong. But hey, I'm picking nits here.
Fippocats! And fippokittens!! Who can resist a kitten? They come in colors! 🐱 😻 🐈 The returning Earthmen bring a few with them, for company, and the Earthside pet markets. 💰 🤑
An easy 5 stars! Wonderful book. Easily my best SF read so far this year.
November 29, 2019
The sequel to Semiosis starts out fantastically. I loved the amount of worldbuilding that had gone into this future Earth and the kinds of people they would be putting on a spaceship to interfere with Pax.
Ya gotta love the vagarities of human ignorance. It doesn't matter what we do or what we try, we always seem to f*** everything up.
So here we have an invasive species (us) doing what we do ALL OVER AGAIN on Pax. At least Steveland and the other locals have had an opportunity to get along for quite some time by now.
As we get to know both sides and watch the lies and the germs spread, I started getting a sinking feeling. All this downward spirals happened instead of a nice (possibly twisty) fantastic uptick with a sometimes wise Steveland. I discovered I had to start reading the book as if it was a commentary.
That isn't bad, of course. We all should see what the consequences should be for our blundering, mindless behavior and see the destructiveness of authoritarians. *shrug*
This is complex, well-thought-out, and subtle. Or sometimes not very subtle at all. That's FINE.
I guess I just wanted more diving into the whole cooperation mythos, more toe-dipping in other intelligences, new ways to make things work in the middle of sooooo much crazy interference.
The rest works on those levels, but I think this novel could have been GREAT. Not just good. But that's just my opinion.
Ya gotta love the vagarities of human ignorance. It doesn't matter what we do or what we try, we always seem to f*** everything up.
So here we have an invasive species (us) doing what we do ALL OVER AGAIN on Pax. At least Steveland and the other locals have had an opportunity to get along for quite some time by now.
As we get to know both sides and watch the lies and the germs spread, I started getting a sinking feeling. All this downward spirals happened instead of a nice (possibly twisty) fantastic uptick with a sometimes wise Steveland. I discovered I had to start reading the book as if it was a commentary.
That isn't bad, of course. We all should see what the consequences should be for our blundering, mindless behavior and see the destructiveness of authoritarians. *shrug*
This is complex, well-thought-out, and subtle. Or sometimes not very subtle at all. That's FINE.
I guess I just wanted more diving into the whole cooperation mythos, more toe-dipping in other intelligences, new ways to make things work in the middle of sooooo much crazy interference.
The rest works on those levels, but I think this novel could have been GREAT. Not just good. But that's just my opinion.
October 22, 2019
Ahoy there me mateys! I received this sci-fi eARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Be advised that this be the second book in the series. While I try to post no spoilers, if ye haven’t read the first and keep reading this log then ye have been forewarned and continue at yer own peril . . .
I loved the first book of this duology so much that I requested book two as soon as I saw it and didn't even read the blurb. I happily went in blind. Upon completion, there be no disappointment. I loved it. I do suggest ye read book one before tackling this one.
In this book, set over two hundred years after the first, a group from Earth is dispatched to the planet Pax to do a scientific study and to see if contact can be made with the "lost" descendants of the original colony. This leads to ample conflicts between the two groups due to the misunderstandings and assumptions brought by the Earthers regarding gender, intelligence, politics, etc. These scientists were extremely narrow-minded and rather stupid (despite their intelligence) to me way of thinking.
That said, the conflicts did make some interesting reading. This story was more linear then the previous book. There were still awesome intelligent plant systems and lifeforms. There were multiple points of view. What made this book even more fun is that in addition to conflicts on Pax itself, ye also get to see how Earth has changed in the intervening years and I have to admit that it is not for the better. Even Pax has undergone recent troubling changes that need investigation and have long range consequences.
The juxtaposition of the two societies make for some lovely comparisons and conversations about how communities should be run and how human personality traits always seem to get in the way of progress. But these insights don't get in the way of a great story but rather enhance it. The limitations of biology and function of each species allowed for some fabulous problems that needed to be solved. The points of view from the different species were excellent in showcasing the various issues. And who doesn't adore Stevland?
Basically this book is as good as its predecessor. It ends with lovely implications but does seem to have wrapped up the series. I sure hope that this is not the last book by Sue Burke though. Arrrr!
So lastly . . .
Thank you Macmillian-Tor/Forge!
I loved the first book of this duology so much that I requested book two as soon as I saw it and didn't even read the blurb. I happily went in blind. Upon completion, there be no disappointment. I loved it. I do suggest ye read book one before tackling this one.
In this book, set over two hundred years after the first, a group from Earth is dispatched to the planet Pax to do a scientific study and to see if contact can be made with the "lost" descendants of the original colony. This leads to ample conflicts between the two groups due to the misunderstandings and assumptions brought by the Earthers regarding gender, intelligence, politics, etc. These scientists were extremely narrow-minded and rather stupid (despite their intelligence) to me way of thinking.
That said, the conflicts did make some interesting reading. This story was more linear then the previous book. There were still awesome intelligent plant systems and lifeforms. There were multiple points of view. What made this book even more fun is that in addition to conflicts on Pax itself, ye also get to see how Earth has changed in the intervening years and I have to admit that it is not for the better. Even Pax has undergone recent troubling changes that need investigation and have long range consequences.
The juxtaposition of the two societies make for some lovely comparisons and conversations about how communities should be run and how human personality traits always seem to get in the way of progress. But these insights don't get in the way of a great story but rather enhance it. The limitations of biology and function of each species allowed for some fabulous problems that needed to be solved. The points of view from the different species were excellent in showcasing the various issues. And who doesn't adore Stevland?
Basically this book is as good as its predecessor. It ends with lovely implications but does seem to have wrapped up the series. I sure hope that this is not the last book by Sue Burke though. Arrrr!
So lastly . . .
Thank you Macmillian-Tor/Forge!
November 13, 2019
I... don’t quite know what to say? This was such an unusual and unique experience. All the anthropology is deeply fascinating, the society on Pax and the sentient bamboo, the glassmakers, the talking animals, who all live in a strange symbiosis incomprehensible to the Earthlings who come to visit the human settlers on Pax.
The language barrier, their misunderstandings, the family dynamics, etc, are all done so believable and make everyone seem truly alien to each other despite sharing language and even concepts as humor and art.
But this is so packed with subtext and half-hinted truths that are not fully explained and storylines that aren’t fully explored that it makes no sense this is a duology. It feels so much like a middle book that I have to deduct a star for the sole reason I need. To. Know. More. The world Burke has built is gigantic even though the focus is so microscopic and there is potential for so, so much more, so many more tales, so many more consequences of actions. If you don’t like open endings, this is not for you :D
The language barrier, their misunderstandings, the family dynamics, etc, are all done so believable and make everyone seem truly alien to each other despite sharing language and even concepts as humor and art.
But this is so packed with subtext and half-hinted truths that are not fully explained and storylines that aren’t fully explored that it makes no sense this is a duology. It feels so much like a middle book that I have to deduct a star for the sole reason I need. To. Know. More. The world Burke has built is gigantic even though the focus is so microscopic and there is potential for so, so much more, so many more tales, so many more consequences of actions. If you don’t like open endings, this is not for you :D
November 12, 2019
3.5 of 5 stars at The BiblioSanctum https://bibliosanctum.com/2019/11/12/...
To be honest, I was a little surprised when I found out Semiosis was getting a sequel. I had felt the book ended in a good place, with a satisfying conclusion that capped off a multi-generational narrative in the best way possible. But because I enjoyed myself so much, I certainly wasn’t going to complain about a chance to return to Pax, the alien planet on which these books take place—not even when I discovered the story will be set some two hundred years after the first novel and follow a new group of explorers from Earth.
In fact, even though the series has been marketed as a duology, this second book, Interference, can technically be read on its own, but having the background knowledge from Semiosis will help a lot. A considerable time has passed since the first humans set foot on Pax, learning to adapt and share this strange and wonderous new world with its native fauna and flora. Over the generations, the colonists have settled into a comfortable equilibrium with the sentient alien life on the planet, becoming one with Pax itself. And watching over this entire process to make sure everything runs smoothly is Stevland, a bamboo-like lifeform and prime mover of this utopian society.
But now, that fragile balance that Stevland has so carefully developed is about to be disrupted. A new group of scientists from Earth have arrived on Pax, and they are as clueless as the original explorers were when they first landed on the planet more than two centuries ago. These humans want to know why communication with the colony has halted, yet they are completely unaware of the unique nature of Pax and its wildlife, nor do they understand the complex relationship between Stevland and the settlement. The scientists bring with them unfamiliar ideas, concepts, and technology—much of which Pax humans have forgotten over the generations. But more than that, the expedition also brings chaos in the form of disturbing new information about a genocide on Earth, and a couple of their team members who carry knowledge that can threaten Pax.
To start, while I really enjoyed returning to this world, I didn’t think Interference was as good as Semiosis, but I think that was because I went with certain expectations. In a look back at why I liked the first book so much, one of the main reasons was the theme of colonization and the characters’ first contact with the new planet’s unique animal and plant life. Obviously, with a settlement already established on Pax and humans having been integrated into its ecosystems for generations, this element was not as prominent in Interference. Semiosis also had a compelling narrative structure made up of points-of-view from multiple generations, and as a result, the novel had the feel of a collection of short stories that fit together to form a complete picture. Personally, I loved that format, and that it was a brilliant move by author Sue Burke to turn the focus onto the colony rather than the individual characters. Interference also features an attempt at its own unconventional narrative style, but this time, I didn’t think it was as effective. Following a more linear timeline, chapters are told from the perspective of different individuals, but paradoxically, I actually found it harder to engage with any of the characters even though we were able to glean more information overall about their personalities, behavior and culture.
Still, one aspect that remained spectacular was the biological science factor, as well as the social insight into human behavior. Of course, this time we also had the added element of the alien societies. Humans now exist peacefully alongside a race of beings called Glassmakers, who are themselves the descendants of non-native colonists who have come to Pax. Granted, you have the usual sources of tension whenever you have disparate groups sharing a living space, but on the whole, society runs like a well-oiled machine. This in part is thanks to Stevland, who is just one of the best concepts I’ve ever encountered in a science fiction novel. The sheer imagination behind the world-building is just incredible to behold, especially the way Burke has managed to seamlessly combine her hard science fiction ideas with ecological theories. This time, we explore the disastrous consequences of a system disrupted with the arrival of the new humans, some of whom have attitudes that are completely incompatible with Pax and its inhabitants. As a result, I also have to say the conflict is much more intriguing in Interference, which is probably the one key advantage the book has over its predecessor.
At the end of the day though, I just didn’t feel as invested as I did with Semiosis. That said, Interference was still a great read. As long as you go in expecting the changes and differences from the first book, you’ll no doubt have a blast. One of the smartest, most unique and mind-blowingly imaginative science fiction I’ve read in ages, this duology is well worth your time especially if you enjoy stories about space exploration, colonization, and unique interactions with alien species.
Audiobook Review: I listened to the first book in audio, and I enjoyed it so much that I decided to stick with the format for the sequel. Narrators Caitlin Davies and Daniel Thomas May reprise their roles, and between them, they’ve once more captured the essence behind the voices of multiple characters, and even more impressively, this time there are non-humans thrown into the mix. As a result, there were lots of subtle nuances in the text, but portraying each of the different perspectives was not a problem for either of them. I am especially a big fan of Davies, who always delivers a great performance, and Interference was definitely no exception.
To be honest, I was a little surprised when I found out Semiosis was getting a sequel. I had felt the book ended in a good place, with a satisfying conclusion that capped off a multi-generational narrative in the best way possible. But because I enjoyed myself so much, I certainly wasn’t going to complain about a chance to return to Pax, the alien planet on which these books take place—not even when I discovered the story will be set some two hundred years after the first novel and follow a new group of explorers from Earth.
In fact, even though the series has been marketed as a duology, this second book, Interference, can technically be read on its own, but having the background knowledge from Semiosis will help a lot. A considerable time has passed since the first humans set foot on Pax, learning to adapt and share this strange and wonderous new world with its native fauna and flora. Over the generations, the colonists have settled into a comfortable equilibrium with the sentient alien life on the planet, becoming one with Pax itself. And watching over this entire process to make sure everything runs smoothly is Stevland, a bamboo-like lifeform and prime mover of this utopian society.
But now, that fragile balance that Stevland has so carefully developed is about to be disrupted. A new group of scientists from Earth have arrived on Pax, and they are as clueless as the original explorers were when they first landed on the planet more than two centuries ago. These humans want to know why communication with the colony has halted, yet they are completely unaware of the unique nature of Pax and its wildlife, nor do they understand the complex relationship between Stevland and the settlement. The scientists bring with them unfamiliar ideas, concepts, and technology—much of which Pax humans have forgotten over the generations. But more than that, the expedition also brings chaos in the form of disturbing new information about a genocide on Earth, and a couple of their team members who carry knowledge that can threaten Pax.
To start, while I really enjoyed returning to this world, I didn’t think Interference was as good as Semiosis, but I think that was because I went with certain expectations. In a look back at why I liked the first book so much, one of the main reasons was the theme of colonization and the characters’ first contact with the new planet’s unique animal and plant life. Obviously, with a settlement already established on Pax and humans having been integrated into its ecosystems for generations, this element was not as prominent in Interference. Semiosis also had a compelling narrative structure made up of points-of-view from multiple generations, and as a result, the novel had the feel of a collection of short stories that fit together to form a complete picture. Personally, I loved that format, and that it was a brilliant move by author Sue Burke to turn the focus onto the colony rather than the individual characters. Interference also features an attempt at its own unconventional narrative style, but this time, I didn’t think it was as effective. Following a more linear timeline, chapters are told from the perspective of different individuals, but paradoxically, I actually found it harder to engage with any of the characters even though we were able to glean more information overall about their personalities, behavior and culture.
Still, one aspect that remained spectacular was the biological science factor, as well as the social insight into human behavior. Of course, this time we also had the added element of the alien societies. Humans now exist peacefully alongside a race of beings called Glassmakers, who are themselves the descendants of non-native colonists who have come to Pax. Granted, you have the usual sources of tension whenever you have disparate groups sharing a living space, but on the whole, society runs like a well-oiled machine. This in part is thanks to Stevland, who is just one of the best concepts I’ve ever encountered in a science fiction novel. The sheer imagination behind the world-building is just incredible to behold, especially the way Burke has managed to seamlessly combine her hard science fiction ideas with ecological theories. This time, we explore the disastrous consequences of a system disrupted with the arrival of the new humans, some of whom have attitudes that are completely incompatible with Pax and its inhabitants. As a result, I also have to say the conflict is much more intriguing in Interference, which is probably the one key advantage the book has over its predecessor.
At the end of the day though, I just didn’t feel as invested as I did with Semiosis. That said, Interference was still a great read. As long as you go in expecting the changes and differences from the first book, you’ll no doubt have a blast. One of the smartest, most unique and mind-blowingly imaginative science fiction I’ve read in ages, this duology is well worth your time especially if you enjoy stories about space exploration, colonization, and unique interactions with alien species.
Audiobook Review: I listened to the first book in audio, and I enjoyed it so much that I decided to stick with the format for the sequel. Narrators Caitlin Davies and Daniel Thomas May reprise their roles, and between them, they’ve once more captured the essence behind the voices of multiple characters, and even more impressively, this time there are non-humans thrown into the mix. As a result, there were lots of subtle nuances in the text, but portraying each of the different perspectives was not a problem for either of them. I am especially a big fan of Davies, who always delivers a great performance, and Interference was definitely no exception.
December 2, 2019
This is the second of apparently only two books about the planet Pax. In book 1, humans arrived from Earth in search of a habitable planet. This second book shows events about 100 years later.
Steveland is still the de facto ruler of the city where humans live alongside Glassmakers (insectile creatures also not native to Pax). One day, more humans arrive from Earth and ... interfere (yes, it‘s in the title).
What I liked especially was the beginning with the oppressive system on Earth that was spanning the entire globe as well as the nightmarish way humans are remembering what caused their numbers to have dwindled so significantly. Some scientists wished to escape and thus came to Pax but after they arrive AND indeed find humans, they are (almost all) appalled by the fact that homo sapiens is not the dominant species here (displaying some staggering shortsightedness).
I also loved the further exploration of Pax, which began even before the humans came with their advanced technology. We thus learn of other species on the planet and get a surprise or two that might pose some danger. Nothing compared to the conflict with the humans from Earth though, naturally.
Sadly, this book did NOT reach its full potential in my opinion. The book was really very good and was thrilling many a time. Moreover, there was a really nice build-up of tension between the species on Pax with a nice view from all angles through different POVs. However, the direction it took was ... anticlimactic. THAT could have been epic. Instead, we got
All in all, another well-written book, but it left me dissatisfied. It might work in a longer series, but for a duology it wasn‘t enough for me.
November 26, 2019
This one continues the story of the Pax colonists and their relationship with the intelligent life forms they've formed a community with. This time, dealing with their contact with yet another potentially-intelligent life form as well as visitors from Earth.
The first book in this series was told in a generational style, skipping between narrators and eras. Except for a chapter at the end, this book keeps within the one timeframe, but from various perspectives, two of which are non-human (Stevland and a glassmaker Queen). It's full of interesting ideas, but sadly not as well executed as I'd like. The dialogue mostly doesn't work for me, and the majority of the characters weren't very interesting. And finally, the plot was just weird, particularly with the last chapter leaving a whole new story just hanging while not giving us much of the outcome of the rest of the book.
The first book in this series was told in a generational style, skipping between narrators and eras. Except for a chapter at the end, this book keeps within the one timeframe, but from various perspectives, two of which are non-human (Stevland and a glassmaker Queen). It's full of interesting ideas, but sadly not as well executed as I'd like. The dialogue mostly doesn't work for me, and the majority of the characters weren't very interesting. And finally, the plot was just weird, particularly with the last chapter leaving a whole new story just hanging while not giving us much of the outcome of the rest of the book.
September 20, 2019
I thoroughly enjoyed Interference. It was a fascinating read that I couldn't wait to finish. Sort of a murder mystery/scientific exploration/new world novel, this is the sequel to Semiosis--but you don't *need* to have read the first book to understand this one. It provides backstory for Stevland and the colonists but if you haven't read Semiosis (or did so back when it first came out and only sort of remember the details) you'll do just fine with Interference.
The story is told from the perspective of several different characters, though no character repeats a chapter. So you get enough information from a few humans to understand their motivations before the main action is told through Stevland's POV. I was okay with this as Stevland is the most fascinating character anyway. The chapters also jumped around a little in time, but not so much that it left important gaps in information.
In Semiosis there were some really interesting descriptions of how plants experience things (or at least an idea of how they might do so), and Interference *occasionally* had such descriptions but not as often as in the first book which was slightly disappointing. The writing style was still very good though and I quite liked it. It also had like *no* errors which is rare for an ARC.
There were parts where my interest waned slightly, but overall this was an excellent book that was enjoyable to read and I definitely recommend it if you liked the first one, or if you think science fiction plants are awesome. #teamstevland
The story is told from the perspective of several different characters, though no character repeats a chapter. So you get enough information from a few humans to understand their motivations before the main action is told through Stevland's POV. I was okay with this as Stevland is the most fascinating character anyway. The chapters also jumped around a little in time, but not so much that it left important gaps in information.
In Semiosis there were some really interesting descriptions of how plants experience things (or at least an idea of how they might do so), and Interference *occasionally* had such descriptions but not as often as in the first book which was slightly disappointing. The writing style was still very good though and I quite liked it. It also had like *no* errors which is rare for an ARC.
There were parts where my interest waned slightly, but overall this was an excellent book that was enjoyable to read and I definitely recommend it if you liked the first one, or if you think science fiction plants are awesome. #teamstevland
August 25, 2024
Update: 2024 reread, which I did right after a Semiosis read. (The first time I didn't reread the first book and I think that really affected my ability to get into it.) Upgrading my review to 4 stars, the way this book is different is its strength. It's very focused, it's all about group dynamics both internal and external, and it manages to balance a lot of plot and lots of characters really really well. Still don't like the audiobook readers, though.
Original Review: At first I struggled a little bit to get into this. The first chapter isn't set on Pax and then when we did move to Pax, it wasn't just as I remembered it and I felt a bit disoriented. Eventually I relaxed and let myself get into it. Structurally, INTERFERENCE is quite different from SEMIOSIS.
The first book's real strength was the way it moved us through time and we saw a society evolve and change, especially as they encountered other sentient life on an alien planet. The second book has, mostly, a very compressed timeline. Taking place over the course of a few weeks, it has a drastically different feeling to the first book. But it also feels very different because the dominant voices of the book are not our friends on Pax, but a ship of humans from Earth who have come to follow up on the initial voyage. With this choice of narrators, Burke gets to play more with the new humans' feeds, a chip that lets them connect to a network so they can transmit what they say, see, and hear to others, and that's fun. But it still feels unbalanced.
Only one section of the primary story is narrated by a human on Pax. 4 are by humans from Earth. 1 is a Glassmaker, and 1 is our old friend Stevland. I found myself wanting to know less about the Earth folks and more about how everyone on Pax was feeling and adjusting to their presence. We were getting all the big picture stuff, but it was often the smaller nuances and shifts that Burke was particularly good at in the first book. It didn't help my experience that the rifts between factions within each population were quite significant. (The "bad" Earth people are so frustratingly bad that it feels over the top.) At the end of the day, there is a lot that's interesting here, but I kept wanting a more balanced narrative with more surprises with the shifts in perspective.
This has the same audio narrators as the first book. In the first one they did not bother me at all, I didn't even note on their reading in my review. This time I was not all that pleased with either. The voices were too much, especially with the male reader.
Original Review: At first I struggled a little bit to get into this. The first chapter isn't set on Pax and then when we did move to Pax, it wasn't just as I remembered it and I felt a bit disoriented. Eventually I relaxed and let myself get into it. Structurally, INTERFERENCE is quite different from SEMIOSIS.
The first book's real strength was the way it moved us through time and we saw a society evolve and change, especially as they encountered other sentient life on an alien planet. The second book has, mostly, a very compressed timeline. Taking place over the course of a few weeks, it has a drastically different feeling to the first book. But it also feels very different because the dominant voices of the book are not our friends on Pax, but a ship of humans from Earth who have come to follow up on the initial voyage. With this choice of narrators, Burke gets to play more with the new humans' feeds, a chip that lets them connect to a network so they can transmit what they say, see, and hear to others, and that's fun. But it still feels unbalanced.
Only one section of the primary story is narrated by a human on Pax. 4 are by humans from Earth. 1 is a Glassmaker, and 1 is our old friend Stevland. I found myself wanting to know less about the Earth folks and more about how everyone on Pax was feeling and adjusting to their presence. We were getting all the big picture stuff, but it was often the smaller nuances and shifts that Burke was particularly good at in the first book. It didn't help my experience that the rifts between factions within each population were quite significant. (The "bad" Earth people are so frustratingly bad that it feels over the top.) At the end of the day, there is a lot that's interesting here, but I kept wanting a more balanced narrative with more surprises with the shifts in perspective.
This has the same audio narrators as the first book. In the first one they did not bother me at all, I didn't even note on their reading in my review. This time I was not all that pleased with either. The voices were too much, especially with the male reader.
July 21, 2025
REREAD UPDATE: Revisited in preparation for the third (and apparently final) book in the series, Usurpation, and very glad I did — turns out I enjoyed it even more this time, (probably since no longer comparing to Semiosis, as it's been a while since I reread that one).
This story is a perfect study in misunderstanding and miscommunication. Each chapter is told "first person" but by a different character, both nominal "good guys" and "bad guys," each of which has only partial knowledge of — and therefore generally misinterprets — what is really going on. Unsurprisingly, chaos ensues.
As below, I really like the character of Stevland, but this time around also fell in love with Cawzee, largely because he evolves nicely from an initial alien asshole to an endearing hero. Breaking my own rule here, and adding a star for the full 5.
ORIGINAL REVIEW: Excellent follow-up to Semiosis, although (as with most sci-fi sequels) not quite up to the original — if only because "the thrill of discovery" is never the same when you already have some idea what's in store for you, alien-world-building-wise.
Still, though, after a slightly slow beginning, this book remained a genuine page-turner, as you never knew just where it would be going next, (aside for the one major and inexplicable late-story spoiler provided in the inside dust jacket blurb...I mean, WFT Tor??). I also enjoyed Burke's use of a different overall narrative style this time around; instead of an anthology of separate stories told generations apart, this time she focused on just one story told through multiple voices — including Earthlings, Pacifists, the Glassmaker aliens, and the rainbow bamboo "overlord" Stevland, one of the best science fiction characters to come along since Murderbot.
So overall, completely lived up to (if not exceeded) my expectations, and I'm psyched now to read her brand new, Earth-based, post-pandemic story, Immunity Index. *
* And an update to that: it was terrible! Read my review, but skip the book :(
This story is a perfect study in misunderstanding and miscommunication. Each chapter is told "first person" but by a different character, both nominal "good guys" and "bad guys," each of which has only partial knowledge of — and therefore generally misinterprets — what is really going on. Unsurprisingly, chaos ensues.
As below, I really like the character of Stevland, but this time around also fell in love with Cawzee, largely because he evolves nicely from an initial alien asshole to an endearing hero. Breaking my own rule here, and adding a star for the full 5.
ORIGINAL REVIEW: Excellent follow-up to Semiosis, although (as with most sci-fi sequels) not quite up to the original — if only because "the thrill of discovery" is never the same when you already have some idea what's in store for you, alien-world-building-wise.
Still, though, after a slightly slow beginning, this book remained a genuine page-turner, as you never knew just where it would be going next, (aside for the one major and inexplicable late-story spoiler provided in the inside dust jacket blurb...I mean, WFT Tor??). I also enjoyed Burke's use of a different overall narrative style this time around; instead of an anthology of separate stories told generations apart, this time she focused on just one story told through multiple voices — including Earthlings, Pacifists, the Glassmaker aliens, and the rainbow bamboo "overlord" Stevland, one of the best science fiction characters to come along since Murderbot.
So overall, completely lived up to (if not exceeded) my expectations, and I'm psyched now to read her brand new, Earth-based, post-pandemic story, Immunity Index. *
* And an update to that: it was terrible! Read my review, but skip the book :(
October 26, 2020
Interference is the sequel to Semiosis,and the two books form a duology that recounts the story of the colonization of a planet called Pax, located some 55 light years from Earth. Pax is a fertile, beautiful, Earth-like planet inhabited by numerous forms of life, indigenous and alien.
Semiosis told the story of how a small group of refugees from an Earth ravaged by ecological disaster and intentional genocide enters into a symbiotic relationship with (at least) two sentient alien species on Pax. Interference continues the tale, told brilliantly in the form of self-contained chapters of lengths varying from short story to novella, of the development of the humans on Pax, now ten to eleven generations beyond first contact. One key difference between the books is that in Interference, Earth plays a much larger role, because nearly two hundred years after the first, a new delegation of humans arrives on Pax, to follow up on and study the society the original colony has become. Just like the first group of human colonists, some of the new arrivals are motivated more strongly by a desire to flee Earth than desire to visit and investigate a new planet.
Another key difference between Interference and Semiosis is that while the first book was centered around the characters of the protagonists of the chapters, the second is more plot-driven, with the narrative thrust being sourced in a series of questions that are eventually answered. These include: “How will the arrival of humans with advanced technology impact (and interfere with) the delicate power balance between the humans and the Glassmakers? How will Stevland, the sentient plant which dominates most living things on Pax, react to ( and survive) the arrival of a second set of humans from off-world? Will the new humans really return to their ravaged Earth, one that will be 200-years older than when they left? And what and who will from PAC will they take either back to Earth?
All these questions are answered by the end of the book, quite satisfyingly so, in my opinion. However, the main reason why Interference is as at least as good as Semiosis is the thought-provoking depictions of mutuality and questions raised about the meaning of domestication and “civilization.” Stevland really believes that he is in a mutually beneficial relationship with the humans and Glassmakers (and other life on Pax) but it is also clear that he is the most intelligent (and most powerful) entity on the planet. The humans think they’re in a mutually beneficial relationship with the Glassmakers, but the new humans observe that when they want to, the Glassmakers can assume control over human society, despite being outnumbered 4:1. The new humans think their technological advantages and scientific knowledge means they are superior to all Pacifists (residents of Pax) but events demonstrate the frailty of that belief.
Overall, if you liked Semiosis you will almost certainly enjoy Interference. The prominence of ecology and biochemistry in the first book is replaced by psychology and sociology, but both are engaging, exciting and excellent!
Semiosis told the story of how a small group of refugees from an Earth ravaged by ecological disaster and intentional genocide enters into a symbiotic relationship with (at least) two sentient alien species on Pax. Interference continues the tale, told brilliantly in the form of self-contained chapters of lengths varying from short story to novella, of the development of the humans on Pax, now ten to eleven generations beyond first contact. One key difference between the books is that in Interference, Earth plays a much larger role, because nearly two hundred years after the first, a new delegation of humans arrives on Pax, to follow up on and study the society the original colony has become. Just like the first group of human colonists, some of the new arrivals are motivated more strongly by a desire to flee Earth than desire to visit and investigate a new planet.
Another key difference between Interference and Semiosis is that while the first book was centered around the characters of the protagonists of the chapters, the second is more plot-driven, with the narrative thrust being sourced in a series of questions that are eventually answered. These include: “How will the arrival of humans with advanced technology impact (and interfere with) the delicate power balance between the humans and the Glassmakers? How will Stevland, the sentient plant which dominates most living things on Pax, react to ( and survive) the arrival of a second set of humans from off-world? Will the new humans really return to their ravaged Earth, one that will be 200-years older than when they left? And what and who will from PAC will they take either back to Earth?
All these questions are answered by the end of the book, quite satisfyingly so, in my opinion. However, the main reason why Interference is as at least as good as Semiosis is the thought-provoking depictions of mutuality and questions raised about the meaning of domestication and “civilization.” Stevland really believes that he is in a mutually beneficial relationship with the humans and Glassmakers (and other life on Pax) but it is also clear that he is the most intelligent (and most powerful) entity on the planet. The humans think they’re in a mutually beneficial relationship with the Glassmakers, but the new humans observe that when they want to, the Glassmakers can assume control over human society, despite being outnumbered 4:1. The new humans think their technological advantages and scientific knowledge means they are superior to all Pacifists (residents of Pax) but events demonstrate the frailty of that belief.
Overall, if you liked Semiosis you will almost certainly enjoy Interference. The prominence of ecology and biochemistry in the first book is replaced by psychology and sociology, but both are engaging, exciting and excellent!
January 9, 2020
The first book in this series, Semiosis was the best book I read last year and an all-time favorite, so I was really looking forward to the sequel. It started out interestingly enough on a future earth where the cloned descendants of the person responsible for the death of most humans is continuously punished to atone for their dead ancestor's sin. A new group travels to the planet Pax where we previously colonized. But the travelers' hearts mainly aren't in it. They've been forced to make the trip or they're just trying to escape violence on Earth. Thus, when they arrive, they're not really that tolerant of the "poor" humans and alien life they encounter on Pax.
The majority of the book involves bickering and fighting among the various groups, distrust, and misunderstandings. And the writing isn't as clear as before. There were many times when I thought the characters were one place and they were another. Sometimes I wasn't sure who was allied with whom. The book really didn't get interesting again until the last 10% which involves some of the alien species brought back to Earth. So, really, the most interesting parts of a book about another planet were the parts on Earth.
Honestly, I would read a 3rd book in this series in the hopes something interesting happens again. The main idea of a sentient and highly intelligent plant with sensory tissues and neurons in its cells is fascinating. I like the idea of exploring how it could exploit the Earth for its benefit which seems to be what a 3rd book might do.
The majority of the book involves bickering and fighting among the various groups, distrust, and misunderstandings. And the writing isn't as clear as before. There were many times when I thought the characters were one place and they were another. Sometimes I wasn't sure who was allied with whom. The book really didn't get interesting again until the last 10% which involves some of the alien species brought back to Earth. So, really, the most interesting parts of a book about another planet were the parts on Earth.
Honestly, I would read a 3rd book in this series in the hopes something interesting happens again. The main idea of a sentient and highly intelligent plant with sensory tissues and neurons in its cells is fascinating. I like the idea of exploring how it could exploit the Earth for its benefit which seems to be what a 3rd book might do.
December 8, 2024
Finished this at work. Just as great as the first volume. If you mainly are looking for hardcore sf, this might not be for you because it doesn’t delve into the science a lot, just basic explanations. But if you like interpersonal dynamics Sue Burke is a master at it.
October 20, 2021
3.5 stars actually. I was excited to continue the saga on Pax. It doesn't start on Pax, though, but rather on Earth as a new expedition to Pax is being prepared. a lot of time has passed on both planets and so things are quite different. Pacifists, humans and Glassmakers, plus Stevland have settled into a comfortable lifestyle for all of them. The Earthlings shake everything up. Plus there's another threat to everyone on Pax. The unsettled feeling pervades throughout the book, not knowing what is going on. It's all about communication and how difficult it is, and the assumptions that both groups of humans bring to the table, which prevent them from seeing eye to eye at all.
I have to say that it does seem to be very much a middle book. The epilogue eludes to what the 3rd book will be about.
I loved Stevland as a character in Semiosis, but he seemed much less benevolent in this installment, which did not make me happy. There was a long chapter (over half the length of the book itself) from Stevland's POV, and he seemed only able to speak in short choppy sentences, which became quite tedious after the first 50 pages of it. All in all, it was fascinating how the cultures had evolved, especially on Pax, but I didn't love the execution of the story.
At any rate, it looks like there will be a 3rd book coming out from TOR eventually, and I will read that one eagerly.
I have to say that it does seem to be very much a middle book. The epilogue eludes to what the 3rd book will be about.
I loved Stevland as a character in Semiosis, but he seemed much less benevolent in this installment, which did not make me happy. There was a long chapter (over half the length of the book itself) from Stevland's POV, and he seemed only able to speak in short choppy sentences, which became quite tedious after the first 50 pages of it. All in all, it was fascinating how the cultures had evolved, especially on Pax, but I didn't love the execution of the story.
At any rate, it looks like there will be a 3rd book coming out from TOR eventually, and I will read that one eagerly.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 25, 2019
While not as riveting as the first book in this duology, this was still a really good book. This time, Earth, in the middle of environmental disasters and wars, sends an expedition to Pax. The members of the expedition are scientists, but so full of bias and arrogance that it's a wonder they were on the team at all. The people of Pax are less than enthused at the expedition's arrival, and hide Stevland from them. The situation's tense and devolves fairly rapidly, which was pretty much what I expected, though I didn't anticipate one of the causes.
What I also didn't expect were the questions left at the end of the book: what was going on on Laurentia, and what does this mean for the future of Pax, and what's next for the imports from Pax on Earth?
What I also didn't expect were the questions left at the end of the book: what was going on on Laurentia, and what does this mean for the future of Pax, and what's next for the imports from Pax on Earth?
September 7, 2021
Three and a half stars
As I am reading this book I see that the Semiosis Duology has become a trilogy. In principle it is good news -with some reservations-, since the rich ecology of the planet Pax provides for many stories.
I can say that I have enjoyed this book as much as the first one, but I must also point out some flaws: the motivation of the characters - especially the earthlings - is a bit disappointing (it reminded me of the horrible movie Prometheus) and as the plot develops it gets somewhat confusing, especially in the ending of the main story (I don't want to go into details). This is something that also happened in the first novel, but here it is more striking.
However, in this novel I think the pros clearly outweigh the cons. As I have already mentioned, the fascinating ecology of Pax along with the personalities of some characters, especially the aliens, captivates you from the first page.
I look forward to this unexpected third novel but at the same time, given the drift of some subplots, I hope it lives up to expectations.
As I am reading this book I see that the Semiosis Duology has become a trilogy. In principle it is good news -with some reservations-, since the rich ecology of the planet Pax provides for many stories.
I can say that I have enjoyed this book as much as the first one, but I must also point out some flaws: the motivation of the characters - especially the earthlings - is a bit disappointing (it reminded me of the horrible movie Prometheus) and as the plot develops it gets somewhat confusing, especially in the ending of the main story (I don't want to go into details). This is something that also happened in the first novel, but here it is more striking.
However, in this novel I think the pros clearly outweigh the cons. As I have already mentioned, the fascinating ecology of Pax along with the personalities of some characters, especially the aliens, captivates you from the first page.
I look forward to this unexpected third novel but at the same time, given the drift of some subplots, I hope it lives up to expectations.
November 10, 2020
I love the planet Pax and its many intelligent plants and animals, so ecologically rich. Sue Burke has a lot of interesting ideas. Unfortunately, to me, the delivery is poor. The episodic format and constant switching of POVs do no good to the story structure and character development. It's too fragmented and without central themes.
July 9, 2022
A lot of readers were let down by this sequel, but I think that's because they were a bit more blown away by book one than I was. To me this was a suitable follow up to the first.
To be sure, there were some interesting ideas about botanical sentience, how it might function and how different plant motivations might be. As an example, I quite enjoyed the way that memories were stored in various sections of the plants' roots and the way it seemed possible to choose which memories were imprinted in which roots.
But I found the writing overall bland and the plot only loosely engaging, which was exactly how I felt about 'Semiosis'. This is partly (probably mostly) due to the sort of broken English that was used throughout. Honestly, I would still recommend the duology to scifi nutters, I just won't be jumping up and down about it when I do.
To my complete surprise, just when I was getting ready to close the book and move along, the epilogue turned up and was the best part of the book for me. Some of it was written as a stream of consciousness, which doesn't always work well for me but I thought it was great here.
One last note from me, about my experience. I hated the tagline on the cover, "Sentience craves sovereignty", and I couldn't get that out of my head while I was reading but the more I thought about it, I began to realise that I could be misinterpreting its use here. Sovereignty has multiple definitions and one of which is the right to govern oneself, an idea which I do not hate. After finishing the book I've decided that in the context of this story.... it could still be interpreted either way.
So that's it. No jumping up and down but worth checking out, I think.
To be sure, there were some interesting ideas about botanical sentience, how it might function and how different plant motivations might be. As an example, I quite enjoyed the way that memories were stored in various sections of the plants' roots and the way it seemed possible to choose which memories were imprinted in which roots.
But I found the writing overall bland and the plot only loosely engaging, which was exactly how I felt about 'Semiosis'. This is partly (probably mostly) due to the sort of broken English that was used throughout. Honestly, I would still recommend the duology to scifi nutters, I just won't be jumping up and down about it when I do.
To my complete surprise, just when I was getting ready to close the book and move along, the epilogue turned up and was the best part of the book for me. Some of it was written as a stream of consciousness, which doesn't always work well for me but I thought it was great here.
One last note from me, about my experience. I hated the tagline on the cover, "Sentience craves sovereignty", and I couldn't get that out of my head while I was reading but the more I thought about it, I began to realise that I could be misinterpreting its use here. Sovereignty has multiple definitions and one of which is the right to govern oneself, an idea which I do not hate. After finishing the book I've decided that in the context of this story.... it could still be interpreted either way.
So that's it. No jumping up and down but worth checking out, I think.
July 29, 2025
It was a really solid sequel to a fascinating first contact novel.
I mostly enjoyed 2 things. First of all, I'm happy that the author stuck with narrating the story through different perspectives, including non-human. It expanded my understanding of the world and its different nuances. I also loved the expansion of the world-building, especially the introduction of corals. The expedition into the corals' territory was definitely my favourite part of the book as it allowed me to learn more about the alien world and new forms of life.
The second novel had some weaknesses in comparison to the first book, though. The human mission from Earth was the least interesting part. They were mostly annoying and didn't bring much to the story apart from the means to find out more about another part of the planet Pax. Moreover, I didn't enjoy a tighter narrative that only focused on one point in time. I much preferred a more bird view of the development of the community on an alien world.
I'm a bit worried that the last book will be focused exclusively on Earth and I won't get to know better the other continents from Pax. But we shall read and find out.
I mostly enjoyed 2 things. First of all, I'm happy that the author stuck with narrating the story through different perspectives, including non-human. It expanded my understanding of the world and its different nuances. I also loved the expansion of the world-building, especially the introduction of corals. The expedition into the corals' territory was definitely my favourite part of the book as it allowed me to learn more about the alien world and new forms of life.
The second novel had some weaknesses in comparison to the first book, though. The human mission from Earth was the least interesting part. They were mostly annoying and didn't bring much to the story apart from the means to find out more about another part of the planet Pax. Moreover, I didn't enjoy a tighter narrative that only focused on one point in time. I much preferred a more bird view of the development of the community on an alien world.
I'm a bit worried that the last book will be focused exclusively on Earth and I won't get to know better the other continents from Pax. But we shall read and find out.
October 15, 2019
I read and loved the first book of the dualogy, Semiosis and if you appreciated it as I did, no doubt that Interference will enthusiasm you.
After a first part (with and incredibly disturbing dystopian reality), the narrative
form is rather similar as in the first book, with various narrators, which offer a wide array of point of view, for a fantastic show don't tell story.
For the first time we benefit from an outside point of view, which is really exciting. The realism of the situation is still wonderfully told, the comprehension of human nature, even a post human one, is awesome, as aliens' psychology is.
Such a story could probably have continued for books and books, but the author manages to propose a very interesting and illuminated ending.
Sue Burke is an author that I'll keep reading for sure!
After a first part (with and incredibly disturbing dystopian reality), the narrative
form is rather similar as in the first book, with various narrators, which offer a wide array of point of view, for a fantastic show don't tell story.
For the first time we benefit from an outside point of view, which is really exciting. The realism of the situation is still wonderfully told, the comprehension of human nature, even a post human one, is awesome, as aliens' psychology is.
Such a story could probably have continued for books and books, but the author manages to propose a very interesting and illuminated ending.
Sue Burke is an author that I'll keep reading for sure!
December 6, 2019
A creative and enjoyable sequel to the brilliant Semiosis. The humans are mostly shallow and selfish, but the real hero is Stevland, the intelligent rainbow bamboo!
My full review at the New York Journal Review of Books:
https://www.nyjournalofbooks.com/book...
My full review at the New York Journal Review of Books:
https://www.nyjournalofbooks.com/book...
January 4, 2025
What a wild alien plant life adventure. Sue Burke does it again. Some section POVs are written more dryly than others because of who the narrator is in that section, but my fascination with Pax kept me glued to the page. The first chapter takes place on Earth, but after that it dives right in to the alien lore. Be patient.
The glassmakers are endlessly fascinating. We are also introduced to more Pax life. If you are tired of scifi books not having enough true alien worlds, this book scratches that itch.
The glassmakers are endlessly fascinating. We are also introduced to more Pax life. If you are tired of scifi books not having enough true alien worlds, this book scratches that itch.
May 8, 2023
Wished there was more (almost expected there to be with epilogue ending) but still a clever and intriguing book all on its own! Third alien species and maybe even how they all mox in woth old humans from earth…. Asks good questions—-
November 13, 2020
I am (proudly so) not a person to walk away from a sentient rainbow bamboo. And the delicious fruits of nutritional nourishment and knowledge it offers. Neither are the colonists of Pax, because otherwise…there wouldn’t be much of a story.
And so we return to the world of Pax, a distant Earthlike planet settled by Earthlings wanting to build a more decent world. But first, a glimpse at the Earth left behind as the 2300s find it, a planet ravaged by wars and privation and rearranged into a creepily sexist society or predetermined destinies and social limitations. A place well worth putting in a rear view mirror of a spaceship and setting off to visit the legendary Pax colony to check out their progress. Thus unfolds the titular interference and as anyone with even a passing knowledge of these things would tell you, it never goes well.
The Pacifists of Pax have been slowly making progress this entire time, the colony is now in twelfth generation and more of less thriving, having established good symbiosis style relationships with both Glassmakers and the great sentient bamboo. Everyone is initially excited by the Earthlings visit, but then the excitement dies down as the complications of new dynamics set in.
Turns out the colonists and the visitors are not merely divergent when it comes to language, it’s also more profound cultural and intellectual differences and eventually their misunderstandings become dangerous and the conflict arises. A terrible deadly test of everyone’s alliances.
So I’ve just reviewed book one of this duology and I’d hate for this to feature any redundancies, but it’s nearly impossible to discuss this book without mentioning how spectacularly imagined the world of Pax is. The flora and fauna of this distant world is nothing short of staggering, it’s pure art. Speculative fiction speculating at its most gorgeously authentic.
It’s also nearly impossible not to mention how staggeringly dense this book is with all that the author throws into the pot. The denouement alone is a giant chapter that’s entirely too easy to get disoriented in, there are so many characters, more than in book one, and there’s so much going on.
But then again, unlike book 1, this one actually takes place within the same year, so there is a welcome timeline cohesiveness, it’s nice to have the same characters to get to know and follow around, Arthur and Cawzee (is that right? can’t believe I’ve already forgotten) being personal favorites, and to be properly invested in a story.
All in all, this might be one of those blue moon situations where book two is actually superior to book one, but at any rate, both are quite good and must be read together and in order.
It’s a terrific adventure with absolutely spectacular world building plus it’s also very smart, the way it meditates on the meaning of intelligence and superiority and cooperation, the way everyone in their misguided pride perceives others, other species, around them only to the extent that their own experiences will let them. And the way they need to let go of that limiting mentality in order to make progress and go from interfering to cooperating. There’s so much on cooperation in order to survive and thrive going on here that it really ought to have been the symbiosis duology. But at any rate, there it was book two. Which also took me an inordinate amount of time to get through. And was also worth it, right down to the excellent epilogue.
All in all, Pax was a genuinely awesome place to visit. The scenery alone…wow. Plus the sentient rainbow bamboo, one of the most fascinating characters you’ll find, imagined or otherwise. Science fiction fans tired of this planet…Pax awaits. Recommended.
And so we return to the world of Pax, a distant Earthlike planet settled by Earthlings wanting to build a more decent world. But first, a glimpse at the Earth left behind as the 2300s find it, a planet ravaged by wars and privation and rearranged into a creepily sexist society or predetermined destinies and social limitations. A place well worth putting in a rear view mirror of a spaceship and setting off to visit the legendary Pax colony to check out their progress. Thus unfolds the titular interference and as anyone with even a passing knowledge of these things would tell you, it never goes well.
The Pacifists of Pax have been slowly making progress this entire time, the colony is now in twelfth generation and more of less thriving, having established good symbiosis style relationships with both Glassmakers and the great sentient bamboo. Everyone is initially excited by the Earthlings visit, but then the excitement dies down as the complications of new dynamics set in.
Turns out the colonists and the visitors are not merely divergent when it comes to language, it’s also more profound cultural and intellectual differences and eventually their misunderstandings become dangerous and the conflict arises. A terrible deadly test of everyone’s alliances.
So I’ve just reviewed book one of this duology and I’d hate for this to feature any redundancies, but it’s nearly impossible to discuss this book without mentioning how spectacularly imagined the world of Pax is. The flora and fauna of this distant world is nothing short of staggering, it’s pure art. Speculative fiction speculating at its most gorgeously authentic.
It’s also nearly impossible not to mention how staggeringly dense this book is with all that the author throws into the pot. The denouement alone is a giant chapter that’s entirely too easy to get disoriented in, there are so many characters, more than in book one, and there’s so much going on.
But then again, unlike book 1, this one actually takes place within the same year, so there is a welcome timeline cohesiveness, it’s nice to have the same characters to get to know and follow around, Arthur and Cawzee (is that right? can’t believe I’ve already forgotten) being personal favorites, and to be properly invested in a story.
All in all, this might be one of those blue moon situations where book two is actually superior to book one, but at any rate, both are quite good and must be read together and in order.
It’s a terrific adventure with absolutely spectacular world building plus it’s also very smart, the way it meditates on the meaning of intelligence and superiority and cooperation, the way everyone in their misguided pride perceives others, other species, around them only to the extent that their own experiences will let them. And the way they need to let go of that limiting mentality in order to make progress and go from interfering to cooperating. There’s so much on cooperation in order to survive and thrive going on here that it really ought to have been the symbiosis duology. But at any rate, there it was book two. Which also took me an inordinate amount of time to get through. And was also worth it, right down to the excellent epilogue.
All in all, Pax was a genuinely awesome place to visit. The scenery alone…wow. Plus the sentient rainbow bamboo, one of the most fascinating characters you’ll find, imagined or otherwise. Science fiction fans tired of this planet…Pax awaits. Recommended.
July 20, 2022
You know those meetings that should've been emails? Interference is a sequel that should've been an epilogue.
Its first mistake was departing from Semiosis' generational narrative, the aspect of the book I liked most. It allowed the book to be very anthropological, as the development of Pax's society progressed with each new POV. Reading Interference, with its in-story timeline being much more condensed and POVs much less varied, feels very discordant. It reintroduces Pax through the new Earthling characters' eyes, creating a degree of separation from the immersive culture of the first book. It was all reconnaissance and reaction; and, as everything on Pax was new to the Earthlings, the coral never felt like much of a threat.
At the end of Semiosis, Sue Burke should have just included a short epilogue where Earthlings come to Pax . It would have hit all the plot points she wanted to make with Interference.
Its first mistake was departing from Semiosis' generational narrative, the aspect of the book I liked most. It allowed the book to be very anthropological, as the development of Pax's society progressed with each new POV. Reading Interference, with its in-story timeline being much more condensed and POVs much less varied, feels very discordant. It reintroduces Pax through the new Earthling characters' eyes, creating a degree of separation from the immersive culture of the first book. It was all reconnaissance and reaction; and, as everything on Pax was new to the Earthlings, the coral never felt like much of a threat.
At the end of Semiosis, Sue Burke should have just included a short epilogue where Earthlings come to Pax . It would have hit all the plot points she wanted to make with Interference.
December 12, 2020
“There is a second book? But why?” was my initial reaction upon learning that I am in a duology. “Semiosis” was such a lovely rounded-off sugarplum of a novel that I wasn’t sure I wanted a sequel, but Burke has managed to not cock things up completely, which is a feat in itself. It is not as good as the original, and the episodic nature of the story that rolled across centuries is gone and we get a tighter linear narrative predominantly from a single POV, but the whole idea of the Earth actually kinda still making it through and then sending a follow-up mission with all the (mis)communication and titular interference that would imply is quite interesting, even without the secondary “plains” plot. All in all, an enjoyable read, and I actually wouldn’t mind seeing this grow (heh) into a trilogy.
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