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Homecoming
During the last Interglacial more than 125,000 years ago, humans hybridized with the R'il'nai and spread across the galaxy to colonize other planets. Although they formed a Confederation, they still depended on the R'il'nai for guidance and protection-not only from the Maungs but from each other. But only one of the pureblood R'il'nai still lives-Lai, an embittered survivor who mourns his lost human love but is still bound to honor his race's responsibility to the Confederation. Two others possess the potential to change his and the Confederation's Snowy, a slave dancer who is frightened of his special powers, and Marna, a healer who survived a planet-wide epidemic on her home world. All have their own individual loyalties which put them in conflict with one another, but the only way they can summon a future to benefit all is to work together.
324 pages, Paperback
First published March 16, 2010
28 people want to read
About the author
Sue Ann Bowling
8 books12 followersBorn in Connecticut, raised in Kansas, BA in Physics at Harvard, MS and PhD on geophysics at University of Alaska Fairbanks. On faculty at UAF (Geophysical Institute) until retirement, now writing science fiction. My SF is very much about people (human or not) and their interactions in societies that comment subtly on our own.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
January 8, 2011
Article first published as Book Review:Homecoming by Sue Ann Bowling on Blogcritics.
As humans explored the worlds, often new and different races were discovered. During one of those explorations they discovered the Maungs, who have the ability to wipe out the entire human race. It is here that they also meet the R’il’nai, a race of beings with powers and abilities that help to save them from extinction. As the years move on humans have hybridized with the R’il’nai and have continued their spread across the galaxy.
Here we meet the product of this hybridization, and one of the last full R’il’nai alive, one of the few not wiped out by a disease that was deadly to their kind. Slavery is still the way of the world and while the council does not necessarily condone it, many members themselves have slaves as well.
Snowy is a child born into slavery but he has learned the value of what is wanted. While some of his masters were cruel and callus, he has perfected a form of dance that makes him much more valuable. He has also collected a small group of friends and they dance together. This has made them popular and when they are sold, it is as a group because their beauty comes as a group in the form of the dance. But that is only a part of what is expected of them, they lead a hard and gritty life, abused and tormented by many of their masters. It is during one of the dances that they attract the attention of one of Derik, one of the R’il’noid, one of the hybrid of the two races that carry the characteristics and abilities of the R’il’nai side of the match. Derik is long lived and very lonely, he is entranced by Snowy and his group, and quite attracted to Snowy himself. When he purchases them, little does he realize that life as he knows it is about to change.
Snowy has been hiding something of his own for so long that it was no longer a thought. He could heal himself and others with his mind. He could block probes of his own, but he was beginning to show even more traits. His mother, before she was sold away warned him to keep his abilities secret, or he would be killed as a rogue. He had never seen her again, but he kept to her warning always. How would he get by in world where secrets were easily discernable? When he comes down with a severe form of Kharfun syndrome, he is immediately put in the spotlight. This anomaly only strikes those of R’ilnai or R’il’noid ancenstry, so now the immediate concern is, who is he?
Sue Ann Bowling has put together an amazing world, well written and believable. She has come up with a group of characters, each unique and either eminently likable, or on the other end of the spectrum, rather hateful. In Homecoming she highlights the frailties’ and strengths of a race that has no equal, and yet with all their intelligence and abilities they are near extinction. Set as protectors of humans, they themselves are almost annihilated by a disease that has very little impact on the human population.
Because of their abilities some of the hybrids have allowed slavery, and as in most other cultures it becomes a brutal and unending process of life for those that are owned. The master is all and the slave is considered a lower life form. While many are trying to change the process and outlaw slavery, there are those that resist. Many, like Snowy have found ways to make themselves worth more, in order to protect themselves and their friends.
Homecoming is a wonderful blend of both old and new, putting together humans and an alien race, melding them together in ways that form a new hybrid, with characteristics of both. And yet the slavery and some of the attitudes reflect a time of years past and seem to go against the basic reason for their connection, that of protecting the race, building an interesting conflict. The characters are both unique and quite interesting. The storyline within the school system is spot on and very reminiscent of what really happens in schools the world over. This is a quick paced and very interesting story, the characters are quite memorable.
If you like science fiction this is an amazing read. The story twists and turns, with action and adventure, and the characters step right off the page. I would think a book club or reading group would find this and interesting and attractive reading addition for their members.
This book was received as a copy from the publisher. All opinions are my own and based off my reading and understanding of the material.
As humans explored the worlds, often new and different races were discovered. During one of those explorations they discovered the Maungs, who have the ability to wipe out the entire human race. It is here that they also meet the R’il’nai, a race of beings with powers and abilities that help to save them from extinction. As the years move on humans have hybridized with the R’il’nai and have continued their spread across the galaxy.
Here we meet the product of this hybridization, and one of the last full R’il’nai alive, one of the few not wiped out by a disease that was deadly to their kind. Slavery is still the way of the world and while the council does not necessarily condone it, many members themselves have slaves as well.
Snowy is a child born into slavery but he has learned the value of what is wanted. While some of his masters were cruel and callus, he has perfected a form of dance that makes him much more valuable. He has also collected a small group of friends and they dance together. This has made them popular and when they are sold, it is as a group because their beauty comes as a group in the form of the dance. But that is only a part of what is expected of them, they lead a hard and gritty life, abused and tormented by many of their masters. It is during one of the dances that they attract the attention of one of Derik, one of the R’il’noid, one of the hybrid of the two races that carry the characteristics and abilities of the R’il’nai side of the match. Derik is long lived and very lonely, he is entranced by Snowy and his group, and quite attracted to Snowy himself. When he purchases them, little does he realize that life as he knows it is about to change.
Snowy has been hiding something of his own for so long that it was no longer a thought. He could heal himself and others with his mind. He could block probes of his own, but he was beginning to show even more traits. His mother, before she was sold away warned him to keep his abilities secret, or he would be killed as a rogue. He had never seen her again, but he kept to her warning always. How would he get by in world where secrets were easily discernable? When he comes down with a severe form of Kharfun syndrome, he is immediately put in the spotlight. This anomaly only strikes those of R’ilnai or R’il’noid ancenstry, so now the immediate concern is, who is he?
Sue Ann Bowling has put together an amazing world, well written and believable. She has come up with a group of characters, each unique and either eminently likable, or on the other end of the spectrum, rather hateful. In Homecoming she highlights the frailties’ and strengths of a race that has no equal, and yet with all their intelligence and abilities they are near extinction. Set as protectors of humans, they themselves are almost annihilated by a disease that has very little impact on the human population.
Because of their abilities some of the hybrids have allowed slavery, and as in most other cultures it becomes a brutal and unending process of life for those that are owned. The master is all and the slave is considered a lower life form. While many are trying to change the process and outlaw slavery, there are those that resist. Many, like Snowy have found ways to make themselves worth more, in order to protect themselves and their friends.
Homecoming is a wonderful blend of both old and new, putting together humans and an alien race, melding them together in ways that form a new hybrid, with characteristics of both. And yet the slavery and some of the attitudes reflect a time of years past and seem to go against the basic reason for their connection, that of protecting the race, building an interesting conflict. The characters are both unique and quite interesting. The storyline within the school system is spot on and very reminiscent of what really happens in schools the world over. This is a quick paced and very interesting story, the characters are quite memorable.
If you like science fiction this is an amazing read. The story twists and turns, with action and adventure, and the characters step right off the page. I would think a book club or reading group would find this and interesting and attractive reading addition for their members.
This book was received as a copy from the publisher. All opinions are my own and based off my reading and understanding of the material.
September 11, 2011
This is one of the best books I've read all year. I'm a little surprised at that, because it's not perfect. A tad too much "telling," especially in descriptions of the world. Character voices that sometimes are too forced or long-winded. The odd moment of confusion at the beginning, when trying to figure out what the world is like and who the people are.
Yet when I reached the last page of "Homecoming," I closed my Kindle with that undeniable sense of satisfaction I only feel when a story has brought me into into its world and made me a part of it. I love when that happens, and it's a rare thing.
Sue Ann Bowling has created a rich, complex world, with a species so long-lived, they are nearly immortal compared with humans. Yet a disease has brought them almost to extinction, and it is only by interbreeding with humans they've been able to survive. Their longevity, esper powers, and compassion make them ideal leaders, and these traits are passed on, in varying amounts, to their cross-bred children. But the world is far from perfect, with some of those children completely lacking in empathy, and the human economies based on slavery.
It's an ugly combination that works well for overall tension, and sets up the initial conflict for the book's protagonist - a young slave named Snowy, who later goes by the name, Roi. Roi's story is a common theme of pauper to prince, but he is so real a character, that I was eagerly turning pages (electronically speaking).
For me, characters make the book, and in this story, there are many great ones. There are so many I like - Roi, his father Lai, his uncle Derick, cousin Coryn, are all real enough to feel like family.
Make no mistake - this story is epic, with many characters and subplots. Get into it for the long haul. There's a second book - "Tourist Trap" - and I'm buying it right away. I can imagine spending many books worth of time in the setting of this world.
Yet when I reached the last page of "Homecoming," I closed my Kindle with that undeniable sense of satisfaction I only feel when a story has brought me into into its world and made me a part of it. I love when that happens, and it's a rare thing.
Sue Ann Bowling has created a rich, complex world, with a species so long-lived, they are nearly immortal compared with humans. Yet a disease has brought them almost to extinction, and it is only by interbreeding with humans they've been able to survive. Their longevity, esper powers, and compassion make them ideal leaders, and these traits are passed on, in varying amounts, to their cross-bred children. But the world is far from perfect, with some of those children completely lacking in empathy, and the human economies based on slavery.
It's an ugly combination that works well for overall tension, and sets up the initial conflict for the book's protagonist - a young slave named Snowy, who later goes by the name, Roi. Roi's story is a common theme of pauper to prince, but he is so real a character, that I was eagerly turning pages (electronically speaking).
For me, characters make the book, and in this story, there are many great ones. There are so many I like - Roi, his father Lai, his uncle Derick, cousin Coryn, are all real enough to feel like family.
Make no mistake - this story is epic, with many characters and subplots. Get into it for the long haul. There's a second book - "Tourist Trap" - and I'm buying it right away. I can imagine spending many books worth of time in the setting of this world.
December 10, 2013
Homecoming follows the story of several characters of different origins. Some of these characters are slaves, some prominent leaders. The book follows the stories of these characters, the choices they make, and the fears they face. All of this takes place many thousands of years after our current time, when an alien race, the R���il���nians, the R���il���noids, and Humans coexist. Intelligent life has spread throughout the galaxy, spanning many planets. The fate of the Confederation, a coalition of many of the planets, is uncertain, as it needs a proper heir for leadership. The current heir is corrupt, unloving, and unkind, and Lai, the father of this heir comes to understand this and the need for a better solution. The R'il'nians and the R'il'noids also have a few special powers that I won't spoil here, but they add a good element to the story.
The Good: One thing about the universe of Homecoming that I really enjoyed was the universe. The author thought it out well and made it very real. The R���il���nians were an alien race who were overcome by a plague called Kharfun. This almost completely obliterated the race. Through crossbreeding with humans, they were able to sustain their race. However, the relationships formed with the two races also led to the acceptance by many of slavery. As I read the book and understood the well-realized universe envisioned by the author, I was impressed. This aspect of the book is what captured my interest the most.
The Bad: The author clearly defines the characters within the book. There is no doubt as to their personality traits, as described by the narrative. So what makes this bad? Despite the good descriptions of the characters, the dialogue between them lacked the same differentiating impact. When every character speaks, I couldn���t help but feel like they all spoke in the same manner. Yes, they are different characters, but the demeanor and personality shown in the dialogue made it feel like everyone was the same. If not for the narrative explaining the characters so well, I would have had a very hard time reading this book, because everyone would have seemed like the same person.
The Ugly: All fictional books need a good story. While Homecoming���s story has a lot of potential, it fails to deliver. The whole time I read the book, I kept trying to figure out its focus. What was the story the author was trying to tell? Throughout the book, the focus seems to shift. And just when I felt that I understood where it was going, the focus changes. I didn���t even understand who the main character in the story was until the very end. And even then, the ending leaves nothing conclusive to help you feel as if this was where everything was leading. It���s unfortunate, because with such a well-realized universe, the potential for a very interesting story is there. Instead, a bunch of things happen, and you walk away from the book not completely sure why they mattered.
Overall, I did like reading the book and understanding the universe. Was it a page-turner? No. Was I motivated to finish the book? Yes. But not for the reason I should have been motivated. My interest in the story didn���t move me to complete it, but rather my wanting to move on to a new story did.
The Good: One thing about the universe of Homecoming that I really enjoyed was the universe. The author thought it out well and made it very real. The R���il���nians were an alien race who were overcome by a plague called Kharfun. This almost completely obliterated the race. Through crossbreeding with humans, they were able to sustain their race. However, the relationships formed with the two races also led to the acceptance by many of slavery. As I read the book and understood the well-realized universe envisioned by the author, I was impressed. This aspect of the book is what captured my interest the most.
The Bad: The author clearly defines the characters within the book. There is no doubt as to their personality traits, as described by the narrative. So what makes this bad? Despite the good descriptions of the characters, the dialogue between them lacked the same differentiating impact. When every character speaks, I couldn���t help but feel like they all spoke in the same manner. Yes, they are different characters, but the demeanor and personality shown in the dialogue made it feel like everyone was the same. If not for the narrative explaining the characters so well, I would have had a very hard time reading this book, because everyone would have seemed like the same person.
The Ugly: All fictional books need a good story. While Homecoming���s story has a lot of potential, it fails to deliver. The whole time I read the book, I kept trying to figure out its focus. What was the story the author was trying to tell? Throughout the book, the focus seems to shift. And just when I felt that I understood where it was going, the focus changes. I didn���t even understand who the main character in the story was until the very end. And even then, the ending leaves nothing conclusive to help you feel as if this was where everything was leading. It���s unfortunate, because with such a well-realized universe, the potential for a very interesting story is there. Instead, a bunch of things happen, and you walk away from the book not completely sure why they mattered.
Overall, I did like reading the book and understanding the universe. Was it a page-turner? No. Was I motivated to finish the book? Yes. But not for the reason I should have been motivated. My interest in the story didn���t move me to complete it, but rather my wanting to move on to a new story did.
February 6, 2011
Homecoming follows the story of several characters of different origins. Some of these characters are slaves, some prominent leaders. The book follows the stories of these characters, the choices they make, and the fears they face. All of this takes place many thousands of years after our current time, when an alien race, the R’il’nians, the R’il’noids, and Humans coexist. Intelligent life has spread throughout the galaxy, spanning many planets. The fate of the Confederation, a coalition of many of the planets, is uncertain, as it needs a proper heir for leadership. The current heir is corrupt, unloving, and unkind, and Lai, the father of this heir comes to understand this and the need for a better solution. The R'il'nians and the R'il'noids also have a few special powers that I won't spoil here, but they add a good element to the story.
The Good: One thing about the universe of Homecoming that I really enjoyed was the universe. The author thought it out well and made it very real. The R’il’nians were an alien race who were overcome by a plague called Kharfun. This almost completely obliterated the race. Through crossbreeding with humans, they were able to sustain their race. However, the relationships formed with the two races also led to the acceptance by many of slavery. As I read the book and understood the well-realized universe envisioned by the author, I was impressed. This aspect of the book is what captured my interest the most.
The Bad: The author clearly defines the characters within the book. There is no doubt as to their personality traits, as described by the narrative. So what makes this bad? Despite the good descriptions of the characters, the dialogue between them lacked the same differentiating impact. When every character speaks, I couldn’t help but feel like they all spoke in the same manner. Yes, they are different characters, but the demeanor and personality shown in the dialogue made it feel like everyone was the same. If not for the narrative explaining the characters so well, I would have had a very hard time reading this book, because everyone would have seemed like the same person.
The Ugly: All fictional books need a good story. While Homecoming’s story has a lot of potential, it fails to deliver. The whole time I read the book, I kept trying to figure out its focus. What was the story the author was trying to tell? Throughout the book, the focus seems to shift. And just when I felt that I understood where it was going, the focus changes. I didn’t even understand who the main character in the story was until the very end. And even then, the ending leaves nothing conclusive to help you feel as if this was where everything was leading. It’s unfortunate, because with such a well-realized universe, the potential for a very interesting story is there. Instead, a bunch of things happen, and you walk away from the book not completely sure why they mattered.
Overall, I did like reading the book and understanding the universe. Was it a page-turner? No. Was I motivated to finish the book? Yes. But not for the reason I should have been motivated. My interest in the story didn’t move me to complete it, but rather my wanting to move on to a new story did.
The Good: One thing about the universe of Homecoming that I really enjoyed was the universe. The author thought it out well and made it very real. The R’il’nians were an alien race who were overcome by a plague called Kharfun. This almost completely obliterated the race. Through crossbreeding with humans, they were able to sustain their race. However, the relationships formed with the two races also led to the acceptance by many of slavery. As I read the book and understood the well-realized universe envisioned by the author, I was impressed. This aspect of the book is what captured my interest the most.
The Bad: The author clearly defines the characters within the book. There is no doubt as to their personality traits, as described by the narrative. So what makes this bad? Despite the good descriptions of the characters, the dialogue between them lacked the same differentiating impact. When every character speaks, I couldn’t help but feel like they all spoke in the same manner. Yes, they are different characters, but the demeanor and personality shown in the dialogue made it feel like everyone was the same. If not for the narrative explaining the characters so well, I would have had a very hard time reading this book, because everyone would have seemed like the same person.
The Ugly: All fictional books need a good story. While Homecoming’s story has a lot of potential, it fails to deliver. The whole time I read the book, I kept trying to figure out its focus. What was the story the author was trying to tell? Throughout the book, the focus seems to shift. And just when I felt that I understood where it was going, the focus changes. I didn’t even understand who the main character in the story was until the very end. And even then, the ending leaves nothing conclusive to help you feel as if this was where everything was leading. It’s unfortunate, because with such a well-realized universe, the potential for a very interesting story is there. Instead, a bunch of things happen, and you walk away from the book not completely sure why they mattered.
Overall, I did like reading the book and understanding the universe. Was it a page-turner? No. Was I motivated to finish the book? Yes. But not for the reason I should have been motivated. My interest in the story didn’t move me to complete it, but rather my wanting to move on to a new story did.
April 19, 2015
I first discovered Sue Ann Bowling in 2012. I loved her blog, I loved her theme, and as I followed her afterwards, I loved what she was interested in and her view from Alaska. I was a little confused by the serialised Jarn’s Journal, which is a prequel to her books, but I read her novella Horse Power, and decided that I also loved her style, and looked forward to reading the first of her full-length novels, Homecoming.
It’s an epic tale of space-going aliens who may or may not live compatibly with other space-going aliens, including Humans. R’Ilnians have telepathic, telekinetic, and many other mind-power abilities, some of which are passed on to their crossbred children – crossbreeding with Humans ended up as the only solution to their survival after succumbing to a plague to which humans are immune. Lai, the only remaining purebred R’Ilnian lives a long and busy life – long since they live for centuries, and busy since the role of R’ilnians and R’Ilnoids (crossbreeds with a high percentage of R’ilnian genes) is to arbitrate and manage governance at a planetary level, i.e. they don’t interfere with local disputes, only those issues involving ‘international’ co-operation.
Am I making this complicated? Well, the context of it could be, but there are plenty of scifi series out there with similar ESP aliens. What makes this different is the richness, the level of good science engaged, and the range of it – genetics, medicine, engineering, sociology, psychology, botany, biochemistry, astronomy, physics, environmental management, geology, geophysics… I’d better stop. Ms (Professor) Bowling is a polymath and it shows!
In Homecoming, the first of a planned trilogy, a slave named Snowy has had it drummed into him from birth not to show his ESP talents – but it helps him and his friends out of many of their troubles. Then Snowy gets sick, and in healing him, his owners realise that he shouldn’t be a slave at all. In fact, he turns out to be of high R’Ilnoid parentage. So his life changes, not always for the better as far as he perceives it, but his talents take him in directions few could predict, and he becomes essential to the survival of Lai on a difficult and dangerous assignment. That’s really all I’ll say about the story. It’s intricate, beautifully entwined, and as rich and sound in its world-building as anything by those masters of story telling, Heinlein, Clarke or even E E ‘Doc’ Smith (does anyone else know the Lensmen series these days?)
Homecoming is a superb story, and I'm looking forward to reading the second, Tourist Trap I can also now go back to her blog and read Jarn’s Journal, understanding where it fits into her totally amazing universe.
A brilliant book, for lovers of people and society, as well as scifi, adventure and life’s rich patterns.
It’s an epic tale of space-going aliens who may or may not live compatibly with other space-going aliens, including Humans. R’Ilnians have telepathic, telekinetic, and many other mind-power abilities, some of which are passed on to their crossbred children – crossbreeding with Humans ended up as the only solution to their survival after succumbing to a plague to which humans are immune. Lai, the only remaining purebred R’Ilnian lives a long and busy life – long since they live for centuries, and busy since the role of R’ilnians and R’Ilnoids (crossbreeds with a high percentage of R’ilnian genes) is to arbitrate and manage governance at a planetary level, i.e. they don’t interfere with local disputes, only those issues involving ‘international’ co-operation.
Am I making this complicated? Well, the context of it could be, but there are plenty of scifi series out there with similar ESP aliens. What makes this different is the richness, the level of good science engaged, and the range of it – genetics, medicine, engineering, sociology, psychology, botany, biochemistry, astronomy, physics, environmental management, geology, geophysics… I’d better stop. Ms (Professor) Bowling is a polymath and it shows!
In Homecoming, the first of a planned trilogy, a slave named Snowy has had it drummed into him from birth not to show his ESP talents – but it helps him and his friends out of many of their troubles. Then Snowy gets sick, and in healing him, his owners realise that he shouldn’t be a slave at all. In fact, he turns out to be of high R’Ilnoid parentage. So his life changes, not always for the better as far as he perceives it, but his talents take him in directions few could predict, and he becomes essential to the survival of Lai on a difficult and dangerous assignment. That’s really all I’ll say about the story. It’s intricate, beautifully entwined, and as rich and sound in its world-building as anything by those masters of story telling, Heinlein, Clarke or even E E ‘Doc’ Smith (does anyone else know the Lensmen series these days?)
Homecoming is a superb story, and I'm looking forward to reading the second, Tourist Trap I can also now go back to her blog and read Jarn’s Journal, understanding where it fits into her totally amazing universe.
A brilliant book, for lovers of people and society, as well as scifi, adventure and life’s rich patterns.
January 7, 2011
What if human and alien DNA were mixed long ago, and human-alien hybrids spread out to conquer the galaxy? What if those aliens had extra-sensory perception and super-human powers perfectly complementing human ingenuity? And what if their symbiotic relationships were thrown into chaos by a virus that almost wiped out the whole of the R’il’nai? This the background to Sue Ann Bowling’s Homecoming, a fascinating coming-of-age sci-fi novel where a human slave lives a dream-come-true and discovers his long-lost birthright, just as his father despairs of ever healing his heritage.
Homecoming starts within the slave-holding human and alien communities of the Confederated Planets. The time coincides with George Washington’s birth—hence slaves I suppose—though that’s not relevant to the tale. The novel’s background is detailed and complex, but soon the slave Snowy has his name changed yet again, and heads to boarding school as a free son under the name of Roi. An exciting mix of Tom Brown’s schooldays and Hogwarts ensues, with student bullies, arrogant teachers, and a few select friends helping Roi survive in spite of his physical problems. The science of ESP, the rules of conservation applied to telekinesis, the energy required for the impossible—it all begins to make the sort of sense that delights and keeps the reader intrigued.
Meanwhile there’s a DNA testing program taking place that analyzes percentages of R’il’nain to human genes without noting which sequences are which, and a good father wonders how he can produce a bad son, while the child who doesn’t know him grows up so well.
This novel’s characters may have complex backgrounds, but by the end of the tale they’ve all become dear to the reader. The questions they face are as relevant here and now as to their distant lives—duty, love, freedom, honor, security, fatherhood—and the detailed world they inhabit is almost real.
What if human-alien hybrids return to earth one day? Will Sue Ann Bowling address that possibility too? If she does, I’d like to read the book. Though I took a while to get into this novel, that was probably my fault and my timing more than the author’s; I found it a really rewarding and intriguing read.
Disclosure: I received a print copy of Homecoming from Jason Gloye of Bohlson PR in exchange for an honest review.
Homecoming starts within the slave-holding human and alien communities of the Confederated Planets. The time coincides with George Washington’s birth—hence slaves I suppose—though that’s not relevant to the tale. The novel’s background is detailed and complex, but soon the slave Snowy has his name changed yet again, and heads to boarding school as a free son under the name of Roi. An exciting mix of Tom Brown’s schooldays and Hogwarts ensues, with student bullies, arrogant teachers, and a few select friends helping Roi survive in spite of his physical problems. The science of ESP, the rules of conservation applied to telekinesis, the energy required for the impossible—it all begins to make the sort of sense that delights and keeps the reader intrigued.
Meanwhile there’s a DNA testing program taking place that analyzes percentages of R’il’nain to human genes without noting which sequences are which, and a good father wonders how he can produce a bad son, while the child who doesn’t know him grows up so well.
This novel’s characters may have complex backgrounds, but by the end of the tale they’ve all become dear to the reader. The questions they face are as relevant here and now as to their distant lives—duty, love, freedom, honor, security, fatherhood—and the detailed world they inhabit is almost real.
What if human-alien hybrids return to earth one day? Will Sue Ann Bowling address that possibility too? If she does, I’d like to read the book. Though I took a while to get into this novel, that was probably my fault and my timing more than the author’s; I found it a really rewarding and intriguing read.
Disclosure: I received a print copy of Homecoming from Jason Gloye of Bohlson PR in exchange for an honest review.
September 20, 2013
This is a story of a young slave boy, Roi, who might be much more than he'd been taught in his young life. Told sometimes through his eyes, and sometimes through the eyes of of other characters, we slowly begin to understand humanity's struggle in the future, and the struggle of another race of people from beyond Earth--and how their challenges are intertwined.
I was fascinated by the DNA, the biology, and the genetics in the story. The culture--a merging of two very different types of "people", was symbiotic in nature, utilizing each other to survive, and contributing something necessary to the survival of one another.
The story moved at a good pace while covering a lot of ground. Bowling's prose works, with enough description to prove she's a thorough world-builder, but enough telling to not bog down the story with unnecessary detail.
Roi was a likeable character, and through him, we get a glimpse of how a child will adapt his behavior in order to survive in a potentially risky environment.
There are love stories but they aren't central to the book; it never gets mired down in any kind of romance.
Bowling explored the nature of humans, and she very creatively projected the possible variations in nature of beings bred between humans and a nearly immortal race.
She deftly set up the series with Homecoming. I'll read more of this series.
I was fascinated by the DNA, the biology, and the genetics in the story. The culture--a merging of two very different types of "people", was symbiotic in nature, utilizing each other to survive, and contributing something necessary to the survival of one another.
The story moved at a good pace while covering a lot of ground. Bowling's prose works, with enough description to prove she's a thorough world-builder, but enough telling to not bog down the story with unnecessary detail.
Roi was a likeable character, and through him, we get a glimpse of how a child will adapt his behavior in order to survive in a potentially risky environment.
There are love stories but they aren't central to the book; it never gets mired down in any kind of romance.
Bowling explored the nature of humans, and she very creatively projected the possible variations in nature of beings bred between humans and a nearly immortal race.
She deftly set up the series with Homecoming. I'll read more of this series.
October 11, 2011
A bit disconnected in spots when there are events or details that don't seem to add to the overall story. Character details are well formed and the world is well designed. I am still reading it and assuming these threads will come together. I have not quite figured out who the central figure is or what it is the three main players are suppose to save. But I continue on. Unfortunately, it is hard for me to round up time to read.
But I did find the time and have finished the book. Those threads did indeed tie together, but it was awkward in spots and there were times I felt I was just rolling along without purpose. But again, the world is well built and certainly complex. The occasional stilted dialogue and sudden changes of locale without apparent reason do not outweigh the richness of description and character individualism.
I would read a sequel or other book by this author anticipating greater skill and thereby an even more enjoyable story.
But I did find the time and have finished the book. Those threads did indeed tie together, but it was awkward in spots and there were times I felt I was just rolling along without purpose. But again, the world is well built and certainly complex. The occasional stilted dialogue and sudden changes of locale without apparent reason do not outweigh the richness of description and character individualism.
I would read a sequel or other book by this author anticipating greater skill and thereby an even more enjoyable story.
August 7, 2010
More information at http://www.sueannbowling.com. It's available as a hardcover and an e-book, as well. To copy an external review:
"This book is an excellent read, from start to finish. I did find the first couple of pages a struggle, as characters are introduced rapidfire, but once one has got one's head around them the story is a pleasure. Sue Ann has created a very believable civilisation, and characters who are fantastically wrought. Any sane person reading this book will land on the side of the main character and passionately hate his nemesis. Deep issues are tackled with dignity, not limited to the sociological, ethical and psychological minefields, and although scientific fact is in the fore, it does not distract from the storyline. I would recommend this book to anyone, and I long for the next in the series! (Reviewed on Barnes & Noble)"
"This book is an excellent read, from start to finish. I did find the first couple of pages a struggle, as characters are introduced rapidfire, but once one has got one's head around them the story is a pleasure. Sue Ann has created a very believable civilisation, and characters who are fantastically wrought. Any sane person reading this book will land on the side of the main character and passionately hate his nemesis. Deep issues are tackled with dignity, not limited to the sociological, ethical and psychological minefields, and although scientific fact is in the fore, it does not distract from the storyline. I would recommend this book to anyone, and I long for the next in the series! (Reviewed on Barnes & Noble)"
October 10, 2011
The only reason I am not giving this book five stars is because the opening is a bit muddy. The MC is dreaming/experiencing the torture of a friend by another person whose sadistic glee is clearly visible on his face in the mirror. I didn't know whose head I was in, and even on a second, slower read of the book, still found this confusing.
Many people would give up at that point and not read on. *Don't.* While there *are* multiple POV's, once past the first chapter, chapter-and-a-half or so, after that the viewpoints are easy to identify and the storytelling is compelling. The characters are well drawn, for the most part (the one villain needs a little love/redeeming qualities, IMO), the action is exciting, and the moral dilemmas are captivating. I loved this book and am bumping the sequel to the top of my TBR list.
Many people would give up at that point and not read on. *Don't.* While there *are* multiple POV's, once past the first chapter, chapter-and-a-half or so, after that the viewpoints are easy to identify and the storytelling is compelling. The characters are well drawn, for the most part (the one villain needs a little love/redeeming qualities, IMO), the action is exciting, and the moral dilemmas are captivating. I loved this book and am bumping the sequel to the top of my TBR list.
January 6, 2011
very nice....!
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