Sci-Fi Group Book Club discussion

This is the discussion thread for the second book of the month, or group read, for June. Please remember to use the spoiler tags where necessary. The other group read topic for this month (Seveneves) can be found here.

Started the month's reading with Tchaikovsky's novel, and although I've enjoyed the first 10%, I'm having problems swallowing the central premise.

(view spoiler)[ A nanovirus activated within monkey genomes, with the intention of producing an advanced human species through evolutionary means. Said nanovirus is rendered inactive in the genes of other species - whose genomes have been blocked from its encoding - with the exception of exoskeleton species, whose genomes were overlooked in the tampering.

Here's the problem I'm having:

1) If your intention is to create a more advanced human being, why start with a monkey rather than an actual human being? Some primates may indeed share approx 98% of their genes with humans, but that's still 2% (approx) difference since divergence i.e. the monkeys and humans of today are not the same as the common ancestor human-monkey because both species have evolved along different evolutionary paths since then to create a difference of 2%. Evolutionary paths are not predetermined; that 2% difference could be enough to create a species altogether distinct from both humans and monkeys in the unpredictable, newly terraformed, environment.

2) I'm no geneticist nor evolutionary biologist, or anything like that, but surely, if you were going to create a nanovirus that interacted with the genetic material of a specific species, wouldn't you simply make the nanovirus inactive to all genetic coding except a distinct sequence that is unique to the target species? The way Tchaikovsky describes it, it appears the humans of the future prefer to eliminate other species from the programme by feeding in their genomic data one by one (apart from the ones they forgot, of course) - that's a huge taxonomic input! Bound to miss something that way!

Of course, if there's anyone reading this with actual knowledge on this subject, please feel free to enlighten me. (hide spoiler)]

Other than that, the book is great!

Donna Rae wrote: "Started the month's reading with Tchaikovsky's novel, and although I've enjoyed the first 10%, I'm having problems swallowing the central premise.

A nanovirus activated within monkey genomes, wit..."

A bit worrying if the central premise is not good but at least you're enjoying the book so far!

After finishing the novel, I was surprised to find out that this was Tchaikovsky's first venture into scifi as his previous works were solely fantasy. I like the alternating style of the novel where at one point, we are presented the point of views of the humans and then the next chapter presents us with the point of views of the spiders. This style is an extreme page-turner since if you are left at a cliff-hanger in one chapter regarding humans, you still need to read through the spider chapter, which would then leave you with another cliff-hanger and the cycle continues. However, this style presents an imbalance since I found myself rooting for the spiders towards the end. The human chapters focuses on the survivors aboard Gilgamesh and although it is compelling (though not as compelling and exciting as Stephenson's take on the space ark genre in his "Seveneves"), it is overshadowed by the spider story where you actually witness the emergence of a matriarchal society starting from a single sentient spider. =) And the amazing thing is that it almost mirrors our own (patriarchal) society and the issues and problems that arises from the stand that one gender should be inherently greater than the other. Another thing I enjoyed was the perfect ending that I never thought of. Although I was rooting for the spiders in the inevitable humans-versus-arachnids war, I was also bracing myself for the eventual downfall of the spiders and how the humans would once again eradicate species on the new planet and take the planet for their own. This is NOT how it ended however. Simply put, the spiders found a way to "shut down" that human instinct that finds spiders (and other insects) repulsive and we (the humans) came to appreciate them as our children, the "Children of Time". =)

So, Children of Time wins the Arthur C. Clarke award for 2016:

https://www.theguardian.com/books/201...

Well deserved, I think.

I think so too! That makes me want to nominate "The Fifth Season" for next month's reading since it won this years Hugo: http://www.thehugoawards.org/hugo-his... =)

Marvin wrote: "I think so too! That makes me want to nominate "The Fifth Season" for next month's reading since it won this years Hugo: http://www.thehugoawards.org/hugo-his... =)"

Oooh, yes ... planning to read that one soon anyway!

Donna Rae wrote: "Marvin wrote: "I think so too! That makes me want to nominate "The Fifth Season" for next month's reading since it won this years Hugo: http://www.thehugoawards.org/hugo-his......"

I've been wanting to read that one too since last year.

I'm having second thoughts whether I should nominate The Fifth Season or not. It seems to lean more on the fantasy genre side rather than science fiction.

Marvin wrote: "I'm having second thoughts whether I should nominate The Fifth Season or not. It seems to lean more on the fantasy genre side rather than science fiction."

Does it contain some science-fictional elements though?

Greg wrote: "Marvin wrote: "I'm having second thoughts whether I should nominate The Fifth Season or not. It seems to lean more on the fantasy genre side rather than science fiction."

Does it c..."

From the reviews here on GR, it's largely considered fantasy, but also listed as sci-fi dystopian. From what I can gather, it begins with seismic activity on an 'alternate earth' (must be some science with that!) causing near extinctions, from which evolve a new species of human. One of the most clear and concise reviews comes from Rick Riordan (of Percy Jackson fame):

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

One of my favourite authors right now - Nnedi Okorafor (Binti) - has read it and given it 5 stars. I'm guessing it sits on that blurred boundary between fantasy and sci-fi that seems so popular now. My hope (and expectation) is that it's more like Octavia Butler or Ursula Le Guin than, say, Tolkien - no elves, dwarves nor hobbits at least!

Has anyone here already read it?

Donna Rae wrote: "Greg wrote: "Marvin wrote: "I'm having second thoughts whether I should nominate The Fifth Season or not. It seems to lean more on the fantasy genre side rather than science fiction..."

It might seem reasonable to consider it as one of the monthly reads then. If members object strongly to it then I guess it wouldn't receive enough votes to get picked.

Will probably nominate it since this month's "The City & The City" also has a fantasy feel to it but it was chosen nonetheless. :-)

News here that Adrian Tchiakovsky is preparing to write a sequel to Children of Time and Lionsgate are making the movie. All busy then :)

https://www.goodreads.com/author_blog...

Donna Rae wrote: "News here that Adrian Tchiakovsky is preparing to write a sequel to Children of Time and Lionsgate are making the movie. All busy then :)

https://www.goodreads.com/author_blog_po..."

Twitter post from this morning...

Adrian Tchaikovsky
‏

@aptshadow
7h7 hours ago
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Now75% into Children of Time sequel having gone back last night to add an extra section in. On track to finish 1st draft by end Feb I think.