What's the Name of That Book??? discussion

I began tracking books in 2013 and I cannot find it in there, so I believe I must have read it before then. In the book, god-like alien characters make minor changes to the natural progression of planets/worlds, then sit back and watch what the chain reactions are. The characters are unable to go in and make additional changes, so the characters have figured out ways to 'assist' without interfering. At the end, one of the characters win based on which planets survive. The observed planet is similar to earth.

Marsha, what's the genre or mood (which we need to add to the header/topic title) - e.g., for adults or teens? science fiction, fantasy, thriller, funny, satire, dark, adventure?

Can you tell us more about the main characters? Is this a "game" or "competition"?

It is science fiction. More adult than teen. It isn't a competition, it is an experiment. I remember there being more than one going on at a time and the god-like creatures are watching the results as entertainment.

Is there any romance? Between anyone? Is there any action? Is it first POV? Are there multiple POVs?

The pov is the one of the instigators and the action is all the events on the planets.

Did the investigators have any names or was it very clinical? Did they have personalities?

It was very impersonal. Only one of the instigators seemed to care. I'm sure they had names, but I don't remember them.

There are enough differences that it's probably not, but the premise reminds me of Arkady & Boris Strugatsky's Hard to Be a God.

Bertrice Small had a series similar to that but you never really found out it was an experiment until the later books. It was focused on the characters romance.

Also the Krinar series is very SciFi and similar.

Stephen wrote: "There are enough differences that it's probably not, but the premise reminds me of Arkady & Boris Strugatsky's Hard to Be a God."
No, this one is definitely different, Stephen, but it sure looks like a good one. I'll have to take a longer look at it. Thank you

Jolene wrote: "Bertrice Small had a series similar to that but you never really found out it was an experiment until the later books. It was focused on the characters romance.

Also the Krinar series is very SciF..."
Thanks Joleen. Still looking.

Was the experiments the whole point of the book? Did they constantly take place? Do you recall if they were real or simulations?
Your description is reminding me of The Ellimist Chronicles by K. A. Applegate.

This also reminds me of a book I read by Doris Lessing(I think it was she) but I don't remember the title. I think it may be one of the Canopus in Argos series but I'm not sure.
Here's a link for the first one. Re: Colonised Planet 5, Shikasta

Potato wrote: "Was the experiments the whole point of the book? Did they constantly take place? Do you recall if they were real or simulations?
Your description is reminding me of The Ellimist Chronicles by K. A...."
I read this one too...and loved it, but no what I'm looking for this time.
The experiments were the whole premise of the story. Like the tellers would shift the planet a degree off center...or add another moon...then wait thousands of years to see the results. One of the main characters becomes attached to the human-like creatures on the planet and when he see what will happen to them, he attempts to influence them into making changes of their own to correct the effects.

Thanks, Potato! I remember now that the god-like creatures were actually betting (without wagers) on the outcome of the planetary corrections. They mostly felt superior to the dwellers whose lives were insignificant.

Rouan wrote: "This also reminds me of a book I read by Doris Lessing(I think it was she) but I don't remember the title. I think it may be one of the Canopus in Argos series but I'm not sure.
Here's a link for ..."
I love the blurb from this one, but sadly it is also not the one I am remembering. The format is wrong and the characters are not allowed to interfere in the planetary changes. Plus there are thousands of experiments going on at the same time, one particular earth-like one is more central

I just read a review to "Science of Discworld 1" by Terry Pratchett and it reminded me very much of this question. I have not read this myself though.
The part that made me connect this is "The wizards watch our world form, try to figure out the rules, and watch it progress. They see life emerge, make its best effort towards intelligence, and then get wiped out. Over and over."

Cat'S wrote: "I just read a review to "Science of Discworld 1" by Terry Pratchett and it reminded me very much of this question. I have not read this myself though.
The part that made me connect this is "The wiz..."
Oh, good catch. Terry Pratchett is a genius. sadly, this is not the one I am looking for, but it implies that I might be mixing things and my recollections are from more than one book. Thanks for your input.

Some ideas:
The Homeward Bounders
The Cosmic Puppets

Clicking to follow (I'd like to know what this book is) (It does sound a little like "The Homeward Bounders" as Lou suggests)

Lou wrote: "Some ideas:
The Homeward Bounders
The Cosmic Puppets"
The Homeward Bounders sounds delightful! I just picked up a copy. But no, the one I remember has no interaction with the humans.
Thank you for your suggestion, though.

Long shot but maybe Daughter Of Is: A Science Fiction Epic by Michael Davidson? Godlike beings attempt to reevolve an earthlike planet with a sapient species similar to humankind but lacking the violence of homo sapiens.

Edited to add: the cover for the Goodreads listing is blank but if you use Google Images, you'll be able to see the cover there in order to jog your memory.

Link to edition with cover image.

Daughter Of Is: A Science Fiction Epic by Michael Davidson.

Marsha (OP) left the group. Moving to Abandoned folder.