Book Review: Survival: Species Imperative #1 by Julie E. Czerneda - Page 2

In spite of her predisposition to despise, or at the least resent, Brymn (his presence dragging her away from her field site just as the salmon are beginning to spawn), she finds herself being drawn into his work in spite of herself. There is something endearing (and flattering) in his delight at meeting her, and his genuine enthusiasm for anything scientific that is new to him is infectious.

There are a couple of hitches that affect their work, and both are due to the rather odd taboos that the Dhryn are live by. The first that it is forbidden to study biology of any sort among their people, which explains his anxiety to meet with Mac; the second is their custom of not talking about anything from their past or of refusing to deal with matters that are unpleasant to them. If they don't talk about it, it doesn't exist, and if it doesn't exist, it can't bother them.

This of course makes it exceedingly difficult to get Brymn to open up about what is threatening all life through out the Universe. When someone refuses to put into words the information that would be of use, the name and description of the species he thinks who may have a hand in this plot for instance, it presents difficulties in communication that are worse than any language barrier could ever be.

Now this is probably beginning to sound like familiar territory to science fiction fans. New species comes to earth, a plot to destroy the universe is uncovered, plucky human scientist saves the day and so on. But in Survival, Julie E. Czerneda manages to stand quite a few of our preconceptions on their heads and turns this into more than just another cliché.

From Mac, our protagonist, through to the vast array of supporting cast, human and otherwise, characters are more then just types. Through the eyes of Dr. Connor we meet a wide variety of individuals who are more then just a cheering section for her heroics or lack thereof.

Article Author: Richard Marcus

Richard Marcus is the author of the forthcoming book What Will Happen In Eragon IV? and has had his work published in print and on line all over the world. The not so long-haired Canadian iconoclast writes reviews and opines on the world as he sees …

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