Spaceling by Doris Piserchia

A curious novel, totally New Wave (first published in 1978).

Synopsis: Adventures and intrigues in which a 15-year-old girl finds herself involved, in a future where some humans can travel interdimensionally. In other dimensions the human body transforms into a totally different being, adapted to the new environment. For example, in a volcanic world uninhabitable for humans, the character becomes a sort of giant otter (see the hardcover edition art below).

It gets a little confusing with all the interdimensional back and forth and also for all the characters and how they come in and out of the story. At some point the story evokes or suggests to me what I assume would be an astral travel or a drug-type experience.

An interesting author, until now I had not read any of her works, but I plan to read more of hers.

A Calculated Life, by Anne Charnock

(I know there could be some mistakes in this review. I’m trying to improve my English, thanks)

A Calculated Life (2013) is an interesting novel that shows us the daily life of an artificial person. Narrated in first person, this novel tells the experiences of the protagonist, Jayna, who belongs to a series of artificially created human beings in support of what is known as white collar jobs. In Jayna's case, she works in a data mining agency, with a rate of success above her human companions. So Jayna’s series is an attempt to combine the power of an AI with the qualities of a human being.

The author uses contrast as a method to show us the central theme, which of course is the meaning to be human. The novel shows Jayna’s daily routines and concerns and the coexistence with her peers, both humans and simulants (that is what they are called in this novel). Although it can also be said in reverse, the novel allows us to reflect of what happens when we lose our humanity in a society that makes us part of an economic process in a double way, as alienated workers and at the same time as consumers.

Of course, this is not the first time this issue has been discussed. The comparison with Bladerunner (more the film than Philip K. Dick’s novel) is evident, but it reminds me of a novel whose reading I have to resume some day (sigh here), Nekropolis by Maureen McHugh.

About the near future described by the author, apart from the replicant-style synthetic people, there is nothing really innovative: a future in which we will be ecologically and also economically poorer, at least most of society (if we exclude an elite of the upper class), which it seems that it will be confirmed in the short or medium term. A realistic future, we could say.

The perspective of Jayna, a unique and irreplaceable human being for whom we empathize, makes the reading worthwhile.

Noumenon, by Marina J. Lostetter

(I know there could be some mistakes in this review. I’m trying to improve my English, thanks)

(También puedes leer esta reseña en castellano aquí)

The humanity is expanding. Earth is sending giant generation starships crewed by clones to explore the galaxy. Noumenon (2017) tells about one of those travels: an expedition towards a distant object named LQ Pyxidis, a star with intriguing proprieties. The journey will last about one hundred years -one thousand from Earth's perspective-. Thus, the novel relates -among other speculative topics- a sort of experiment about human behaviour in a closed space, with a crew trapped between the hope of reaching its destination but also the (genetically determined) homesickness for the mother Earth.

Awesome book cover, isn't it?

Noumenon has very interesting questions and good sciencefictional ideas, but in my opinion its development needs to improve. Despite the fascinating topics I consider that some parts of the plot are a bit naive, or not entirely plausible. Perhaps the story needs more epic, maybe a bit less sentimental... I am not sure. I think also that the story would improve if it had been divided in two books, that would allow better and more complete treatment of some subplots. Those who have read the book will understand me.

However, the novel has also strong points. For instance, the story repeats the characters but they are also evolving: that is, they are clones in a generation starship. This is an approach as intelligent as bold but I think that the author must perfect the voice of each character (including the artificial intelligence): in my opinion it is difficult to distinguish each one.

Actually the book seems a fix-up of short stories chronologically ordered. I know Noumenon has an ambitious and risky approach, but I must review it as a whole: that is, as a novel. However, I must remember that this is the first full length story by the author. I think Marina J. Lostetter is a talented science fiction writer and I want to read novel novels from her.