Reviews for Reclamation

The average rating for Reclamation based on 2 reviews is 3.5 stars.

Review # 1 was written on 2018-01-27 00:00:00 Jack Hayes I am in love with author Sarah Zettal's books. 'Reclamation' is the second of her novels I have read, but it is her debut novel, for which she won the Locus Award for the Best First Novel (1997). I am going to tell it like it is. Her writing is complex. I think it works best for science-educated readers as well as those who find politics (especially that of organized religions and the creation of myths) fascinating. Dune fans should try one of Zettal's novels. I also think her stories are an interesting mix of hard science and speculative science fiction. She will include telepathy and telekinesis when the plot requires it (some hard science fiction fans hate the inclusion of such 'soft' science-fiction elements, so I am mentioning it). Her imagination in regards to alien life forms is completely mind-boggling and outstandingly fantastic. However, some readers may find the plots too dense, the science too hard, and others may find characters who practice realpolitik morality too depressing. I love it. Bite me. A powerful politically-connected religious cult, the Rhudolent Vitae, is using every tactic it can to pressure many planet governments, other alien races, and independent commercial businesses on space stations to further their cause of "Reclamation". Ten thousand years ago they lost their 'homeland', the planet they believe humans first populated, and a slave race of what were originally petri dish humans they call artifacts. They feel entitled to rule over both planet and the artifacts - if they can only find them. Recently though, they think they are finally close to their goals. The planet may have been discovered. We readers soon learn the planet is populated by a very primitive and poor people, but as the book opens the Vitae know nothing about how 'the People' on 'Realm of the Nameless Powers', as the inhabitants call their world, live. The Vitae have only the ancient stories of secret powers hidden somewhere on the planet and maybe in the bodies of the genetically engineered 'artifacts'. Eric Born is a bottom-feeder entrepreneur. He presently owns the spaceship U-Kenai which he uses to fly from job to job. He is a systems handler Contractor, specializing in hacking computer systems and programming. He has a special talent which helps him in the work, but he avoids using his telekinesis power in public. He takes work wherever he can find it, but his primary employer has been the Vitae, who tend to offers of employment in the spirit of "I'm gonna make him an offer he can't refuse". They do not question him closely about his past, but they assume he is a normal, if now civilized, human from the Realm (they know the planet has normalized humans after a few human visitors during the passage of ten thousand years, or at least they believe so). But after Eric responds to what Eric believes is another file-stealing job - he is attacked by the Vitae! Instead of working on a computer system or robot, they force him to translate questions and responses for a prisoner they are holding captive in Ambassador Basq's quarters in Haron Station. The woman is Stone in the Wall dena Arla Born of the Black Wall, a Notouch. Eric is extremely reluctant to be involved with her interrogation. First, he does not like that the Vitae are forcing him to translate under threat of torture along with holding him captive. Second, he escaped ten years ago from the planet 'Realm of the Nameless Powers' where she has been kidnapped from. His real name is Teacher Hand kenu Lord Hand on the Seablade dena Enemy of the Aunorante Sangh. The circumstances of his leaving will have had him declared a heretic in the extremely religious culture of the Realm. He is of a higher caste then her, so she should be totally obedient to him, or she would be, if he hadn't had the markings of his caste removed from his hands. As Eric reluctantly speaks to her, establishing his rank and birth, Arla demands her namestones before she will answer any questions. When the Vitae give the stones back to her, she quickly wraps them in her head scarf. Another Vitae comes into the room distracting everyone. WHAPP! She has spun her head cloth with her namestone and knocked out a Vitae! Time to run... I really enjoyed this novel! To me, it was interesting and exciting. However, there are some confused transitions in the plot, a fault in the architecture, maybe. Also, as I said Zettel's books are an acquired taste. Readers have to tolerate dense Alien world-building, politicized cultural discrimination and religious realpolitik violence - much of the story echoing our real civilizations on Earth and our past.

Review # 2 was written on 2008-11-27 00:00:00 John Baldwin I have now finished Reclamation and it gets a good solid three stars. Sarah Zettel has a good feel for creating future socities. This is her very first novel, which shows. It is why it only gets three stars not four. The characters rate a four but the story is a bit uneven. The ending was a bit rushed I felt. It is not nearly as compact as her other book I have read--Fool s War. Still, a very well done job for a first novel and as I said the characterization is good. Sarah Zettel is well worth a try if you've never read her.