NEW SCIENCE FICTION AND FANTASY REVIEWS
Reviews Of Recently Published Science Fiction And Fantasy Books
Reviewer: Forrest Schultz schultz_forrest@yahoo.com 770-583-3258
Blog Address: http://newsciencefictionandfantasyreviews.blogspot.com
December 23, 2014
Believable Humans; Unbelievable Aliens
A Review of
Robert J. Sawyer "Rollback" (Tor, 2007)
327pp $12.99 ISBN: 978-765-31108-5
Reviewer: Forrest Schultz
After reading this book it is easy to understand why its author has won so many science fiction writing awards. It deftly combines two of the most interesting SF themes: SETI and biological rejuvenation, which is the process indicated by its title. The attempted rollback of the elderly couple who are the main characters of the story is only partially successful -- the process is unable to rejuvenate the wife, who is the top SETI scientist. (The psychological impact of this upon the couple immediately reminded me of a similar situation in an old Twilight Zone episode.) The result sets the stage for a great tale well thought out and well written. The SETI facet of the story, however, is only partially successful: the communications sent by the aliens are believable but NOT their biology: we have to suspend our disbelief; and Sawyer, as a great novelist, enables us to do so. This confirms what Asimov said a very long time ago about the impossibibility of creating a believable alien, which is why he never had aliens in his stories. Sawyer chose the tougher way -- writing so well that the reader forgets their unbelievability and gets enthralled in the story. I wish to thank Sherry Thompson for recommending Sawyer to me. As C. S. Lewis said, one of the greatest things someone can teach you is recommending which authors to read.
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