Customer Reviews

Becoming Human

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I bought this book on a recommendation from the Alternative Sexualities in Fantasy and SF Booklist compiled online by M.A. Mohanraj, and I'm now quite pleased that I did. Valerie Freireich is a lawyer as well as a writer, and it shows in her skillful depictions of conspiracies, secrets, political machinations, and diplomatic relations. Something of a Pinocchio / Frankenstein story set in a future where cloning and genetic manipulation are realities, Becoming Human is an exploration into the nature of humanity, loyalty, individuality, and love. It's been quite a while since I've enjoyed reading a SF novel so much as I've enjoyed this one.

From the provocative cover art to the tragic ending of Becoming Human, I was struck by the existential questions posed within.

Freirriech deconstructs secular humanism, bio-engineering, religiosity among atheists, fear of otherness, and authoritarianism among the academic elite in her scenario of world colonization by proponents of the human actualization movements popular in the 70's in Southern California.

Becoming Human, Testament and Imposter are adult books, which each separately explore, in a literary, almost poetic framework, the meaning of the concept of human. Orson Scott Card ultimately caused Ender's torments to become the self-serving pitying cries of one who was helpless when used as a human torpedo. Freireich showed that even in slavery, the slave has free will to love, to empathize, to act . . . and thus be human.

Her definition of humanity resides not in DNA sequences or selective breeding, but rather, in emotions and feeling and acting on those emotions or feelings from choice, not duty, not reflex; the ultimate human act is to act altruistically and in truth -- not from self-righteousness or self-deception.

A Superb series. I highly recommend it. I look forward to additonal volumes.

When I first discovered science fiction as a child, I eagerly devoured each new novel. Every story was new, with interesting ideas, fantastic situations, and interesting concepts and moral issues to explore.

Over the years, it seemed that I lost that feeling of wonder and awe. Each book seemed to be a re-visitation of concepts and ideas already explored in an earlier novel. Slowly, I drifted from the genre.

And then I read "Becoming Human".

I was transported back to my youth, and found myself reading a book with original ideas. Instead of just re-hashing someone else's story, this novel was totally new; it had a unique story concept, and was a riviting read.

I fully recommend this book to any science fiction fan who would like to re-visit his youth.

A character-driven variant of the classic SF theme of the nature of humanity.

This is potentially a wonderful story, with high drama, politics, and interesting interpersonal relationships. For me, the execution was at times overly opaque and oblique, so that I spent too much time trying to figure out the political system and why the characters were doing what they did. I can imagine this having been a fantastic novel if it had been written with a bit more grace and depth.

Nevertheless, it's a promising first novel with some interesting ideas and a generally good treatment of characterization.

I came across this book by happenstance and, as it turned out, was pleasantly surprised to find it readable. And not only readable, but good.

Valerie Freireich examines definitions of humanity in a future society where toolmen, genetically programmed to metabolic self-destruction after a given period of time and used as servants, and the Neulanders, who have engineered themselves so they heal rapidly and cannot feel pain, must both struggle for recognition as humans. Alexander Greeneyes, a toolman, finds himself caught between a wish to live longer and political expediency, and at the last chooses honor above betrayal; later, his clone August must battle the legacy he wears on his face to make his own choices.

My one complaint, perhaps, is that the ending of _Becoming Human_ feels rushed; too much happens at once, too many revelations, too many skeletons rising out of the closet. Nevertheless, the tale is worthwhile, offering a taste of the moral spectrum.

When I first began reading this book, I finished the first part of the book,and stopped. Normally, it doesn't strike to put down a book once i start since i could read approx. 200 pages per hour. But this book is depressing in the beginnig, so I stopped reading. But after several weeks, when it was time to read the book and do my book report, I realized how much i have missed out.
Alexander dies for saving his people and protecting the electors, however, they accused him being a traitor. When Alexander's clone twin, August was presented to the wide-range of electors, he blamed Alexander, than hated him, and in the end, admired him...
I have read several thousands of books in my life, and I don't like recommending books. I suggest people to read what they like, and enjoy what they read. To be honest, this is one of the first scientific fiction novel i have read so far, and the only book i would recommend people to try. It has a combination of different genres that make you fall head over heels on this book...