Customer Reviews

Beggars In Spain

5 star:		(33)
4 star:		(25)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(6)
1 star:		(8)

 

 

Before I read 'Beggars in Spain,' I read the short story that the novel is expanded from. To be honest, I thought turning such a powerful story into a novel would lessen its impact. I was wrong.

The novel version of 'Beggars in Spain' begins with a simple premise: What if science could genetically alter humans so that they needed no sleep? Think of the advances and discoveries mankind could make, think of all the achievements that would be possible if we never had to sleep for 6, 7, or 8 hours a day.
The theory becomes a reality for Leisha Camden and many other "sleepless." It doesn't take long before the sleepless are shunned by the rest of society and forced to develop their own community. But the persection doesn't stop there...

'Beggars in Spain' has so many things going for it that so many science fiction novels lack. First (and most important in my mind), Kress gives us believable characters that are interesting. You actually believe that these people could be real and would be fascinated to meet them. Leisha is a character I will remember for a long, long time. Next, Kress does something that I wish more science fiction writers would (or could) do: She explains how the science in her story works in a way that a non-scientist can understand it! (Imagine that!) Let me say for the record that I have an extremely weak science background, but thanks to the author's talent, I felt that I understood the basis for all the science that was included in the story. In short, I wasn't intimidated at all.

The characters and the understandable science are important, but I was really knocked out by the multitude of questions that are raised by 'Beggars in Spain.' The book admirably addresses such questions as genetic engineering (How far should science go?), aging, class distinction, euthanasia, community rights,... Kress poses some very difficult questions without backing down from them one bit. I appreciate the honesty and courage that I'm sure it took to write this book. It is tremendous. This is not a novel just for science fiction fans. For anyone who appreciates good writing and an intelligent story that will stick with you long after you turn the last page, 'Beggars in Spain' will not disappoint.

I like the way this book faces squarely a very real possibility -- that thanks to genetic technology, the next time we get paranoid over a kind of person, it could be a kind of person that really is better than we are. Kress avoids easy answers, yet writes a satisfying novel that's only occasionally preachy (and, which is very rare, becomes LESS preachy rather than more as it approaches the end!).

I think the way I read Beggars in Spain is best -- I read to the end of what was clearly the part of the book that was the novella that won the Hugo and Nebula, then put the book down for a week and read another one, then picked Beggars back up. The novella is the best part, and if the book had ended there, it would have been a better story. However, picking up after a while and reading the rest as though it were an inferior sequel, I was able to appreciate the novella and still enjoy the rest of the book for what it offered without judging it too harshly.

Reading the reviews it seems as though this is a book full of references and echos. The Ayn Rand echos are noted, as are the Ender Wiggins. I will add one more. I was struck that this was a more mature version of Anne McCaffrey's To Ride Pegasus.

I thought it was clever how the hatred for the super-talented sleepless is first seen in the fact that their competition is seen as unfair. I like very much the way that Kress developed the question of whether people who can contribute to such a high degree are obliged to help the "beggars", the sleepers who can never be as productive to the society. I even like the way that she turns the question of being a beggar on its head later with the super-sleepless (although I can imagine that people who were following along with the political thread were a little disappointed at the easy way in which art becomes the redemptive factor.)

Smart, very readable, and makes me want to read the next book in the series.

In my opinion, Nancy Kress ranks among the best visionaries of the future, as original and philosophical as John Varley, without the outrageousness. She obviously has an excellent grasp of socio-political history and trends, which she uses to build a convincing and complete future society.

The book starts in the near future, 2008. Genetically modifying children is commonplace, and for rich entrepreneur Roger Camden, his daughter will get the best of what's available - including a new, experimental genemod for Sleeplessness. Leisha Camden, like the 19 others before her and the thousands after, is extraordinarily intelligent, cheerful, talented, and for all intents and purposes, immortal. Her unmodified twin sister, Alice, is a Sleeper, and the rift between them mirrors society's distrust, envy, and eventual hatred of the Sleepless.

To escape this hatred, another Sleepless, Jennifer Sharifi, creates Sanctuary, an orbital community of Sleepless. Separate from Earth, but still tied to it, Jennifer's obsession with Sleepless superiority and their liberation from the Sleeper "beggars" goads her into progressively more radical actions. Only Leisha resists her, remaining on Earth with her mixed Sleeper and Sleepless family.

Sprinkled with the perfect mix of science, history, economics, and politics, with an original and thought-provoking storyline.

In total, "Beggars in Spain" is that kind of intellectual science fiction that you must consume slowly, if you don't want to choke. This is not a "rip-roaring good yarn;" it's a thoughtful, complex exploration of some essential questions of human nature and society--specifically, the de facto entitlement of the favorably born; the envy of those who aren't. Who would imagine that such a deep examination would arise from a little girl's resentment of her own exorbitant need for sleep?

The central premise of the novel involves the genetic manipulation of our offspring by a humanity obsessed with (and innately frightened by) perfection. Humans engineered without the need for sleep have twice the time to study and learn, to work and achieve. (It helps that their genetic alterations seems to preclude the "obsession with Tetris" gene that has dogged my own productivity. I'm not sure an additional 8 hours a day would stand me in such good stead.) As these Sleepless age, their differences isolate them physically and philosophically from their society--and sometimes from each other.

This book was given to me by a friend after a discussion about the moral of the children's story "Rainbow Fish". He thought that tale supplemented this--almost a primer of how the have-nots pressure the haves into watering their gifts down. I think he has a point. But that doesn't make this book some philosophical moral tale. There are some conclusions offered here, but for the most part this is a book of questions. Pride and prejudice? Thoroughly explored. The impact of giftedness on economic exchange? Examined. The psychological impacts of segregation and intermingling? Check. Now draw your own conclusions.

The novella that opens the book is a complete story, and it is probably the easier read. I found it a page-turner; the pace and the character development kept me engrossed. The continuation felt more distant, more intellectually engaging than emotional, but it still contributes significantly to the development of the ideas in the book. In some ways, it reminds me of Orson Scott Card's "Ender Saga." In the first book of that series, when Ender is young, the story is close and immediate. As Ender and the story progress, the awareness of character and reader expands to take in more. I'm not sure "Beggars in Spain" would have been successful if it had not also started with that narrower view. While the ideas throughout are sound, that first, immediate impression can be useful in propelling readers through some of the denser parts.

In brief, it's sometimes effortless reading, sometimes not--but the cumulative impact makes it worth the effort of chewing thoroughly, even when it sticks to the teeth.

Good character development. Unfortunately as soon as the author tries to go beyond individual people into economics, cognitive science, sociology, or god forbid hard-science she starts looking silly. Infinite free energy for everything from watches to cities - no problem. Immortal super-intelligent humans, there you have them - and in the process somehow everyone else became stupid and ambition-free. Take pseudo-physics and pseudo-biology add lots of pseudo-economics, pseudo-sociology, and some pseudo-cognitive-science and you end up with a cartoon world which is inhabited by well painted three dimensional characters. Granted this is different from the typical sci-fi where you have a three dimensional world inhabited by cartoon characters, but just because the flaws are different doesn't mean this book is great. Too many things in feel contrived, from a heroine on the run buying a car for cash from a passer by, to the infinite energy, to the flip-one-gene-make superman, to the use of science-as-magic whenever a plot corner needs to be turned. That's why I call this a fantasy novel, science is used as magic, poof - there is a magic dragon, no exploring of the where how and why. No science in this fiction.

I liked the book very much, however I struggle with trying to determine it's impact. It seems to be between the crests of good and fantastic and couldn't quite make the leap across. This book is bursting with interesting ideas and themes that carry it through a good, but flawed presentation. This is a near future SF book and this future was not so far fetched as to be inconceivable.

Shades of Ayn Rand in this book are so prevalent that it was hard to not see many of the Fountainhead character hybrids in this novel. Jennifer Sharifi was Ellsworth Tooey. Sharifi was appreciative of superiority as long as she could control it. She led the "sleepless" like they were in fact mediocre that had to be controlled through manipulation. Leisha Camden was Howard Roarke, less violent but none-the-less steadfastly held to her principles regardless of the personal cost because being right was far more important than being accepted. The characters had a clash of ideas and in the end the protagonist prevails because of her uncompromising belief in herself.

Also in evidence is the preaching of ideas. This had more to do with poorly drawn characters who are critical to the story. In particular, Jennifer Sharifi or any character whose views were opposed to Leisha Camden, were under-characterized. We never saw the struggle the Jennifer Sharifi endured that caused her to come to her views (other than the murder of Tony). In the last 50 pages we get a paragraph about some implied struggles but no real description of her upbringing. We are simply told what she is thinking. In contrast Alice, a minor character with a major role in the development of Leisha, is well drawn. We aren't told what she is thinking, we given enough information to understand her frame of reference.

Two interesting observations about this novel: First is the characterization of the antagonist (what little there was). In the post 9/11 world, it is interesting to note that even back in the early 90's (when this book was written), there was a fear of the Muslim way of life. There is only one character that is so rigid in her thinking that she could not entertain any ideas other than her own, and was so convinced of her own righteousness. This dogmatic approach seemed tied directly to her faith. There is an implied evilness to it. Proof that the western view of Muslims was evident long before September 11th. Secondly, in this current economy, it is interesting that the corporate types were also inherently evil. Kevin Baker would do anything to keep the profits rolling including signing an oath he did not believe in. He was considered a good guy compared to the Calvin Hawke of the We Sleep movement who murdered for his cause. Once again we see themes of our current events, were observed up to 10 years earlier. It does make one wonder if things ever really change.

There is a lot more to say about this book but the review is already long enough. It definitely introduced many fine ideas that stuck with me long after I read the last page.

In the not-so-distant future, it becomes possible to genetically engineer children. This is the story of one such child built to the specifications of her wealthy industrialist father, Leisha Camden, who is beautiful, blonde, intelligent, and who does not need to sleep. The story follows Leisha's growing up in an America that gradually grows to hate and resent Leisha and her peers. Leisha is one of the most three-dimensional characters I have ever read, and I agonized with her over the moral decisions she was forced to make. Calls into question everyone's rights as citizens and human beings. Was there ever a good decision made by committee? Is any man good enough to govern another without their consent? Like Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand, but without the mind-numbing twenty-page speeches. Every time I read this novel, I get something different from it. A perennial favorite, I cannot recommend it enough if you like a good moral dilemma.

The first half of "Beggars in Spain" is wonderful, well-written, well-plotted. I loved it. The second half... Ugh. Boring, predictable, and just plain pointless. I HIGHLY recommend the first half, but only read the second half if you're desperate to find out what happens to the characters (I thought the first half wrapped things up well enough.)

Here's that overused phrase again, brilliantly plotted. BEGGARS in SPAIN is a transcendental novel. Her ideas circle your cortex and bring you back to where you started, a little smarter. Perhaps, like the SuperSleepless in the story you begin to think in strings instead of circles.

I thought of BRAVE NEW WORLD REVISTED as a title. Kress takes the utopian thinking of the new class of Sleepless and brings it back to earth. Everyone knows that conflict is at the heart of all drama. Kress gives you a second helping of conflict with this nail biter of a story. Conflict so tense it reminds you of the Cuban Missile Crisis. There is a point near the end where both sides in this battle could go up in mutual annihilation.

Her treatment or use of lucid dreaming is beyond the pale. That the mentally defunct megalomaniac, Drew, could contribute a whole new dimension of thought to the world, and thereby, save the world is transcendental in scope. Hidden in the story is a philosophy that reminds one of Ayne Rand's ATLAS SHRUGGED. But here Kress puts the brakes on much of the B.S. Rand peddled. Kress shows how fallacious the slogan, "only the productive are fully human." You'll come away agreeing that the status of being human can only be achieved with great effort. Read it!