Orphan of Creation [Paperback]

Roger MacBride Allen (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 1, 1988

In the most unlikely of places -- a burial ground in Mississippi -- an anthropologist stumbles across a stunning secret that will put the very definition of humanity suddenly in doubt. Are the bones buried there the remains of humans, or apes -- or something else? The answer will turn her life, and the world, upsidedown.
"Allen's attention to detail is sterling...totally believable...well portrayed...dead accurate.... This book goes a long way toward doing for anthropology what Timescape did for high-energy particle physics: humanizing it, making its real workings accessible to a new audience. Anyone who likes good hard science in their fiction will have to go a long way to find a better-done book." --Locus
"...a novel that reminds us that moral and social evolution depends not only on our knowing where we are going, but remembering where we have been." --Christian Science Monitor
"Allen's writing technique is a well-balanced blend of dialogue, action, description and narrative-each in proper proportion to the other... a fine read ... word of mouth will bring acclaim that is more than deserved." --Otherrealms
"Orphan of Creation takes an interesting scientific premise and lets it loose upon real human beings revealing to the reader a higher level of understanding of the world. Orphan is science and fiction; in examining the human condition, it does what both ideally intend to do." --The New York Review of Science Fiction
"Mr.Allen has found an idea worthy of his talent. The book has that unmistakably correct feel of authenticity. A very readable as well as thoughtful story. Bravo to Mr. Allen for writing this risky book. Read it. Then pass it on to your mundane friends. With any luck, it will drive them crazy." --Lan's Lantern

--This text refers to the Kindle Edition edition.

Product Details

• Paperback
• Publisher: Baen (February 1, 1988)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0671653563
• ISBN-13: 978-0671653569
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.2 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,568,771 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent book, now back in print, February 21, 2002

By 

Robert J. Sawyer "Science Fiction writer" (Mississauga, ON, Canada) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Orphan of Creation (Paperback)

I finished reading this book a few days ago, and find myself constantly bringing it up in conversation with my wife and other people. It's extremely good: paleoanthropologically accurate, but also dead-on in its human psychology. More: it's one of those books that happens to be packaged as science fiction that could be read, and thoroughly enjoyed, by any thoughtful reader. Indeed, I used to say that no SF book would ever have a chance of being an Oprah's Book Club pick, but this one just might. Its soaring humanity, fascinating look at the concept of slavery (through the distorting lens of a group of African-American slaves having actually burried australopithecines who had been forced to work alongside them in the fields), and finely detailed (and completely believable) African-American female protagonist would make it a natural choice for Oprah. But it also should satisfy anyone who IS a science-fiction reader. It certainly satisfied this lifelong fan. I've written my own paleoanthropologically themed SF (HOMINIDS, from Tor Books), and deliberately waited until I'd finished before I started Allen's book, so as not to be influenced by it. Now that I have read it, it impressed the heck out of me. Five stars.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A keeper, April 13, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Orphan of Creation (Paperback)

The year this book came out, my friends passed it around until the copies we had were tattered. We all thought Allen deserved to win the Campbell award for best new writer. I still have a "circulation" copy for others to read because it's so good.

The basic story line takes you from Africa to the Smithsonian Institue in Washington, DC, then to a startling discovery in the Southern States (remains of prehistoric man are found that only date back to the 1800's). The main character is a black woman, who's point of view is so convincing, I initially thought Allen was a pseudonym for a woman. She's not only dealing with an anthropological mystery, but also with everyday life and marital problems.

The anthropology and basic science presented in the story helps move the plot along, rather than interfering. In fact, by the end of the book, I found myself believing the events depicted really could happen!

5.0 out of 5 stars What does it mean to be "human"?, January 22, 2008

By 

Angela Boyter (Ellicott City, MD USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Orphan of Creation (Paperback)

This book is a wonderful example of SF at its best. It is a fascinating story in its own right with a very interesting and well-conceived protagonist but it also gives insight into an important philosophical question: just what does it mean to be "human"?
Previous reviewer Rob Sawyer (one of the favorite SF writers and one of the VERY few I buy in hardback!) has commented on this being a book with interesting psychological interactions (a quality I find very well represented in his own books). The most prominent of these is the protagonist's struggle as an African-American with the lack of acceptance of the Neandertals in Africa. However, men to whom I have recommended this book have resonated especially to the protagonist's relationship with her husband, which is tested in an extraordinary way in the course of this book.
This is a book I have recommended highly to non-science-fiction readers with excellent response. For SF fans, this is a great way to convince your friends that SF is more than space ships and invading aliens!