The Family Tree

4.4 out of 5 stars (419)
4.0 on Goodreads
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Book details

  1. Print length
    496 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Harper Voyager
  4. Publication date
    May 1, 1998
  5. Dimensions
    4 x 1.25 x 6.5 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    0380791978
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0380791972
  8. See all details
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Book overview

THE ONCE FERTILE EARTH OF DORA HENRY'S CHILDHOOD HAS BEEN UNDERVALUED AND OVERDEVELOPED. NOW NATURE, APPARENTLY, HAS DECIDED TO FIGHT BACK.

Police officer Dora Henry is investigating the bizarre murders of three geneticists. Meanwhile, strange things are happening everywhere she turns. Weeds are becoming trees; trees are becoming forests. Overnight, a city is being transformed into a wild and verdant place.

And, strangest of all, Dora can somehow communicate with the rampaging flora.

A potential civilization-ending catastrophe is in the making. The bearer Dora gets to a murderer--and to the truth--the more seemingly disparate events begin to entwine. And the answers she seeks today to the salvation of humankind may lie in afar distant future. . .one which is suddenly much closer than anyone imagines.

An exhilarating and enchanting novel that deftly combines fantastic invention with insight and a social conscience, from one of the most lyrical and important voices in contemporary speculative fiction.

THE ONCE FERTILE EARTH OF DORA HENRYS CHILDHOOD HAS BEEN UNDERVALUED AND OVERDEVELOPED. NOW NATURE, APPARENTLY, HAS DECIDED TO FIGHT BACK.

Police officer Dora Henry is investigating the bizarre murders of three geneticists. Meanwhile, strange things are happening everywhere she turns. Weeds are becoming trees; trees are becoming forests. Overnight, a city is being transformed into a wild and verdant place.

And, strangest of all, Dora can somehow communicate with the rampaging flora.

A potential civilization-ending catastrophe is in the making. The bearer Dora gets to a murderer--and to the truth--the more seemingly disparate events begin to entwine. And the answers she seeks today to the salvation of humankind may lie in afar distant future. . .one which is suddenly much closer than anyone imagines.

An exhilarating and enchanting novel that deftly combines fantastic invention with insight and a social conscience, from one of the most lyrical and important voices in contemporary speculative fiction.

Review

"I discovered magic in the pages of this ingenious,fascinating tale." -- -- Garry Kilworth, author of Angel

"[Tepper] takes the mental risks that are the lifebloodof science fiction and all imaginative narrative. -- -- Ursula K. Le Guin, Los Angeles Times

From the Back Cover

THE ONCE FERTILE EARTH OF DORA HENRY'S CHILDHOOD HAS BEEN UNDERVALUED AND OVERDEVELOPED. NOW NATURE, APPARENTLY, HAS DECIDED TO FIGHT BACK.

Police officer Dora Henry is investigating the bizarre murders of three geneticists. Meanwhile, strange things are happening everywhere she turns. Weeds are becoming trees; trees are becoming forests. Overnight, a city is being transformed into a wild and verdant place.

And, strangest of all, Dora can somehow communicate with the rampaging flora.

A potential civilization-ending catastrophe is in the making. The bearer Dora gets to a murderer--and to the truth--the more seemingly disparate events begin to entwine. And the answers she seeks today to the salvation of humankind may lie in afar distant future. . .one which is suddenly much closer than anyone imagines.

An exhilarating and enchanting novel that deftly combines fantastic invention with insight and a social conscience, from one of the most lyrical and important voices in contemporary speculative fiction.

THE ONCE FERTILE EARTH OF DORA HENRYS CHILDHOOD HAS BEEN UNDERVALUED AND OVERDEVELOPED. NOW NATURE, APPARENTLY, HAS DECIDED TO FIGHT BACK.

Police officer Dora Henry is investigating the bizarre murders of three geneticists. Meanwhile, strange things are happening everywhere she turns. Weeds are becoming trees; trees are becoming forests. Overnight, a city is being transformed into a wild and verdant place.

And, strangest of all, Dora can somehow communicate with the rampaging flora.

A potential civilization-ending catastrophe is in the making. The bearer Dora gets to a murderer--and to the truth--the more seemingly disparate events begin to entwine. And the answers she seeks today to the salvation of humankind may lie in afar distant future. . .one which is suddenly much closer than anyone imagines.

An exhilarating and enchanting novel that deftly combines fantastic invention with insight and a social conscience, from one of the most lyrical and important voices in contemporary speculative fiction.

About the Author

Sheri S. Tepper is the author of more than thirty resoundingly acclaimed novels, including The Waters Rising, The Margarets, The Companions, The Visitor, The Fresco, Singer from the Sea, Six Moon Dance, The Family Tree, Gibbon's Decline and Fall, Shadow's End, A Plague of Angels, Sideshow, and Beauty; numerous novellas; stories; poems; and essays. She lives in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

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Sheri S. Tepper
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4 stars and above

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Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
419 global ratings

Customers say

Customers find the story lovely, compelling, and interesting. They also find the world-building interesting and inventive. Readers describe the book as enjoyable, fun, and engaging. They praise the writing style as intelligent, splendid, and gifted. They appreciate the amazing characters.

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Story qualityThought provokingEnjoymentWriting styleCharacter developmentCreativity
Story qualityThought provokingEnjoymentWriting styleCharacter developmentCreativity
30Customers mention
26Positive
4Negative

Customers find the story lovely, compelling, and interesting. They appreciate the clever plot twists and two storylines. Readers also mention the book is wonderfully strange and full of mysterious twists. Overall, they describe the book as an enjoyable and readable story.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

"...The story starts fairly normally...for a dual timeline, multiple plot cross between sci-fi, fantasy and normal fiction...." Read more

"...Such a great book - read it!" Read more

"...I think her best book is THE FRESCO, but this one is enjoyable, too" Read more

"Like the reveal of the timeliness and very full of mysterious twists and turns. A throughly e enjoyable read. Will read author again" Read more

16Customers mention
16Positive
0Negative

Customers find the book thought-provoking, interesting, and inventive. They appreciate the ability to inject philosophical and moral perspective. Readers also mention the book is lighthearted about serious subjects with a nice twist. They mention the mystical themes cover a great expanse of emotions and events.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

"Love this! Amazing characters and world building! Nothing is exactly as it seems with surprises around every corner! Love, love, love!" Read more

"...This one is a fun and ultimately enjoyable addition to that body of work." Read more

"...The world building and the conceptual development are exceptional. The building of relationships is very well done also" Read more

"...They cover such a great expanse of emotions and events. I love books that really take me somewhere and all of her books do. This one is no exception...." Read more

11Customers mention
9Positive
2Negative

Customers find the book enjoyable, fun, and twisty. They appreciate the great premise and intelligent writing. Readers also mention they find themselves delighted at every turn.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

"...This one is a fun and ultimately enjoyable addition to that body of work." Read more

"...Such fun!!" Read more

"...Doesn’t bear thinking about too much. But it was fun. And isn’t that what we were all looking for when we read at least my age" Read more

"...her ability to inject philosophical and moral perspective within enjoyable and readable story-telling!! Read this if you don't ever read another!!!" Read more

9Customers mention
9Positive
0Negative

Customers find the writing style intelligent, splendid, and gifted. They say the author chooses every word carefully and weaves the story beautifully.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

"...you something to think about, and the author is an accomplished writer in science fiction...." Read more

"...Tepper chooses every word carefully and weaves this story beautifully...." Read more

"Sheri Tepper was such a creative and gifted writer of books that I hate to classify as "sci-fi/fantasy" -- they are so much more than the..." Read more

"...A splendid writer of ingenious plotting and heightened imagination. I also like her deeply political and ethical comments hidden in the text...." Read more

6Customers mention
6Positive
0Negative

Customers find the characters amazing.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

"Love this! Amazing characters and world building! Nothing is exactly as it seems with surprises around every corner! Love, love, love!" Read more

"The Family Tree has interesting characters and two storylines. There seems to be no connection between the two stories until your mind gets blown...." Read more

"The characters are believable individuals, the story is unique, and Tepper's ideas about language and belonging and finding balance with the natural..." Read more

"...Great characters. Full of lessons for our time." Read more

4Customers mention
4Positive
0Negative

Customers find the book outstandingly creative, with a bit of whimsy and remarkable surprises. They also say it's original.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

"Sheri Tepper was such a creative and gifted writer of books that I hate to classify as "sci-fi/fantasy" -- they are so much more than the..." Read more

"...A bit of whimsy and a few remarkable suprises which I dare not divulge...." Read more

"Thoroughly original..." Read more

"Outstandingly creative. Ms Tepper rocks..." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

Heidi Skinner
5.0 out of 5 starsVerified Purchase
Awesome read!
Reviewed in the United States on May 28, 2024
Love this! Amazing characters and world building! Nothing is exactly as it seems with surprises around every corner! Love, love, love!
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A Christy
4.0 out of 5 starsVerified Purchase
The Twistmistress Does it Again!
Reviewed in the United States on September 21, 2009
Any fan of Sheri Tepper can attest to her amazing ability in constructing a twist worthy of lost sleep. In Family Tree, I was not at all disappointed. It would be criminal to spoil that twist for anyone else, so my review will carefully avoid too much in the way of... See more
Any fan of Sheri Tepper can attest to her amazing ability in constructing a twist worthy of lost sleep. In Family Tree, I was not at all disappointed. It would be criminal to spoil that twist for anyone else, so my review will carefully avoid too much in the way of spoilers.

The story starts fairly normally...for a dual timeline, multiple plot cross between sci-fi, fantasy and normal fiction.

Dora, one of two main characters, has a bad but dull marriage and a great career in law enforcement. While investigating a murder or three, the world turns upside down all because of a vine and her husband, who has no love of vines out of place.

In another time, our second main, Opal-Ears, is a servant in a culture much like that of the old middle east and she has a new job. She starts out on an adventure through many lands, and eventually time, to solve a puzzle and stop "The End" of things.

These two threads meet up in the most unexpected way and provide a gasping, "No Way!", to most who read it. Unfortunately, I'm a terrible twist see'er and may not have seen the details, but had winkled out the basic twist already. I sure wish I hadn't because even just the details of the twist blew me away.

Others have expressed some disappointment in the book that I'd like to address. First, that there is a little bit too much political undercurrent in the ecological arena. I understand completely, but I didn't really find it so. My review is that there is some of that there, but it is certainly far less than something like "The Day After Tomorrow" or any other popular book or movie. If you are specifically sensitive in a negative way to the thought of environmentalism in any way, then it might be too much to overlook. If you're neutral or for, it should just add to the story.

Second, that the story doesn't have as many complex characters or detail. My view is that the twist requires certain physical parameters to be left out and that can be a lack for people who build the character pictures in their head and need the physical attributes to do it. I built entirely complete portraits of the characters, and had them smashed, of course, but loved the process. I also think it has to do with length. If there is one complaint heard about Grass, her most detailed one yet aside from the Awakeners set, it is of length. Family Tree is still long, but would have been encyclopedic had the same level of detail been added.

Sheri Tepper has never been afraid of twining issues around a good story and she does it better than any other author currently writing in my view. This one is a fun and ultimately enjoyable addition to that body of work.
11 people found this helpful
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Linny86
5.0 out of 5 starsVerified Purchase
Amazing
Reviewed in the United States on May 7, 2024
At first the dual natures of the story confused me and I nearly gave up once or twice because I couldn't reconcile them, but when the two parts came together, oh my! Such a great book - read it!
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Robet Bloom
5.0 out of 5 starsVerified Purchase
Another winner from Sherri Tapper
Reviewed in the United States on July 15, 2024
This is the second book that I have read from this author and I will track down the rest
The world building and the conceptual development are exceptional. The building of relationships is very well done also
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Oma Pepper
5.0 out of 5 starsVerified Purchase
Another fascinating piece
Reviewed in the United States on June 5, 2024
From Sheri Tepper, who somehow manages to create life for a person with words and with respect for Nature.
Thank you
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Reading Teacher Az
4.0 out of 5 starsVerified Purchase
Could This Happen if We Don't Change/
Reviewed in the United States on November 25, 2013
Hard to imagine such a radical change in evolution in such a short time. The plot certainly gives you something to think about, and the author is an accomplished writer in science fiction. I think her best book is THE FRESCO, but this one is enjoyable, too
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nachrly
3.0 out of 5 starsVerified Purchase
Strained and silly plot
Reviewed in the United States on May 14, 2018
The first few episodes were entertaining enough to keep me reading. Even so, they were also annoying. Writing quality is spotty--careless awkwarnesses in language use, and throughout, a lot of disconnects. It wasn't from moving back and forth between two timelines, it... See more
The first few episodes were entertaining enough to keep me reading. Even so, they were also annoying. Writing quality is spotty--careless awkwarnesses in language use, and throughout, a lot of disconnects. It wasn't from moving back and forth between two timelines, it was simple lack of consistent vision of the events and chracters, Dora the cop, especially.
And the main plot twist is just plain silly. It takes a lot more than cranial space for a few more brain cells to enable animals to carry out all human functions over a thousand years or two or three...opposable thumbs being just one problem. A fairy tale talking animal is credible. Not this. And Tepper shouldn't have even tried to borrow the satirical effect of the Yahoos and Houyhnhnms that Swift made such biting use of. It's just thin and imitative.
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Dog zgirl
5.0 out of 5 starsVerified Purchase
Interesting story
Reviewed in the United States on May 15, 2024
Like the reveal of the timeliness and very full of mysterious twists and turns. A throughly e enjoyable read. Will read author again
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Top reviews from other countries

kanikka
5.0 out of 5 starsVerified Purchase
Impressed
Reviewed in Canada on May 6, 2024
Challenging point of view, infinitely relevant, disturbing. Well written, humorous, and serious all at the same time.
Challenging point of view, infinitely relevant, disturbing. Well written, humorous, and serious all at the same time.

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Benjamin Frankly
5.0 out of 5 starsVerified Purchase
In a league of her own
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 20, 2016
I'm not a fan of fantasy, but Sheri S Tepper is in a league of her own when it comes to blending Fantasy and SF. This is a deeply humane and wise novel which deals with some the big challenges facing humanity today. It is a witty, compassionate and thrilling eco-fable which...See more
I'm not a fan of fantasy, but Sheri S Tepper is in a league of her own when it comes to blending Fantasy and SF. This is a deeply humane and wise novel which deals with some the big challenges facing humanity today. It is a witty, compassionate and thrilling eco-fable which is totally unputdownable. I have read quite a few of Tepper's novels, and this is far and away the best so far. She is right up there along with Le Guin, Atwood, and Lessing. I'm now going to read everything else she has written, then reread them all.......
I'm not a fan of fantasy, but Sheri S Tepper is in a league of her own when it comes to blending Fantasy and SF. This is a deeply humane and wise novel which deals with some the big challenges facing humanity today. It is a witty, compassionate and thrilling eco-fable which is totally unputdownable. I have read quite a few of Tepper's novels, and this is far and away the best so far. She is right up there along with Le Guin, Atwood, and Lessing. I'm now going to read everything else she has written, then reread them all.......

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PtiteLau
5.0 out of 5 starsVerified Purchase
Livre de chevet
Reviewed in France on October 12, 2011
C'est un de ces livres qu'on relit avec plaisir et qu'on offre. L'histoire étrange d'une jeune fille dans un monde où la nature prend sa revanche, où elle tombe sur des animaux qui parlent et qui eux viennent d'ailleurs. Une parabole de notre relation trop peu harmonieuse...See more
C'est un de ces livres qu'on relit avec plaisir et qu'on offre. L'histoire étrange d'une jeune fille dans un monde où la nature prend sa revanche, où elle tombe sur des animaux qui parlent et qui eux viennent d'ailleurs. Une parabole de notre relation trop peu harmonieuse avec la terre mère.
C'est un de ces livres qu'on relit avec plaisir et qu'on offre. L'histoire étrange d'une jeune fille dans un monde où la nature prend sa revanche, où elle tombe sur des animaux qui parlent et qui eux viennent d'ailleurs. Une parabole de notre relation trop peu harmonieuse avec la terre mère.

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Timothy Mason
4.0 out of 5 starsVerified Purchase
A good read
Reviewed in France on September 18, 2017
A book that should appeal to both lovers of genre and ordinary readers looking for a good novel. Tepper's prose flows nicely, her characters are well traced out - although some of them don't have much to do - and the plotting is neat and offers several surprises. From time...See more
A book that should appeal to both lovers of genre and ordinary readers looking for a good novel. Tepper's prose flows nicely, her characters are well traced out - although some of them don't have much to do - and the plotting is neat and offers several surprises. From time to time a rather preachy note appears, but is never allowed to get in the way of the tale, or hi-jack the characters. It avoids the verbal padding that has become the hallmark of the Sci-Fi fantasy novel in recent times.
A book that should appeal to both lovers of genre and ordinary readers looking for a good novel. Tepper's prose flows nicely, her characters are well traced out - although some of them don't have much to do - and the plotting is neat and offers several surprises. From time to time a rather preachy note appears, but is never allowed to get in the way of the tale, or hi-jack the characters. It avoids the verbal padding that has become the hallmark of the Sci-Fi fantasy novel in recent times.

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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 starsVerified Purchase
I love all Sheri S
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 1, 2017
As usual, a really convoluted plot which required my full concentration, but I couldn't put it down. I love all Sheri S. Tepper's books. Really thought-provoking and different.
As usual, a really convoluted plot which required my full concentration, but I couldn't put it down. I love all Sheri S. Tepper's books. Really thought-provoking and different.

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