David A. Harding
Friday, 16 Feb 2007
Glory Season by David Brin out of 5 stars
Glory Season by David Brin is an interesting novel about a static society. The protagonist is, as many science fiction (SF) protagonists are, a cast out in a world that, like many SF worlds, blends agrarianism and high technology in a culture that, like many SF cultures, is reminiscent of our own in exagerated form.
Dr. Brin creates a society, a people, and a culture I believe could've remained stable for 150 generations. The thought of a society where all men are second class citizens does not endear me, but is interesting to explore nonetheless. The idea of women being able to clone themselves, and the effect of natural cloning on a people's development, is original and startling. More than anything else of Dr. Brin's, this novel reminds me of something Larry Niven would write, but with better character development.
I did have problems getting into the novel. Dr. Brin withholds a lot of information—information printed on the back cover—from the protagonist. The startling reveal of facts essential to the plot is clichéd and only marginally exciting (I find it more a relief than anything else), but Dr. Brin does not use this plot device excessively.
The large part Conway's game of life played in the book is, alternately, interesting, boring, moving, confusing, and pointless. I find it very unbelievable that competitive playing of the game of life could ever, ever, ever become widespread—even among the genetically engineered. That the game is central to the male culture for a thousand or more years is stupid. That the protagonist is unusually adept in the game and is able to unlock a secret lair using her game of life skills is predictable.
I like the book's ending; it lacked any normal cliches and other annoyances, and had a powerful sadness for what was, and would be, lost.
ISBN: 0-553-07645-0 (Wikipedia Book Sources)