On Tue, 7 Oct 2025 12:54:50 -0000 (UTC),
jdnicoll@panix.com (James
Nicoll) wrote:
Forty Thousand in Gehenna by C J Cherryh
Union technocrats had a plan for Gehenna, a plan that failed to
take into account local conditions.
https://jamesdavisnicoll.com/review/best-laid-plan
You omitted the bit where there was special "tape" available to allow
the azi to produce new humans. Depending on when what was published,
this may have been the first indication that the azi were, in fact,
fully human. In /Cyteen/ we learn that this is the case, and the only difference is how they are raised.
And my memory may be playing tricks, but when the Alliance shows up,
are not his children attending their father as he dies? Children who
are fully integrated with the calibans?
So that it's really only two generations or so for the main action?
The last bit in the book may, indeed, be some time in the future.
BTW, I found it to be a very good read, with twists, turns, and
surprises. Next time I need a break from one or the other of my
Kindles, I might re-read it. Again.
--
"Here lies the Tuscan poet Aretino,
Who evil spoke of everyone but God,
Giving as his excuse, 'I never knew him.'"
--- PyGate Linux v1.0
* Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)