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Publication Date: 2000 (paperback) Publisher: Tor 224 pages Summary A genetically engineered woman explores the mysteries of a lush alien world that's deadly to human life. In a Nutshell A disappointment coming from Robert Charles Wilson, Bios nevertheless offers an interesting setting. Review I really wanted to like Bios. It's from my favorite SF author, after all: Robert Charles Wilson, the author of The Chronoliths, Darwinia and Spin. If this novel had been produced by an unknown author, I might have been more lenient; but unfortunately, as a Wilson novel, it lacks many of the characteristics that make Wilson's work great. Wilson has made his mark in contemporary SF with his blend of mind-boggling SF concepts, and intimate character story arcs. Bios does present some interesting concepts, but the novel is sorely lacking in the characterization department. There is something to be said for the main character, Zoe Fisher: she has an interesting background, but at the same time, there is no conflict at the core of her being. But be that as it may, the novel spends a lot of time giving us the point of views of other characters, most of which are bland and unsympathetic, and ultimately offer no insight nor closure. Fortunately, the core concept of the novel - that of a planetary "hot zone" deeply hostile to human life, and of the men exploring it - is a good one. There's even a nice twist in there that makes the novel memorable, but it comes very late in the novel - at a mere 224 pages, it felt very strange to see the story building momentum only past the halfway mark. As a matter of fact, the resolution of the story felt abrupt, as if the novel had ended 150 pages too soon. I don't mean to say Bios is a bad novel; it's just not excellent, and coming from Wilson, that's a shock. It plays out as a novella with an intriguing core concept and weak characters; it's over fast, and some of it is redeemable, but unfortunately, it fails to realize the immense potential of its premise. If you've never picked up a book by Robert Charles Wilson before, don't pick this one: go for The Chronoliths or Spin, both absolutely brilliant books. As it is, I can only recommend Bios to the Wilson completists, and even then with the caveat that this is the weakest I've read of him to date. |
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