| Classic superior alien civilization contact with earth plot, but with a delightful new twist. Both "good" and "bad" aliens are involved. The good aliens contact an ordinary citizen, an Hispanic woman who works in a bookstore, has an alcoholic and abusive husband, 2 college age children, and designate her to be their sole contact with the human race. Good aliens want to help earth become more "neighborly" to allow them to join confederation of races. Bad aliens want to get an agreement allowing them to "prey" on humans, quite literally hunt and eat them. Right-wing politicians and CIA-types plot against the protagonists and good aliens, even allying with the bad aliens.
The main character, the alien's selected representative, presented in a very compelling sympathetic manner. You identify with her and her problems, and are incensed by her husband and son's attitudes and behavior from the beginning. The book has a definite liberal political overtone, with severe digs against such current events as the anti-women government in Afghanistan, the violence in Israel and Palestine, Jerusalem especially, and against "pro-life" elements in this country. For example, a number of leading pro-life males in the US (such as TV evangelists, a US senator, etc.) are impregnated with alien children, and told that their anti-abortion stance will naturally prevent them from harming the alien eggs. These men will be required to gestate the aliens for 13 months, during which time they will have to behave in a manner similar to pregnant women, taking leaves of absence, taking care of their diets, etc. | ||
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Plot & Themes Tone of book - FANTASY or SCIENCE FICTION? - science fiction story Political power play Yes Political plotlets - factions fight within govt for control - If an invasion, from Earth/human POV: - - subtle invasion (mind control, lookalikes) War or Invasion Yes Lifeform altered? Yes Kind of alteration: Is this an adult or child's book? - Adult or Young Adult Book Main Character Identity: - Female Profession/status: Age: - 40's-50's Main Adversary Identity: - none Setting Earth setting: - 20th century A substantial portion of this book takes place on a non-Earth planetary body: - inhabited by friendly aliens Takes place on Earth? Yes Planet outside solar system? Yes Writing Style Accounts of torture and death? - explicit references to deaths scientific jargon? (SF only) - some scientific explanation Sex in book? Yes What kind of sex: - How much dialogue? - significantly more dialog than descript |
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