Transcendent [Paperback]

Transcendent is Baxter at the top of his form. This is science fiction that confronts the big questions without hesitation. Interestingly, what we have in Transcendent is a more morally-ambiguous version of Orson Card's The Worthing Chronicle; frankly, the stories are astonishingly similiar. To be sure, Mr. Baxter's style bears little resemblance to Mr. Card's more introspective fiction; however, the differences are intriguing and underscore the broad scope of the ideas presented by the narratives. Both books treat the theme of humanity's ultimate destiny by taking the assumption that humanity will someday be forced to confront the implications of unlimited power over space, matter and time.

Can pain and suffering be banished from the world? What is a perfect society? What makes us human? This book rounds out a trilogy that explores these themes in depth. Baxter is fascinated with the principle of emergence and it shows in his fiction--the concept of the hive mind or "coalescence" is also a prominent theme in this work as are the ideas of how humanity might confront victory over aging and disease, the ability to read the minds of others, or whether intelligence is necessary to a meaningful existence. This book touches on all these issues.

Whether it is merely a plot device or reflective of the author's opinions, the "die back" and global warming themes are as prevalent in Baxter's writings as the energy crisis and population explosion themes were in early 70s science fiction. In Transcendent the pending ecological collapse provides a focus on the theme that humans are at least as expert at getting themselves into trouble as they are in getting out of trouble. One wonders, however, whether Mr. Baxter could have dreamed up something more serious than what are, essentially, tundra farts.

Though I was more satisfied with Mr. Card's resolution of the issue of unlimited power, I must admit that Transcendent made me think harder about the questions presented. Mr. Baxter seems awfully reticent to admit that he is treading upon religious ground, exploring the nature of God--however God may be defined. Though Baxter's God (the combination of post-human intelligences known as the "Transcendence") can't seem to reconcile human suffering with human perfection, perhaps the conclusion of this book is meant to show that regardless of all the philosophical arguments to be made, humanity will figure things out in the end even if the forms are not strictly obeyed.

Stephen Baxter remains a "must purchase" author--his fiction forces one to confront deeply held values and to ponder the essence of what life is about. Indeed, I have high praise for an author who does not hesitate to threaten or destroy the entire planet in order to tell a story--and then provides a story that is ultimately uplifting and life-affirming.

Of the three books in the Destiny's Children series, this has turned out to be my favorite. Stephen Baxter has continuously amazed me with his ability to tie complex physics, theories of evolution, and far flug timelines, into a tight and readable story, but this time he has perhaps done more. This is by far his most "human" story. It clings tightly to the suffering of its main character Michael Poole, and digs more deeply than any of his other books into philosophy and the heart of the human condition. Nonetheless it is packed full of Baxter's deep ideas in physics and technology.

A very engaging and rewarding book to read for any SciFi fan, and a must for any Baxter fan. He may yet produce his own "Stranger in a Strange Land."

Earth in the year 2027 is a different place to be due to the climatic changes; the poles melted, the oceans rose and coastal flooding changes the geography of the planet. The planet seems to be in its death throes with levels of carbon dioxide and methane rising but scientist Michael Poole has devised a way to keep the gases that want to escape trapped way below the earth. While he and his fellow scientists are working on the problem, his wife Morag dead for seventeen year, keeps appearing to him. He wants to prove she is real and not a ghost.

Fifty thousands years in the future Alia who lives on a space station Witnesses Michael (learning facets of his life from birth to death). Humanity is guarded by the Transcendence, superminds who are on the verge of singularity and are ready to take the next step in man's evolution. Yet something is holding them back from that; they want Alia to join them and hope they can find the redemption to move on. Alia, who learns what being in transcendence is like is not sure that is the road she wants to travel but to save humanity, she must allow the transcendence to bend space and time so that she can find answers that only Michael Poole can supply.

Told in alternating chapters from the point of view of Michael in the first person and Alia in the third readers get a close up look at humanity at two very different crossroads of its existence. This is a thought provoking exciting work of science fiction with visual description of radically different time frames that seem realistic to the audience. The finale to Destiny's Children trilogy is a very satisfying and enriching reading experience.

Harriet Klausner

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