Usurpation
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4.1 • 9 Ratings
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- $14.99
Publisher Description
After her rollicking standalone Dual Memory, Sue Burke returns to her Semiosis series and the world of Pax in Usurpation, which combines the thrill of M. Night Shyamalan’s The Happening with the eco-empowerment of VanderMeer’s Dead Astronauts.
Stevland, the dominant sentient lifeform of Pax, has clandestinely sent some of its progeny to Earth. To explore, to spread, to report back.
Since their germination, Earth has been a powder keg. Human rebellion, robot uprisings, and global pandemics have created chaos, distrust, and deaths.
As more and more conflicts break out across Earth, Stevland's children work in the background, in an attempt to control human behavior and perhaps, bring peace to the planet. Stevland took control of Pax. Earth shouldn’t be too difficult…
Other Books by Sue Burke
Semiosis
Semiosis
Interference
Usurpation
Immunity Index
Dual Memory
At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.
Customer Reviews
Third Book Takes Place Entirely on Future Earth
“Usurpation” is the third volume in the Semiosis Series by Sue Burke. In this novel the story begins on Earth in 2880, and remains on Earth throughout the novel. We are given a view of the grim state of humanity in the future, but the novel ends with hope for mankind as well as other species.
The story initially focuses on inter-human relationships and conflict, but as we see, rainbow bamboo from Pax is impacted by the actions of humans. It grows in almost all areas that humans live, and is prized for its fruit as well as its positive effects on nearby crops. Almost all humans remain unaware that it is anything other than a passive plant species.
The interpersonal and interspecies relationships remain the heart of the story. This novel adds new relationships, including the “wild” robots who have developed their own programming. The various viewpoints of the participants leave the reader wondering exactly what is the nature of the relationships between the beings, and who is benefiting the most from them? Can all of the beings that have come to be on Earth enter into a mutually beneficial relationship?
This is a great dive into biology-centered science fiction, that is as interesting as it is unique. It could be the conclusion of a trilogy, or maybe there could be another book in the future. The ending leaves a lot of possibilities…