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howlsmovinglibrary's review against another edition
3.0
I have a lot of conflicted feelings about this book, that make reviewing hard. On the one hand, Gemsigns has a diverse cast, and a really strong science fiction concept that is used to effectively interrogate issues of race and otherness. I want to promote books which engage with social justice on the level that this book does. On the other hand, the incredibly dense writing and detached method of third person narration meant that I struggled to engage with any of the characters, and keep reading.
‘Gems’ are genetically engineered humans that were created to fulfil a need, namely the devastation of the Earth’s population during an epidemic known the Syndrome. From hyperspectral vision, to improved combat abilities, to enhanced childbearing, Gems were designed to help humanity survive. But as humanity gradually recovered, and the Gems became more and more exploited by Gemtechs, no longer in the name of ‘necessity’, they fought for emancipation from their former slave labour. A year on from the Declaration that gave them freedom, anthropologist Eli Walker is given the task of defining the Gems as a species, and therefore heavily influence in the decision as to whether they can become a fully emancipated people.
It’s a pretty complex concept that essentially boils down to one thing: how do you judge humanity, and what do you do with that kind of power? It is clear from the very start that, despite their altered genetic code, Gems are very, very human. But the political and commercial agendas surrounding their existence quickly serve to muddle the picture, and put Eli in a very awkward position.
Immediately, the issue of the Gems’ status identity is analogically linked to racism. They are former slaves, with the Gemtech companies that owned them now arguing that they are the ones that can best accommodate integration and assimilation into the dominant ‘norm’ culture. Furthermore, hate crime is an insistent plot point throughout this book, and the story shows that newly emancipated Gems are perceived encroaching upon the territory of ‘norms’ in a classic “they’re coming over here and taking our jobs” narrative, with the added issue that, in many cases, Gems are genuinely engineered to do these jobs better. Not only does this book use Gems as a vehicle for interrogating race, but also neurodiversity, as the demands of certain functions that Gems have been engineered to do has resulted in a portion of the Gem population being created autistic, as well as also exploring issues of trauma and PTSD that come from being former slaves. It’s a very ambitious and wide reaching concept that can be used to address many of the social injustices of the modern world.
The story is also interesting. You follow Eli Walker as he tries to negotiate the numerous insidious agendas that encroach upon his ‘objective’ report, but also Gaela, a Gem whose hyperspectral sight and synaethesia makes her a valuable, employable asset in the post-Declaration world, and her adoptive son Gabriel, an unusual child who is the centre of his own conspiracy. You also get a sinister glimpse into the ingenious mind of Zackva Klist, a high up employee of Gemtech Bel Natur, who is doing everything she can to skew Eli’s final decision to her advantage. The gradual building of tension and unease is very effective, it makes you feel like you’re on the very edge of revolution or riot. It actually felt very similar to the unease I experience when faced with the political instability in the contemporary world, and its an effective book that can make those kind of feelings real.
And yet. And yet.
I just did not like this book’s writing at all.
I didn’t feel anything for, or from, any of the characters. Eli surveys the scene with very little emotion and acts as a funnel for information, but doesn’t really have a personality, remaining the very picture of ‘objective’. Even characters like Gaela or Aryel, who have very interesting backstories, don’t have much to differentiate their viewpoint from any of the other characters and end up feeling bland. The person I actually enjoyed reading the most was Klist, because the very clinical, detached writing could then be vaguely attributed to her calculating personality and ruthless political machinations, rather than just sapping away any individuality of her voice.
There are moments when Eli, or another character, breaks down in tears in the face of the abominations and cruelty that Gems have endured. And they should have that kind of reaction – a lot of what happens in this book is terrible. But for me it would just cause a weird disconnect, where I would read a character’s emotional breakdown without feeling anything at all or even batting an eye, because I just couldn’t have that level of emotional connection with any of the writing.
In particular, the main time I felt this kind of weird detachment was whenever we inhabited the point of view of a religious fanatic. The writing would mechanically spit out cultist vocab like ‘preacher’, ‘unclean’, 'deceiver' and ‘baptised’, but ultimately remain very impassive – the words would be vitriolic, but the actual writing style would remain mostly unchanged. It was just creepy, and not in a way that felt intentional.
I think this has something to do with my inability to get on with the very information heavy, dense tone of ‘hard’ sci-fi. Large infodumps, a plot rather than character focus (despite the fact that this book deals with the trauma of individuals and the nature of ‘humanity’ itself), and a general tendency to both be over-elaborate in description, and then utterly downplay the emotional impact of large plot revelations, made this book pretty impenetrable for me as a reader. I think – in an ideal world – this novel would’ve benefitted a lot more from either being a series of first person narratives, or at least having a more colloquial tone. You feel like you’re watching everything through a thick, opaque layer of glass that muffles everything, because the narratorial voice is so dense, impassive, and utterly disconnected from anything that is happening on the page.
I'm giving this book 3/5 because I genuinely think the plot was good, and the issues it details are dealt with sensitively. Concept-wise, I think it's 5 out of 5 - but if I was to rate this on writing alone, it would probably be brought down to a 2.
If you like speculative fiction books that cleverly deals with social justice, and the particularly information-orientated 3rd person voice of traditional science fiction, this is definitely the book for you. But for me, this book was like walking uphill – a painful struggle that you know will give you pay off once you reach the top, but still not particularly enjoyable.
‘Gems’ are genetically engineered humans that were created to fulfil a need, namely the devastation of the Earth’s population during an epidemic known the Syndrome. From hyperspectral vision, to improved combat abilities, to enhanced childbearing, Gems were designed to help humanity survive. But as humanity gradually recovered, and the Gems became more and more exploited by Gemtechs, no longer in the name of ‘necessity’, they fought for emancipation from their former slave labour. A year on from the Declaration that gave them freedom, anthropologist Eli Walker is given the task of defining the Gems as a species, and therefore heavily influence in the decision as to whether they can become a fully emancipated people.
It’s a pretty complex concept that essentially boils down to one thing: how do you judge humanity, and what do you do with that kind of power? It is clear from the very start that, despite their altered genetic code, Gems are very, very human. But the political and commercial agendas surrounding their existence quickly serve to muddle the picture, and put Eli in a very awkward position.
Immediately, the issue of the Gems’ status identity is analogically linked to racism. They are former slaves, with the Gemtech companies that owned them now arguing that they are the ones that can best accommodate integration and assimilation into the dominant ‘norm’ culture. Furthermore, hate crime is an insistent plot point throughout this book, and the story shows that newly emancipated Gems are perceived encroaching upon the territory of ‘norms’ in a classic “they’re coming over here and taking our jobs” narrative, with the added issue that, in many cases, Gems are genuinely engineered to do these jobs better. Not only does this book use Gems as a vehicle for interrogating race, but also neurodiversity, as the demands of certain functions that Gems have been engineered to do has resulted in a portion of the Gem population being created autistic, as well as also exploring issues of trauma and PTSD that come from being former slaves. It’s a very ambitious and wide reaching concept that can be used to address many of the social injustices of the modern world.
The story is also interesting. You follow Eli Walker as he tries to negotiate the numerous insidious agendas that encroach upon his ‘objective’ report, but also Gaela, a Gem whose hyperspectral sight and synaethesia makes her a valuable, employable asset in the post-Declaration world, and her adoptive son Gabriel, an unusual child who is the centre of his own conspiracy. You also get a sinister glimpse into the ingenious mind of Zackva Klist, a high up employee of Gemtech Bel Natur, who is doing everything she can to skew Eli’s final decision to her advantage. The gradual building of tension and unease is very effective, it makes you feel like you’re on the very edge of revolution or riot. It actually felt very similar to the unease I experience when faced with the political instability in the contemporary world, and its an effective book that can make those kind of feelings real.
And yet. And yet.
I just did not like this book’s writing at all.
I didn’t feel anything for, or from, any of the characters. Eli surveys the scene with very little emotion and acts as a funnel for information, but doesn’t really have a personality, remaining the very picture of ‘objective’. Even characters like Gaela or Aryel, who have very interesting backstories, don’t have much to differentiate their viewpoint from any of the other characters and end up feeling bland. The person I actually enjoyed reading the most was Klist, because the very clinical, detached writing could then be vaguely attributed to her calculating personality and ruthless political machinations, rather than just sapping away any individuality of her voice.
There are moments when Eli, or another character, breaks down in tears in the face of the abominations and cruelty that Gems have endured. And they should have that kind of reaction – a lot of what happens in this book is terrible. But for me it would just cause a weird disconnect, where I would read a character’s emotional breakdown without feeling anything at all or even batting an eye, because I just couldn’t have that level of emotional connection with any of the writing.
In particular, the main time I felt this kind of weird detachment was whenever we inhabited the point of view of a religious fanatic. The writing would mechanically spit out cultist vocab like ‘preacher’, ‘unclean’, 'deceiver' and ‘baptised’, but ultimately remain very impassive – the words would be vitriolic, but the actual writing style would remain mostly unchanged. It was just creepy, and not in a way that felt intentional.
I think this has something to do with my inability to get on with the very information heavy, dense tone of ‘hard’ sci-fi. Large infodumps, a plot rather than character focus (despite the fact that this book deals with the trauma of individuals and the nature of ‘humanity’ itself), and a general tendency to both be over-elaborate in description, and then utterly downplay the emotional impact of large plot revelations, made this book pretty impenetrable for me as a reader. I think – in an ideal world – this novel would’ve benefitted a lot more from either being a series of first person narratives, or at least having a more colloquial tone. You feel like you’re watching everything through a thick, opaque layer of glass that muffles everything, because the narratorial voice is so dense, impassive, and utterly disconnected from anything that is happening on the page.
I'm giving this book 3/5 because I genuinely think the plot was good, and the issues it details are dealt with sensitively. Concept-wise, I think it's 5 out of 5 - but if I was to rate this on writing alone, it would probably be brought down to a 2.
If you like speculative fiction books that cleverly deals with social justice, and the particularly information-orientated 3rd person voice of traditional science fiction, this is definitely the book for you. But for me, this book was like walking uphill – a painful struggle that you know will give you pay off once you reach the top, but still not particularly enjoyable.
vcallgood's review against another edition
3.0
I was really excited to read this book, but it was kind of a miss for me. I’m giving it 3 stars because I liked the story and loved several of the characters. I think that several of her messages about how society treats those we perceive as “other” were poignant and important. So why only 3 stars? I just couldn’t connect with it. I never got that “can’t put this book down” feeling, and I often felt like I was slogging through it. Maybe it focused too much on the political aspects of the plot for my liking? I can’t pinpoint what it was, but I just didn’t connect with this one.
guinevere__'s review
adventurous
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
helenid's review
4.0
Set in a near future, after humans have been affected by our technology. Genetically modified to survive but then why not go further?
Are GM humans actually human if they've been designed and bred? Are they too different? Very interesting debut.
Are GM humans actually human if they've been designed and bred? Are they too different? Very interesting debut.
colossal's review
4.0
A political SF thriller dealing with the implications of a genetically engineered underclass integrating with the rest of society.
Humanity succumbs to the Syndrome, a neurological condition that's basically a physiological reaction to the modern world, but is eventually saved by widespread cheap genetic engineering. One hundred years later the vast majority of humanity has been engineered to be immune to the Syndrome and many other diseases, but the corporations that pioneered GEnetic Modifaction (GemTechs) didn't stop with saving humanity from the Syndrome. Over decades they've created a whole class of beings called gems who are various riffs on the human base form, including gems adapted for undersea work, breeding other gems, construction, organ replication and harvesting, visual acuity and all sorts of other modifications, both mental and physical. The GemTechs treated their gems horribly though, as property and as slaves, but a few years ago in the book's timeline there was a social upheaval and the GemTechs were forced to free all their gems.
The book picks up in the leadup to the European Conference on the Status of Genetically Modified Humans which will determine the laws that will apply to gems going forward. It's been a few years since the Declaration that freed the gems, but their status has been very unclear since. Eli Walker is a genetic anthropologist and has been tasked to create a report on whether gems can ever be "normal". He gets exposure to the Gemtechs and also to the gems themselves, as well as many of the normals that support them. The gems want their freedom, the Gemtechs want their property back and the majority of norms are worried what the cost of having gems in the general population will be.
This is a really clever scenario that's ultimately let down by making things far too black and white. All the gems are clever, righteous or innocent. All the corporate types are either stupid or evil. It's really that simple. Freedom good, slavery bad. While this is an entertaining story, in real life there are more shades of grey than this. There should be room for the corporate type who really does think that the best place for some gems is working for a Gemtech. There should be room for a lazy gem who feels entitled to welfare after years as a slave, or a gem hothead who wants to take the fight back to the godgangs. Then the story finishes with a "shocking" reveal that has to be the most obvious reveal I've ever seen in a book (it's in her name for goodness sake!).
I will say that the report that Eli Walker ends up authoring is awesome. I wish there was that sort of thing written and read about minorities that people are determined to "other" in the real world.
Humanity succumbs to the Syndrome, a neurological condition that's basically a physiological reaction to the modern world, but is eventually saved by widespread cheap genetic engineering. One hundred years later the vast majority of humanity has been engineered to be immune to the Syndrome and many other diseases, but the corporations that pioneered GEnetic Modifaction (GemTechs) didn't stop with saving humanity from the Syndrome. Over decades they've created a whole class of beings called gems who are various riffs on the human base form, including gems adapted for undersea work, breeding other gems, construction, organ replication and harvesting, visual acuity and all sorts of other modifications, both mental and physical. The GemTechs treated their gems horribly though, as property and as slaves, but a few years ago in the book's timeline there was a social upheaval and the GemTechs were forced to free all their gems.
The book picks up in the leadup to the European Conference on the Status of Genetically Modified Humans which will determine the laws that will apply to gems going forward. It's been a few years since the Declaration that freed the gems, but their status has been very unclear since. Eli Walker is a genetic anthropologist and has been tasked to create a report on whether gems can ever be "normal". He gets exposure to the Gemtechs and also to the gems themselves, as well as many of the normals that support them. The gems want their freedom, the Gemtechs want their property back and the majority of norms are worried what the cost of having gems in the general population will be.
This is a really clever scenario that's ultimately let down by making things far too black and white. All the gems are clever, righteous or innocent. All the corporate types are either stupid or evil. It's really that simple. Freedom good, slavery bad. While this is an entertaining story, in real life there are more shades of grey than this. There should be room for the corporate type who really does think that the best place for some gems is working for a Gemtech. There should be room for a lazy gem who feels entitled to welfare after years as a slave, or a gem hothead who wants to take the fight back to the godgangs. Then the story finishes with a "shocking" reveal that has to be the most obvious reveal I've ever seen in a book (it's in her name for goodness sake!).
I will say that the report that Eli Walker ends up authoring is awesome. I wish there was that sort of thing written and read about minorities that people are determined to "other" in the real world.
coolcurrybooks's review
3.0
For the last century, companies have been creating and exploiting gems — genetically modified people. Gems have recently been granted freedom from the corporations, but questions as to their legal status and place in society still have to be answered. The European Union is holding a conference to determine how the law will deal with gems, and scientist Eli Walker has been commissioned to give a report on whether or not gems are a different species than norms. On one side is Zavcka Klist, a gemcorp executive who’s trying to retain her company’s power. On the other is Aryel Morningstar, a celebrated gem leader and activist.
Gemsigns has clear historical parallels to racism and the end of slavery. The Gems are now free from direct corporate control, after society largely turned against it. But there’s still conflicts over what place Gems have in society and whether they’ll be on the same footing as Norms.
The narrative takes place entirely within the span of the week leading up to the conference and shows the perspectives of many different characters. Eli is obviously a central focus, but there are other major players as well, including Aryel Morningstar with her secretive past, members of the “godgangs” who want to destroy all gems, and a child adopted by a gem couple. Through these many different perspectives, Gemsigns paints a picture of society as a whole and how people at various different stations engage with the central issues of genetic engineering and shared humanity.
Unfortunately, I never found any of the characters to be that memorable. The core themes that Gemsigns is dealing with aren’t that new to science fiction, so it needs strong execution to make it stand out. I don’t think it’s badly written or anything of the like; it’s just that there’s not enough about it to make it memorable or make me want to continue with the series.
Also, I found the whole “Syndrome” backstory to be ridiculous. In short, genetic engineering of humans gets such a fast development because people start dying because their brains can’t handle the internet. Seriously.
I don’t regret reading Gemsigns, but I wish there had been more development to the characters and plot.
Review originally posted on The Illustrated Page.
Gemsigns has clear historical parallels to racism and the end of slavery. The Gems are now free from direct corporate control, after society largely turned against it. But there’s still conflicts over what place Gems have in society and whether they’ll be on the same footing as Norms.
The narrative takes place entirely within the span of the week leading up to the conference and shows the perspectives of many different characters. Eli is obviously a central focus, but there are other major players as well, including Aryel Morningstar with her secretive past, members of the “godgangs” who want to destroy all gems, and a child adopted by a gem couple. Through these many different perspectives, Gemsigns paints a picture of society as a whole and how people at various different stations engage with the central issues of genetic engineering and shared humanity.
Unfortunately, I never found any of the characters to be that memorable. The core themes that Gemsigns is dealing with aren’t that new to science fiction, so it needs strong execution to make it stand out. I don’t think it’s badly written or anything of the like; it’s just that there’s not enough about it to make it memorable or make me want to continue with the series.
Also, I found the whole “Syndrome” backstory to be ridiculous. In short, genetic engineering of humans gets such a fast development because people start dying because their brains can’t handle the internet. Seriously.
I don’t regret reading Gemsigns, but I wish there had been more development to the characters and plot.
Review originally posted on The Illustrated Page.
soesje's review
5.0
Gemsigns is a book that gives a great perspective on the racism that the gems face from the norms. What some norms are willing to do to not give them the right they deserve. And what gems are able to do and are doing to keep themselves as save as possible.
To me, these issues are also issues we see in the world today with different groups on a smaller scale.
To me, these issues are also issues we see in the world today with different groups on a smaller scale.
civreader's review
4.0
4.5* - this is a superb novel, excellent prose. Slight pacing niggles & accent-writing, but otherwise excellent.
elliotvanz's review against another edition
2.0
It doesn't happen very often, but every once in a while I will come across a book that by all rights I should love, and yet I just can't connect to at all. Dystopian near future, sci-fi elements used to discuss larger current social issues (in this case racial discrimination), short chapters, plenty of characters to choose from - these are all things that usually have me totally immersed. And yet, I just couldn't get into this book at all. I want to be clear here: I didn't actively dislike this book. I couldn't put my finger on any one thing that wasn't working for me. I just simply couldn't connect for whatever reason, and I really didn't care. I very rarely fail to finish a book, but when I do it's books like this where I just can't bring myself to pick them back up again. This was a book club selection though, so I did power through to the end (which didn't actually do the story any favors).
The story itself centers around a conference set to determine the rights of a genetically designed sub-set of humans called Gems. There is a lot of time spent by one of the primary characters attempting to pin down whether or not Gems are just like unmodified people. Which is not the most effective storytelling tactic since we, the readers, are already convinced of this fact. That may actually be the biggest weakness of the book: it reads like a persuasive journalistic piece trying to convince us of something that seems terribly obvious. And I also must admit all the twists at the end seemed obvious to me as well. Had you asked me halfway through the book to tell you how it would end I would have been able to dictate it to you with 95% accuracy. Maybe that was just me though.
I think this book could be enjoyed if approached with the expectation that you were going to get some very journalistic style writing focused more on social issues than on individual characters or story arcs. There will be people who really enjoy this book. This could easily be someone's all time favorite. Unfortunately I just never seemed to get pulled in, and remained an aloof spectator just watching the news while waiting for a favorite show to come on afterwards.
Sci-fi Book Club: 9/15
The story itself centers around a conference set to determine the rights of a genetically designed sub-set of humans called Gems. There is a lot of time spent by one of the primary characters attempting to pin down whether or not Gems are just like unmodified people. Which is not the most effective storytelling tactic since we, the readers, are already convinced of this fact. That may actually be the biggest weakness of the book: it reads like a persuasive journalistic piece trying to convince us of something that seems terribly obvious. And I also must admit all the twists at the end seemed obvious to me as well. Had you asked me halfway through the book to tell you how it would end I would have been able to dictate it to you with 95% accuracy. Maybe that was just me though.
I think this book could be enjoyed if approached with the expectation that you were going to get some very journalistic style writing focused more on social issues than on individual characters or story arcs. There will be people who really enjoy this book. This could easily be someone's all time favorite. Unfortunately I just never seemed to get pulled in, and remained an aloof spectator just watching the news while waiting for a favorite show to come on afterwards.
Sci-fi Book Club: 9/15