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A review by dinsdale
Grass by Sheri S. Tepper
4.0
Grass is a big chunk of science fiction goodness. The novel is named after the planet Grass on which most of the novel takes place. Grass is set in the far future, where humans have colonized other planets and Earth is ruled by an all-powerful religious organization called Sanctity (similar in nature and structure to Catholicism in my opinion). The people of Earth and the other inhabited planets are becoming sick with a plague, and it is feared that this may eventually put an end to humanity if a cure is not found. The odd thing is, Grass is the only planet where there is no plague.
As the name implies, Grass is covered almost entirely of different types of grasses. There are some swamps and forests but the planet is mostly a flat savanna. Grass was originally settled by European nobility who live on huge estates. There is a spaceport city called Commoners Town where the average folks live. The original settlers engage in a type of fox hunting involving the indigenous species that live on Grass. They ride the "hippaie", are accompanied by "hounds", and hunt the "foxen". As the plot develops we learn that there is more to these native animal species of Grass than meets the eye.
The plot kicks in to high gear when Sanctity sends Rigo and Marjorie Westriding Yrarier to Grass as ambassadors to investigate why Grass is immune to the plague, and to possibly finding a cure. Marjorie becomes the main character and starts to uncover some of the secrets of Grass through close observations and interaction with the Green Brothers, a group sent by Sanctity to maintain a religious presence and to study the ruins of the Arbai, an extinct species. Grass gradually reveals its secrets and the novel becomes a very interesting and somewhat dark ride.
Grass is chock full of characters, so many that I became somewhat confused initially. I found a list of characters online and printed out a copy to keep in my book - there are 39 people on the list! I found the story to be rather complex and I think I would like it even better after a second reading. There was so much to digest. I bought this on Audible but also read the paper copy I've had on my shelves for years, maybe decades. This novel helped transport my brain away from my horribly stressful white-knuckle commutes through the seemingly endless February snowstorms.
Highly recommended. I'm looking forward to reading the next novel in Tepper's Arbai series.
As the name implies, Grass is covered almost entirely of different types of grasses. There are some swamps and forests but the planet is mostly a flat savanna. Grass was originally settled by European nobility who live on huge estates. There is a spaceport city called Commoners Town where the average folks live. The original settlers engage in a type of fox hunting involving the indigenous species that live on Grass. They ride the "hippaie", are accompanied by "hounds", and hunt the "foxen". As the plot develops we learn that there is more to these native animal species of Grass than meets the eye.
The plot kicks in to high gear when Sanctity sends Rigo and Marjorie Westriding Yrarier to Grass as ambassadors to investigate why Grass is immune to the plague, and to possibly finding a cure. Marjorie becomes the main character and starts to uncover some of the secrets of Grass through close observations and interaction with the Green Brothers, a group sent by Sanctity to maintain a religious presence and to study the ruins of the Arbai, an extinct species. Grass gradually reveals its secrets and the novel becomes a very interesting and somewhat dark ride.
Grass is chock full of characters, so many that I became somewhat confused initially. I found a list of characters online and printed out a copy to keep in my book - there are 39 people on the list! I found the story to be rather complex and I think I would like it even better after a second reading. There was so much to digest. I bought this on Audible but also read the paper copy I've had on my shelves for years, maybe decades. This novel helped transport my brain away from my horribly stressful white-knuckle commutes through the seemingly endless February snowstorms.
Highly recommended. I'm looking forward to reading the next novel in Tepper's Arbai series.