Semiosis

A Novel

By: Sue Burke

Narrated by: Caitlin Davies, Daniel Thomas May

"Narrators Daniel Thomas May and Caitlin Davies breathe life into the large cast of Burke's debut science fiction...both excel at utilizing accents, inflections, and personality traits to quickly build characterizations. The unusual cadence and inflections used for the aliens work to captivating effect." — AudioFile Magazine

In Semiosis, debut author Sue Burke's character driven audiobook of first contact, human survival hinges on an bizarre alliance.

Only mutual communication can forge an alliance with the planet's sentient species and prove that mammals are more than tools.

Forced to land on a planet they aren't prepared for, human colonists rely on their limited resources to survive. The planet provides a lush but inexplicable landscape—trees offer edible, addictive fruit one day and poison the next, while the ruins of an alien race are found entwined in the roots of a strange plant. Conflicts between generations arise as they struggle to understand one another and grapple with an unknowable alien intellect.

Critic reviews

Praise for Semiosis

"Daniel Thomas May and Caitlyn Davies...did very well, utilizing varied accents and inflections to portray the different characters of each generation so that each person felt like they had a distinct and unique voice." -TheBiblioSanctum

"Narrators Daniel Thomas May and Caitlin Davies breathe life into the large cast of Burke's debut science fiction. ...May and Davies both excel at utilizing accents, inflections, and personality traits to quickly build characterizations. The unusual cadence and inflections used for the aliens work to captivating effect." -AudioFile

“This is top class SF, intelligent and engaging and I loved every moment of it.”—Adrian Tchaikovsky, winner of the Arthur C. Clarke Award for Children of Time

“In Semiosis, Sue Burke blends science with adventure and fascinating characters, as a human colony desperately seeks to join the ecosystem of an alien world.” —David Brin, author of Earth and Existence.

“A first contact novel like none you’ve ever read. . . . The kind of story for which science fiction was invented.” —James Patrick Kelly, winner of the Hugo, Nebula and Locus awards

“Sue Burke has created one of the most fascinating alien personae science fiction has seen in this decade.” –David Nichols, early American historian and author of Engines of Diplomacy

“A gripping story of colonization and biological wonders.”—Gregory Frost, author of the Shadowbridge novels

“A fantastic SF debut . . . Semiosis will remain relevant for years to come.” —Prof. Daniel Chamovitz, award-winning author of What a Plant Knows and Director of the Manna Center for Plant Biosciences at Tel Aviv University.

Great story, but jumps a lot and without warning

As a biologist, I really enjoyed this book. The story was well thought out and written. It was also very well performed.

I only gave 4 stars for story because I do wish the book had told more about many of the characters. You are introduced to several people from the different generations in order. After being introduced and telling a piece of the character's story, the story skips to the next (sometimes with large gaps in time). The earlier stories were just enough to captivate me and make me irritated when they jumped to the next generation and character without warning.

The ending was both interesting and satisfying, which I find to be quite rare.

The best, most original book I have ever read!

This book was outstanding! The story was original and unexpected. It is science fiction but based on science fact of plant physiognomy. The animals were also amazing as were the Glassmakers.

The narration was excellent! This is truly an exceptional book!

Plants domesticating Mammals. Awesome

I really thrilling book new ideas I have yet to hear in science-fiction I highly recommend it

Awesome

A well thought out plan for people to live without harmful aggression. Well worth reading.

Interesting concept but I don't love the execution

A multi-generational story of a world being colonized with a variety of intelligent flora and fauna. An intriguing idea but I struggled to finish the book. I would not recommend it but I respect the message and concept.