Shivering World

By: Kathy Tyers

Narrated by: Nicole Parnell

Microbiologist Graysha Brady-Phillips accepts an offer to assist in terraforming the planet Goddard for two reasons: She needs the hazardous duty pay, and she hopes the planet's colonists can provide a cure for the genetic disorder that is slowly killing her.

But such genetic engineering has been banned for decades by the powerful Eugenics Board, and Graysha is that board's high commissioner's daughter. When the colonists discover this, she isn't surprised that they ostracize her, for the penalties for conducting their radical research could include death. Graysha continues her work and tries to befriend the colonists, but soon she is dodging attempts on her life.

Even as Graysha questions whether her hope is worth the peril, she realizes she has grown attached to her new world. But that world is threatened, and Graysha must decide what she is willing to sacrifice: her security and professional hopes or her new faith and even newer love.

©1991, 2004, 2016, 2019 Kathy Tyers (P)2021 Oasis Audio

Excellent Read and Listen 6/5 Stars 😉

This is a hard science fiction work with technical terms that give the impression of authenticity. Kathy Tyers also uses verbiage which give the readers and listeners the feel that they are in a different world than our own without being so obscure that the audience becomes lost. There are no common modern phrases to cause us to break out of the world, and her use of technical language only adds to the atmosphere.

The book is specifically about the morality of using gene therapy, when to use it and when to abstain. The effects of such therapies are dramatized, good snd bad. While the book is about earth, it is a dystopian novel in an earth that does not have the kinds of freedoms we have in America. The new world expands to other planets in a kind of unified political system something like the US’s but without as many individual rights.

Several characters show growth throughout, but the main protagonist is a woman scientist. She shows great courage and strength though sometimes lacks confidence and becomes morally confused. She finds her way eventually.

The book’s main moral dilemma and conflicts are between characters who think they are doing the right thing. This is interesting because most books have the antagonists as villains bent on selfish motives while this book shows that antagonists may have a warped sense of morality guiding their beliefs and behaviors. These are actually the most terrifying people in my opinion, because they appeal to a higher cause and mangle our conscience so as to influence others commit atrocities in the name of righteousness. One main antagonist has definite H!tl3r vibes with a kind of religious zeal. She’s terrible. The book’s main moral does a masterful job at presenting characters that think they are morally right but are really twisted in what they do.

There were a few things I did not like. The romance was not as compelling as it could have been. The main characters were not together enough to be convincing as they should have been. Writers are often good creating some surface attraction and romance but not as good at writing romantic relationships. This one shows the latter only near the end and in a rather small way. There just isn’t enough text devoted to this aspect.

The main characters were often carried by the action and did not show much assertiveness until the end. The author seems to believe is a good trait. All I saw were people whose lack of assertiveness carried them along with the plans of stronger people who had more wicked intentions. This was rectified towards the end, but even then, there was the need to ask forgiveness for or take responsibility for the actions of others. The characters grew in this respect so that was good.

These complaints aside, I truly loved the book. It is one I will reread or re-listen to. That is rare since I read about a book a day thanks to Kindle Unlimited and Audible Plus. I truly loved this work and will buy or read and listen to Kathy Tyers other books. I like her logical approach to storytelling and characterization as well as her thought provoking moral dilemmas.