Library Journal, September 15, 2004
Beautifully written and elegantly paced, this story conveys bold speculative concepts through intensely human characters. (Starred review)
Gerald Jonas, New York Times, November 14, 2004
Like all of Jones's work, "Life" demands -- and amply repays -- close reading.
Locus, November, 2004
Remarkably rich and sophisticated.
Book Description
"Life" is a richly textured fictional biography of the brilliant Anna Senoz, a scientist who makes a momentous discovery about the X and Y chromosomes. Anna's discovery provokes widespread sexual rage and impacts cruelly on her career, her marriage, and her child. Ultimately, Anna faces a challenge that the practice of science alone cannot meet.
Life FROM THE CRITICS
Gerald Jonas - The New York Times
Like all of Jones's work, Life demands -- and amply repays -- close reading. In addition to writing well about the thrills and tedium of scientific research, she manages to be both clinical and lyrical in describing her characters' exploration of their sensuality. Who else but Anna would characterize the joys of sex in this way: ''the delight of becoming completely physical. To be a machine is lovely.''
Library Journal
The lives of biologist Anna Senoz; her husband, Spence; and their university friends intertwine as they evolve from idealistic students into adults with concerns that may affect their world. When Anna discovers a curious genetic trend with implications for the human sexual identity and gender relations, she finds herself a pariah among her colleagues. This latest novel from British author Jones (Divine Endurance) portrays a near future of commercial globalization in which gender discrimination persists in subtle ways, forcing biology to find a way to fight back to equalize the sexes. Beautifully written and elegantly paced, this story conveys bold speculative concepts through intensely human characters. Deserving a wide crossover readership, it is highly recommended for both sf and general fiction collections. Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.
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