I wish Sarah Zettel would go back to writing science fiction, because her worlds are always fascinating. That being said, this is my least favorite of her sf books. There are many layers of complexity to the story: a devastating multi-world pandemic, human genome harvesting, cities ruled by AIs, mechanical mind control in the form of 'conscience' implants...any one of these things would make for an interesting background to a story. But for my taste, there were just too many complicated aspects with none of them fully developed. I also didn't connect very well with the main characters (sisters Chena and Teal). I was very interested in some of the 'side' aspects of the society: the almost medieval, low-tech healers embodied in Nan Elle, and the gene-splicing "tailors." I got tired of Chena's immaturity and her focus on revenge. Also Teal's resentment of her sister got a little old. There was so much world-building to set up the story that the ending seemed rushed. But I still recommend Zettel and all her science fiction. ( )

I wanted to read this since it came out, just because of its lovely cover painting by Michael Whelan. (This shows how quickly I get around to reading new books - it came out in 2000.) However, I have to report, sadly, that evocative as the artwork is, it doesn't have anything to do with anything that happens in the book. I guess I will just have to appreciate it as artwork....

The book is not bad at all... Humanity has been colonizing other planets - but failing to prepare for the slight differences of other ecosystems, and the drastic consequences that may result... The only colony that seems to have been spared this "Diversity Crisis" is Pandora - but Pandora's government, ruled by AIs connected to "conscience" chips in the leading families' brains, has its own issues - namely that they are engaging in wholesale human experimentation on the 'villagers' of Pandora. Still, the sick and desperate masses are converging on the planet....
The story focuses on two young women, whose mother brought them to Pandora as immigrants, hoping to give them a better life than that on the Authority space station. Unfortunately for their family, their genetics seem to be the key to the experiment that Pandora is doing - and multiple factions each have their own ideas of how best to use the sisters...
( )

As environmental deterioration and incurable pandemics sweep the colonized worlds, the Colonial Shipping Authority seeks aid from the isolated and apparently untouched planet of Pandora, resorting to threats of contamination to force assistance from a world unwilling to risk itself for the greater good. As relations between the Authority and the planet worsen, the fate of humanity hinges on two young women, whose genes hold the key to savingor destroying the human race. A reasonable read. ( )

This novel takes place in a distant future in which humans have left Earth-after ecologically destroying it-and made their homes among distant planets. Many generations later a plague is destroying human life on the colonies and space stations. Scientists can not figure out what is wrong, in desperation the colonists seek help from the earth they left behind. Earth is happy to help until the plague begins to spread to earth. The colonies are desperate and turn to Pandora-a colony of anal retentive people who live in on the most earth like planet-in a bubble so they can study the planets naturaly ecology and not make any changes or damages. They have no plague on their world at all, but they do not allow outsiders access. The colony fleet gives an ultimatum, help us cure the disease or we destroy your pristine planet. Pandora in desperation-has their advanced scientists and technicians begin work on the problem immediately.
Twenty years with no cure in site and under constant threat from the colony fleet, the Pandorans find a family with the genetic markers they need to complete their cure Chena and Teal Trust will never be the same again. ( )