Review by Crcraig -- Homecoming by Jude Austin
Posted: 27 Aug 2020, 15:15
[Following is a volunteer review of "Homecoming" by Jude Austin.]
Homecoming by Jude Austin is her second science fiction book about Projects, non-human humans, created with DNA in a laboratory by the company called GenTech. The first book introduces Tau, a truly created Project, and Kata, a human kidnapped and beaten into submission. This book continues their story after the two escapes from GenTech.
Kata’s intention is to go back to his home planet of Trandellia. But they have to make Sedna their first stop because they are almost out of fuel in the stolen shuttle. Then things go from bad to worse. First, Kata is kidnapped by Diamond Ten, an organized crime syndicate. They try to force him into torturing an informant for information in exchange for his release. Then the officials on Trandellia send Kata to Akkhenia to try to rescue the daughter of the ambassador in exchange for his citizenship and Tau’s freedom. And Tau is sent with bounty hunters back to GenTech in a double-cross. On Akkhenia Kata is attacked by wasps and ends up in the military hospital unable to help Tau.
Most of this book is about Kata and his attempts to gain freedom from GenTech for himself and Project Tau, and his hopes to return to a somewhat normal life. The homecoming he plans is definitely not what he receives. Just when he thinks things could not get worse, they do.
I give this book a 4 out of 4 rating as it is very well edited, easy to read, and holds your attention from beginning to end. There is quite a bit of vulgar language but it is always used in context with the intense emotional feelings of the speaker. And the language is no worse than what is used in many conversations today. There are some hints at sexual content but these are very discretely handled. There is no specific religious content but ethical issues regarding human and Projects’ rights are discussed in depth.
Therefore, this book would be a good one for anyone who likes not just science fiction, but science fiction with a deeper meaning behind the story. To me, that is what makes a great book. Can Project Tau ever be considered “human”? If not human, is he an animal? If animal, can he be sold as livestock even though he is capable of making his own decisions? The author does an excellent job of making you feel the intensity of the emotions in each of the characters as they struggle with these questions.
As scientists across the world delve more and more into cloning, these questions will become more and more important. This book may be a hint of future ethical issues. But for now, it is just a great action-packed story about two young men trying to survive.
******
Homecoming
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Homecoming by Jude Austin is her second science fiction book about Projects, non-human humans, created with DNA in a laboratory by the company called GenTech. The first book introduces Tau, a truly created Project, and Kata, a human kidnapped and beaten into submission. This book continues their story after the two escapes from GenTech.
Kata’s intention is to go back to his home planet of Trandellia. But they have to make Sedna their first stop because they are almost out of fuel in the stolen shuttle. Then things go from bad to worse. First, Kata is kidnapped by Diamond Ten, an organized crime syndicate. They try to force him into torturing an informant for information in exchange for his release. Then the officials on Trandellia send Kata to Akkhenia to try to rescue the daughter of the ambassador in exchange for his citizenship and Tau’s freedom. And Tau is sent with bounty hunters back to GenTech in a double-cross. On Akkhenia Kata is attacked by wasps and ends up in the military hospital unable to help Tau.
Most of this book is about Kata and his attempts to gain freedom from GenTech for himself and Project Tau, and his hopes to return to a somewhat normal life. The homecoming he plans is definitely not what he receives. Just when he thinks things could not get worse, they do.
I give this book a 4 out of 4 rating as it is very well edited, easy to read, and holds your attention from beginning to end. There is quite a bit of vulgar language but it is always used in context with the intense emotional feelings of the speaker. And the language is no worse than what is used in many conversations today. There are some hints at sexual content but these are very discretely handled. There is no specific religious content but ethical issues regarding human and Projects’ rights are discussed in depth.
Therefore, this book would be a good one for anyone who likes not just science fiction, but science fiction with a deeper meaning behind the story. To me, that is what makes a great book. Can Project Tau ever be considered “human”? If not human, is he an animal? If animal, can he be sold as livestock even though he is capable of making his own decisions? The author does an excellent job of making you feel the intensity of the emotions in each of the characters as they struggle with these questions.
As scientists across the world delve more and more into cloning, these questions will become more and more important. This book may be a hint of future ethical issues. But for now, it is just a great action-packed story about two young men trying to survive.
******
Homecoming
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon