Becoming Human

Valerie J Freireich

ISBN 10: 0451453964 / ISBN 13: 9780451453969

Published by Roc, 1995

About this Item

Becoming Human by Valerie J Freireich, Roc LE5396, 1995, paperback original. Cover art by John Jude Palencar. Bright, square and tight; new and unread.

Seller Inventory # pb5808

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Becoming Human
• Publisher: Roc
• Publication Date: 1995
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0451453964
• ISBN 13: 9780451453969
• Binding: Soft cover
• Illustrator: John Jude Palencar
• Edition: 1st Edition
• Printing: 1st Printing
• Condition: New
• Seller catalogs:
  • pb

About this title

Synopsis

The clone of a traitor, sub-human spy probe August is catapulted into the midst of an interplanetary war as the planet Neuland is threatened with alien annihilation and August himself confronts his dream of becoming fully human. Original.

Reviews

Alexander Greeneyes, a brilliant "toolman" for the planetary government of Sucre, meticulously records key political gatherings and probes the participants' discourse for unspoken innuendo. A product of controlled eugenic experiments looked down on as inhuman, he has reached the end of his built-in 35-year life span, which his politically powerful overseer and lover, Sanda Brauna, can do nothing to extend. Hoping to change his destiny as well as bring honor to Brauna, Alexander forges a deal with diplomats from the planet Neulander, where genetic manipulation is tolerated, to help Neulander's bid to become a new member in the Polite Harmony of Worlds. His plan backfires, however, when Neulander secretly attacks an allied world, implicating Alexander as a traitor and ending his life. Now his successor, 23-year-old clone August, must live down the stigma of Alexander's betrayal and win enough respect from his superiors to transcend his status as a toolman and become human. Aside from occasionally stilted prose, Freireich masterfully interweaves absorbing political intrigue and an original, futuristic version of racial prejudice. Carl Hays