BenLockwood reviewed Chlorophilia by Cristina Jurado
Strangely interesting
3 stars
This review was first published at BriefEcology.com
I don't think I've read anything quite like it. The plot centers a character named Kirmen, in a future society that lives in environmental domes that block a destructive wind that sweeps the planet, following a vague environmental catastrophe. Humans are losing their ability to reproduce, and Kirmen is one of the youngest members of society. He's also a genetic experiment, undergoing some kind of metamorphosis that will presumably allow him to live outside of the domes.
What's interesting about the story is that although it has all the traditional sci-fi tropes (post-apocalyptic setting, genetic/environmental engineering, etc.) it's at the same time very much a personal story about Kirmen's experiences, his relationships, and his changes. Jurado uses these narrative techniques to explore big questions about what it means to be human, and what "human nature" is.
Chlorophilia weaves between past and present, introducing …
This review was first published at BriefEcology.com
I don't think I've read anything quite like it. The plot centers a character named Kirmen, in a future society that lives in environmental domes that block a destructive wind that sweeps the planet, following a vague environmental catastrophe. Humans are losing their ability to reproduce, and Kirmen is one of the youngest members of society. He's also a genetic experiment, undergoing some kind of metamorphosis that will presumably allow him to live outside of the domes.
What's interesting about the story is that although it has all the traditional sci-fi tropes (post-apocalyptic setting, genetic/environmental engineering, etc.) it's at the same time very much a personal story about Kirmen's experiences, his relationships, and his changes. Jurado uses these narrative techniques to explore big questions about what it means to be human, and what "human nature" is.
Chlorophilia weaves between past and present, introducing a nostalgia for the nature that’s on the verge of disappearing. It's a story about loss, both personal and ecological, and is another short and worthwhile read.