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Path: utzoo!linus!decvax!wivax!apollo!wendya
From: wendya@apollo.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.sf-lovers
Subject: sf novel identity query
Message-ID: <21734bf2.708@apollo.uucp>
Date: Wed, 29-Aug-84 13:38:51 EDT
Article-I.D.: apollo.21734bf2.708
Posted: Wed Aug 29 13:38:51 1984
Date-Received: Thu, 30-Aug-84 12:33:28 EDT
Organization: Apollo Computer, Chelmsford, Mass.
Lines: 34

I hope someone out there can answer this...
Several years ago, I read a fascinating book which (if I
am not confusing some of them with other books) included
the following elements:
    - A genetically-improved human species which has been
      "quarantined" from ordinary humans, because the
      ordinaries don't quite know what else to do with
      them. (They were an experiment that worked too well.)
    - A captured girl from this race who deliberately 
      "unravels" her entire memory back to nothing (i.e.,
      to when she was born) so she won't be able to
      give away secrets of her race's plans to leave
      the planet to the ordinary humans.
    - Among the superior race, a custom of young people
      taking a year or so "off" before entering real
      adulthood to just wander around, learn things,
      and generally have a good time.
    - A very weird kind of "spaceship" hidden under a
      mountain which had to be "flown" in place continually
      until it was ready to leave the planet (carrying all
      the superior humans). Adults of the superior race
      shared the responsibility of "flying" the thing,
      which seems to have been quite a stressful job.
I know this isn't a very complete or informative list, but
I really enjoyed the book and would like to re-read it.
However, I simply cannot remember either the author or the
title. (I do remember what the book jacket looked like, but
that is not much help.)

Please reply via mail...  adTHANKSvance.
 
W. Christensen