Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.PCS 1/10/84; site mtgzz.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!cbosgd!ihnp4!mhuxn!mhuxr!mhuxt!houxm!mtuxo!mtgzz!leeper From: leeper@mtgzz.UUCP (m.r.leeper) Newsgroups: net.books,net.sf-lovers Subject: THE CODE OF THE LIFEMAKER by James P. Hogan Message-ID: <1178@mtgzz.UUCP> Date: Tue, 17-Sep-85 13:17:18 EDT Article-I.D.: mtgzz.1178 Posted: Tue Sep 17 13:17:18 1985 Date-Received: Wed, 18-Sep-85 05:25:45 EDT Organization: AT&T Information Systems Labs, Holmdel NJ Lines: 51 Xref: watmath net.books:2313 net.sf-lovers:10117 THE CODE OF THE LIFEMAKER by James P. Hogan Del Rey, 1983, $2.95. A book review by Mark R. Leeper Capsule review: This is generally a good science fiction novel that does some interesting things to make a fantasy tale hard science fiction. Unfortunately, the trappings of this novel are much more enjoyable than the actual fantasy story itself. It is exquisite frosting on a rather bland cake. Generally, if fantasy and science fiction are combined in a story, I would call the net result fantasy. You cannot put ghosts or werewolves into a science fiction story and have science fiction when you are done. I do make the exception that if you can give a reasonable scientific explanation for the fantasy elements it will make them science fiction. THE CODE OF THE LIFEMAKER is apparently James P. Hogan's effort to write a WARLOCK IN SPITE OF HIMSELF-style fantasy and make it science fiction. Like WARLOCK, it is about humans coming to a medieval society gone bad and fixing it up--STAR TREK's prime directive be damned. Hogan's set-up for creating a new race at the medieval stage is to describe how the robotics equivalent of genetics and evolution could come about unintentionally. It's not the easiest way to create an alien race in a story, but it is the novel's finest hour. It is really intriguing reading and, frankly, the kind of idea I read science fiction for and all too rarely actually find. Also interesting is the main character. By profession he is a mass- media-psychic and charleton of the Uri Geller variety. In the early parts of the novel you see how Zambendorf is able to hoodwink audiences in creative ways. That also makes for intriguing reading but what is even more intriguing is the question: if we discovered intelligent robotic aliens in our solar system, why would anyone want to use devious means to get a Uri Geller to the first contact? Particularly if those people are convinced that the psychic is a fraud. When you do find out, it does make sense, but that puzzle certainly kept me anxious. So Hogan creates an interesting character and an intriguing mystery surrounding the character. And his background description for how the robot race came into existence is first-class science fiction writing. Unfortunately they all go together to make a sort of second-rate fantasy story reminiscent of some of the cute plot tricks pulled in certain third season STAR TREK episodes. I'd give this novel a +2 (on the -4 to +4 scale), but much more for the first 200 pages than for the last. Mark R. Leeper ...ihnp4!mtgzz!leeper Brought to you by Super Global Mega Corp .com