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Title details for The Best of All Possible Worlds by Karen Lord - Available

The Best of All Possible Worlds

A Novel

by Karen Lord
Robin Miles
Audiobook
1 of 1 copy available
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1 of 1 copy available
NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY BUZZFEED • A stunning epic that is at once a new vision of science fiction and a deeply moving love story, from the award-winning author of Redemption in Indigo
“An engrossing picaresque quest, a love story, and a moving character study . . . [Karen] Lord is on a par with Ursula K. Le Guin.”—The Guardian
A proud and reserved alien society finds its homeland destroyed in an unprovoked act of aggression, leaving the survivors no choice but to reach out to the indigenous humanoids of their adopted world, to whom they are distantly related. They wish to preserve their cherished way of life but discover that to protect their culture, they may have to change it forever.
Now a man and a woman from opposite sides of these clashing societies must work together to save this vanishing race—and end up uncovering ancient mysteries with far-reaching ramifications. As their mission hangs in the balance, these unlikely partners—one cool and cerebral, the other fiery and impulsive—may find in each other their own destinies . . . and a force that transcends all.
Praise for The Best of All Possible Worlds
“[A] fascinating and thoughtful science fiction novel that examines] adaptation, social change, and human relationships. I’ve not read anything quite like it, which makes it that rare beast: a true original.”—Kate Elliott, author of the Crown of Stars series and The Spiritwalker Trilogy
 
“Reads like smooth jazz comfort food, deceptively familiar and easy going down, but subtly subversive.”—Nalo Hopkinson, Los Angeles Review of Books
 
“If you want to see science fiction doing something new and fascinating . . . then you shouldn’t sleep on The Best of All Possible Worlds.”—io9

“Rewarding science fiction for emotional grown-ups.”—Mysterious Galaxy

“[A] marvelously formed universe.”—The A.V. Club

“A rewarding, touching and often funny exploration of the forms and functions of human culture.”—SFX
 
“The Best of All Possible Worlds . . . poses an interesting question: What parts of you do you fight to preserve when everything you know suddenly changes?”—Associated Press

  • Creators

  • Publisher

  • Release date

    July 11, 2023

  • Formats

    • OverDrive Listen audiobook

      • ISBN: 9780593826799
      • File size: 350427 KB
      • Duration: 12:10:03

  • Languages

    • English

  • Reviews

    • AudioFile Magazine
      The universe can be an infinitely cruel and difficult place for a people who have lost their planet. Anthropologist and gifted linguist Grace Delarua is assigned to help the desperate yet proud refugees of Sadira find a new home on her planet of Cygnus Beta. She soon finds she may be the only go-between with the intelligence and empathy to rescue a unique race from extinction. Reminiscent of Ursula LeGuin's best work, this is a welcome old-school science-fiction tale that examines cultural dynamics, genetics, and individual isolation. Award-winning voice talent Robin Miles inhabits Grace's first-person narrative with realistic candor, vulnerability, and humor. It's the voice of a woman who can't help but take her job, and the loss and longing of an entire world, very personally. B.P. (c) AudioFile 2013, Portland, Maine
    • Publisher's Weekly

      May 19, 2014
      Mythopoeic Award winner Lord (Redemption in Indigo) dives into SF romance and produces an entertaining, optimistic novel. Only a few of the aloof but psychically gifted Sadiri survive the destruction of their homeworld. A number of their men arrive on the melting pot planet Cygnus Beta, hoping to find homes and wives and start rebuilding their population. When Grace Delarua is assigned to help Sadiri Councillor Dllenahkh survey local populations with relic Sadiri DNA for possible matchmaking, romance develops between the two despite many obstacles thrown their way. The book consciously references Bradbury's Martian Chronicles but feels closer to Star Trek in spirit, with a cheerful polyglot culture welcoming a race of emotionally reserved intellectuals. Delarua is a pleasant narrator, irrepressible in the face of what seems like impossible personal and professional challenges.

Formats

  • OverDrive Listen audiobook

subjects

Languages

  • English

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