Thom reviewed Where late the sweet birds sang by Kate Wilhelm
Review of 'Where late the sweet birds sang' on 'Goodreads'
4 stars
Very quick read, apocalypse in three steps. Good story, well written, but female characters depressingly weak. Strongly reminds me of [b:The Death of Grass|941731|The Death of Grass|John Christopher|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1486838846s/941731.jpg|797220] by John Christopher (also 4 star, also a quick read). Won the Hugo, the Locus, and is on a dozen "best SF" lists; I read it for a 70s Science Fiction challenge.
Told in three parts, each following a generation of a family perfectly placed to deal with the collapse of society. In the first part, resources are gathered and a hospital built before a plague heralds societal collapse. The second looks at the clones, created because biological reproduction has failed. The third part is the story of individuality rising again.
I enjoyed both the adventure aspects and the future planning (and inevitable breakdown). The same events after today's society would be even tougher to survive - paper is of great use …
Very quick read, apocalypse in three steps. Good story, well written, but female characters depressingly weak. Strongly reminds me of [b:The Death of Grass|941731|The Death of Grass|John Christopher|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1486838846s/941731.jpg|797220] by John Christopher (also 4 star, also a quick read). Won the Hugo, the Locus, and is on a dozen "best SF" lists; I read it for a 70s Science Fiction challenge.
Told in three parts, each following a generation of a family perfectly placed to deal with the collapse of society. In the first part, resources are gathered and a hospital built before a plague heralds societal collapse. The second looks at the clones, created because biological reproduction has failed. The third part is the story of individuality rising again.
I enjoyed both the adventure aspects and the future planning (and inevitable breakdown). The same events after today's society would be even tougher to survive - paper is of great use to these people. Something about clone consciousness and communication was somewhat concealed in the story, told mostly through the eyes of individuals.
Looking at [a:Kate Wilhelm|48885|Kate Wilhelm|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1488054669p2/48885.jpg]'s large bibliography, I think this is the first novel I have read. Doubtless I have encountered one or more of her short stories. I plan to read more from this author of science fiction, fantasy, mysteries and radio plays.
