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Catteni #2
Freedom's Choice
Abducted by the alien Catteni, Kristin Bjornsen was one of many humans brought to the planet Botany as part of an experiment to see if it could support life. Enslaved and forced to colonize a world not their own, the settlers have accepted Botany as their home—a home worth fighting for…
Kristin’s people have learned that the aliens responsible for their imprisonment are merely mercenaries, subjugated by the parasitic Eosi Race, and that Botany is being farmed remotely by some unknown species—a species that may be sympathetic to the colonists’ struggle for freedom.
The “Farmers” refuse to join the humans in their rebellion against the Catteni, but they agree to use their technological skills to shield Botany and hide it from its enemies—buying Kristin and the settlers time to build up their forces and liberate their world…
Kristin’s people have learned that the aliens responsible for their imprisonment are merely mercenaries, subjugated by the parasitic Eosi Race, and that Botany is being farmed remotely by some unknown species—a species that may be sympathetic to the colonists’ struggle for freedom.
The “Farmers” refuse to join the humans in their rebellion against the Catteni, but they agree to use their technological skills to shield Botany and hide it from its enemies—buying Kristin and the settlers time to build up their forces and liberate their world…
336 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1997
326 people are currently reading
1728 people want to read
About the author
Anne McCaffrey
463 books7,693 followersAnne Inez McCaffrey was an American writer known for the Dragonriders of Pern science fiction series. She was the first woman to win a Hugo Award for fiction (Best Novella, Weyr Search, 1968) and the first to win a Nebula Award (Best Novella, Dragonrider, 1969). Her 1978 novel The White Dragon became one of the first science-fiction books to appear on the New York Times Best Seller list.
In 2005 the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America named McCaffrey its 22nd Grand Master, an annual award to living writers of fantasy and science fiction. She was inducted by the Science Fiction Hall of Fame on 17 June 2006. She also received the Robert A. Heinlein Award for her work in 2007.
In 2005 the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America named McCaffrey its 22nd Grand Master, an annual award to living writers of fantasy and science fiction. She was inducted by the Science Fiction Hall of Fame on 17 June 2006. She also received the Robert A. Heinlein Award for her work in 2007.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 187 reviews
April 26, 2024
The story was just as good this time around, and the content was cleaner. Let's hope this series improves even further as it continues.
March 1, 2010
Although the blurb really doesn't give any clues beyond what was pretty much established in book one, this really was a much better book, structure and story-wise. More things happened, there were clearer goals and objectives, and, after a slowish start, it was paced better.
However, there are two more or less related things in this book that I'd somehow entirely forgotten from my first reading, that I found very difficult to swallow.
The first is mandatory child-bearing. While I understand the reasoning for it, I don't think McCaffrey handled it very well. For starters, we didn't get any of the debate leading to the decision, just delivery of that decision to Kris. And I really feel that an issue like that, if you're going to bring it up in your book, you really need to do it properly, and that includes discussing the pros and cons fully, and maybe even delving into the philosophies behind both sides of the arguments, and so on and so forth. But there is a lot to discuss about it, and to gloss over that part entirely felt very... well it felt like McCaffrey knew she wasn't a good enough author to bring both sides out without painting everyone like either selfish child-haters or domineering controllers. But I think she continued to do the issue a disservice with Kris's reaction to it. Initially, she freaks, entirely understandably as she had a very active and somewhat risky occupation on the planet, had chosen a mate she was biologically incompatible with and thus had no plans for kids ever, and even if she had wanted any, it wouldn't have been for some time yet. So she's decidedly nonplussed at the thought of being required to bear at least a child or two, for the sake of the colony's long-term success. However, she also gets over it way too quickly, if you ask me, and tells herself she's just being silly. She's not. Procreation is a very big deal, and I hate that this issue was ultimately dismissed as though it isn't. Maybe it's just because I myself am fiercely protective of my rights to decide what does and does not live in my body, but I just found the presentation of this as a done deal, and Kris's almost immediate more-or-less acceptance of it rather disturbing.
Then there's the second issue. It was stated explicitly that they had the technology to do artificial insemination, and Kris made it very clear very early and to anyone who broached the subject of fathering her child, that that would be the method she would use, if she had to bear a child. She had no intention whatsoever of being unfaithful to her mate, even if he was accepting of the whole situation. And yet, after she breaks her arm and has to stay home from a mission that she was supposed to go on with Zainal, she's miserable, lonely, and drunk as a skunk on the only analgesic they have available: moonshine. And one of the other characters, who we're supposed to like, takes her home and ends up sleeping with her. I was so nauseated by this that it made the rest of the book hard to read. It doesn't matter that she didn't protest. It doesn't even matter that she enjoyed it. To take advantage like that of a woman in the state she was in has a legal name, and it kills me to see that ignored entirely. The individual in question later claims that he was also so drunk he barely remembers what happened, and thus wasn't in his right mind at the time either, but I don't buy that. If you're so drunk you weren't functioning right in the head to the point of not knowing what you're doing and not remembering it later, you're drunk enough that you're not functioning right in other parts, either. You certainly wouldn't be good at it. Maybe if the sex had been described as being hopelessly sloppy and awkward, I could buy it. But not when it's described as being very good. If you were that good, you were not so drunk that you can't claim responsibility. End of story. So yeah. The way that whole situation was handled was something I found extremely distasteful, and in fact, downright offensive. The fact that that is how she ends up pregnant just adds salt to the wound. I just hated that whole situation, and I can't even begin to express how disappointed I am in Anne McCaffrey for how she wrote it. I just... I really can't.
However, there are two more or less related things in this book that I'd somehow entirely forgotten from my first reading, that I found very difficult to swallow.
The first is mandatory child-bearing. While I understand the reasoning for it, I don't think McCaffrey handled it very well. For starters, we didn't get any of the debate leading to the decision, just delivery of that decision to Kris. And I really feel that an issue like that, if you're going to bring it up in your book, you really need to do it properly, and that includes discussing the pros and cons fully, and maybe even delving into the philosophies behind both sides of the arguments, and so on and so forth. But there is a lot to discuss about it, and to gloss over that part entirely felt very... well it felt like McCaffrey knew she wasn't a good enough author to bring both sides out without painting everyone like either selfish child-haters or domineering controllers. But I think she continued to do the issue a disservice with Kris's reaction to it. Initially, she freaks, entirely understandably as she had a very active and somewhat risky occupation on the planet, had chosen a mate she was biologically incompatible with and thus had no plans for kids ever, and even if she had wanted any, it wouldn't have been for some time yet. So she's decidedly nonplussed at the thought of being required to bear at least a child or two, for the sake of the colony's long-term success. However, she also gets over it way too quickly, if you ask me, and tells herself she's just being silly. She's not. Procreation is a very big deal, and I hate that this issue was ultimately dismissed as though it isn't. Maybe it's just because I myself am fiercely protective of my rights to decide what does and does not live in my body, but I just found the presentation of this as a done deal, and Kris's almost immediate more-or-less acceptance of it rather disturbing.
Then there's the second issue. It was stated explicitly that they had the technology to do artificial insemination, and Kris made it very clear very early and to anyone who broached the subject of fathering her child, that that would be the method she would use, if she had to bear a child. She had no intention whatsoever of being unfaithful to her mate, even if he was accepting of the whole situation. And yet, after she breaks her arm and has to stay home from a mission that she was supposed to go on with Zainal, she's miserable, lonely, and drunk as a skunk on the only analgesic they have available: moonshine. And one of the other characters, who we're supposed to like, takes her home and ends up sleeping with her. I was so nauseated by this that it made the rest of the book hard to read. It doesn't matter that she didn't protest. It doesn't even matter that she enjoyed it. To take advantage like that of a woman in the state she was in has a legal name, and it kills me to see that ignored entirely. The individual in question later claims that he was also so drunk he barely remembers what happened, and thus wasn't in his right mind at the time either, but I don't buy that. If you're so drunk you weren't functioning right in the head to the point of not knowing what you're doing and not remembering it later, you're drunk enough that you're not functioning right in other parts, either. You certainly wouldn't be good at it. Maybe if the sex had been described as being hopelessly sloppy and awkward, I could buy it. But not when it's described as being very good. If you were that good, you were not so drunk that you can't claim responsibility. End of story. So yeah. The way that whole situation was handled was something I found extremely distasteful, and in fact, downright offensive. The fact that that is how she ends up pregnant just adds salt to the wound. I just hated that whole situation, and I can't even begin to express how disappointed I am in Anne McCaffrey for how she wrote it. I just... I really can't.
June 15, 2017
I love the worlds that McCaffrey makes but not so much the overly practical views her characters tend to take towards love, sex, and childbearing.
The Catteni world is one of my favorites of her books. Though I' ve decided to stop reading it. I might try to finish this again just because I love the world so much.
When Kristin was told that she'd be expected to have a baby and that she didn't have a choice because it was for the good of the colony I was plenty upset. I even had scenarios running through my head of what would happen if she outright refused. Would they forcibly inseminate her? I told my self I was being silly, that they would never do that to her. That whatever happened Zanal would have her back.
Then Zanal tells her he doesn't care if she goes and gets pregnant by some guy.
Then she decides that she's just being silly. That it's not as big a deal as she was making it out to be and that she could spare 9 months of her life, pop out the kid, hand it over to the other women to be raised, and she'd be back to work.
Then she gets drunk on moonshine(It's a pain killer for her broken arm).
Then she's helped back to her and Zanals house by a friend(I forget his name).
Then the friend deposits her onto her bed and turns to leave.
Then she decides that she doesn't want to be alone and grabs his arm.
Then he leans down and kisses her.
Then there's some comment about her (broken)arm and how she doesn't have to do anything. He'll do it all, she just has to lay there.
Then I refrained from throwing my device across the room. (One downside of an eBook. You can' t take your anger out on it.)
Yeah, on second thought. I don' t think I'll ever try to finish this book.
The Catteni world is one of my favorites of her books. Though I' ve decided to stop reading it. I might try to finish this again just because I love the world so much.
When Kristin was told that she'd be expected to have a baby and that she didn't have a choice because it was for the good of the colony I was plenty upset. I even had scenarios running through my head of what would happen if she outright refused. Would they forcibly inseminate her? I told my self I was being silly, that they would never do that to her. That whatever happened Zanal would have her back.
Then Zanal tells her he doesn't care if she goes and gets pregnant by some guy.
Then she decides that she's just being silly. That it's not as big a deal as she was making it out to be and that she could spare 9 months of her life, pop out the kid, hand it over to the other women to be raised, and she'd be back to work.
Then she gets drunk on moonshine(It's a pain killer for her broken arm).
Then she's helped back to her and Zanals house by a friend(I forget his name).
Then the friend deposits her onto her bed and turns to leave.
Then she decides that she doesn't want to be alone and grabs his arm.
Then he leans down and kisses her.
Then there's some comment about her (broken)arm and how she doesn't have to do anything. He'll do it all, she just has to lay there.
Then I refrained from throwing my device across the room. (One downside of an eBook. You can' t take your anger out on it.)
Yeah, on second thought. I don' t think I'll ever try to finish this book.
December 30, 2020
"How could she fault him for getting drunk and doing what was natural enough? Pregnancy was also mellowing her." (p. 214)
"By now, almost every female of childbearing age was expecting... Now they had a new crop--which had been plowed on Botany, as someone had remarked in a biblical fashion." (p. 219)
"That is just how I feel," Kris said, trapped.
"Sandy kept smiling at her. "In case you're interested, you're going through the same phases that others have--including Astrid--before accepting the inevitable."
"When it is time, you will have the child and I will help you. Do not make it such a big deal." (p. 164)
"...to sort out incoherent and irrational emotions.... She needed to cool down and stop acting so stupidly."
NO. FUCK YOU. WOMEN ARE NOT CROPS AND DATE RAPE IS NOT OK.
"By now, almost every female of childbearing age was expecting... Now they had a new crop--which had been plowed on Botany, as someone had remarked in a biblical fashion." (p. 219)
"That is just how I feel," Kris said, trapped.
"Sandy kept smiling at her. "In case you're interested, you're going through the same phases that others have--including Astrid--before accepting the inevitable."
"When it is time, you will have the child and I will help you. Do not make it such a big deal." (p. 164)
"...to sort out incoherent and irrational emotions.... She needed to cool down and stop acting so stupidly."
NO. FUCK YOU. WOMEN ARE NOT CROPS AND DATE RAPE IS NOT OK.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 20, 2016
After some internal debate, I decided to round this one down to two stars. Too many times I forced myself to continue reading or to pick the book back up again. While I've heard some great comments about Anne McCaffrey as an author, I implore anyone to not make this series your first impression.
Frankly, the writing is not good. The premise started out fine in book one and it's still decently strong. What a shame that the execution could be a thousand times better.
My first complaint is conflict, or the lack thereof. All the characters just go with the flow minus one exception, and that exception was an extreme standout and treated like a nuisance rather than some plot-altering problem. Personality-wise, no characters jump out from the rest. Everyone is basically on the same page all the time, everyone essentially has the same reactions to the various situations, everyone has similar mannerisms, etc. It's downright boring.
Then there are problems with certain aspects of the plot. For instance, women fundamentally become Breeders for this colony and they're all expected to participate. Apparently no individual choice exists (despite the name of the book), but that's okay, because according to literally everyone in the story, this just makes sense and is the natural course to take. But why does this make sense? No explanation was ever given except that men greatly outnumber women on the colony, but even that isn't an adequate explanation. No precedence was set to establish there being more males than females. Based on the methods employed by the Catteni to drop the Terrans and other species on the planet Botany, it should have been a roughly equal male-to-female ratio.
Another big contention I had, and one many reviewers commented on, is the sort-of-rapey-but-not-quite-rape-scene-because-it-turns-out-they-both-were-drunk-when-they-had-sex scenario. This was just bad. The scene might have been able to work with a more skilled writer, but instead it came across as sloppy, unnecessary, and offensive with extremely unrealistic reactions all around. And I don't mean it was offensive because rape or not-quite-rape-but-close situations are offensive; it was offensive because of the nonchalant responses from everybody involved, from the two parties that participated in the act, to the the partner of one of those people, to the acting authorities, etc. Nothing came across as real. No one cared.
Finally, at the end, there's a huge heist scenario and my mind is thinking that now is the time for some characterization and conflict development, because how could there not be any? Well...there wasn't. Minus the characters involved being a little nervous the entire time, everything resolves without a hitch. Again, boring.
The Catteni series is a quartet, so I have two books left. I own both of them and have no doubt I'll complete the series since that's the kind of person that I am. However, I would urge all but die-hard Anne McCaffrey fans to avoid this one. Even though I gave three stars to the first novel, that was based predominantly on premise. The characters aren't realistic and the execution is utterly poor. It's a shame that this is my first impression of an otherwise praised author.
Frankly, the writing is not good. The premise started out fine in book one and it's still decently strong. What a shame that the execution could be a thousand times better.
My first complaint is conflict, or the lack thereof. All the characters just go with the flow minus one exception, and that exception was an extreme standout and treated like a nuisance rather than some plot-altering problem. Personality-wise, no characters jump out from the rest. Everyone is basically on the same page all the time, everyone essentially has the same reactions to the various situations, everyone has similar mannerisms, etc. It's downright boring.
Then there are problems with certain aspects of the plot. For instance, women fundamentally become Breeders for this colony and they're all expected to participate. Apparently no individual choice exists (despite the name of the book), but that's okay, because according to literally everyone in the story, this just makes sense and is the natural course to take. But why does this make sense? No explanation was ever given except that men greatly outnumber women on the colony, but even that isn't an adequate explanation. No precedence was set to establish there being more males than females. Based on the methods employed by the Catteni to drop the Terrans and other species on the planet Botany, it should have been a roughly equal male-to-female ratio.
Another big contention I had, and one many reviewers commented on, is the sort-of-rapey-but-not-quite-rape-scene-because-it-turns-out-they-both-were-drunk-when-they-had-sex scenario. This was just bad. The scene might have been able to work with a more skilled writer, but instead it came across as sloppy, unnecessary, and offensive with extremely unrealistic reactions all around. And I don't mean it was offensive because rape or not-quite-rape-but-close situations are offensive; it was offensive because of the nonchalant responses from everybody involved, from the two parties that participated in the act, to the the partner of one of those people, to the acting authorities, etc. Nothing came across as real. No one cared.
Finally, at the end, there's a huge heist scenario and my mind is thinking that now is the time for some characterization and conflict development, because how could there not be any? Well...there wasn't. Minus the characters involved being a little nervous the entire time, everything resolves without a hitch. Again, boring.
The Catteni series is a quartet, so I have two books left. I own both of them and have no doubt I'll complete the series since that's the kind of person that I am. However, I would urge all but die-hard Anne McCaffrey fans to avoid this one. Even though I gave three stars to the first novel, that was based predominantly on premise. The characters aren't realistic and the execution is utterly poor. It's a shame that this is my first impression of an otherwise praised author.
August 12, 2022
This review is based on the audiobook.
I wanted to only say amazing things about this performance, it was a bit of a shock at first but very amazing to have multiple voice actors along with the narrator when the first in the series only had the single narrator. However, halfway through this story I got hit with such a shock that it has left a sour taste. The main character Chris has been a strong fierce no nonsense powerful woman throughout, until the author decided to add pregnancy. Because Chris cannot breed with Zainel, she had to get pregnant from another human. In order to achieve this, the author caused a broken arm and to dull the pain a man took care of her and they both got drunk and ended up in bed together in chapter 9 or 10. Chris just let it slide. "Oh we were drunk and I think I enjoyed myself so it's fine." No. No no no no. Chris would have been so guilt ridden for cheating on her mate as well as infuriated over being taken advantage. It was absolutely out of character and it sickens me. Near the end of the book she got upset about a different man sitting close and touching thighs. But being raped while drunk off hooch was no problem. This is not okay. Do not read this book. That whole scenario is unacceptable and I will not be reading any more in this series.
I wanted to only say amazing things about this performance, it was a bit of a shock at first but very amazing to have multiple voice actors along with the narrator when the first in the series only had the single narrator. However, halfway through this story I got hit with such a shock that it has left a sour taste. The main character Chris has been a strong fierce no nonsense powerful woman throughout, until the author decided to add pregnancy. Because Chris cannot breed with Zainel, she had to get pregnant from another human. In order to achieve this, the author caused a broken arm and to dull the pain a man took care of her and they both got drunk and ended up in bed together in chapter 9 or 10. Chris just let it slide. "Oh we were drunk and I think I enjoyed myself so it's fine." No. No no no no. Chris would have been so guilt ridden for cheating on her mate as well as infuriated over being taken advantage. It was absolutely out of character and it sickens me. Near the end of the book she got upset about a different man sitting close and touching thighs. But being raped while drunk off hooch was no problem. This is not okay. Do not read this book. That whole scenario is unacceptable and I will not be reading any more in this series.
May 18, 2022
In this second of the series, we meet the Eosi in more depth, and boy are they scary. They are a species that "subsumes" an Emassi (a Catteni who is of the aristocratic class) host, who is usually chosen well ahead of time, as a child. The Eosi engulfs the host mentally, physically, and basically wipes out their personality. Not only that, but the Emassi body is distorted into a creepy-looking giant in the process. I'm reminded only a little of the Goa'uld of the Stargate TV series, because although a Goa'uld could be removed, I doubt any Emassi would survive this process.
So, now we understand one of the reasons why Emassi Zainal is content to stay on Botany and to integrate himself into the human (and other species) population, helping them as much as he can, and even wants to help with the human resistance. His people, the Catteni, are as much under the Eosi race's power as the humans think they are under the Catteni, and Zainal was chosen as a youth to be a host to an Eosi, as his grandfather was before him. Now his brother, Lenvec, is forced to take his place.
Zainal's other reason for staying is of course that he is in love with Kristin Bjornsen, or Kris.
The adventure continues, on the planet Botany. The colonists now call themselves Botanicals. They make progress in their plan to gain a ship and fight against Earth's oppressors, but of course there are many twists along the way. And who are the Farmers? We find out something of them, in this book.
I didn't like this as much as the first novel in the series, but I think that is mostly because the plot becomes so complex, with lots of new characters introduced, and I get a little lost. But some of that may be because I read at night before sleep, and sometimes I'm really too tired to keep up with the story. It would be better, with these, to read earlier in the day. So maybe I will try to read the final two books on a weekend, when I have some free time.
The story is compelling, and I look forward to discovering how it turns out.
So, now we understand one of the reasons why Emassi Zainal is content to stay on Botany and to integrate himself into the human (and other species) population, helping them as much as he can, and even wants to help with the human resistance. His people, the Catteni, are as much under the Eosi race's power as the humans think they are under the Catteni, and Zainal was chosen as a youth to be a host to an Eosi, as his grandfather was before him. Now his brother, Lenvec, is forced to take his place.
Zainal's other reason for staying is of course that he is in love with Kristin Bjornsen, or Kris.
The adventure continues, on the planet Botany. The colonists now call themselves Botanicals. They make progress in their plan to gain a ship and fight against Earth's oppressors, but of course there are many twists along the way. And who are the Farmers? We find out something of them, in this book.
I didn't like this as much as the first novel in the series, but I think that is mostly because the plot becomes so complex, with lots of new characters introduced, and I get a little lost. But some of that may be because I read at night before sleep, and sometimes I'm really too tired to keep up with the story. It would be better, with these, to read earlier in the day. So maybe I will try to read the final two books on a weekend, when I have some free time.
The story is compelling, and I look forward to discovering how it turns out.
December 28, 2011
Good sequel to the first book, although I had some issues with it. I still love where the colony is going, the politics and how they organize themselves. I like Zainal and Kris and their place in the bigger picture. The Farmers were awesome and the Eosi just really, really creepy. The whole pacifist rebellion thing is something that absolutely thrilled me.
So the characters were awesome and the story was good, but there were some minor story-lines that just weren't handled well. The colony decided mandatory child-bearing to keep the gene-pool flowing. First I thought that was crazy because they have nothing to defend themselves and are still in the middle of the war, and they are only there for a couple of months when that decision is taken. I also thought it was weird Kris wasn't part of that debate. I did like that there wasn't mandatory child-raising, and that they could artificially procreate.
I liked that Kris completely freaked out about it. I didn't really get Zainal's reaction, but I really didn't comprehend how Kris finally ended up pregnant and handled that.
So yeah, that killed the fun a bit. I have to admit though that the way the book is written you seriously want to read what happens next, and the basic story is still really cool and interesting. It's just that all sidesteps aren't handled equally well.
So the characters were awesome and the story was good, but there were some minor story-lines that just weren't handled well. The colony decided mandatory child-bearing to keep the gene-pool flowing. First I thought that was crazy because they have nothing to defend themselves and are still in the middle of the war, and they are only there for a couple of months when that decision is taken. I also thought it was weird Kris wasn't part of that debate. I did like that there wasn't mandatory child-raising, and that they could artificially procreate.
I liked that Kris completely freaked out about it. I didn't really get Zainal's reaction, but I really didn't comprehend how Kris finally ended up pregnant and handled that.
So yeah, that killed the fun a bit. I have to admit though that the way the book is written you seriously want to read what happens next, and the basic story is still really cool and interesting. It's just that all sidesteps aren't handled equally well.
September 5, 2011
This is the second book in her series started with Freedom's Landing. The series is not about the invasion and conquering of Earth. Like Douglas Adams, McCaffrey essentially blows up Earth in chapter one (well not completely, but Earth is basically irrelevant).
The point is, a group of earthlings and other conquered sentients are dumped on an alien world to see if it is habitable, in other words, to survive to be conquered again or die. The main character is a brilliant tough Nordic lass and her hero a disgraced member of the conquering aliens. The books are fun space opera but in a Land of the Lost survivalist vein, with a wonderful romantic element and great alien species. I adore them.
The point is, a group of earthlings and other conquered sentients are dumped on an alien world to see if it is habitable, in other words, to survive to be conquered again or die. The main character is a brilliant tough Nordic lass and her hero a disgraced member of the conquering aliens. The books are fun space opera but in a Land of the Lost survivalist vein, with a wonderful romantic element and great alien species. I adore them.
May 14, 2011
Really enjoyed the first book, Freedom's Landing, and was looking forward to reading the sequel - very disappointing though. A third of the way through and nothing much has happened that hadn't already happened in book one. It was becoming a chore to read, and didn't capture my interest - so afraid this one is to be left unfinished, and the third and final book will be left unstarted.
January 25, 2023
Actual star score 4.25
Kris and Zainal, a member of the Catteni race have been working on a several phase plan to free all of the different races, including the Catteni and human from under the domain of the Eosi. The Eosi are a limited number of creatures that fully take over the bodies of the Catteni they've picked for themselves.
Part of what the two of them, plus most of the leaders of Botany, the name they gave to the planet they are on, have planned is with the spaceship they captured and if they can get it, the help of the race they call the farmers and get what they need to put a stop to the Eosi forever.
One of the things that must be done is to train as many people to fly or navigate the spaceship. While that's happening another growth spout is happening, they have decided that they must populate the planet the natural way. This is something that Kris and Zainal can't do and she is determined to be faithful to Zainal.
I've touched on a few things in the book, but what I knocked the score down a bit for is some areas are too dry and lengthy and didn't add much to the storyline to me.
Kris and Zainal, a member of the Catteni race have been working on a several phase plan to free all of the different races, including the Catteni and human from under the domain of the Eosi. The Eosi are a limited number of creatures that fully take over the bodies of the Catteni they've picked for themselves.
Part of what the two of them, plus most of the leaders of Botany, the name they gave to the planet they are on, have planned is with the spaceship they captured and if they can get it, the help of the race they call the farmers and get what they need to put a stop to the Eosi forever.
One of the things that must be done is to train as many people to fly or navigate the spaceship. While that's happening another growth spout is happening, they have decided that they must populate the planet the natural way. This is something that Kris and Zainal can't do and she is determined to be faithful to Zainal.
I've touched on a few things in the book, but what I knocked the score down a bit for is some areas are too dry and lengthy and didn't add much to the storyline to me.
December 31, 2020
The second book in the series definitely didn't annoy me as much as the first one! The Farmer's have finally noticed that something has gone a bit wrong on their planet and come to take a look-see, although their attitude isn't quite what our mixed bag of refugees wanted. We also find out more about the Eosi and why Zainal refused to leave his exile.
I really liked that they've started to fight back too - stealing ships and slipping back into port to get supplies and rescue slaves - all very action-packed. Although, again, I sometimes got the impression that it was all just a little bit easy.
One niggle though - only 8 months on the planet and they're so caught up in breeding the next generation!!!
But overall, I really enjoyed the read and look forward to seeing how it plays out in the next book. And I really want to know what are in the blocked off valleys!
I really liked that they've started to fight back too - stealing ships and slipping back into port to get supplies and rescue slaves - all very action-packed. Although, again, I sometimes got the impression that it was all just a little bit easy.
One niggle though - only 8 months on the planet and they're so caught up in breeding the next generation!!!
But overall, I really enjoyed the read and look forward to seeing how it plays out in the next book. And I really want to know what are in the blocked off valleys!
June 30, 2022
Not as good as Book 1 but things are heating up between the colonists of Botany and the Catteni, especially now that they have a small ship of their own and have the "Farmers" on their side to help keep them safe.
Didn't much care for the "get Kris drunk and screw" by that Pete guy while Zainal was up in the ship checking out the "bubble." That just seemed all wrong. I don't care what Pete said about barely remembering himself bc he was plastered too or that Kris shrugged it off. I didn't like that at all, especially since a bunch of the men were trying to get with her anyway so that they could "re-populate." Blah. Other than that part, the rest of the story was ok.
Didn't much care for the "get Kris drunk and screw" by that Pete guy while Zainal was up in the ship checking out the "bubble." That just seemed all wrong. I don't care what Pete said about barely remembering himself bc he was plastered too or that Kris shrugged it off. I didn't like that at all, especially since a bunch of the men were trying to get with her anyway so that they could "re-populate." Blah. Other than that part, the rest of the story was ok.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 15, 2021
Colonization rebellion part 2. Not bad but felt a bit thin. Not enough struggle, not enough character depth, not enough believable aliens. Readable but not thrilling.
March 22, 2017
These notes are for the purpose of jogging my poor memory:
Note: Listened to books 1 and 2 back-to-back over the weekend so may be getting some of the timeline wrong. See, just a day and I'm already forgetting. Harder for me to remember audio.
Freedom series continues with more of the same from the first book. More outposts set up. Kris and Zainal a couple. Lots of scouting. Zainal makes plans for freeing people--colonists, Earth, Catteni (who we learn are just pawns of a race called the Eosi). This involves stealing ships and taking the fight offworld. They go back to Barevi (?) where they steal another ship in addition to the one they came with. They load up the ships with needed supplies, as well as many people of all races from the slave pens, many of whom are notable humans who have had their minds wiped in an attempt to extract information.
We learn more about Zainal's past--that he was a high-caste Catteni slated to become the host for an Eosi mentat named Ix. When he disappeared, his brother was selected instead. Brother had always been jealous of Zainal for this honor, felt that Zainal got all the benefits but none of the negatives. Brother had to leave a wife, children, as well as two of Zainal's sons he was tasked to take care of. New host inherits some of brother's bitter feelings.
Botanists make contact with the Farmers. First, the Farmers replace the broken machinery. Second, they encase the planet in a protective bubble. Catteni can't get in, but colonists get leave/return (hence trip to Barevi). There's also a face-to-face, with the Farmers taking the forms of the various colonists. Farmers are benign, even protective--allow Botanists to remain on the planet but refuse to help with Zainal's plans because they don't want to inflict harm. After Barevi rescue mission, Botanists send record of what was done to the mind-wiped humans to the Farmers in an attempt to persuade them to help.
Big issue in this book for me: mandatory childbearing.
On return from mission, Kris informed that decision made to require all women to bear at least one child. Method of insemination can be in person or artificial. No discussion. Kris upset because she was informed of the fait accompli with no chance of input. She is partnered with an alien man who can't reproduce with her, so she will have to have a child fathered by someone else. In addition, she never wanted to have children to begin with. All reasonable objections, imo. Much is made by everyone, really, how childish and unreasonable Kris's reaction is to this news. And Kris herself quickly agrees.
I can see that this is a subject that would come up in a situation like this, but it was handled in such a ham-handed manner by McCaffrey. She could have arrived at the same outcome in a more sensitive and understanding manner. Odd that a series about Freedom represents women's loss of ownership over their own reproduction in such a blithe and offhand manner--no discussion, belittling any reaction. Maybe she just didn't want to take up storytime with this, but she could have covered some of it in just a paragraph or two if she hadn't want to go into detail. Something to the effect that they're stranded on an alien planet which they will need to populate with young in order to sustain their accomplishments and grow. Recognize that this is a difficult decision for women--serious medical ramification of childbirth on a primitive planet, puts them in a vulnerable position, etc. Support that will be provided to the women and their children (beyond what McCaffrey glossed over).
Also, as soon as this edict was announced, all of the women were immediately pestered by the men wanting them to get pregnant (preferably by natural means) and bear their children. It was like a rutting free-for-all. No guidelines or rules of behavior. Of course, scores of men, including her friends and some in senior positions, want Kris because she's so wonderful. Kris gets pregnant by someone after she has been injured and is too drugged up to know what's happening. It's supposed to be OK because the guy, a friend, was also drunk so can't be held accountable. Kris withholds the identity of the father even from him, but later thinks she was being petty. Eh. Of course, Zainal's cool with all of this and raises the child (Zane) as his own, changing diaper, feeding, etc. So perfect.
Really enraged by this. As noted, I don't necessarily disagree with the ultimate decision given the circumstances the Botanicals fund themselves, but think it should have been handled way differently.
C/C-
Audiobook
Don't think I care much for the dual narrators.
Note: Listened to books 1 and 2 back-to-back over the weekend so may be getting some of the timeline wrong. See, just a day and I'm already forgetting. Harder for me to remember audio.
Freedom series continues with more of the same from the first book. More outposts set up. Kris and Zainal a couple. Lots of scouting. Zainal makes plans for freeing people--colonists, Earth, Catteni (who we learn are just pawns of a race called the Eosi). This involves stealing ships and taking the fight offworld. They go back to Barevi (?) where they steal another ship in addition to the one they came with. They load up the ships with needed supplies, as well as many people of all races from the slave pens, many of whom are notable humans who have had their minds wiped in an attempt to extract information.
We learn more about Zainal's past--that he was a high-caste Catteni slated to become the host for an Eosi mentat named Ix. When he disappeared, his brother was selected instead. Brother had always been jealous of Zainal for this honor, felt that Zainal got all the benefits but none of the negatives. Brother had to leave a wife, children, as well as two of Zainal's sons he was tasked to take care of. New host inherits some of brother's bitter feelings.
Botanists make contact with the Farmers. First, the Farmers replace the broken machinery. Second, they encase the planet in a protective bubble. Catteni can't get in, but colonists get leave/return (hence trip to Barevi). There's also a face-to-face, with the Farmers taking the forms of the various colonists. Farmers are benign, even protective--allow Botanists to remain on the planet but refuse to help with Zainal's plans because they don't want to inflict harm. After Barevi rescue mission, Botanists send record of what was done to the mind-wiped humans to the Farmers in an attempt to persuade them to help.
Big issue in this book for me: mandatory childbearing.
On return from mission, Kris informed that decision made to require all women to bear at least one child. Method of insemination can be in person or artificial. No discussion. Kris upset because she was informed of the fait accompli with no chance of input. She is partnered with an alien man who can't reproduce with her, so she will have to have a child fathered by someone else. In addition, she never wanted to have children to begin with. All reasonable objections, imo. Much is made by everyone, really, how childish and unreasonable Kris's reaction is to this news. And Kris herself quickly agrees.
I can see that this is a subject that would come up in a situation like this, but it was handled in such a ham-handed manner by McCaffrey. She could have arrived at the same outcome in a more sensitive and understanding manner. Odd that a series about Freedom represents women's loss of ownership over their own reproduction in such a blithe and offhand manner--no discussion, belittling any reaction. Maybe she just didn't want to take up storytime with this, but she could have covered some of it in just a paragraph or two if she hadn't want to go into detail. Something to the effect that they're stranded on an alien planet which they will need to populate with young in order to sustain their accomplishments and grow. Recognize that this is a difficult decision for women--serious medical ramification of childbirth on a primitive planet, puts them in a vulnerable position, etc. Support that will be provided to the women and their children (beyond what McCaffrey glossed over).
Also, as soon as this edict was announced, all of the women were immediately pestered by the men wanting them to get pregnant (preferably by natural means) and bear their children. It was like a rutting free-for-all. No guidelines or rules of behavior. Of course, scores of men, including her friends and some in senior positions, want Kris because she's so wonderful. Kris gets pregnant by someone after she has been injured and is too drugged up to know what's happening. It's supposed to be OK because the guy, a friend, was also drunk so can't be held accountable. Kris withholds the identity of the father even from him, but later thinks she was being petty. Eh. Of course, Zainal's cool with all of this and raises the child (Zane) as his own, changing diaper, feeding, etc. So perfect.
Really enraged by this. As noted, I don't necessarily disagree with the ultimate decision given the circumstances the Botanicals fund themselves, but think it should have been handled way differently.
C/C-
Audiobook
Don't think I care much for the dual narrators.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 15, 2021
I think she'd written better stories, everything was just a little too easy, problems resolved a little too quickly. Lack of discussion and exploration of the most controvertial two plot points was not just disapointing but grossley morally negligent.
The very sudden announcment of the new colony needing children via compulsary pregnancy was just vile. The whole thing was presented as a fait accompli, with the main protagonist, a strong minded, independant young woman just rolling over to the notion after a couple of pages and no proper discussion/exploration or the why/need there was for it. Her mate (whom she can't have children with) instead of supporting her inital and valid discomfort and negative reaction tells her it's fine and she'd being silly, no one else around voices any problem with it, it's complete madness. But wait, it's not so bad, she can get pregnant through IVF so no need for her to cheat on her mate. I have to wonder at even briging that idea in whe it wasn't used.
Which leads to plot point two. Kris breaks her arm, is given incredibly strong alcohol as a painkiller, gets shit faced drunk, a supposed friend takes her home and in her druken state she sleeps with him thinking he is Zanial, her mate. She wakes up the next day, realises Zanial is still away on a mission and that she slept with someone else. Instead of insensed and angry about the fact she has been taken advantage of and essentally raped the whole thing just gets brushed off. Discarded as though its not a big deal, as though what happened wasn't a forced insemination and rape. It WAS. The whole situation disgusts me, I can't believe any women could write this rubbish. Just the idea that a woman is writing this, justifying it and letting it stand as if her main character wasn't just VIOLATED is beyond dispicable.
The very sudden announcment of the new colony needing children via compulsary pregnancy was just vile. The whole thing was presented as a fait accompli, with the main protagonist, a strong minded, independant young woman just rolling over to the notion after a couple of pages and no proper discussion/exploration or the why/need there was for it. Her mate (whom she can't have children with) instead of supporting her inital and valid discomfort and negative reaction tells her it's fine and she'd being silly, no one else around voices any problem with it, it's complete madness. But wait, it's not so bad, she can get pregnant through IVF so no need for her to cheat on her mate. I have to wonder at even briging that idea in whe it wasn't used.
Which leads to plot point two. Kris breaks her arm, is given incredibly strong alcohol as a painkiller, gets shit faced drunk, a supposed friend takes her home and in her druken state she sleeps with him thinking he is Zanial, her mate. She wakes up the next day, realises Zanial is still away on a mission and that she slept with someone else. Instead of insensed and angry about the fact she has been taken advantage of and essentally raped the whole thing just gets brushed off. Discarded as though its not a big deal, as though what happened wasn't a forced insemination and rape. It WAS. The whole situation disgusts me, I can't believe any women could write this rubbish. Just the idea that a woman is writing this, justifying it and letting it stand as if her main character wasn't just VIOLATED is beyond dispicable.
August 28, 2021
The premise and certain details of this series are just so cool. I am thrilled by the Farmers - an incredibly intelligent, highly skilled, pacifist, ecologically-minded species?! Love it. The colony building is fluffy but fun (building homes, farming, figuring out how to organize the group). The execution, however, is terrible. The writing is uneven and suffers from thesaurus syndrome. Some sentences read like a high schooler trying to sound smart with five dollar words. Other sentences I have to read several times because of their insanely odd construction. There are a ridiculous amount of typos in my copy. It’s all “tell” and not “show.” The hijack should have been suspenseful as the reader finds out if the plan works or not. Instead, we get the formation of the plan and then the end result. Very little in the way of implementation of said plan. Therefore, no suspense. One of the members of the mission gets publicly drunk mid-mission and they all just laugh it off. Um, that seems like a big risk to me that could out them as not Catteni and jeopardize their mission and their lives. But haha, he can’t handle his liquor! It all just felt so unbelievable and really undermined the characters as strategic and intelligent. And don’t get me started with the how the forced pregnancy and rape was handled, and how all the competent and skilled women just devolve when they get pregnant to silly, one-dimensional people. The whole thing plays grossly into lame and harmful stereotypes. I am a mom. I love my child more than anything and would die for her, but it is not the single defining thing about me. It’s disappointing and lazy for McCaffrey to go this route.
I will continue because I’m invested and can somewhat enjoy it if I think of it as fluff and suspend a lot of reason, but I am disappointed because this could have been so good in different hands.
I will continue because I’m invested and can somewhat enjoy it if I think of it as fluff and suspend a lot of reason, but I am disappointed because this could have been so good in different hands.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 29, 2023
This one's fucked up.
I don't like body horror, and that fully extends to things done to the brain. I hated the last developments in the story.
McCaffrey also is fully a rape apologist in this, and is fine with forced birth as a cultural norm. Kris is so weak willed, she goes along with anything others bring up, giving only lip service to the idea of protest. She caves even faster if Zainal says it's a good idea. The new decree on Botany that every woman of childbearing age having to push out a baby is dropped on the reader with no debate or push back. I super hate it, it's unjustified this early into colonialization and too much of a health risk for 50% of the population. Pregnancy severely increases one's chances of death, even without unknown toxins, viruses, and bacteria to contend with, even without a partner who may kill you. But miraculously, every woman who got pregnant was unharmed in childbirth. Bullshit. The "nice guy" Paul gets Kris drunk on purpose, rapes her, and then is allowed to do his normal routines. Kris is written to have been "in the wrong" for not letting him know it was his baby! She is supposed to have been complicit for being drunk and for having "enjoyed it anyway". Get the fuck out of here with this, I am sick from it.
This one also shows McCaffrey's racism. It probably isn't purposeful, but it's there. She specifically states when a character isn't white, and it's notable how few characters with names aren't white. She leans into stereotypes about race and has "good guy" characters making casually racist comments about minorities. She has one black commander, and no leaders who are women. She pushes a military runand enforced government and judicial system, and then tries to say that Botany has no government and is better for it. I hate this so much I can't stand it. This book is trash. 0/5 stars.
I don't like body horror, and that fully extends to things done to the brain. I hated the last developments in the story.
McCaffrey also is fully a rape apologist in this, and is fine with forced birth as a cultural norm. Kris is so weak willed, she goes along with anything others bring up, giving only lip service to the idea of protest. She caves even faster if Zainal says it's a good idea. The new decree on Botany that every woman of childbearing age having to push out a baby is dropped on the reader with no debate or push back. I super hate it, it's unjustified this early into colonialization and too much of a health risk for 50% of the population. Pregnancy severely increases one's chances of death, even without unknown toxins, viruses, and bacteria to contend with, even without a partner who may kill you. But miraculously, every woman who got pregnant was unharmed in childbirth. Bullshit. The "nice guy" Paul gets Kris drunk on purpose, rapes her, and then is allowed to do his normal routines. Kris is written to have been "in the wrong" for not letting him know it was his baby! She is supposed to have been complicit for being drunk and for having "enjoyed it anyway". Get the fuck out of here with this, I am sick from it.
This one also shows McCaffrey's racism. It probably isn't purposeful, but it's there. She specifically states when a character isn't white, and it's notable how few characters with names aren't white. She leans into stereotypes about race and has "good guy" characters making casually racist comments about minorities. She has one black commander, and no leaders who are women. She pushes a military runand enforced government and judicial system, and then tries to say that Botany has no government and is better for it. I hate this so much I can't stand it. This book is trash. 0/5 stars.
June 29, 2017
Freedom's Choice (1997) by Anne McCaffrey is about 295 pages too long. Every single word is utterly forgettable. Every conversation is dull. The tome reeks of pointlessness basted in apathy. How a writer of McCaffrey's statue could forget to use plot, pacing, and other basic literary conventions is beyond me. Emotionally, the book is a straight line, never deviating from its steady state. You never doubt anything because the books essentially goes nowhere. Yes, stuff happens, but you don't care. This book progresses in the same way that wandering far enough in any direction feels like you've progressed. She phoned this thing in.
How did this even get published?
Any reasonable writer could have told this tale in one quarter of the words, and had a greater impact on the reader. The work is no better than a novella tossed into a puffed rice maker, only bigger because it contained more air.
If you don't mind drinking on the beach as you turn off your brain, you'll find this an entertaining book. Any drunk can follow the lacadasical plot, and the story repeatedly tells you information, so you don't have to worry about forgetting anything.
I'm not even going to stand here and justify myself. That would be more than this book deserves.
What galls me most is that it isn't a one star book. I'd have far more fun with a truly bad book. No, this is a two-star turkey perfect for the days when you're on heavy meds.
How did this even get published?
Any reasonable writer could have told this tale in one quarter of the words, and had a greater impact on the reader. The work is no better than a novella tossed into a puffed rice maker, only bigger because it contained more air.
If you don't mind drinking on the beach as you turn off your brain, you'll find this an entertaining book. Any drunk can follow the lacadasical plot, and the story repeatedly tells you information, so you don't have to worry about forgetting anything.
I'm not even going to stand here and justify myself. That would be more than this book deserves.
What galls me most is that it isn't a one star book. I'd have far more fun with a truly bad book. No, this is a two-star turkey perfect for the days when you're on heavy meds.
February 11, 2019
The folks are not only stuck on Botany, but more people are being dumped. Not only that, but they're worried about what the "Farmers" will do when they check up on the planet.
Kris and Zainal are a "thing" (married for all intents and purposes) and the first "dropped" are beginning to accept Zainal. The newly arrived have to get used to him, although some seem slow to do so.
The masters (Eosi) are still not happy with Zainal and are trying to abduct him and bring him back "home".
Still not the best of McCaffrey's yarns, but it's still better than most other SF and worth reading over (this is my second round -- and the nice thing about my age, is that it's all "new" to me).
Kris and Zainal are a "thing" (married for all intents and purposes) and the first "dropped" are beginning to accept Zainal. The newly arrived have to get used to him, although some seem slow to do so.
The masters (Eosi) are still not happy with Zainal and are trying to abduct him and bring him back "home".
Still not the best of McCaffrey's yarns, but it's still better than most other SF and worth reading over (this is my second round -- and the nice thing about my age, is that it's all "new" to me).
October 10, 2009
The pieces are coming together now....
February 21, 2021
This is not a sci-fi adventure novel, nor the epic it aspires to be. This is a daydream about colonizing an alien planet. And, as far as daydreams go, it’s well written and developed. But it doesn’t go much farther than that. As in most daydreams, every possible source of conflict, tension, and suspense that makes an appearance is ignored, whitewashed, or quickly resolved. So if you want a nice, leisurely stroll through a sci-fi colony, slathered with a heavy veneer of world-building research, but don’t want it to be too exciting or lead to much, this is your book. If want to put yourself in the hands of a master storyteller who will take you on a thrilling, meaningful adventure, look elsewhere.
My main issue with the book is its Marxist/utopian agenda, which appears to be the reason why McCaffrey skittered away from any of the dozens of conflicts that could have made this book great. Wouldn’t want to look too deep into the human condition and disprove communism, would we? But even if someone really thinks that thousands of humans from all over the world suddenly transplanted onto another planet (with a variety of aliens) will all get along like the best of chums—is that really the best choice for an entertaining novel? This ought to have been an author’s treasure trove of epic conflict potential. We’re talking stuff of biblical proportions here! But no. McCaffrey had to go the boring route. And whatever McCaffrey believes (I really don’t care) the only unforgivable choice for a good writer is to pick boring over conflict.
It does continue the story of the first book. But for a sequel, it doesn’t offer a lot. Mostly, it feels like it’s just filling space and time in the hopes you’ll show up for the next book, to find out if anything exciting finally happens then. You could get just as much if not more by reading a summary of this book as slogging through its 300 pages.
THE REST OF THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS.
Literally every single plot problem in the book is undeveloped in the extreme. Capturing the Catteni ships? No problem. (The opening of chapter 3 is actually, “For a plan that had been so hastily put together, it could not have gone more smoothly.” Which could be the summary of the entire book.) The mysterious Farmers? Obviously peaceful, so there’s not really much to worry about. The Eosi overlords are conveniently just missed, never confronted; some dudes that throw ominous temper tantrums in the background. Kris is forced to get pregnant for the greater good...no big deal. Zainal can’t be the father? Easley takes advantage of her while she’s drunk? Nope. There’s no tension there. And the ending... talk about anticlimactic. Yet another escapade that goes off without a hitch.
Overall, the idea is pretty good. All the elements of a great book are there. But in the end: What a collection of wasted opportunities!
My main issue with the book is its Marxist/utopian agenda, which appears to be the reason why McCaffrey skittered away from any of the dozens of conflicts that could have made this book great. Wouldn’t want to look too deep into the human condition and disprove communism, would we? But even if someone really thinks that thousands of humans from all over the world suddenly transplanted onto another planet (with a variety of aliens) will all get along like the best of chums—is that really the best choice for an entertaining novel? This ought to have been an author’s treasure trove of epic conflict potential. We’re talking stuff of biblical proportions here! But no. McCaffrey had to go the boring route. And whatever McCaffrey believes (I really don’t care) the only unforgivable choice for a good writer is to pick boring over conflict.
It does continue the story of the first book. But for a sequel, it doesn’t offer a lot. Mostly, it feels like it’s just filling space and time in the hopes you’ll show up for the next book, to find out if anything exciting finally happens then. You could get just as much if not more by reading a summary of this book as slogging through its 300 pages.
THE REST OF THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS.
Literally every single plot problem in the book is undeveloped in the extreme. Capturing the Catteni ships? No problem. (The opening of chapter 3 is actually, “For a plan that had been so hastily put together, it could not have gone more smoothly.” Which could be the summary of the entire book.) The mysterious Farmers? Obviously peaceful, so there’s not really much to worry about. The Eosi overlords are conveniently just missed, never confronted; some dudes that throw ominous temper tantrums in the background. Kris is forced to get pregnant for the greater good...no big deal. Zainal can’t be the father? Easley takes advantage of her while she’s drunk? Nope. There’s no tension there. And the ending... talk about anticlimactic. Yet another escapade that goes off without a hitch.
Overall, the idea is pretty good. All the elements of a great book are there. But in the end: What a collection of wasted opportunities!
March 16, 2024
This book was still interesting but there were some significant issues that made this book not as enjoyable as the first one. The major thing this book had wrong with it was the concept of forced breeding. The colonists decided that there are too many men and not enough women in the group and that the women need to start having babies ASAP with anyone, they don't care how. This was a significant issue for me, there were things that just weren't mentioned in the book as potential problems with this idea. The number one issue for me besides forcing women to have babies they don't want, is that the colonists have no idea if the Farmers are OK with them being on the planet or not, so maybe don't have a bunch of pregnant women and children running around if the Farmers are just going to kill them all or whatever. That seemed really stupid for them to do without knowing if they were safe on this planet. Also, the Catteni are still around and monitoring them, so again, maybe don't have a bunch of vulnerable people that could get slaughtered immediately if the Catteni land on the planet.
The other issue that I had was the colonists lack of modern medicine and medical equipment. They want the colonists to have a bunch of babies without proper medicine and medical equipment? That also seems a little bit stupid. Yes, women have been having babies for centuries with no issues, but that doesn't mean that it shouln't be discussed by the women who are being forced to have these babies. It wasn't even mentioned, and that is what I have an issue with, it was just deemed too important to have any discussion about it. So I felt like the whole forced breeder thing was just poorly handled and could have been left out of the book entirely.
After all that fussing, Kris is just another baby maker and is super focused on her baby and the family that she made with Zainal and that is lame. She was a really awesome female character and some of that has been taken away by stupid plot device of forcing her to be a mother. Dumb. Also I have a huge issue with Kris basically cheating on Zainal and not even remorseful about it, she just shrugs and moves along. Luckily, Zainal doesn't have an issue with it but I do, it was a crappy thing to do to your partner, even if he is "cool" with it.
3/5 stars, it lost significant stars because of the breeding plot issue.
The other issue that I had was the colonists lack of modern medicine and medical equipment. They want the colonists to have a bunch of babies without proper medicine and medical equipment? That also seems a little bit stupid. Yes, women have been having babies for centuries with no issues, but that doesn't mean that it shouln't be discussed by the women who are being forced to have these babies. It wasn't even mentioned, and that is what I have an issue with, it was just deemed too important to have any discussion about it. So I felt like the whole forced breeder thing was just poorly handled and could have been left out of the book entirely.
After all that fussing, Kris is just another baby maker and is super focused on her baby and the family that she made with Zainal and that is lame. She was a really awesome female character and some of that has been taken away by stupid plot device of forcing her to be a mother. Dumb. Also I have a huge issue with Kris basically cheating on Zainal and not even remorseful about it, she just shrugs and moves along. Luckily, Zainal doesn't have an issue with it but I do, it was a crappy thing to do to your partner, even if he is "cool" with it.
3/5 stars, it lost significant stars because of the breeding plot issue.
October 29, 2024
The story continues as the colony grows. The colonists name the planet Botany. Humans are the main group, but there are two other groups that assimilate and are treated more or less as equals. A third group of aliens are put in a valley with no way out or in.
Kris and Zainal are lovers, and he has proven himself to most of the colonists as reliable and helpful. He is learning to speak English, and a number of the leadership is learning some Catteni. That proves helpful as time goes on. They do some exploring and find a continent that was formerly used by the aliens farming the planet. The colonists call the aliens Farmers. It is decided to move to other continent and clean up all the storage barns and areas where the Mechs are kept.
Sure enough, soon after the move the Farmers bring in new Mechs to replace the ones cannibalized by the colonists. It seems the plane just flew over; it didn’t even land, but there were all the Mechs just where they ought to be. Later on the Farmers meet with the colonists. They are an ancient race, can shape shift and are telepathic. The Farmers agree to let the colonists stay, and give them some advice and a few restrictions. Then the Farmers just disappear.
Zainal has a three phase plan, which he partly shares with the leadership of the colony. The first phase is to get some space worthy vehicles and supplies. Earth is being raided for anything that might be of value, and much of it is being brought to Barevi. Through subterfuge a scout vessel is obtained as is one of the shuttles that drops people. It was in bad shape and more or less crash landed. That ship had called for help, but when the help came, the colonists were able to take the new space craft over.
I did find it of interest when there is so much about individualism and thinking for oneself that the colonists, or some in charge, decided that all women of child bearing age needed to get pregnant for the good of the colony. It’s a very socialist idea; the greater good for the many at the expense of the individual. That gives Kris a problem, but it is solved by an unplanned incident, and she ends up with a son, Zane, and she turns out to be a good mom.
Kris and Zainal are lovers, and he has proven himself to most of the colonists as reliable and helpful. He is learning to speak English, and a number of the leadership is learning some Catteni. That proves helpful as time goes on. They do some exploring and find a continent that was formerly used by the aliens farming the planet. The colonists call the aliens Farmers. It is decided to move to other continent and clean up all the storage barns and areas where the Mechs are kept.
Sure enough, soon after the move the Farmers bring in new Mechs to replace the ones cannibalized by the colonists. It seems the plane just flew over; it didn’t even land, but there were all the Mechs just where they ought to be. Later on the Farmers meet with the colonists. They are an ancient race, can shape shift and are telepathic. The Farmers agree to let the colonists stay, and give them some advice and a few restrictions. Then the Farmers just disappear.
Zainal has a three phase plan, which he partly shares with the leadership of the colony. The first phase is to get some space worthy vehicles and supplies. Earth is being raided for anything that might be of value, and much of it is being brought to Barevi. Through subterfuge a scout vessel is obtained as is one of the shuttles that drops people. It was in bad shape and more or less crash landed. That ship had called for help, but when the help came, the colonists were able to take the new space craft over.
I did find it of interest when there is so much about individualism and thinking for oneself that the colonists, or some in charge, decided that all women of child bearing age needed to get pregnant for the good of the colony. It’s a very socialist idea; the greater good for the many at the expense of the individual. That gives Kris a problem, but it is solved by an unplanned incident, and she ends up with a son, Zane, and she turns out to be a good mom.
June 25, 2023
Kris Bjornsen and her fellow involuntary colonists on the world they've named Botany, have begun to make the world their own, even perhaps wanting to stay if they can get rid of the humanoid alien Catteni who brought them to that world. That's how they colonize worlds: plant colonists. If they survive, then take over. However, the Catteni are just mercenaries, directed by the very alien Eosi to take over and control planets for their use. In this group of "colonists" are quite a few humans kidnapped from Earth, the latest target for conquest, along with several other more alien species, and even one Catteni. In book two the Catteni Zainal has become a mostly accepted part of the colony. And he has a plan, to turn the tables on the Eosi, freeing Earth and his own planet as well. To begin, they must acquire a ship that lands with more colonists. And that is the beginning.
They also want to contact the race that had previously farmed the world with machines, hoping they are benign and not hostile to the involuntary intruders.
Because he was "dropped" on the planet, Emassi Zainal plans to stay, choosing not to obey when he is summoned to honor being Chosen by the Eosi. His father and brother are not pleased. If no one of their family is acceptable to the Eosi, they lose status. This is an "honor" that Zainal chooses not to fulfill.
Because they have decided to try to become a real colony on their own terms, that involves increasing their population. All the women of child-bearing age are expected to do their part. If they're simply not very motherly, there will be a creche established to care for the children.
Interesting world. Good people, mostly. Some jerks. We see some of the actions of the Catteni and even the Eosi.
Recommended.
They also want to contact the race that had previously farmed the world with machines, hoping they are benign and not hostile to the involuntary intruders.
Because he was "dropped" on the planet, Emassi Zainal plans to stay, choosing not to obey when he is summoned to honor being Chosen by the Eosi. His father and brother are not pleased. If no one of their family is acceptable to the Eosi, they lose status. This is an "honor" that Zainal chooses not to fulfill.
Because they have decided to try to become a real colony on their own terms, that involves increasing their population. All the women of child-bearing age are expected to do their part. If they're simply not very motherly, there will be a creche established to care for the children.
Interesting world. Good people, mostly. Some jerks. We see some of the actions of the Catteni and even the Eosi.
Recommended.
October 31, 2022
Overall I liked it. But I had a huge problem with a plot point. The colony has rebelled and they don't expect any more colonists (prisoners) to arrive from the Catteni. So there aren't enough women of childbearing age to sustain the colony. So all of the women are told they will need to have babies with donors of sperm to keep the population healthy for the next generation.
The heroine is with a Catteni (an alien) and they cannot have kids. So she is asked to use a donor. She said she's 22 and she doesn't want kids right now. So guys in the settlement keep showing up and trying to get her to use them as a donor.
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
She breaks her arm. One of the guys has been drinking and gives her some alcohol to help with the pain in her arm. He takes her back to her house and starts stripping her and they have sex. The heroine was so drunk she thought that guy was her husband, the alien Catteni.
So she cheated on her husband. Of course she gets pregnant. The hero and heroine had talked about her using a donor and he had suggested a different guy that they both liked. I was so angry at this plot.
One of her friends even asks her if she was raped and she doesn't know what to say.
It is a boy and she names him Zane, after the hero Zainal. The biological father eventually finds out.
The heroine is with a Catteni (an alien) and they cannot have kids. So she is asked to use a donor. She said she's 22 and she doesn't want kids right now. So guys in the settlement keep showing up and trying to get her to use them as a donor.
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
She breaks her arm. One of the guys has been drinking and gives her some alcohol to help with the pain in her arm. He takes her back to her house and starts stripping her and they have sex. The heroine was so drunk she thought that guy was her husband, the alien Catteni.
So she cheated on her husband. Of course she gets pregnant. The hero and heroine had talked about her using a donor and he had suggested a different guy that they both liked. I was so angry at this plot.
One of her friends even asks her if she was raped and she doesn't know what to say.
It is a boy and she names him Zane, after the hero Zainal. The biological father eventually finds out.
January 23, 2024
I always think of Anne McCaffrey's books as comfort food - nothing particularly bad happens, all plans go well and there are generally very few complications. This series has those elements but I think I prefer Pern more. This is more like comfort food with a strong military dressing which is not a particularly pleasant result. Setting it in modern day Earth time allows for a lot of popular culture references, which are sometimes funny, but often come across as silly and cheap.
I find the ethnographic angle of detailing the set-up of a colony a unique way of exploring the more positive sides of human nature but I find someone like Ursula K. Le Guin's exploration deeper and more satisfying. I also have a slight issue with setting up what I would call 'cosy colonialism' where all the ethical problems traditionally associated with colonialism are removed. Doing this validates colonialist ideals and promotes a one-sided view of colonialism and human expansion which I don't personally agree with. However, this is a recurrent theme in almost all of McCaffrey's books and I still enjoy them a lot. While I wasn't particularly impressed with this book in the series, I'm interested to see where she takes it in the later books.
I find the ethnographic angle of detailing the set-up of a colony a unique way of exploring the more positive sides of human nature but I find someone like Ursula K. Le Guin's exploration deeper and more satisfying. I also have a slight issue with setting up what I would call 'cosy colonialism' where all the ethical problems traditionally associated with colonialism are removed. Doing this validates colonialist ideals and promotes a one-sided view of colonialism and human expansion which I don't personally agree with. However, this is a recurrent theme in almost all of McCaffrey's books and I still enjoy them a lot. While I wasn't particularly impressed with this book in the series, I'm interested to see where she takes it in the later books.
May 20, 2020
Kristin Bjornsen and Zainal continue their adventures on Botany.
Mentat Ix, the Eosi who was supposed to subsume Zainal, took his brother instead. He knows Zainal escaped and is on Botany, so he sends ships to capture Zainal. Instead, Zainal captures the ships. This infuriates Ix, and he comes after Zainal again.
The farmers return and enclose the planet in a protective bubble, which further angers Ix. He uses a mind probe on humans looking for anything that might explain the bubble, although it isn't all that logical to do so. He finds little, but the mind probe leaves its victims traumatized into a stupor.
Zainal has a plan, not just to get supplies for Botany, but to free his world and the galaxy from the Eosi. However, the farmers forbid any "species injury," so he can't just kill the Eosi, but that is for a later book. Right now, the colony needs supplies and Kristin is pregnant - not by Zainal, of course.
Freedoms Choice takes the colony further into self-sufficiency and sets up for the next story. There is plenty of excitement and good storytelling, but this is a middle book. It also holds up as a stand-alone story.
Reviewed by Romana Drew on July 28, 2019.
Mentat Ix, the Eosi who was supposed to subsume Zainal, took his brother instead. He knows Zainal escaped and is on Botany, so he sends ships to capture Zainal. Instead, Zainal captures the ships. This infuriates Ix, and he comes after Zainal again.
The farmers return and enclose the planet in a protective bubble, which further angers Ix. He uses a mind probe on humans looking for anything that might explain the bubble, although it isn't all that logical to do so. He finds little, but the mind probe leaves its victims traumatized into a stupor.
Zainal has a plan, not just to get supplies for Botany, but to free his world and the galaxy from the Eosi. However, the farmers forbid any "species injury," so he can't just kill the Eosi, but that is for a later book. Right now, the colony needs supplies and Kristin is pregnant - not by Zainal, of course.
Freedoms Choice takes the colony further into self-sufficiency and sets up for the next story. There is plenty of excitement and good storytelling, but this is a middle book. It also holds up as a stand-alone story.
Reviewed by Romana Drew on July 28, 2019.
August 13, 2021
I didn't mean to, but I've just spent all night reading this book! Lol
I had thought to just read a few pages, then turn in to sleep, but I just couldn't put it down - and now it's almost five in the morning, and I've reached the end of this second book of the Catteni series!
It is books like this that keep me coming back to Anne's works time and time again, as this was full of great characterizations, a terrific plotline, and plenty of derring-do.
It's the type of Sci-fi that I love to read, with so much humanity to it, that I ended up laughing with the characters - and crying with them, too.
It's at times like this that I'm glad that my memory problems mean that I don't remember reading this before - although I know that I have done, as I've owned the books from new, so must have read them at least a couple of times before - but this time it was like reading it from new, once more!
I know I'll have to try and get a few hours of sleep before it's time to get up again, but I'm really looking forwards to reading book three of the series: Freedom's Challenge, to see what's going to happen next - so I guess I'd better get that sleep!
I had thought to just read a few pages, then turn in to sleep, but I just couldn't put it down - and now it's almost five in the morning, and I've reached the end of this second book of the Catteni series!
It is books like this that keep me coming back to Anne's works time and time again, as this was full of great characterizations, a terrific plotline, and plenty of derring-do.
It's the type of Sci-fi that I love to read, with so much humanity to it, that I ended up laughing with the characters - and crying with them, too.
It's at times like this that I'm glad that my memory problems mean that I don't remember reading this before - although I know that I have done, as I've owned the books from new, so must have read them at least a couple of times before - but this time it was like reading it from new, once more!
I know I'll have to try and get a few hours of sleep before it's time to get up again, but I'm really looking forwards to reading book three of the series: Freedom's Challenge, to see what's going to happen next - so I guess I'd better get that sleep!
February 20, 2023
Disturbing, content warning: rape
I am finding this series disturbing. In the first book one of the main characters excuses his rape of spaces saying that they didn’t complain and the female main character completely glosses over this and falls in love with the professed rapist.
In this book, the same female character is drugged add raped by a colleague and just shrugs it off. Later when she finds out she’s pregnant she acts as if it’s no emotional trauma at all.
Additionally, all the females are required to become pregnant with no b regard for their personal agency. Even the main character barely protests being treated as if it is her obligation as a female, despite expressing a strong revulsion to the idea of pregnancy and motherhood. When her child is born she’s suddenly a model mother with again no expression of trauma.
The prolific excusing of rape culture along with the objectification and violation of the human rights of women in these books is quite disturbing. The fact that the author has written it so the females experience no trauma from this abuse is horrifying.
I am finding this series disturbing. In the first book one of the main characters excuses his rape of spaces saying that they didn’t complain and the female main character completely glosses over this and falls in love with the professed rapist.
In this book, the same female character is drugged add raped by a colleague and just shrugs it off. Later when she finds out she’s pregnant she acts as if it’s no emotional trauma at all.
Additionally, all the females are required to become pregnant with no b regard for their personal agency. Even the main character barely protests being treated as if it is her obligation as a female, despite expressing a strong revulsion to the idea of pregnancy and motherhood. When her child is born she’s suddenly a model mother with again no expression of trauma.
The prolific excusing of rape culture along with the objectification and violation of the human rights of women in these books is quite disturbing. The fact that the author has written it so the females experience no trauma from this abuse is horrifying.
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