This Alien Shore by C.S. Friedman

I had actually read this several months ago, as part of the Great galbinus_caeli Book Loan of ’06, but for some reason forgot to log it.

This was a very cool story, with Space Dragons, altered humans, political intrigue, a schizophrenic heroine and all sorts of other good stuff. I probably would have had more to say about it had I struck while the spaceiron was hot, but alas I did not.

I remember that I read this in between (and a little bit simultaneously with) two Vernor Vinge books and got the two universes confused in my head at times.

Darwin’s Radio by Greg Bear

Thanks to galbinus_caeli for the loaner.

An interesting hard-science-fiction piece concerning DNA and evolution (an extremely punctuated equilibrium brand of evolution, though not necessarily one you want to read if you’re expecting. Much of the plot revolves around diseased pregnancies, and some of it takes place in Atlanta, with stops at local hospitals (Northside, for one, though thankfully Piedmont was not mentioned) and the CDC.

I think I’d like to check out the sequel, Darwin’s Children, because the ending of this book left room for exploration of the consequences.