5 of 5

Write now Article Tools

The "Mote in God's Eye" is a splendid work of science fiction. Its major theme is man's (homo sapiens) first contact and dealing with a truly alien species. The novel opens in the third millennium, and the human race has yet to encounter other life in its known universe. The first species we encounter is so totally unlike humans as to be nearly incomprehensible and absolutely outside of human experience. They are so alien because they have a secret that they must at all costs conceal from the human race.

I should warn readers here that I am going to reveal the secret of the alien Moties." The reader does not learn the crux of the Motie's problems until well into the novel's development. Since this secret is central to the theme of this review and its revelation here will only slightly diminish the first-time reader's enjoyment of the novel, I recommend the reader read on.

Here is the secret of the alien race: The "Moties" are gremlin-like creatures who are born female and must reproduce or die. Once they reproduce, they biologically change their sex to male and, in turn, father additional daughters. Their society is also strictly hierarchal. At the top of the hierarchy are the gray-pelted variety who are petty rulers constantly reproducing and at war with other gray rivals. Compounding the population problem is that all levels of the Motie hierarchy are subject to the same biological imperative to reproduce or die, change sex and reproduce more. (We also meet a particularly scary warrior Motie, whose existence and activities are pivotal to the action and outcome of the novel.)

We learn through the experience of stranded midshipmen on their planet that the Moties' cycles of reproduction, struggle, and warfare result in periodic destruction of their civilization. "Breaking the cycles" on the home world ("Motie Prime") is a simple, but desperate matter of finding other worlds and more room. Motie Prime is isolated by vast distances from access to potential colonization. Of course, the obvious disadvantage to other civilizations that Motie colonization would cause, would be a repeat of the same population explosion, warfare, and collapse on any planet they would inhabit.

The superb and exciting plotting of this novel makes it top-notched adventure. At the outset of the story, the Moties, wishing to break out from their isolated world, send a small exploratory spaceship probe, which is detected and traced by human scientists. The humans launch an expedition to make

• 1
• 2
• next page >>

Add your voice

Know something about Book reviews: The Mote in God's Eye, by Jerry Pournelle?
We want to hear your view. Write now!