The Gene Wars universe
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 Hammerfall cover |
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| Author | C. J. Cherryh |
|---|---|
| Cover artist | Bob Eggleton |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Genre(s) | Science Fiction |
| Publisher | HarperCollins |
| Released | June 19, 2001 |
| Pages | 390 (Hardback) |
| ISBN | ISBN 0-06-105260-4 |
| Preceded by | none |
| Followed by | Forge of Heaven |
 Forge of Heaven cover |
|
| Author | C. J. Cherryh |
|---|---|
| Cover artist | Bob Eggleton |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Genre(s) | Science Fiction |
| Publisher | HarperCollins |
| Released | June 1, 2004 |
| Pages | 416 (Hardback) |
| ISBN | ISBN 0-380-97903-9 |
| Preceded by | Hammerfall |
| Followed by | none |
The Gene Wars universe is a fictional universe developed by science fiction and fantasy author C. J. Cherryh. The universe currently consists of two science fiction novels, Hammerfall (2001) and Forge of Heaven (2004). The books were published by HarperCollins under the company's "Eos" imprint.
The Gene Wars universe contains a human polity in contact with the ondat, an alien race of uncertain shape and incomprehensible ways of thought.
The human polity has been divided against itself in a revolutionary movement called the Movement, which advocated the full exploitation of nanotechnology and gene manipulation, and used those technologies in its fight with the government. As a side effect, one of their technologies infected the ondat, bringing them to war against humanity.
Hammerfall takes place against this background, but it takes quite a while before one discovers the relationship between the larger backdrop and the story of the book.
At the time of Forge of Heaven, the human polity is split into Earth (where gene modification is completely anathema), the Inner Worlds (which emulate Earth) and the Outsiders, who practice limited forms of nanotechnology and gene modification. Contact with the ondat is restricted to one point - Concord Station - and it is here, and on the planet below, Forge of Heaven takes place.
Unlike most of Cherryh's earlier work, Forge of Heaven adapts several themes from postcyberpunk science fiction. The story, for example features postcyberpunk elements such as gene modification, nanotechnology, biotechnology-enabled body modification, and a technologically sophisticated protagonist who acts to uphold the status quo. In addition, the Earthers in the story who dogmatically oppose all transhumanist modifications are portrayed as narrow-minded and paranoid, indicating the book's pro-technology stance as consistent with the conventions of postcyberpunk fiction. Because the work is not set in the near future, however, and features aliens and other tropes of space opera, the book may not qualify as a "pure" example of the postcyberpunk genre.
[edit] References
- Cherryh, C. J. Hammerfall, HarperCollins/Eos, 2001.
- Cherryh, C. J. Forge of Heaven, HarperCollins/Eos, 2004.
Science Fiction Novels: Gate of Ivrel (1976) • Brothers of Earth (1976) • Hunter of Worlds (1977) • The Faded Sun: Kesrith (1978) • The Faded Sun: Shon'jir (1978) • Well of Shiuan (1978) • The Faded Sun: Kutath (1979) • Fires of Azeroth (1979) • Hestia (1979) • Serpent's Reach (1980) • Wave Without a Shore (1981) • Downbelow Station (1981) • The Pride of Chanur (1981) • Merchanter's Luck (1982) • Port Eternity (1982) • Forty Thousand in Gehenna (1983) • Chanur's Venture (1984) • Voyager in Night (1984) • Angel With the Sword (1985) • Cuckoo's Egg (1985) • The Kif Strike Back (1985) • Chanur's Homecoming (1986) • Cyteen (1988) • Exile's Gate (1988) • Rimrunners (1989) • Heavy Time (1991) • Chanur's Legacy (1992) • Hellburner (1992) • Foreigner (1994) • Tripoint (1994) • Invader (1995) • Rider at the Gate (1995) • Cloud's Rider (1996) • Inheritor (1996) • Finity's End (1997) • Precursor (1999) • Defender (2001) • Hammerfall (2001) • Explorer (2003) • Forge of Heaven (2004) • Destroyer (2005) • Pretender (2006) • Deliverer (2007)
Fantasy Novels: The Dreamstone (1983) • The Tree of Swords and Jewels (1983) • The Gates of Hell (1986) • Kings in Hell (1987) • Legions of Hell (1987) • The Paladin (1988) • Rusalka (1989) • Chernevog (1990) • Yvgenie (1991) • The Goblin Mirror (1992) • Faery in Shadow (1993) • Fortress in the Eye of Time (1995) • Lois & Clark: A Superman Novel (1996) • Fortress of Eagles (1998) • Fortress of Owls (1999) • Fortress of Dragons (2000) • Fortress of Ice (2006)
Short Story Collections: Sunfall (1981) • Visible Light (1986) • Glass and Amber (1987) • The Collected Short Fiction of C. J. Cherryh (2004)
