Michael Barnes
Mira Grant, aka the terrifying story machine Also Known As Seanan McGuire. I first discovered her with her brilliant Newsflesh series (zombies), more recently I read her deep sea mystery 'Into the Drowning Deep' (mermaids) all of her novels hold a really strong sciency narrative throughout that warms my cerebellum. The botanical horror of Overgrowrth is no exception.
The other common thread in Mira Grants stories is most of the horrors come from the human side, and these are the ones who in Overgrowth really mess things up. At its heart the story is Anastasia “Stasia” Miller, who we discover this curious child at three where she runs into the forest behind her house and is consumed by a star seed and three days later returns a hybrid Anastasia, a plant alien in human form. A compulsion then drives her to say to anyone she’s an alien and an armada is coming. Of course, no one believed her.
Because they’ve always told people exactly what they are, humanity hasn’t been kind to them. Before it was confirmed that they were aliens, people just thought they were freaks. And then, when it turns out they’re telling the truth? Now people hate them for being aliens.
But her circle of friends makes it complicated for her at least initially to be on the side of the invasion There is Graham her boyfriend who as a transman has also experienced the bigoted judgement of humanity. His acceptance of Stasia’s alien nature—while still grounding her emotionally—is beautifully handled and adds rare warmth to a chilling narrative. Along they way they pick up Toni the astronomer who detected the Armada's signal and let the world know it was coming. (Spoilers Humanity doesn't win)
Now, an alien broadcast has been heard from the stars, and Stasia knows what it says. Her biological family are coming. And it’s unlikely that they come in peace. Stasia must choose between the humans she’s grown to care for and the alien race she belongs to.
The resolution is satisfying and it’s a standalone something for which I am grateful for these days in my science fiction, fantasy books.
Mira Grant, aka the terrifying story machine Also Known As Seanan McGuire. I first discovered her with her brilliant Newsflesh series (zombies), more recently I read her deep sea mystery 'Into the Drowning Deep' (mermaids) all of her novels hold a really strong sciency narrative throughout that warms my cerebellum. The botanical horror of Overgrowrth is no exception.
The other common thread in Mira Grants stories is most of the horrors come from the human side, and these are the ones who in Overgrowth really mess things up. At its heart the story is Anastasia “Stasia” Miller, who we discover this curious child at three where she runs into the forest behind her house and is consumed by a star seed and three days later returns a hybrid Anastasia, a plant alien in human form. A compulsion then drives her to say to anyone she’s an alien and an armada is coming. Of course, no one believed her.
Because they’ve always told people exactly what they are, humanity hasn’t been kind to them. Before it was confirmed that they were aliens, people just thought they were freaks. And then, when it turns out they’re telling the truth? Now people hate them for being aliens.
But her circle of friends makes it complicated for her at least initially to be on the side of the invasion There is Graham her boyfriend who as a transman has also experienced the bigoted judgement of humanity. His acceptance of Stasia’s alien nature—while still grounding her emotionally—is beautifully handled and adds rare warmth to a chilling narrative. Along they way they pick up Toni the astronomer who detected the Armada's signal and let the world know it was coming. (Spoilers Humanity doesn't win)
Now, an alien broadcast has been heard from the stars, and Stasia knows what it says. Her biological family are coming. And it’s unlikely that they come in peace. Stasia must choose between the humans she’s grown to care for and the alien race she belongs to.
The resolution is satisfying and it’s a standalone something for which I am grateful for these days in my science fiction, fantasy books.