Needless to say, they are already off to a rough start in their pursuit of continuing life on a new planet. They do not experience a smooth landing – heavier gravity caused one of their pods to crash, killing about a dozen of them and destroying extremely valuable equipment. Semiosis explores how humanity would deal with a new planet that is suitable for human life but inhabits creatures and plants very different than what we know.Ī group of about 50 people (referred to as Generation 1 or Parents) from various locations on Earth and from different professional backgrounds travel to the new planet they call Pax – a journey that takes over 150 years to make. Now imagine having to learn everything about this new planet's ecosystem over again, which had much more time to evolve due to the planet's age in comparison to our familiar Earth. We could “start over” and recreate civilization having (ideally) learned from our past mistakes. Imagine that human life had a second chance at survival and the opportunity to create a utopia on another planet. Learn more about Sue Burke at sueburke.Imagine if we had a Planet B. Rainbow bamboo grows everywhere on Earth, and it wants to dominate - with compassion.Įnter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Usurpation, the third book in the trilogy, is coming in May 2024. Purchasing information for the book, ebook, and audio book, as well as a sample chapter, is at Macmillan. Even as Stevland attempts to protect his human tools, a more insidious enemy than the Earthlings makes itself known. But the Earthlings misunderstand the nature of the Pax settlement and its real leader. Over two hundred years after the first colonists landed on Pax, a new set of explorers arrives from Earth on what they claim is a temporary scientific mission. The Semiosis story continues in Interference as the colonists and a team from Earth confront a new and more implacable intelligence.

Listen to the first five minutes of the audiobook here. Information on how to order online or buy at a local bookstore is at Macmillan. Forbes Best Science Fiction Books of 2018-2019.Texas Library Association – Lariat List Top Books for 2019.Chicago Review of Books – 10 Best Science Fiction Books of 2018.Vulture – 10 Best Sci-Fi and Fantasy Books of 2018.SFFWorld: Best of the decade list 2011-2020.A novel of first contact, a multi-generational story about colonists on a planet where plants are the dominant life forms – and they see animals, including humans, as their pawns.

Semiosis by Sue Burke