Conditioned Response (A Phoenician Series Novel)

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Conditioned Response (Phoenician Series)

by Marjorie F. Baldwin (Goodreads Author)

3.97 of 5 stars 3.97 · rating details · 33 ratings · 23 reviews

A fast-paced, Classic SciFi that reads more like a mystery with a Romantic SF thread woven in. Set in the far-future on an alien world, humanity's last remnants are trying to save the species from extinction. Huxley-ian eugenics in a Classic Dystopian caste system are artfully blended with an Asimov-ian "machine-turned-man" story by first-time Author Marjorie F. Baldwin.

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ebook, Second Edition

Published April 20th 2012 by Phoenician Books

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Apr 24, 2012 Paul Dube rated it 5 of 5 stars

There is only one other author who has left me left me wanting more when I finished a book. Tom Clancy.
I did not want to stop reading this story. I can hardly wait for the prequel & sequel.
Quite often, a novel has too little, or too much action. The pace of CR is perfect... enough to keep you in its grip without overwhelming the reader.
In addition, Friday's sex scene writing is another fine balancing act of titilation without being vulgar.

I have never re-read any other author. period. But th...more

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Jul 23, 2012 Jonathan rated it 3 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Those who like a gritty sci-fi novel

Recommended to Jonathan by: Marjorie F. Baldwin

Shelves: science-fiction, thriller, action-challenge

A gritty science fiction novel of this calibre is normally not my type of reading. I cannot normally bring myself to enjoy them, let alone read them. But for Conditioned Response, the second ebook in a planned series, I can make an exception.

Despite the sexuality of the book (which thankfully was not forced and too explicit like some authors) I found I could like this novel enough by the end. However the reason I cannot give this four stars goes beyond the simple sexuality and swearing. I can i...more A gritty science fiction novel of this calibre is normally not my type of reading. I cannot normally bring myself to enjoy them, let alone read them. But for Conditioned Response, the second ebook in a planned series, I can make an exception.

Despite the sexuality of the book (which thankfully was not forced and too explicit like some authors) I found I could like this novel enough by the end. However the reason I cannot give this four stars goes beyond the simple sexuality and swearing. I can ignore those in a novel if the rest of the book grips me incredibly hard (they're minor pet peeves so to speak). However I was not gripped by the novel until the second half which could be me personally.

Conditioned Response was certainly set in an intriguing world. A world where a woman from a race of beings known as the Phoenicians struggles to work for her people in a human run civilisation. This is a civilisation where men appear to be sterile and where humans called Proctors are strung together out of genetic material from various donors. There also existed various methods of brainwashing or Adjusting which created a layer of intrigue again to add to the political intrigue. The Phoenicians had interesting powers as a race with the ability to harness energy and throw it out in front of them if they wish.

Despite this interesting world the plot lagged for me at the start. I found that it was only when I was about halfway into the novel that it picked up the pace and that the true action elements which I enjoyed begun. That was when I could read about Phoenician powers in action. I think the fact that this novel was highly dialogue run rather than description run also made me less able to appreciate it. While I do not mind long periods of dialogue I do love long paragraphs of descriptive work more and there appeared to be more dialogue than description. That is not taking anything away from the storytelling or writing because the writing was excellent and the entire plot was nicely constructed. I just could not enjoy the book on my own personal level and gain most satisfaction from it.

The characters were interesting but not entirely likeable. Raif was ruined for me by what was a necessary obsession in the plot (view spoiler). Shayla also was far too naive and self centred to be entirely likeable. Still the characters did fit the story and surroundings, again a sign of quality writing in my opinion. It was simply not my preferred story type as I mentioned above. I do however congratulate the author for making a gritty sci-fi that I could actually enjoy to some level.

In summary I do fully recommend this e-book for any of my followers interested in a gritty, action filled sci-fi. It may not be to everyone's style but those who like this type of sci fi will find that it is a quality novel. The author sets out to write a particular book and she succeeds (in one of the better 'debut' novels I have read may I add). Not to mention that there are very few who have read it and as such you can be free to form your own opinion about it. I highly recommend this and feel that it should be read by those who enjoy their science fiction with a touch of smoulder and grit. (less)

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Jun 03, 2012 Stephen M. rated it 4 of 5 stars

Middle books of series frequently drag. Marjorie F. Baldwin has overcome that problem the way the way George Lucas did in my Star Wars: start in the middle and work out in all directions. But Baldwin is doing it more effectively than Lucas did.

Conditioned Response, the second book of the Phoenician series (Book 1 is forthcoming), throws us into the world of Shayla, a non-human woman living among the human colonists of the planet Altair . . . or is she non-human? One of the main features of this...more Middle books of series frequently drag. Marjorie F. Baldwin has overcome that problem the way the way George Lucas did in my Star Wars: start in the middle and work out in all directions. But Baldwin is doing it more effectively than Lucas did.

Conditioned Response, the second book of the Phoenician series (Book 1 is forthcoming), throws us into the world of Shayla, a non-human woman living among the human colonists of the planet Altair . . . or is she non-human? One of the main features of this novel is that the reader is left to figure out what’s going on by putting together clues that are scattered throughout. To take two examples, the humans can’t leave the planet and go back to Earth, though why they can’t isn’t yet explained, and the Phoenicians are so thoroughly human in most ways that it seems likely that they’re an offshoot from homo sapiens -- but when the separation occurred, if it did occur, is something Baldwin isn’t telling us yet.

Shayla has been living among the humans for thirteen years, an unwilling mole sent among them as a teenager by the rulers of the Phoenicians, the Seven Chiefs. The Chiefs have a Plan for dealing with the humans, but they haven’t told Shayla what the Plan is. Shayla has her own Plans: to overthrow the World Council, the human ruling group she’s become a part of, and to leave human society with ‘Charlie’, and artificial life form she’s been secretly and illegally creating. But Shayla also has to deal with the machinations of Councillors Dramond and Kindi, a pair of thoroughly evil men she’s had many unpleasant encounters with. They have Plans of their own. She also has ongoing personal relationships with Raif, a “Proctor” (bodyguard) who’s in love with her; Brennan, his illegally cloned heir; Kyree, her Phoenician Mate that she seldom sees; and Julia, her human friend, fellow Councillor, and revolutionary co-conspirator. Lurking in the background is Joshua Andrew Caine, secretive Administrator for the Council, and a mysterious group known as “the Community,” who have their own secret plans and hidden resources.

Over the course of about two weeks, events play out. Baldwin constantly surprises us as her characters interact, and as layers of are peeled away to show us some of what’s really going on. The characters are well-drawn and believable, and the plot hangs together. The pace is relentless, the events believable.

By the end of the novel, some parts of Shayla’s story have been resolved, but plenty remains for book #3, and much of Shayla’s backstory is set to be revealed in book #1.

Conditioned Response gripped me hard from the beginning, provided a thoroughly satisfying read, and left me eager for the rest of the series. Considering this is Baldwin’s first novel, I’m quite impressed. Check it out.(less)

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Jul 17, 2012 Bonnie Hobcroft rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Almost everyone

Shelves: scifi

I have never considered myself a fan of SciFi but if Conditioned Response is an example, then I'm a believer. Each of the characters was carefully developed so that a level of emotional bond was formed. Some of the characters made immediate connections while others developed much more slowly throughout the book.

I understood why Shayla behaved the way she did. (view spoiler)...more

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Apr 22, 2012 Bob rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: sci-fi-fantasy

An amazing first read by a new author to me, Marjorie (Friday) Baldwin. The book is hard to categorize, the enjoyment is not. A mix of futuristic Sci-Fi, romance with a touch of straight, bi, gay, trans-species lovin, political thriller, bio-engineering...you name it, there are threads in there!

Two things that endear me to authors are books that have multiple plots and books with characters I relate to that are deeply developed. Having deep generational relationships integral to the plot, Condit...more

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Jul 18, 2012 Mary rated it 2 of 5 stars

Phoenicians co-existing with humans

The relationship between the Phoenicians and humans for 400 years is the story behind Conditioned Response. The Phoenicians, or humanoids, obtained power to store and project energy and used that to control life on their planet. When humans left Earth and lived on the Phoenicians planet, it wasn’t the best of circumstances to say the least.

The main character, Shayla, is a Phoenician who lived against her will with humans for thirteen years. She and fellow membe...more Phoenicians co-existing with humans

The relationship between the Phoenicians and humans for 400 years is the story behind Conditioned Response. The Phoenicians, or humanoids, obtained power to store and project energy and used that to control life on their planet. When humans left Earth and lived on the Phoenicians planet, it wasn’t the best of circumstances to say the least.

The main character, Shayla, is a Phoenician who lived against her will with humans for thirteen years. She and fellow members of a Council wanted to start a revolution and overthrow the society. Which society would that have been for Shayla, the Phoenicians or the humans?

It is difficult to form an opinion about the Phoenicians and the humans. They both have a caste system where certain people are treated like garbage and both planets are equally politically corrupt.

As the characters are developed, we learned some reasons for their bad behaviors, which helped sway an opinion to like or dislike a character. It helped to understand their background. There are numerous characters, and I would have liked previous knowledge earlier in the book that described them more in depth. I thought a list and a one or two sentence description in the beginning would have been a good idea.

There were many situations with Shayla and her bodyguard, Raif. It involved plenty of sexual tension between the two. This is a must for every good story.

I don’t claim to be a sci-fi fan; however, my review may shed light on that very fact. I wasn’t sure what to expect from Conditioned Response, but as a story in general, I would have liked an introduction. A set up would have been a helpful aid to the newly sci-fi reader.

The setting seemed like one or two little rooms. There were two planets involved, but never any mention or description to any traveling that took place.

The story did have lots of twists and turns, mysteries, unusual experiences, and sexual innuendo. It is also a story you can think about and I imagine it could be a discussion starter for how we treat society today.
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Jun 05, 2012 Xdyj rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fa, q, o, rtw, us

A sf/romance book I got from author giveaway. The author has a good grasp of character emotions imo & her MCs are likable or at least compassionable, among which Raif is probably my favorite. The world-building reminds me of some classic sf a few decades ago. There are times I find the description of sexual tension repetitive but probably it's just a matter of personal taste. I also find the story a bit slow in the beginning, only pick up the pace after (view spoiler)...more

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May 26, 2012 Joshua Jacobs rated it 4 of 5 stars

From page one, the tension mounts as we follow Shayla, a Phoenician woman forced to live amongst the unreasonable human race, through a web of deceit and mystery. Despite this novel’s length, Baldwin will have readers gripping their seats as the story unfolds. There’s plenty of mystery to keep the pages turning, and just when one issue appears resolved, another one pops up. The twists and turns will leave readers guessing until the last page.

Within just a few pages, Baldwin creates a vivid, comp...more From page one, the tension mounts as we follow Shayla, a Phoenician woman forced to live amongst the unreasonable human race, through a web of deceit and mystery. Despite this novel’s length, Baldwin will have readers gripping their seats as the story unfolds. There’s plenty of mystery to keep the pages turning, and just when one issue appears resolved, another one pops up. The twists and turns will leave readers guessing until the last page.

Within just a few pages, Baldwin creates a vivid, complex world filled with political corruption. While the transition into this world is a bit overwhelming at first, Baldwin deftly sprinkles details throughout the opening pages to help her readers along. Without having read the first book in this series, I felt at times like a twelve-year-old in a college lecture hall trying to absorb all of the information, but ultimately, there was enough intrigue in the opening chapters to keep me wanting more.

At first, I was also concerned that the humans were being portrayed as the enemy, but Baldwin’s ability to not only make us root for Shayla but to accept the Phoenicians as equal is fluid, and by the end, I felt more Phoenician than human. This is largely due to Baldwin’s ability to weave a story. The prose is written with a deft hand, compelling the reader to turn the page. Often times I find myself nit-picking published books, rewording sentences for a better flow, but I didn’t have this problem with Conditioned Response. Baldwin is a skilled writer, and this novel is carefully polished.

Another strength of Baldwin’s is her ability to construct dialogue. This is imperative in a novel of this length which at times is heavy on dialogue. Yet when her characters speak it is believable and compelling, quickly moving the novel along. It didn’t take long to really know her characters with the level of characterization that fills the pages.

There were, however, a few things that kept me from giving Conditioned Response five stars. First, there were times when Baldwin rehashes information that doesn’t need to be revisited, which slows the pace. I found myself saying, “I already know this!” from time to time and had to keep myself from skimming these sections.

Along the same lines, I felt Baldwin spoon fed the reader too frequently. At times, we’re given too much information that isn’t integral to the plot or that is implicit without a lengthy explanation. There didn’t feel like enough trust between the author and the reader. Sure, Baldwin doesn’t want to lose unperceptive readers who might miss something important, but this isn’t a novel for unperceptive readers. I would have been happier had there been a bit more left to my imagination.

Though Baldwin is a master of developing her characters, I never attached myself to any of them. I wanted them to succeed, sure, but the connection was never strong enough to leave a lasting impression. Perhaps a bit more effort in making certain characters more sympathetic might resolve this issue.

On occasion, I also felt there were sections that were a bit too heavy with dialogue. While it is well-written dialogue, there were several large sections with little or no narration. This made me feel like I was on the outside looking in rather than part of the story, and with a novel as complex as Conditioned Response, I need to feel like I’m inside the story.

In the end, Conditioned Response is a well-written, fast-paced story about a complex world with vividly painted characters that will have readers turning pages until the very end. I highly recommend reading it.
(less)

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May 18, 2012 Ellie Hall rated it 4 of 5 stars

REVIEW: Conditioned Response (Phoenician #2)
by Marjorie F. Baldwin

Shayla didn't ask to be a Councillor. As a Phoenician, she shouldn't have to live among the humans, let alone take part in their world. But the Seven Chiefs ordered her to go with Raif, a Proctor from the world Outside. They said they had a Plan. Well, the Seven Chiefs always had a Plan, and Shayla had plans of her own after suffering 13 years as a member of the humans' World Council.

Raif had never intended for things to go this...more

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Marjorie Baldwin Thanks for this review, Ellie. What a well-thought-out and eloquent phrasing of the book's strengths and weaknesses! I appreciate your taking so much...more
May 19, 2012 03:21am

Ellie Hall Marjorie wrote: "Thanks for this review, Ellie. What a well-thought-out and eloquent phrasing of the book's strengths and weaknesses! I appreciate you...more
May 19, 2012 04:46am

Paul Ellie Hall, I absolutely respect your obvious experience and knowledge of writing and reviewing. I agree 100% with a lot of your evaluation, especiall...more Ellie Hall, I absolutely respect your obvious experience and knowledge of writing and reviewing. I agree 100% with a lot of your evaluation, especially these statements:

Those who enjoy a detailed social Sci-Fi in the old tradition, where complex societies are presented and peopled by solid, complicated personalities, have found one of the best examples written recently. Conditioned Response is multi-layered, weaving together a number of intriguing social, personal, and political mysteries into a fast paced thriller.

However, I disagree with the statements you make about the pace being slow to develop and the disassociation of the characters. I found that I felt very close indeed to Raif and Shayla. I felt Raif's distress at being misclassified (as a Proctor), his heartbreak caused by denying his affections for Shayla, his anguish induced by Kindi's manipulations, and his frustration in his efforts to determine his origins - especially painfull after discovering he had known in the past but the memory was taken from him.

I felt Shayla's pain, despite the attempt to "choose not to recall" the pain, as it is a Phoenician saying that the past only exists in the minds of those who choose to recall it. I felt her loneliness - belonging to neither the World Council or, due to what living amoung the Outsiders, her own people anymore. I really felt her disassociation and desire to create something that could be her own, a situation she could live in and feel a sense of "belonging" at last.

Perhaps you were kept at bay by the strength of Shayla's ability to push aside her pain - maybe she was too good at it for you to feel her pain anyway. Or, perhaps, you feel so strongly about the horrors of rape, especially of children - as I do - to allow anyone to treat it with less strength and anger than you would. I can put aside my own outrage and desire to avenge the child to understand that it is simmering just below the surface and (view spoiler).

I admit the romantic thread in the book took time to develop but it was very strong. Remember, this is not a romance novel. It's Romantic SF with mystery/suspense style plotting, but I think Friday has done an incredible job crossing lines and fusing the different genres. The love story, (view spoiler) is one of a lifetime--Raif and Shayla's lives. No one's love story is ever just about their love, is it?

I give the book FIVE STARS!

Regards,
Paul(less)
updated May 25, 2012 03:58am

May 14, 2012 Vered rated it 4 of 5 stars

Earthlings have abandoned Earth and settled on a planet inhabited by a humanoid species, the Phoenicians. The two species generally do not interact; the results are usually tragic when they do. There is one exception: Shayla has lived with the humans for half her life, and it hasn’t been the happy part either. Human society has developed a rigid caste system, one that Shayla abhors. Her closest assistant, Raif, is part of a group who are viewed as disposable lesser being, to be used as their emp...more

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Apr 19, 2012 Cassie McCown rated it 5 of 5 stars

I have had the immense pleasure of working with Friday on this lovely novel. She swears it is cursed, but I say great things come to those who… toil… endure… a lot… I know she has been looking forward to the release of Conditioned Response for a very, very long time, and I am happy to be a part of the process.

I’m not much for reading the same book more than once. I do it occasionally for some of my favorites, and I obviously have to read what I edit or proofread more than once, but Conditioned R...more

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Apr 20, 2012 Tricia Kristufek added it

Shelves: editor, reviews, recommended

There's always a Plan.

The World Council is corrupt, but Shayla has a plan for that. After 13 years living with the humans as the only Phoenician in the Outside, Shayla is making her own plans, instead of defaulting to the Seven Chiefs - who got her into this mess to begin with! At least she has Raif with her, ever caring for and guiding her along. But things are set in motion that she can't control, Shayla must finish what she started - before it's too late.

The story is told by several of the ch...more

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May 08, 2012 Kelly rated it 3 of 5 stars

Three Stars

For me, "Conditioned Response" was a read that was probably hyped up beyond reasonable expectations. Somehow, I wasn't expecting it to be as good as the hype, but I also didn't expect to be so underwhelmed. For an 850 page piece, it is a surprisingly fast read. Perhaps Baldwin's greatest achievement came in one of the least emphasized areas--her creation of the Phoenicians. They were thoroughly original and well thought-out. I would be interested in learning more about their history,...more Three Stars

For me, "Conditioned Response" was a read that was probably hyped up beyond reasonable expectations. Somehow, I wasn't expecting it to be as good as the hype, but I also didn't expect to be so underwhelmed. For an 850 page piece, it is a surprisingly fast read. Perhaps Baldwin's greatest achievement came in one of the least emphasized areas--her creation of the Phoenicians. They were thoroughly original and well thought-out. I would be interested in learning more about their history, culture and language. Unfortunately, her star Phoenician (Shayla, the main character), was one I utterly failed to either connect with or care about. Baldwin's male characters were a little better, but I didn't cry over anyone's death (was more along the lines of mildly annoyed).

There were hints of really good things, that I just never felt were fully worked out. Her set-up of the world, the history between humanity and the Phoenicians, the way her humanity has adapted when the only way to reproduce is artificial... That being said, I found a very anti-human/anti-value-of-human-life sentiment in the book that, for me, was very off-putting. Whether it's meant to be a theme of the book (particularly the question of an individual's value and the validity of an individual that has been programmed), I just didn't enjoy it. The conclusions that Baldwin's characters seem to come to is that only the highest class has value as an individual and anyone else is pretty much programmed and utterly replaceable. It's not a happy conclusion.

I also had issues understanding the scope of her world. It's an entire planet, but it feels very small and very contained. An epic sci-fi like this shouldn't feel like it all takes place in the same place (unless it actually does). Although I got the impression of traveling all over the continent, it never felt like they went farther than the next city over. There was also no variation presented in the traveling, no variation in the areas that provided depth to the world. It was disappointing.

For characters that were interesting (but I didn't connect to), a narrative that is basically sound (but didn't move me), and occasional glimpses of a fantastic world and race--three stars. (less)

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Jun 28, 2012 Kerry rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: science-fiction

Conditioned Response is a wonderful story. Baldwin develops a unique world with new and interesting characters. This book as an introduction to this new world leaves me satisfied with the story outcome, but hungry to learn more. As Baldwin unfolds this storyline, I am looking forward to understand how human came to this planet and why there is tension between the indigenous population and the colonists. I also want to see how the story conflicts resolve, (view spoiler)...more

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Apr 18, 2013 Darlene rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Ralph, Cheryl in CC NV, Yvensong, Chris, sci-fi fanatics everywhere

Recommended to Darlene by: Friday

Shelves: sci-fi, author-recommended, free-for-review, free-from-author, book-2, i-have-book-1, lgbt, science-speculative, space, text-to-speech-enabled, smashwords, ebook-i-own, ebook, series, strong-fem

This felt Heinleinish! I love this kind of speculative science. Other worldly, alien beings=Earthlings, not the indigenous. The problems of two brains in one head. And Ms. Baldwin is brave enough to show love comes in many ways. There is intrigue which made this a bad book for bedtime as I couldn't put it down. I must admit it was slow starting but the set-up was needed. As opposed to other second books, this one could be a read alone, or out of order, as everything is explained without being bo...more

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Aug 27, 2012 Chris rated it 4 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. One of the absolutely best things I found in this book wasn't just the story, it was the writing style. It always flowed so well! I don't know if the author is a natural or if she has worked into this but it was always very easy to be there in person with whatever was going on. You know what I mean? I was never put in the position of stopping to figure out what was going on. I have no doubt Friday will always do this well!

Okay, the story; the premise is excellent, and I really liked the characte...more

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Oct 30, 2012 Sadie Forsythe rated it 5 of 5 stars

Awesome, just Awesome. I stayed up way too late on multiple night to read it and still would have been happy for more. I just loved the characters' personalities and their interactions. They all had their own little bit of wit that was distinctly different from one another. I did wonder how it was that the bad guys continued to get away with their depravities, since everyone seemed to know about them. But not enough to get huffy about it.

What I loved the most about the story is that Baldwin was...more

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Nov 16, 2012 Ottilie rated it 3 of 5 stars

Where does the human rights line end? In Conditioned Response by Marjorie Baldwin was an interesting read on several factors. For me it took longer then it normally would for me to read a story because in general when I read on a kindle it takes me longer to read, and also I was working crazy amount, plus student teaching so basically I had a long going on. I know the author so I was already warned that it was pretty much 2 books in one, and considering I normally don't read SciFi that threw me...more

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May 03, 2012 Julie rated it 5 of 5 stars

Fantastic!

This is my first time reading a sci-fi book and I cannot wait to read book #1! I was hesitant to read the book because I'm not a sci-fi kinda girl, but, I loved leaving mother earth and envisioning life on a alien planet. It was suspenseful, romantic, funny, and sad all at the same time! I couldn't get the characters out of my dreams! I Stayed up late and couldn't wait to get home to finish the book.

Well done Friday!

If you are a sci-fi lover you'd be crazy NOT to read this book!

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Jun 18, 2012 Mei rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: sf

WOW!!!!
What an incredible book!
It's been a while that I've read such an intresting SF. Everything inside will stimulate your brain: the culture is intriguing, the characters are great, the idea is fantastic. Also the writing is good - you'll follow and live everything through the characters action and thoughts.
The main(s) character(s) is a girl, Shayla (and I use "girl" on purpose) even if she's 26 years old. Then there're the male characters: Raif, Brennan, Kyree, Joshua, the Seven Chiefs... y...more

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May 23, 2012 Jane rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: e-book, own, romance, series, sci-fi, advanced-copy, thriller

Amazing story! Characters are wonderfully fleshed out, you get a feeling of really knowing them or wanting to know more, because they are so interesting.

This is a super fast paced story with everything falling into place in a well thought out way, drawing you in from start to finsh.
Can't wait to learn more about the history of the Phoenicians.

So glad to have found this author/story on one of the threads I follow. I will definitely be reading more by this author.

There's always a plan...many with...more

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Jun 08, 2012 Laz the Sailor rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: scifi

There is a lot going on in this book, which keeps it very interesting. Unfortunately, it also creates a situation where there are too many balls in the air, and some of them get dropped. There is cloning/reincarnation, artificial intelligence, mystical old men, first contact, telepathy/mindlinks, nasty politics with creepy politicians, and an unresolved romance or two.
The writing is solid and most of the characters were well defined. Most of the book switches between two characters, though when...more

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Marjorie Baldwin Hi Laz,

Thanks for explaining these points. Because you are, as you say, only one reader and as an Author, I don't ever want to tell a reader they did...more Hi Laz,

Thanks for explaining these points. Because you are, as you say, only one reader and as an Author, I don't ever want to tell a reader they did or did not read something the way they feel they did (i.e., calling a reader "wrong" is not gonna happen ;-) However, I will comment on one and only one point you made because it really isn't "just" about this book or my choices as an Author but rather a general observation about human culture across history.

You said: It wasn't clear to me how/why they were so powerful in an aristocratic democracy that they could get away with "rape" over and over.

Since rape is an act of power over another individual, oligarchies and aristocracies have fairly uniformly used rape as a means of asserting themselves over others who are deemed "beneath" them across human history. It's an act of control and usually one of violence, but not necessarily a sexual act even though the term rape usually brings forth visions of forced intercourse. Rape is much more than that.

In the case of this book, I made the perpetrator a child molester, not merely a rapist, and I made it clear he had molested other children before Shayla. Child molestation is sort of a different problem than rape, though often the two occur simultaneously. Child molestation, however, can be perpetrated on children in the same cultural context--and usually, it is perpetrated on children in the molester's immediate cultural circle; erego, social class.

The fact Dramond habitually raped children and then went onto rape Shayla (when she was a young teenager) is in explored in depth in Book 1, which has not yet been fully-written, so I really appreciate your comment on this specific plot point. I've already got the rape and associated consequences fairly well mapped out and already half-written in draft form, but inputs like yours are going to be invaluable when I ultimately sit down to finish writing and then begin editing those portions of Book 1.

As to the other plot points, I could go on for ten more screens on each one (you've already seen I am prolific in the extreme) but I shall just say no comment and hope that's the professional thing to do ;-)

Thank you again for taking the time to give me the feedback.

-Friday
@phoenicianbooks

p.s. That's more than "two major plot points" that you addressed in your comment here but I think I know which ones bugged you when you were writing your review.(less)
updated Jun 10, 2012 08:07am

Laz the Sailor Thanks for the response. Even though it's a second book, it needs some reminders to support it as a stand-alone. I'm still not sure why Shayla and Jos...more
Jun 10, 2012 08:59am

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Sci-fi and Heroic...: Conditioned Response by Marjorie F. Baldwin	105	85	Aug 06, 2012 03:18am
Apocalypse Whenever: Conditioned Response - new cover :) and FREE at Smashwords	3	24	Jul 11, 2012 03:51am
Apocalypse Whenever: FREE SciFi Dystopian Thriller (July 1st only) Conditioned Response by Marjorie F. Baldwin	32	41	Jul 04, 2012 12:51pm
Creative Reviews: Conditioned Response by Marjorie F. Baldwin (Friday)	5	18	Jun 30, 2012 03:21pm
Sci-fi and Heroic...: Secondary Read for June, 2012 - Conditioned Response by Marjorie F. Baldwin	20	89	May 28, 2012 02:55pm
Apocalypse Whenever: Joint Group Read w/SciFi and Heroic Fantasy Group, June 2012	5	61	May 25, 2012 06:15am
Sci Fi Aficionados: * June 2012 - Join the SciFi and Heroic Fantasy Secondary Read	7	25	May 20, 2012 04:06am

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Romance

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Thriller

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Science Fiction > Dystopia

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About Marjorie F. Baldwin

If you'd like to "friend" me, please answer the challenge question. If you and I have ever conversed (here on GR or anywhere else), you'll know the right answer. If you don't, I'll ignore the request and block you. I'm getting spammed by authors and have had enough. Sorry but no thanks!

I write Classic SciFi (the "what-if" sort) usually Social SciFi and although there might be some supernatural fac...more

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When Minds Collide (A Phoenician Series Short Story)

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“The past only exists in the minds of those who choose to recall it.” — 4 people liked it

“Brennan didn’t look exactly like Raif to Shayla’s eyes, but for someone who didn’t know either man particularly well, they probably looked like twins, separated at birth by twenty or so years.” — 1 person liked it

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Conditioned Response (Phoenician Series)

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