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Parasite
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Parasite by Mira Grant
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in two minds about this one. Hated her novella that was nominated for a nebula last year but dont think dismissing her for that is very fair as that was a sort of sequel/ prequel to one of her series'.
Well, I'm about halfway through reading Parasite now. I'm modestly enjoying it as a page turner, but then I also liked Grant's Feed "NewsFlesh" in that same way.
Parasite is a sort of medical mystery/thriller with a dollop of conspiracy. The medical science is definitely on the Weird Science side of say Nancy Kress or even Michael Crichton.
Ben, if your objection to last year's The Last Stand of the California Browncoats novella was Grant's prose, I don't think you're going to find Parasite any more engaging. It's definitely leaning toward Dan Brown entertainment territory, though I think Grant creates far more interesting characters than Brown. (Well, I've seen cacti that are better-developed characters than Brown's.)
I think the observation you made in your review of The Last Stand of the California Browncoats that Grant writes a lot of repetition is correct, but I think that's something she is doing intentionally. In Feed, for example, she constantly detailed the automated blood-test for the disease that was necessary every time you entered a civilized area, building, or gathering of people, repeatedly describing the prick of the finger and blinking red-yellow-green indicator lights that eventually settled in on green (which kept you from being immediately exterminated.) I think most authors would have soon elided that for brevity, but Grant keeps right on emphasizing that wait while the blood test decides you're safe. She made that tense interval one of the defining traits of her bio-hazard world. (After I read it, I originally gave Feed 2 stars, but after a week I decided to bump it up to 3 stars, mostly because I kept thinking about those blinking lights.)
So far in Parasite, I've noticed Grant picking repetitively on several details. Sally hates riding in cars (PTSD from her car accident.) There's also lots of showering: So far Sally has taken showers at a decontamination facility, a medical test lab, the animal shelter where she works, and at home. Very few authors would bother to describe & contrast water pressure and temperature control. I doubt very much showers have anything to do with the plot — I think it's meant to convey the character's comfort level. And most obviously, there's the constant hot warm dark with the drumming.
Parasite is a sort of medical mystery/thriller with a dollop of conspiracy. The medical science is definitely on the Weird Science side of say Nancy Kress or even Michael Crichton.
Ben, if your objection to last year's The Last Stand of the California Browncoats novella was Grant's prose, I don't think you're going to find Parasite any more engaging. It's definitely leaning toward Dan Brown entertainment territory, though I think Grant creates far more interesting characters than Brown. (Well, I've seen cacti that are better-developed characters than Brown's.)
I think the observation you made in your review of The Last Stand of the California Browncoats that Grant writes a lot of repetition is correct, but I think that's something she is doing intentionally. In Feed, for example, she constantly detailed the automated blood-test for the disease that was necessary every time you entered a civilized area, building, or gathering of people, repeatedly describing the prick of the finger and blinking red-yellow-green indicator lights that eventually settled in on green (which kept you from being immediately exterminated.) I think most authors would have soon elided that for brevity, but Grant keeps right on emphasizing that wait while the blood test decides you're safe. She made that tense interval one of the defining traits of her bio-hazard world. (After I read it, I originally gave Feed 2 stars, but after a week I decided to bump it up to 3 stars, mostly because I kept thinking about those blinking lights.)
So far in Parasite, I've noticed Grant picking repetitively on several details. Sally hates riding in cars (PTSD from her car accident.) There's also lots of showering: So far Sally has taken showers at a decontamination facility, a medical test lab, the animal shelter where she works, and at home. Very few authors would bother to describe & contrast water pressure and temperature control. I doubt very much showers have anything to do with the plot — I think it's meant to convey the character's comfort level. And most obviously, there's the constant hot warm dark with the drumming.
thanks for that G33z3r - will play it by ear in terms of how much reading time and energy I have. I dont have a copy so if I get round to it will read a sample digitally and if I care enough about what is happening I can always buy it and join in the discussion. Will probably read the Sparrow first and I am also dipping into and quite enjoying Thomas Disch's Wings of Song.I do like good prose and I struggle with anything that is just thrown together in a dan brownesque way. I think the biggest problem I had with the novella was that it was basically fan service for people who had loved the series and if you had not read the series then there just was not any point to it. Although the repetition and bad writing didnt help. I will concede though that there was a certain zippy/ page turningness to the prose and with a better story to tell I could see me finding something else she wrote mildly enjoyable.
Ben wrote: "I think the biggest problem I had with the novella was that it was basically fan service for people who had loved the series and if you had not read the series then there just was not any point to it...."
Are you referring to the Newsflesh series or the Firefly series? As fannish pandering, it was a twofer. :)
There are a lot of SF&F novella being e-published these days that are ancillaries to traditionally published novels & series. For example, I recently read The Churn, which is a prequel to the Expanse series (one of several). While most of them stand on their own as stories, they're clearly of interest to those who are fans of the main series. Nothing wrong with that, and I can even imagine some such a novella could transcend the series that spawned it; but so far I think they're mostly for established fans.
Anyway, back to our main topic...
Are you referring to the Newsflesh series or the Firefly series? As fannish pandering, it was a twofer. :)
There are a lot of SF&F novella being e-published these days that are ancillaries to traditionally published novels & series. For example, I recently read The Churn, which is a prequel to the Expanse series (one of several). While most of them stand on their own as stories, they're clearly of interest to those who are fans of the main series. Nothing wrong with that, and I can even imagine some such a novella could transcend the series that spawned it; but so far I think they're mostly for established fans.
Anyway, back to our main topic...
I finished Parasite last night, I thought it had a pretty entertaining ending. I will say this about Grant, she does a pretty good job dropping something unexpected in at the end. (Not as shocking as the end of Feed, but at least one significant surprise.)
Anyway, I put the upcoming sequel, Symbiont, on my to-read list for when it comes out later this year.
I'll talk more about what I liked and didn't like about Parasite in a couple days, but I'll hold off on inserting spoiler tags for now...
Anyway, I put the upcoming sequel, Symbiont, on my to-read list for when it comes out later this year.
I'll talk more about what I liked and didn't like about Parasite in a couple days, but I'll hold off on inserting spoiler tags for now...
Keeping off topic for a moment - I think with Kathryn Rusch with her Retrieval artist series this started as a novella and was expanded into a novel to which there were a whole series of novels.In addition to these novels though there were additional novellas and novelettes and I would say that those ones are better than the novels and on the whole make decent starting off points.
Often though these e-stories linked to novels/ novel series' are more for established fans who have read the rest.
So far I'm through the first stage. Despite not much has really happened as yet the gradual world building and development of Sal may pay huge dividends down the line. If the first stage had me turning each page at a good pace I'm hoping to quicken that pace as this story progresses.
Shawn wrote: "development of Sal may pay huge dividends down the line...."
I found Sally to be a sympathetic character, though she's intentionally written a bit on the weak side, that's in keeping with her history. I thought her representation was a little inconsistent, though.
The basic premise of Parasite (for the benefit of those who haven't started reading yet, I'm not spoiling anything beyond the first 10 pages) is that in 2027 there's a popular bio-engineered tapeworm-like organism which can be inserted into the patient's digestive tract to monitor various blood levels and provide necessary medicinal and hormonal adjustments (handling everything from allergies to flu to diabetes, etc.)
Sally Mitchell has a head-on collision with a bus. She's in a coma, and eventually declared brain dead. But then she unexpectedly awakens, though she has no memories at all of her previous life. Six years later, she still has no memories before her coma, but she's re-learned a great deal. And she now prefers the name "Sal" to separate herself from her former-Sally, who she doesn't remember but her parents and sister still do.
Entirely by coincidence, this is the second novel in a row I've read featuring a child-like personality in a adult woman's body. (The other one being vN, though there the main character was technically a robot = vN, von Neumann).
The thing about Sal is that in some ways she's a functional adult, and in others she's selectively ignorant of conventions. Despite being "only 6-years old" and still in psychiatric care, she's in a serious relationship with Nathan, a doctor. Sometimes she seems incredibly knowledgeable (such as describing the Bay Bridge as a Faraday Cage), and yet seems ignorant of great many common slang expressions (which conveniently haven't changed in the last 13 years.)
Now, there is some ambiguity about whether she awoke from a coma as a totally blank slate or has been only re-learning basic human activities, so the "only 6-years old" may be entirely experiential rather than skill-based.
Anyway, although Sal is sympathetic, taken by herself I found her rather bland, passive and not a lot of fun.
I found Sally to be a sympathetic character, though she's intentionally written a bit on the weak side, that's in keeping with her history. I thought her representation was a little inconsistent, though.
The basic premise of Parasite (for the benefit of those who haven't started reading yet, I'm not spoiling anything beyond the first 10 pages) is that in 2027 there's a popular bio-engineered tapeworm-like organism which can be inserted into the patient's digestive tract to monitor various blood levels and provide necessary medicinal and hormonal adjustments (handling everything from allergies to flu to diabetes, etc.)
Sally Mitchell has a head-on collision with a bus. She's in a coma, and eventually declared brain dead. But then she unexpectedly awakens, though she has no memories at all of her previous life. Six years later, she still has no memories before her coma, but she's re-learned a great deal. And she now prefers the name "Sal" to separate herself from her former-Sally, who she doesn't remember but her parents and sister still do.
Entirely by coincidence, this is the second novel in a row I've read featuring a child-like personality in a adult woman's body. (The other one being vN, though there the main character was technically a robot = vN, von Neumann).
The thing about Sal is that in some ways she's a functional adult, and in others she's selectively ignorant of conventions. Despite being "only 6-years old" and still in psychiatric care, she's in a serious relationship with Nathan, a doctor. Sometimes she seems incredibly knowledgeable (such as describing the Bay Bridge as a Faraday Cage), and yet seems ignorant of great many common slang expressions (which conveniently haven't changed in the last 13 years.)
Now, there is some ambiguity about whether she awoke from a coma as a totally blank slate or has been only re-learning basic human activities, so the "only 6-years old" may be entirely experiential rather than skill-based.
Anyway, although Sal is sympathetic, taken by herself I found her rather bland, passive and not a lot of fun.
Tansy!
I have to mention the tertiary character Tansy, because she's really exactly what this novel needed. It's a shame she doesn't arrive until halfway through.
True, she's a homicidal sociopath (“I’m not insane, I’m neurologically variant.”) But all good characters have flaws, right?
Tansy adds two badly-needed components to the story: she provides a physical menace (and violence) to up the stakes. And she simultaneously provides comic relief through her childlike dialogue, because I kind of agree with her assessment of Sal ("She’s annoying, she’s whiny, she has the learning curve of lichen, and I’m tired of everybody acting like she did something all remarkable.")
Menace and humor may not seem to fit in one package, but Tansy made me laugh (and the story needed a little punch about then; everyone else is way too serious and polite.)
I have to mention the tertiary character Tansy, because she's really exactly what this novel needed. It's a shame she doesn't arrive until halfway through.
True, she's a homicidal sociopath (“I’m not insane, I’m neurologically variant.”) But all good characters have flaws, right?
Tansy adds two badly-needed components to the story: she provides a physical menace (and violence) to up the stakes. And she simultaneously provides comic relief through her childlike dialogue, because I kind of agree with her assessment of Sal ("She’s annoying, she’s whiny, she has the learning curve of lichen, and I’m tired of everybody acting like she did something all remarkable.")
Menace and humor may not seem to fit in one package, but Tansy made me laugh (and the story needed a little punch about then; everyone else is way too serious and polite.)
I finished this earlier this week, but I will hold off on discussing major plot points until more folks are done. So for now, these are just some thoughts of what I liked or didn't.I really wavered on my rating because I wasn't sure if I could fully accept some of the main premise. Without getting into the spoiler-y bits I can say I found the repetitions annoying especially the hot, warm dark with the drums. Sal was a bit of a brat and like G33z3r, I fully support Tansy's opinion. However, as off-putting as Sal could be, I found the scenes with her family to be weird and somewhat inconsistent, with the possible exception of Joyce. That inconsistency extends to Sal, who is clueless one minute, freaking out the next and our resident genius at unexpected moments. Nathan is truly a saint.
It's not a plot point per say, but I like the way a very diverse cast was worked in. It wasn't done as a "message" but just as a reflection of the real world. I really liked Tansy, who provided some of the best dialogue of the story. All in all, I am intrigued enough to read the sequel.
Karen wrote: " I really liked Tansy, who provided some of the best dialogue of the story...."
I noticed when I finished that 100% of the highlites I marked on my Kindle were Tansy quotes :)
“Your lives matter about as much to me as a fifty-cent-off coupon for toilet paper.”
“What does that even mean?”
“I dunno. It sounded good, and that’s what counts, right?
I noticed when I finished that 100% of the highlites I marked on my Kindle were Tansy quotes :)
“Your lives matter about as much to me as a fifty-cent-off coupon for toilet paper.”
“What does that even mean?”
“I dunno. It sounded good, and that’s what counts, right?
I started reading Parasite this morning and am enjoying it. It's an interesting idea about the whole concept. I'm at 33% right now. I have feeling I'm going to finish it today. I haven't read Feed, so this is a new concept in this book for me. I'm enjoying it.
RachelvlehcaR wrote: "I haven't read Feed, so this is a new concept in this book for me.."
FYI, Feed isn't related to Parasite except that they are by the same author. I mentioned it earlier to cite writing style. Sorry if that caused confusion.
FYI, Feed isn't related to Parasite except that they are by the same author. I mentioned it earlier to cite writing style. Sorry if that caused confusion.
I finished the book last night. And I did enjoy the first 30% of the book. The storyline and writing style were interesting. And I like seeing stories based on what if possibilities related somewhat to present day situations. But after that the story just has too many inconsistencies between the characters that irritated me and in my opinion hurt the believability of the science in the story.
Thank you G33z3r, (funny username by the name).I'm 50% of the way through, I see what people are saying predictable but I find that find because I'm still interested in the story. I'm at the point that Dr. Cale is explaining the sleeping sickness, Adam, and Tansy.
I finished the book. I liked it. I'm very bummed I have to wait until Nov. for the sequel.
I finished the book last night. I thought it was pretty good, although I struggle to see it as a potential Hugo winner. I tend to like the whole medical thriller / Cronenberg body-horror sub-genre (I discovered my local library's stash of Robin Cook and Michael Crichton books at an impressionable age), but I felt that after a strong start this fizzled out a little. I'm conscious that this is the first part of an intended series so an element of decompression is inevitable, but for me this started slipping from a four to three star read about the point that Doctor Cale showed up (although, Yay Tansy...).
I'll probably read Symbiont at some point, but it's not something I'm going to rush to buy on release.
Okay, I'm going to roll out the spoiler part of the discussion. Members who haven't finished reading Parasite yet may wish to read on with caution. (Please use the spoiler HTML tags if you're posting any revelations.)
Coincidences ?
Sally Mitchell awoke from a coma after being pronounced brain-dead. SymboGen promotes the idea that it's because of Sally's Intestinal Bodyguard™, which is their Bio-implant product. And they've been covering her medical costs in exchange for being able to run medical tests on her. This is why she's special and the book's subject.
(view spoiler)
Sally Mitchell awoke from a coma after being pronounced brain-dead. SymboGen promotes the idea that it's because of Sally's Intestinal Bodyguard™, which is their Bio-implant product. And they've been covering her medical costs in exchange for being able to run medical tests on her. This is why she's special and the book's subject.
(view spoiler)
Michael wrote: "OK, it's probably best if I just spoiler this whole thing....
(Reply also very spoilery.)
(view spoiler)
(Reply also very spoilery.)
(view spoiler)
Revelations ?
At the conclusion of Parasite there are a couple of revelations.
(Spoiler for obvious reasons...)
(view spoiler)
At the conclusion of Parasite there are a couple of revelations.
(Spoiler for obvious reasons...)
(view spoiler)
Now that the spoilers are rolling I can finally vent!(view spoiler)
I had wavered about my rating before, now it's settled (and going to be adjusted accordingly)
Karen, I agree with almost all your vents, with one exception which I don't think I have to spoiler, since it's established in the first chapter:
I didn't have problem suspending disbelief about the widespread adoption of the Intestinal Bodyguard™ in a mere decade.
First you think it's extremely useful for people like Sally with allergies, and also others with chronic conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol. A lot of people, but not the majority.
But the "killer app" is weight control. Apparently it can regulate digestion. If you have a product that lets people eat all they want of anything they want without worrying about their weight (or cholesterol) — you won't be able to make enough of them fast enough.
Also, it's apparently good with hangovers. :)
(I also thought the Intestinal Bodyguard™ had a remarkable potential for abuse, dispensing soma to keep the masses pliant. But that isn't one of Grant's concerns here.)
I didn't have problem suspending disbelief about the widespread adoption of the Intestinal Bodyguard™ in a mere decade.
First you think it's extremely useful for people like Sally with allergies, and also others with chronic conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol. A lot of people, but not the majority.
But the "killer app" is weight control. Apparently it can regulate digestion. If you have a product that lets people eat all they want of anything they want without worrying about their weight (or cholesterol) — you won't be able to make enough of them fast enough.
Also, it's apparently good with hangovers. :)
(I also thought the Intestinal Bodyguard™ had a remarkable potential for abuse, dispensing soma to keep the masses pliant. But that isn't one of Grant's concerns here.)
I enjoyed the book. I just look at it as entertainment, not really if it could really happen or not. I thought it was a fun read and it went by quickly for me.
G33z3r wrote: "Karen, I agree with almost all your vents, with one exception which I don't think I have to spoiler, since it's established in the first chapter:"Well those are all compelling reasons (especially for chronic sufferers) but 10 years for society to overcome generations of ingrained programming seemed short.
(view spoiler)
RachelvlehcaR wrote: "I enjoyed the book. I just look at it as entertainment, not really if it could really happen or not. I thought it was a fun read and it went by quickly for me."It was all of those things :) However, it is up for a Hugo and I have to say that it just doesn't strike me as being strong enough to be a "best novel"
I agree with you Karen, it shouldn't be up for a Hugo, not as a best novel. I do want to read the sequel. So it did catch my interest, however it doesn't take much for that. I'm pretty open to books, however I can't get into North and South, Twilight, 50 Shades of Gray, and Atonement.
G33z3r wrote: "I didn't have problem suspending disbelief about the widespread adoption of the Intestinal Bodyguard™ in a mere decade....But the "killer app" is weight control. Apparently it can regulate digestion. If you have a product that lets people eat all they want of anything they want without worrying about their weight (or cholesterol) — you won't be able to make enough of them fast enough.
"
Exactly! People would be all for the weight loss aspect.
I am about halfway through this book. I am enjoying it, though it can be a bit slow. I haven't read anything else by this author, but so far interesting enough that I might check out what else there is. The writing kind of makes me think of an immature Crichton. As Rachel said, I'm looking as entertainment as well and not really if this could happen. It's a little too flawed for that.
Okay I finished this and it was entertaining. I would pick up the next book to see how things develop from here.(view spoiler)
I'm only half way through but I've met Tansy already. Is it just me or is anyone else reading this character as the woman who plays "Crazy Eyes" on Orange is the New Black??? I LOVE how this character is written and am imagining every scene with Uzo Aduba as Tansy. If this ever gets to the screen, she would be amazing in this role! PS. Great story so far!
Just finished this and agree it is an easy read. There was very little I had to read twice, as I often do with other SciFi writers like, say, Crichton. Some of the coincidences were indeed eye rolling, as someone stated.Even Dr. Banks remarked on their unbelievable luck that Sal and Nathan hooked up, although that may have been smoke for Sal's benefit. Hopefully the next book will explain and turn rolling eyes into a little light bulb over my head "Ah, of course, a child could see it." to paraphrase McCoy when he learned how to do brain transplants. In any event, it was entertaining enough to put Symbiont on my ever growing "to read" list. Oh, and Tansy was my favorite character, also.
Garyjn wrote: "Just finished this and agree it is an easy read. ... Some of the coincidences were indeed eye rolling,... Hopefully the next book will explain and turn rolling eyes into a little light bulb over my head "Ah, of course, a child could see it.""
I'll be interested to hear what you think of Symbiont. I didn't feel sufficiently motivated to read further into the story, but I'm curious if your theory of a lightbulb explaining the coincidences pans out.
I'll be interested to hear what you think of Symbiont. I didn't feel sufficiently motivated to read further into the story, but I'm curious if your theory of a lightbulb explaining the coincidences pans out.
I read this last year. I haven't read any of her other works, but I thought it was entertaining enough for what it was. Tansy was definitely the best part of the story for me. I didn't feel the need to move further in the story after this book though.
Has anyone else read the sequel and found it to be worthwhile?
Has anyone else read the sequel and found it to be worthwhile?
Heather wrote: "Has anyone else read the sequel and found it to be worthwhile? "I read Symbiont and didn't particularly like it. It felt like a normal zombie story where the plot advanced by the characters' poor decisions. I enjoyed Parasite because it was more than that.
Andrew wrote: "I read Symbiont and didn't particularly like it. It felt like a normal zombie story where the plot ..."
Ah, but does it have the Minimum Daily Requirement of Tansy?
Ah, but does it have the Minimum Daily Requirement of Tansy?
G33z3r wrote: "Ah, but does it have the Minimum Daily Requirement of Tansy?"Indeed it does.
Sci-fi and Heroic Fantasy
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Robin Cook (other topics)Michael Crichton (other topics)
Nancy Kress (other topics)
Michael Crichton (other topics)
Mira Grant (other topics)
Nominee for the 2013 Hugo Award for Best Novel.
"Mira Grant" is a pseudonym for Seanan McGuire.