BOOK REVIEW: Interference (Semiosis, #2) by Sue Burke

Interference is the sequel to Semiosis, and the two books form a duology that recounts the story of the colonization of a planet called Pax, located some 55 light years from Earth. Pax is a fertile, beautiful, Earth-like planet inhabited by numerous forms of life, indigenous and alien.

Semiosis told the story of how a small group of refugees from an Earth ravaged by ecological disaster and intentional genocide enters into a symbiotic relationship with (at least) two sentient alien species on Pax. Interference continues the tale, told brilliantly in the form of self-contained chapters of lengths varying from short story to novella, of the development of the humans on Pax, now ten to eleven generations beyond first contact. One key difference between the books is that in Interference, Earth plays a much larger role, because a new delegation of humans arrives to Pax, to follow up on and study the society the original colony has become. Just like the first group of human colonists, some of the new arrivals are motivated by desire to flee Earth in addition to curiosity about Pax.

Another key difference between Interference and Semiosis is that while the first book was centered around the characters of the protagonists of the chapters, the second is more plot-driven, with the narrative thrust being sourced in a series of questions that are eventually answered. These include: “How will the arrival of humans with advanced technology impact (and interfere with) the delicate power balance between the humans and the Glassmakers? How will Stevland, the sentient plant which dominates most living things on Pax, react to ( and survive) the arrival of a second set of humans from off-world? Will the new humans really return to their ravaged Earth, one that will be 200-years older than when they left? And what and who will from PAC will they take either back to Earth?

All these questions are answered by the end of the book, satisfyingly so, in my opinion. The main reason why Interference is as at least as good as Semiosis are the thought-provoking depictions of mutuality and “civilization.” Stevland really believes that he(?) is in a mutually beneficial relationship with the humans and Glassmakers (and other life on Pax) but it is also clear that he is the most intelligent (and most powerful) entity on the planet. The humans think they’re in a mutually beneficial relationship with the Glassmakers, but the new humans observe that when they want to, the Glassmakers can assume control over human society, despite being outnumbered 4:1. The new humans think their technological advantages and scientific knowledge means they are superior to all Pacifists (residents of Pax) but events demonstrate the frailty of that belief. Interference posits the hypothesis that mutuality and "civilization" (or domestication) may simply be a function of perspective.

Overall, if you liked Semiosis you will almost certainly enjoy Interference. The prominence of ecology and biochemistry in the first book is replaced by psychology and sociology, but both are engaging, exciting and excellent!

Title: Interference.
Author: Sue Burke .
Length: 304 pages.
Publisher: Tor Books.
Date Published: October 22, 2019.
Date Read: October 25, 2020.

GOODREADS RATING: ★★★★★  (5.0/5.0).

OVERALL GRADE: A/A- (3.83/4.0).

PLOT: A-.
IMAGERY: A-.
IMPACT: A.
WRITING: A.