Card's Lovelock Better Than Most
Lovelock by Orson Scott Card
Award-winning author Orson Scott Card cautioned readers that the economics of publishing sometimes collide in a way that allows an author to become a brand name, one whose work the public would buy simply on the basis of past performance and name recognition.
Tom Clancy, Robert Ludlum, Danielle Steele, John Grisham and J.K. Rowling are all examples of this exalted breed of author turned brand, and their next works are all but guaranteed to be best sellers. Yet Ludlum is dead and several others are best known as genre authors. What is happening instead is that the authors collaborate with others or "participate" in plotline and similar discussions. Sometimes the work is written so much in the author's style that casual readers cannot tell the difference. This was the device Robert B. Parker used when he wrote Poodle Springs, Raymond Chandler's last novel. Similar permission has been given to Robert Heinlein disciple Spider Robinson, who is currently working from notes given to him by the science fiction great's estate.
Horror writer (there go those labels again) Stephen King sought to avoid the over exposure that critics claim has marred the brand established by Clancy and Ludlum by writing under the pseudonym Richard Bachman. Unfortunately for King, an intrepid fan and literary observer managed to track the Bachman books to him using copyright and other official records. King, as matters developed, had written every word himself. Ever prolific, his output simply exceeded what his publisher thought was an acceptable level of exposure so King took the easy way out and created a pseudonym, turning the Bachman persona into a mid-list author beginning to gather attention.
Clancy and Ludlum, meanwhile, are two authors with rabid genre followings whose output allowed publishers to create brands. Read a book purportedly co-authored or "inspired" by one of them or other big names, and you'll find yourself reading someone else's work. The different author may be faithful to the original's style, may be a dandy writer and the book may be wonderful or the spark that made the authors brands in the first place may be gone.
Card is so wary of confronting this issue that he writes in an unusual foreword to Lovelock that he plans to continue collaborating with Kathryn Kidd, but that his intentions are pure. There will be no Ender novels written by others with "oversight" from the creator, although frankly, there are enough Ender novels now that one wonders if Card himself is beginning to milk a dead cow.
After cautioning the reader that he will not be like "those other" authors, Card launches into his collaboration. The transitions between Card and Kidd are flawless, the story is a relatively unique twist on an interesting concept and many of the characters are rich and well rounded.
But Card's analysis was spot-on perfect. This isn't an Orson Scott Card novel.
The children told me so.
What's This About The Children?
Orson Scott Card sets the gold standard for science fiction authors writing children's characters. Even Robert Heinlein's, whose early work focused almost exclusively on the juvenile market, doesn't compare. Card's children, and not just Ender or Alvin, are that good.
That spark is missing from Lovelock. Not only are the children's roles downplayed, but they seem lackluster and lifeless. There is none of Bean's angst nor Peter's insecurity. Instead, a couple of characters appear to have been summoned from Central Casting and set in motion.
The writing is not bad.it's just not Card.
The Plot In Exactly One Hundred Words
Carol, the matriarch of her family and a world-renowned scientist, is selected to join The Ark, an experiment by mankind to learn if interstellar colonization can occur in small self-contained farming communities. Her family, including her husband, children and churlish mother-in-law accompany Carol off-planet. She is assigned Lovelock, a genetically engineered who serves as her Witness. This concept allows critical thinkers and VIPs to concentrate on their specialty while their interactions are recorded by the Witness for future study. Unfortunately, Lovelock evolves beyond the emotional restraints placed on him and his quest for freedom threatens the community and his family.
What Works Well
Card and Kidd write a terrific morals-based story that focuses on traditional issues like monogamy and family, while simultaneously addressing the ethics involved in genetic engineering and interstellar colonization. The small group dynamics that evolve on The Ark are traditional Card - well developed plotlines that raise more questions than they answer.
The concept of Lovelock and the other Witnesses, including a pig, is also a unique and welcome device that raises even more ethical questions. Once science is able to unlock the mysteries of intelligence in animals, how does humanity continue to assert its role as the dominant species? Just as important, what level of resources goes in to making the scientific leaps necessary to make a Lovelock possible?
What Doesn't Work As Well
Besides the characterization of the children which still bothers me to no end, I thought Carol's mother-in-law to be another one dimensional character. Her role was absolutely necessary to explore the monogamy themes, but her character was bland and so far over the top that she appeared to be an outcast from a 1950s television show.
Finally, Lovelock's name is symptomatic of the predictable story.
The Bottom Line, Dog Earred Pages and All
Card fans may be a bit disappointed, but Lovelock isn't really a bad book. It certainly isn't one of Card's best efforts, but it is better than average for the genre and worthy of your attention.
Five Things To Remember From This Review
1. This is Card's first co-authored novel.
2. The word in book publishing circles (and hinted at in the book) is that this will become yet another series.
3. Lovelock offers thought provoking commentary on serious social issues
4. Even social issues that have not yet developed are addressed in a rich setting.
5. Card has to do something with those kids if he continues the series.
