Search - Ammonite

Nicola Griffith has a very descriptive way of writing. This story, set on the planet JEEP, tells of a virus that kills the men and almost all the women, leaving a female socieity. Anthropologist Marghe Taishan wants to discover the society evolved and discovers that she too is changing. I enjoyed seeing a female culture that wasn't glorified or had all the problems solved. There were the good individuals, the bad individuals and all the mix inbetween and everyone, the natives and the company employes and forces are on parallel journeys of self-exploration. Griffith makes a very real society; her description puts you in the middle of it, feeling it, tasting it.

This is a marvelous novel, with three-dimensional characters and great use of language.

Don't let the fact that it takes place on an all-woman world prejudice you against (or for) this book. The lack of men isn't the focus and the women are as varied as any dual-gender population can be!

I'm not sure if it was the author's intention but for me, the story was really about the search for one's authentic self. I'm reaching an age (63 this year) where I'm like Marghe and Danner -- journeying into a new and strange world, wondering who I really am, searching for my true name, and nature. It was a delight to follow Marghe, Danner and the others as they found their place.