The Lazarus Effect - Pandora, Bk 2 Author:Frank Herbert, Bill Ransom Despite malevolent lifeforms and the implacable hostility of Ship, the self-styled God demanding human Worship, Mankind's struggle to colonize the bleak ocean planet Pandora has been at least partially successful. — But at what cost! Genetic mutation has evolved two separate societies, human subspecies: the technologically advanced Mermen, who li... more »ve in sophisticated undersea habitats and dream of plundering Ship itself;and the Islanders, who inhabit huge organic raft cities, and whose way of life depends on biological engineering. Their uneasy coexistence is always imperiled, but the results of one Merman project threatens to precipitate open conflict, and human extinction.« less