Genetic Soldier

A complex tale that is a sequel to the Destiny Makers, as travellers return to Earth many centuries later to find a lot of changes. Some people in charge don't like such wild cards. One man's relationship with a woman will become important, as he is determined to be the appropriate genetic match for her. It is likely to be dangerous for him, however.

George Turner's dark vision of human life on Earth after the catastrophic fall of civilization, so vividly and convincingly portrayed in his wonderful "Drowning Towers" and "Down There In The Darkness", lives yet again in "Genetic Soldier".This novel tells of the return to Earth of the 300 person crew of the starship SEARCH after 700 years of travel between the stars in search of another habitable planet. They have visited over 30 possible planets, found all inhospitable, and are finally driven "home" by a homesickness that brought them to the brink of mutiny and despair.The crew has actually only aged about 30 years since most of the voyage time was spent in a time suspended cryogenic sleep. And so it is that the far distant relations of the people now living on Earth seek to be readmitted into what has evolved into an alien culture. Those who outlived the trials and terrors of the past have no place for the returning carriers of catastrophe and seek to force them to leave Earth once again and forever.The gene Wizards of the old world, in preparation for the inevitable fall, had engineered a new humanity with strict adherence to a specific genetic plan that would produce beings most capable of survival in the coming dark ages. One of these genetic classes is the Soldier Genetic with members bred to great endurance and fortitude.It falls to our hero Atkins' Tommy, also known as Soldier, to deal with the unwanted visitors, and his struggle and eventual surprising triumph is the stuff of this tale.Typically wonderful characterization by Turner, with complex and convincing players, makes this philosophical commentary on our present path a powerful and poignant statement. Tommy finds himself trapped by his genetic constitution in a plot that surprises and intrigues.I felt that the ending was perhaps a bit too convenient, but I also feel that Turner's message is important and should be carried to every ear.Find this out-of-print book. Read it and all the others by Turner that you can find. Take pleasure in his great skill and style, and ponder the deep message that he conveyed.

AAUUGGHH!! How tragic that this book is out of print. Unfortunately, I think the title (which I doubt was selected by the author) might tend to turn people off. In fact, the title Soldier Genetic would have been more apropos, which anybody who has read the book would understand. The plot of this book was solid and engrossing. But, its true strength lies in the best world and character building narrative that I have ever seen in any scifi book. The members of this future society as well as the society itself are vastly different from what we know today, but Turner does an exceedingly good job of building a believable world with complex and UTTERLY FASCINATING characters. Turner, if you ever read this review yourself I would like to say, my hat is off to you . You have created an exceptional piece of work here.