The Stone Gods

As a longtime Winterson fan, I was naturally curious to see how this novel would stack up against earlier work. Divided into 4 sections, it begins in a futuristic Orwellian dystopia hardly more than an exaggeration of our own. Winterson has fun with her cynical narrator, seemingly transplanted from some noir detective novel, but the "Blade Runner" ambiance doesn't prevent her from exercising her trademark literary gifts: breathtakingly metaphysical turns of phrase, rhapsodic intensities of feeling, insights about human nature that cut to the bone. The second section takes place on Easter Island in the 18th century and recalls the author's historically appropriate literary style in "Sexing the Cherry," though here the parallels with her futuristic vision are made obvious. Parts 3 and 4 work as a continuous prequel to Part 1 (or perhaps an alternative narrative) in the same dystopia and with the same protagonist, with situations in which Winterson mines comic possibilities of the narrator carrying around the head of the robotic "robo sapiens" in a sling, as well as a passage powerfully depicting the specter of post-nuclear mutants rising up against the state. "The Stone Gods" is unabashedly entertaining while being ambitiously interwoven in structure, powerful in expression. One can find examples of more intriguing science fiction and maybe more imaginative glimpses into the future; and some heterosexual readers may be irritated at how all chance encounters seem to involve exclusively homosexual liasons. But as one who was as much in thrall to the metaphysical poetry of John Donne as is Winterson, to him who expressed his romancing a woman with the lines, She is all States, all Princes I, Nothing else is. I can easily identify with her transports, her rhapsodies. What she succeeds in communicating is not merely the intensities of personal love but a passion for the planet itself.

This is the best book I've read from Winterson in quite a while. It's much more science-fiction than her other works. Think of an Asimov plot with Winterson's style and language. And queer characters. The middle sections threw me off at first, but it comes together at the end. btw, for anyone who wants to learn more about easter island, check out collapse by Jared Diamond.

Strongly written, a mind bending plot, and a robot head who, even though carried around under the protagonist's arm, still manages to get away for a little sex. Excellent.

"Planet Blue". Orbus is dying; some will say died. The planetary residents destroyed their home by polluting everything. However, led by Captain Handsome and with Billie Crusoe and robo sapien Spike as part of the crew, they escape their madness by discovering a perfect blue planet, but must rid this new earth of its dominant species. While the humans plan on their usual mass destruction to solve a problem, Billie and Spike fall in love. They send an asteroid to crash planet-side, destroying the dinosaurs that would have made colonization difficult. "Easter Island". In 1774 the longboats arrive to be greeted by the giant monuments, but first they must control the natives before they explore. As is the human way, the newcomers plan on mass destruction to restrain the islanders even as Billie and Spike fall in love. "Wreck City". The 3 War along with previous out of control pollution to keep the economy strong has left many places like Wreck City as no zones. These unfit places are expanding as pollution and war has wrecked the once blue planet turning it into a sickly gray. Those with wealth know it is time to escape this dying world and find a new earth to colonize even as Billie and Spike fall in love. This poignant cautionary tale focuses on the theory that humans as a species or as individuals never learn from previous mistakes; if a person as a child touches a hot stove, his or her child will not heed their advice and touch the hot stove. With little hope, Jeannette Winterson provides a withering condemnation of mankind who she asserts cannot help it that our DNA contains pandemic (as a society) and localized (as a person and family) destructive genes. As Zager and Evans say in 2525: "He's taken everything this old Earth can give. And he ain't put back nothing". However, instead of Judgement Day, we leave behind our mess for those struggling to survive and cannot afford escape. Harriet Klausner

Similiar in plot structure with the DVD "The Fountain," "The Stone Gods" has a three part setting of time and space in this apocalyptic warning tale of human self-destruction. Opening 65 million years ago, an advanced human civilization looks for immigration to Earth to escape the ecological damage and wars that plague their planet Orbus. The middle section takes place on Easter Island in 1774 while the finale is set in the future with civilization trying to rebuild among the ruins. The author is the writer of "The Passion" and "Oranges are not the Only Fruit." This book may not be for every reader, as the writing is an acquired taste of brief sentences and paragraphs. But it is a book that will make you think and rue Earth's future.