Venus Preserved: The Secret Books of Venus

"Venus Preserved" is full of gorgeous writing, strong characterizations, and a suspenseful plot. Plus, it stars Tanith Lee's first lead African-descended character, the enigmatic musician Picaro. It's a weird mixture of science fiction thriller, dark fantasy and Biblical Vision, threaded through with Shakespearan allusions. The terrible, wonderful face of God appears in faux-Venus (Venice) preserved under the water, in the midst of scientific experimentation. Dreams, horrific and beautiful imagery, bits of history are all thrown in for a majestic (tragic, triumphant) ending.

Venus lies under a dome beneath the sea as a tremendous lure for surface visitors. Permanent residence is restricted, but tourists are encouraged. Powerful computers run the city controlling climate to include virtual flora and fauna. Scientists work experiments using DNA remnants of dead souls. These geneticists bring back to life first century gladiator Jula from the DNA remains that an archeological excavation led by Flayd discovered. Also brought back to life is eighteenth century musician Cloudio, both of whom find they feel disrupted and more comfortable with weird flashbacks to their previous lives. Meanwhile a surface musician Picaro arrives at Venus and meets Flayd, who is convinced that something catastrophic is being conducted under the auspices of the city leaders including the computers. As calamities begin to happen and the city is quarantined with no exit or entry, Flayd?s theory seems more realistic. Soon, this quartet manipulated by an entity that makes Machiavelli look like kindergarten, is the last hope to stop the imminent final disaster from taking placeThe five key characters (the heroic foursome plus the computer) seem genuine with personalities that in many ways are symbolic of the four forces of nature. These individuals hook the reader wanting to learn more about Flayd?s conspiracy theory. However, that is the weakness of the fourth Venus novel as there is only vague references to a massive conspiracy, but no revealing of who and why especially by the city government who would appear to be biting their nose to spite their face. Thus a potentially powerful futuristic science fiction novel with a strong cast that grips the reader drowns by the ending.Harriet Klausner

I like the three previous volumes of _The Secret Books of Venus_ very much. _Venus Preserved_, while good, is not quite up to the same standard.The story takes place in a Venus (Venice) of the future, a colorful, history-laden city reconstructed in an undersea dome. It is mostly for tourists. Permanent residents must be specially invited. The setting is a charming mix of eras, with the characters living in Renaissance palaces with 18th-century furnishings, eating in Victorian restaurants, and dressing in the clothes of any era they fancy. Venus is permeated with discreet but powerful computer technology; it is built into the doors, the walls, everywhere. The main characters are Picaro, a successful black musician newly arrived in Venus, and Jula, a 1st-century AD gladiatrix resurrected from her DNA. Both are well fleshed out. They have many ?flashbacks? to their former lives (Picaro?s dramatic and fateful life in this body, Jula?s in her 1st-century incarnation). The flashbacks do not feel like interruptions and they explain the attitudes of these two characters.Less well drawn, but equally important to the plot, are Flayd the archaeologist (who had excavated Jula?s tomb), and Cloudio del Nero, an 18th-century musician also resurrected using his DNA. Flay?s character is pretty well drawn, but there is a sense of important past influences that are not sufficiently explained. Del Nero is not a real character at all, but a symbol.These four characters probably represent the four elements.The real weakness of this book is its plot. Flayd is certain that some conspiracy is afoot, greatly aided by the omnipresent computers. The city government closes off all further exit and entry. Flayd insists this is so some ?experiment? can take place. Contacts between these four characters are thoroughly manipulated, and their conversations are all probably monitored. Increasingly disastrous events take place, which make it clear that Flayd is correct. _Venus Preserved_ has an apocalyptic ending, which I won?t reveal.All this is dramatic, the ending is showy; but the plot itself, the events, have no purpose. The plot could be called the workings of Fate, since this always a fantasy fallback. But when references are made to an elaborate, expensive government conspiracy and minor bureaucrats are shown doing their part, I expect some disclosure of who is behind the conspiracy and what their goals are. Lee provides no such disclosure. There seems to be no sensible goal the government could possibly have. The minor bureaucrat characters not only have been told very little, they refuse to understand what they see (and what is obvious to the reader). As the book goes on, the major characters become less characters and more symbols. By the end, this creates a lack of emotional response in the reader. So the book has an apocalyptic ending? Who cares? It?s like the ?thunderstorms? Venus puts on for the tourists?preannounced, flashy to watch, but not personally involving.