Book Review: LoveLock

Reviewed By: Harriet Klausner

[4 stars]

LoveLock Amazon US PB Amazon Canada PB
Orson Scott Card , Kathryn H. Kidd
Class/Genre: Science Fiction
Series: Mayflower Trilogy
Tor, Feb 2001, $14.95, 283 pp.

The Ark leaves Earth on an exploratory mission of a lifetime (on the ship) while relatively centuries will have passed on the planet. On board is the renowned climatologist Carol Jeanne Cocciolone, who volunteered herself, her family, and her witness for the ride. Carol Jeanne's witness, a capuchin monkey the brilliant Lovelock, will be with her to record her work and her life for future historians.

Lovelock worships his master due to implants and behavioral modification. However, as much as he cherishes Carol Jeanne, he finds her family as unnecessary. As the Cocciolone family struggle to adapt to their new environs, Lovelock realizes that his perfect statue has flaws and begins to crumble in his eyes. In spite of the deep behavioral conditioning light-years beyond Skinner, he starts to refocus on himself rather than just exclusively on Carol Jeanne, who he now knows never appreciated his loyalty, friendship, and love.

LOVELOCK is a reprint of a well-written character driven science fiction novel that is the opening act of The Mayflower Trilogy. The story line narrated mostly by Lovelock concentrates on how he sees the world, which means Carol Jeanne. Readers will root for Lovelock to break his mental chains especially as he begins to dream of freedom when he realizes that his faithfulness is not reciprocated. The novel ends with way too many loose strings, leaving the audience a bit frustrated yet wanting Book II. However, there is no mention in the book or the blurb sheet when the next tale will be released.

Harriet Klausner

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Harriet Klausner

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