Grass is a science fiction novel in what I call the "ecological" sub-genre: there is something unusual about the ecology of an alien planet, and unless Homo sapiens (or the right group of Homo sapiens) finds out what it is quickly... — in this case the human race will be wiped out. This basic idea is implemented reasonably well, though as usual the biology is not terribly well worked out. The novel has another strand, a kind of pseudo-religious working out of ideas about the ultimate purpose of human existence, that doesn't really work at all. Too many of the ideas are presented explicitly (in the narrated thoughts of characters) rather than appearing as an organic part of the story.

Ideas aside, Grass is a reasonably well written novel with a decent plot. If you are into light science fiction it should keep you happily entertained for some hours.

June 1993

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