First published 1986
On the harsh planet Geta, human colonists have evolved bizarre customs over generations. No native animals exist to provide meat, so the dead become food for the living. Priest clans rule through ritual and tradition until new ideas threaten the old ways. The Kaiel and Mnankrei clans plot to seize territory from the Stgal, introducing forbidden concepts like organized warfare. Previously, killing served only to fill empty stomachs. Now it becomes a tool for conquest. Multiple marriages bind the clans together in complex webs of loyalty and betrayal. Technology and propaganda replace ancient ceremonies. The planet's hostile environment shaped these colonists into something alien, yet recognizably human. Their courtship rituals involve elaborate ceremonies where partners prove their worth through survival skills. As the clans scheme against each other, the very nature of their society hangs in the balance between old traditions and dangerous innovations.
Genres: science-fiction, dystopia, literary-fiction, fantasy
Vibes: atmospheric, dark, thought-provoking
Tropes: cultural-clash, social-commentary, world-building
Setting: Geta
Period: future
519 pages · Paperback · Goldmann
Content warnings: violence