by Karen Lord
First published 2013
The Sadiri civilization once commanded the galaxy, but catastrophe has left their planet uninhabitable and their people scattered. Dllenahkh, a Sadiri biotechnician, arrives on Cygnus Beta to help locate compatible women who might preserve his dying race. Most Sadiri survivors are male, and without genetic diversity, their species will vanish within generations. Grace Delarua, a government liaison, guides Dllenahkh through the complex cultural landscape of their new world. Together they navigate the delicate process of finding willing partners among various human populations while respecting local customs and individual choice. As Dllenahkh works to save his people, he must also confront what it means to rebuild a culture from fragments. The search becomes more than scientific necessity. It transforms into a journey about identity, belonging, and the possibility of creating something new from loss.
Genres: science-fiction, romance, literary-fiction, fantasy
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: fish-out-of-water, found-family
Setting: Cygnus Beta, Sadiri
Period: future
325 pages · Hardcover · Jo Fletcher Books/ Quercus